POLL - What 3 things would you most like to see next in Distant Worlds?

[hewwo]

voted, but I miss the option 'game mechanic changes'. For instance, the research, fuel and resource suggestions made in this forum recently are all perfect and would make the game 200% better, if not more!

[Igard]

Thanks, hewwo, I'll put that on the next poll.

AI improvements takes the lead. It's good to see personell/leaders up there. Not surprised to see more starting empires at the bottom, I can barely handle it now!

For the record, I voted -

Mod support
Components/tech
Diplomatic options

[Chet Guiles]

#1. Ship design should allow us to choose which components will be used when "autpomatic" updates are done. This becomes especially true when there are several optional engines, shields, etc., and the AI decides which ones will be used un updates. The only alternative is to manually update every ship when a new component cpomes available. Alternatively, let us have an option to upgrade all ships in that ONE area only.

#2. Slightly larger or clearer fonts on the main screen. We "mature" types would appreciate that.

#3. A manual that explains HOW to do detail-priented tasks like deploying Resupply Ships. (And btw as a separate issue -- #4, I know -- once they are deployed, if anything else is placed in their solar system, they no longer can be seen. Maybe a special marker so we can quickly send shiops in the area to be refueled at RS locations if they are not part of fleets.

[tjhkkr]

A squadron of torpedo bombers with experienced pilots is far more deadly then unexperienced pilots.

I agree with this, but whew doggy that would be some disk space...
Troops, squadrons, ships...

But I like it.

[Webbco]

I know this might not be high up on many peoples list but I would love to see some more time and effort spent on troops and ground combat. If this was on the poll it would probably be my number 1!

[Igard]

Chet and Webbco, I'll add those to the next poll. Probably give it about a month till I do another one.

Chet, your #1 would have to go under user interface. I can't go into specifics when doing a poll as it would become incredibly long and confusing, which totally defeats the purpose I'm sure you'll agree.

[Igard]

ORIGINAL: Igard

Chet and Webbco, I'll add those to the next poll. Probably give it about a month till I do another one.

Chet, your #1 would have to go under user interface. I can't go into specifics when doing a poll as it would become incredibly long and confusing, which totally defeats the purpose I'm sure you'll agree.

Webbco, do you mean a total revamp of the ground combat, like a tactical mini game. Or do you mean an improved version of what we have now, with more troop stats and better AI?

[tjhkkr]

Troops would be cool...
But the thing that comes to mind is that the Empire that has the ships in orbit are going to be the winners, between blockades and firepower.
If the attackers have an enemy fleet in orbit, they are toast.
The defenders have an enemy fleet in orbit, they can hold out a while under siege, but the orbitting warships/fighters would be blasting anything that moved... including foodstuffs...

[Webbco]

I'm not really sure what direction would be best. There have been a couple of threads where the pros and cons of improved/expanded ground combat have been discussed. I just believe some sort of focus on planetside activity would increase immersion immensely for me.

I look at some of the different race characteristics and wonder how they can be explored in-game. E.g the apparent ability of the slukens to attach other races appendages to themselves...I want to see what this actually looks like! It would be great to see some tanks and other military vehicles too.

I would probably prefer a tactical minigame to see these thingsbut I realise this has the potential to become repetitive though.

[ASHBERY76]

1.More space loot,new monsters,events to improve the living galaxy

2.A full government system of leaders ala KOEI games like 3 Kingdoms.

2.Making each race more unique.I do not buy the fact that all species like would tourism.I think this should be unique to the human species type an example.Different systems for every species would be cool..

[Bingeling]

As the troop symbol is currently a tank, I guess they have some tanks...

I think one main worry for the developer(s) should be that any new functionality must be fun, relevant and work well. I think expanded ground combat will have a very high risk in the "work well", area.

This of course makes introducing new features more "dangerous", and they need new features to justify another future expansion... It does not look so well with an expansion containing just streamlined ship design screen and improvements to the AI in early research lab construction...

[Howard Mitchell]

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

2.Making each race more unique.I do not buy the fact that all species like would tourism.I think this should be unique to the human species type an example.Different systems for every species would be cool..

I wouldn't limit tourism just to Humans, I think some of the other races such as the Securans would be tourists to.

But the idea of Boskarans saying 'My, what a lovely sunset!' is a bit strange.

[Imrryran]

No internal politics or factions?

[Tampa_Gamer]

All 3 votes to Modding Support - which in my mind means (1) externalizing most of the data (e.g. game rules/parameters, components, AI, etc.) along the lines of the Space Empires series, (2) programming the game to first look to the customized folder for potential mods (e.g. data, sound and graphic files to potentially override any of the defaults files), and (3) incorporating a decent mod manager into starting game menu. If that is accomplished, then it will greatly enhance the longevity of this game and empower the modding community to achieve most of the other items in the poll and permit the programmer(s) to focus on programming the "hooks" the modders need to accomplish their goals.

[Igard]

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

2.Making each race more unique.I do not buy the fact that all species like would tourism.I think this should be unique to the human species type an example.Different systems for every species would be cool..

Good one. I'll put this in the next poll. This would work just the same as, 'can become a pirate'. Unique race traits/features (can build resorts Y/N).

ORIGINAL: Imrryran

No internal politics or factions?

That's a new for me. We've already got uprisings and civil war (if only we could reunite using diplomacy). And the leaders feature might give way to some internal politics in the future.

[Igard]

There's a clear message revealing itself now. We want new features but not if the AI can't handle them. AI is the most important thing by far as without it, the game will be broken. I might just remove it from the next poll as it could be considered a fundamental and incremental process as each patch is released. Not so much a feature to be focused on. Or I'll just give an additional extra vote.

There's a close battle between personell and components. That's interesting.

[Balakirev]

I bought the game, thinking the very small font and similar colors between foreground text and background were issues any developer would seek to resolve.  They haven't been.  I'd like to see a poll option for readability, but I'm not getting the feeling this is really anything that will ever show up in the game, in any case.  Kudos to the dev team for what they've done, but in all honesty, I'm playing on a wide screen at very high resolution, can't force it lower, and can't play.

[Haree78]

I chose 3 but what wasn't on the list is I would like the option to have random 'Galaxy events'. Things that will happen only once per game kind of rare but real game changing stuff. Doesn't need to be 'balanced', it would just make each game unique and have different challenges. Replay value is the key.

Some examples:

A super nova taking out nearby systems.

Some tentacle monster thing coming in to the Galaxy slowly monching on everything in it's path, you would need to attack with Allies to take it out. Maybe even a random planet turns in to it.

Some hulk comes in from another Dimension and begins zombieing or turning Evil planets it 'invades'. The population can never be conquered again, only bombarded/destroyed.

A empire revolution of an AI suddenly makes them hostile to everyone as they are taken over by a mad dictator.

Some ruins that when discovered suddenly activates an automatic defence system (AI ships) that sole purpose is to purge nearby planets and ships.

[Bingeling]

ORIGINAL: Balakirev

I bought the game, thinking the very small font and similar colors between foreground text and background were issues any developer would seek to resolve.  They haven't been.  I'd like to see a poll option for readability, but I'm not getting the feeling this is really anything that will ever show up in the game, in any case.  Kudos to the dev team for what they've done, but in all honesty, I'm playing on a wide screen at very high resolution, can't force it lower, and can't play.

Why can't you force the resolution lower? You could change the resolution of your desktop, and that should affect the game? Of course, depending on OS this may not be possible, and I have not actually tested it in recent games.

It is no proper solution of course, but a fix one can do.

Customizing ui scale (and font sizes) is a good option to have though. I have a largeish screen and good glasses, so I usually want my fonts and UI elements smaller.

[Webbco]

ORIGINAL: Haree78

I chose 3 but what wasn't on the list is I would like the option to have random 'Galaxy events'. Things that will happen only once per game kind of rare but real game changing stuff. Doesn't need to be 'balanced', it would just make each game unique and have different challenges. Replay value is the key.

I like this idea, and the examples you suggested.