Matrix Games Forums

Does the character have loyalty? Is there a chance that the characters will mutiny or that the characters under your control will band together to force you to change regime?

I like characters for flavor and role playing but I agree that generally they don't add too much to 4X games.

I would like to see a game implementing some mechanism like an Academy, which would produce a number of crude cadets per time (I think Aurora 4X has something like that). The player should allocate then for low tier jobs and, as they get experience, promote just a few of then. Building top tier characters would take time and resources (promotion could be expensive somehow) and if the player is wise (and lucky) he would produce some game-changing leaders like an Ender Wiggin or Paul Atreides.

This kind of system could become a lot time consuming but I think could be funny if well implemented.

Excellent suggestion valleytheman; I hope Elliot & Eric will read and consider.
Something like you suggest would give the player more active involvement with the character system.
Characters ought not be over-powered but should make a sufficient difference to make engagement with the system worthwhile & rewarding.
We all know how having the right individuals in the right places in real life can make a significant difference.

While characters are fine, especially at command or management levels that matter, I would prefer that individual ships performed based on training, experience, morale. Sure a Captain Kirk to save the day might be fun if you could see the effects somehow, but anyone that has served on a real ship knows that a good crew is what makes the vessel perform great or poorly. A ship with a green crew, thrown directly into battle (typical of many 4X space games) cannot expect to do well against an experienced crew of similar, and sometimes even lesser class. I believe that this is why there is a drive by many players to rush capital ships and treat the rest as fodder. Can one man/woman/being make a difference? Sure, but I'd say it's mostly a team effort. Let Kirk come down with a case of the space herpes from that alien kiss. I'll take a dozen Scotties instead. [:D]

I'm very new to this franchise, but find characters in DWU to be useful, if not overly engaging. Assigned to specialized fleets or colonies that need them, they're just additions to facility/ruin bonuses or help with things I have less control over, like corruption levels (20% reduction in corruption can be a big income jump on the right planet, for us newbs that still need it.) I'm glad to see them in DW2.

But, I do wonder why so many of them turn to alcohol and drugs. Maybe a stint in the Medical Complex for rehabilitation should be an assignment option. [;)]