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"But wait! DW2 is not even close to be released yet!"

I know, but I'm curious to probe the ground since the subject of expansions has come up several times already.

It doesn't seem that I can create a poll directly in this forum, so I created one at StrawPoll.

>>> TO VOTE:

ACCESS STRAWPOLL

or click the image:



EDIT: Extended modding support in not among the available answers, but if that's a priority for you, feel free to mention it below!

Wanna wait and see the final game before I check what expansions we will need. I would prefer any of these(except multiplayer) in no order.

Multiplayer can not be a Addition/DLC feature. There are two options. Either:
- the game is designed for Multiplayer. In this case the base game should be MP capable, to have a healthy player base and as a selling point.
- the game is not designed for Multiplayer. Adding Multiplayer is somewhere around impossible in this case.

Orbiting planets also has the potential to be a giant CPU time waste. Pathfinding alone would become a nightmare, nevermind actually tracking all those objects moving around across the entire galaxy.

None of those sound at all interesting except for more playable races, and orbiting planets (and I suspect the latter will never happen).

Playable Pirates of course .

MP if possible.

I see Races as individual DLCs, but could also be expansion.

Pirates for me too.

ORIGINAL: Miletkir

"But wait! DW2 is not even close to be released yet!"

I know, but I'm curious to probe the ground since the subject of expansions has come up several times already.

It doesn't seem that I can create a poll directly in this forum, so I created one here:

ACCESS STRAWPOLL

Content of the poll:

The first Distant Worlds 2 expansion would have to be...

[*]Playable pirates!

[*]Implementation of jump gates

[*]Development of ground assault mechanics

[*]More playable races / factions

[*]A model with raw, processed and manufactured resources

[*]Multiplayer

[*]Orbiting planets! Orbiting planets! Orbiting planets!

[/size]

Pirates or planetary development

Pirate people, vote for pirates on the Straw poll! Currently at 0 votes [:'(]

I voted for orbital planets. In DW, especially with the advanced ranges of Fighters/Bombers in my mod, the changing positions of the planets became very important. A mining base might have two or three bomber bases that could defend it sometimes and at other times have revolved away from that protection. It added another element of planning when to attack. I'm not sure I can go back to static planets, 3d or not.

Orbiting planets. As RogerBacon states, they can make a big difference in some tactical situations and add a lot of visual appeal as well. The first time I played DW 1, I was in such a hurry to start a colony that I built a colony ship before I had a FTL drive. Unfortunately, I didn't give it enough engines to exceed the target planet's orbital speed and didn't realize it until I ended up in a stern chase I couldn't win. So, no space game can be believable if the planets don't orbit.

After that, more races of course!

I would pick orbiting planets, but I fear that it just isn't practical for them to make it happen. It's a real shame, because that feature, in my opinion, contributed to the living galaxy feal of 'Distant Worlds'. It made the galaxy seem dynamic instead of static. I recall the first time I played Stellaris, and my first thought was 'OMG, the planets don't even orbit!'

It's a tragedy that we have to lose this one.

There's a lot to be positive about in DW2, but this is one of the negatives.

Results at 25 votes:

I voted for ground assault mechanics because this is the most lacking game element in every 4x game I played so far.

Polaris sector game so far implements best ground assault tactics, although focus on that aspect is far from enough.

I consider this very important because waging battles in space with space ships is one thing, while conquering planets is completely another thing,
both deserve equal amount of focus and complexity.

Smaller empires should be able to defend their planets primarily because they can't wield larger space navies due to lack of required resources.
In combination with alliances (for survival) smaller empires should be able to stand the test of time against larger empires.

My choice isn't on your list.

Extensive modding support.

ORIGINAL: SirHoraceHarkness

My choice isn't on your list.

Extensive modding support.

Yes, I considered adding it in, but I thought the addition of modding tools was different than a standalone expansion with new content. Duly noted, though.

Orbiting planets? Like DW1?

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

Orbiting planets? Like DW1?

Yeah. Erik mentioned it would be a huge amount of work, but did not entirely reject it forever... hum...

ORIGINAL: Miletkir

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

Orbiting planets? Like DW1?

Yeah. Erik mentioned it would be a huge amount of work, but did not entirely reject it forever... hum...

The theme from the replies I am getting is that just to bring DWU into a modern engine polishing it up and expanding on some of the features along with an actual 3d art budget is taking up all they can invest at the moment. So depending on sales and interest we could see a flood of new content and features or a trickle. I guess its all going to be down to marketing and word of mouth once enough details come out.

From a niche game perspective there isn't really any competition if they get it out third quarter so those inclined to play these types of games will have only one real choice. They could probably have done a fair bit more if they had stuck to a modern 2d engine as 2d art is way cheaper to produce but they decided 3d was the great leap forward so here we are.

ORIGINAL: Miletkir

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

Orbiting planets? Like DW1?

Yeah. Erik mentioned it would be a huge amount of work, but did not entirely reject it forever... hum...

Wow I missed it. Do you mean DW2 has no orbiting planets?

From the FAQ:

Am I crazy or do the planets no longer orbit their stars?
--> I explained this a bit in the stream Q&A, but bottom line is that the the planets still rotate, but they no longer have animated orbits.
Partly this is due to the change in scale, the rest comes down to the difference between having things look ok in 2D where ships and stations moved through each other all the time vs. nice 3D where they need to avoid colliding, enter hangars and docking bays properly, exit construction yards, etc.
Having the orbits match up with the more realistic scale would have meant they would be slow enough that you likely wouldn't notice the movement easily, while at the same time any movement would create a lot more challenges for us in terms of the new 3D mechanism for docking of ships in spaceports and near planets and collision avoidance. We decided ultimately that it wasn't worth adding extremely slow orbits to create a huge amount of extra bugs and work to account for that when we could spend that limited time better elsewhere on other more noticeable features. It's not impossible that orbits may return at some future date, but it's not in the plans right now.