Space Travel

[Sobriquet]

[Zaimat]

[Zaimat]

[RobHuntingdon]

OK... so if this is primarily, or more likely entirely, going to be a SP game... and you know that the users will see patterns as they play... obviously you've thought this through better than I. How do you prevent a game from being boring after playing four or five dozen times? Aside from the fact that dissing the powers-that-be can be deadly, how do you prevent the player from finding and exploiting holes in the AI that keep them safe from all harm (or whatever)?

I'm speaking as much theoretically as asking how you plan to apply it here, though I'd be happier if you can answer both sides of the question... [edited]

[Ravana]

With the best of intentions we are dealing with a finite-state machine, so it's really a matter of minimising the repetition and avoiding pattern recognition.

1. The use of a random map does help; such an element can only be relied upon to be unpredictable.

2. The use of a "limited tech-tree" might help - similar to MoO where you cannot research everything without being a creative race. That way, you'll never receive all of the technological capabilities in any one game.

3. Of course, Zaimat has said that we can develop multiple technologies simultaneously, but by developing such tech we may neglect other aspects of our empire such as military might, spying capabilities, trade routes, diplomatic relations etc. Our little kingdoms cannot be everywhere at once, so we'll have to make a choice about what we want to achieve.

4. Our NPC friends/enemies may have different agendas each time: a list of social structures could be devised with one or more chosen for each race, which gives clear or distinct parameters for that empire. A sort of code of conduct e.g. honourable, sneaky, greedy, militaristic etc.

5. Although there has been little real talk concerning the Advanced Races (AR), it may be they will be used as a potential galactic "cosh". A set of parameters could be used to define the AR's behaviour, which may make them hostile to one particular race or races due to past behaviour. Or they may perceive one particular race as more of a threat to them or to galactic peace in general. Perhaps, they can be persuaded to join with your empire as equals, or become a patron to the younger races, uplifiting us to a higher state of being (thanks for the phrase GURPS!)...I should point out that this is a view based on a B5 approach to AR.

6. Maybe there'll be a pay-off matrix which defines imperial behaviour. You could have elements defined as concrete or as nebulous as being attacked and acting defensively, or feeling envious of the economic power generated by your trade with their enemy and they decide to attack you because you're militarily weaker. You could imagine the equation as something like this:

SCENARIO: Player A, Empire B, Empire C

Economic Rating 1, Military Might 2, No. of Planets 3

Decision to attack -

IF (A1 > B1 OR A3 > B3) AND A2 > B2 THEN TARGET = A ELSE TARGET = B

This is a spurious example of an equation, but you get the drift. The real skill is in allowing numerous opponents with multiple paths to appear to operate simultaneously!

Some of this might be speculative, and some of it might be absolute rubbish, or at least very simplified, but I think we'd all like to believe that there is some structure to the inter-relation of species and their behaviour.

[Sobriquet]