Just a quick note...

[ASHBERY76]

You will need ROTS to play it so no escaping that.

[Igard]

It would be nice to get a line on when beta testing is expected to begin. Even if it's just 1 month or 2 months.

Of course, it would also be great to hear what sort of things the expansion will feature. Not that it's likely, but we can only continue to beg and hope that Erik takes pity on us.

I'm expecting a border system to be implemented. It's been discussed alot and even had a comment from Elliot, who sounded amenable to the idea. I'd also expect to see some more support for modding, though what that will be, is anyones guess.

[tjhkkr]

I was looking at the prior page: I never ever knew anything about that game: that was the first I heard about that game failure.

But I recently saw on a board game I was looking forward to that they pulled a picture off of the website, I guess because they could not make the platform work in the game system....
So I guess you are correct; they need to be close-mouthed.

[ASHBERY76]

[Data]

How do we know he's close-mouthed? We can't see squat [:)]

[tjhkkr]

ORIGINAL: Data
How do we know he's close-mouthed? We can't see squat [:)]

Beauty of a big mustache!

By the way, I now know I am getting old, I had to look up what AFAIK meant... [:'(][:D]
Am I out of the loop or what? [:)]

[Data]

let me check what "out of the loop" means and I'll answer that [:D]

[Erik Rutins]

Ok, here's something to get you started. One of the many new things in the next expansion will be some new space "creatures". This is a relatively minor, but fun part of the game to add to (and of course for those of you that don't like them, you can still turn them off). Some are organic to the galaxy, others will only appear as part of certain variable events. The basic theme with these is that they live, they move, they eat stuff (with all of those varying to some degree by creature). As part of the promotion for the expansion, we'll be running a contest to ask gamers to design a new space creature for us and the best entry (in our opinion) will get the professional treatment and be made part of the expansion release.

So feel free to get thinking so that you have a head start once that contest starts. [8D]

Ok, a few more things to think about and discuss:

- Territory / Borders
- Unique Faction / Species characteristics and abilities, including victory conditions
- Leaders / Characters for each Faction, of various types and abilities, with the ability to improve

All of these will of course be open to modders. [:)]

Regards,

- Erik

[Data]

Awesome stuff, thx for the teasers Erik

[Sithuk]

Data: Mind setting up a discussion thread for each of those four?

[J HG T]

Nice! Thanks for the info, Erik! Every little bit counts.

On Territory/Borders:
I hope the territory system still allows you to colonize planets outside your borders, but with penalties relative to distance from your main empire and presence of other empires and entities.

[Data]

No need for different threads, all of us will pile up in the one Erik caves in first.

[Igard]

Great news! Wasn't expecting this much, but I'm not complaining!

It might be best like Sithuk suggests, to create a thread for each of these. I'll go ahead and do that. It makes it much easier for Erik and Elliot to read. Maybe not the space creature contest as that will be posted by Erik when the time comes.

[Shuul]

Ok, not that bad, but...
Will there be more tech components and ship roles (maybe improved combat)? as i care about it more then about borders etc...

[ASHBERY76]

Space monsters.events,leaders. more species characteristics and abilities, including victory conditions

I could not be happier.[:)]

[Data]

You could and you will....when it will come out and we'll see them in action [:)]

[Speedy2511]

And AI improvments, i hope!

[Simulation01]

OH God!!!!!  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!  If they are going to run a contest that could take months!!!!!!!!! 

Thank you anyway Erik.  grumble grumble

[feygan]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

All of these will of course be open to modders. [:)]

Regards,

- Erik

I do hope this part implies that the modding part of DW is going to be opened up to allow more.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Shuul
Ok, not that bad, but...
Will there be more tech components and ship roles (maybe improved combat)? as i care about it more then about borders etc...

You don't seriously think I would post everything in the first post? [;)]

Regards,

- Erik