Distant Worlds: Shadows

[Bebop Cola]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins
- Play as an independent space-based faction, a very different play experience from the existing "Empire" gameplay.
-- Choose from several playstyles, including Smuggler, Pirate and Mercenary.
-- Compete in victory conditions against other space-based factions.
-- New Pirate Leader and Pirate Captain characters

Will it be possible for an empire to transition back and forth between these states? For example, could a space-based empire capture a planet to become a traditional empire, then return to being spaced-based if their last planet is captured while they still retain say, a construction ship, in play?

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins
- Choose to play in the existing Distant Worlds timeline or the pre-hyperspace "Age of Shadows"
- Assault pods and ship to ship or base boarding actions, including ship and base capture
- Gravitic Weapons and Tractor Beams
- New expanded Ground Combat with new troop types and an animated ground battle resolution screen
-- Infantry, Armor/Mech, Special Forces, Planetary Defense Units (multi-layered)
-- Resolution of the multiple stages of a planetary assault
-- Expanded troop experience
-- New Ground Combat technology tree
- Expanded and improved Area Weapons
- New planetary facilities
- Improved AI and new comprehensive difficulty settings

The rest of this sounds pretty good. Gravitic weapons and tractor beams aren't really my bag, but the rest sounds fun.

One minor(I think) thing that I'd like to suggest if it can be squeezed in, if I may. A way in the editor to grant or remove specific technologies. If I recall correctly, that was in the editor prior to Legends, then Legends transitioned into a technology slider. I like the slider, generally speaking, but I'd like to be able to customize an empire's specific tech loadout in play.

[Anthropoid]

Sounds great Erik!

[drillerman]

I have a suggestion!!!
Get rid of the silly space monsters. Yes I know you can turn them off in the options menu.
.......and
Have moving black holes. Think of the havoc that could cause.

[tjhkkr]

ORIGINAL: drillerman

I have a suggestion!!!
Get rid of the silly space monsters. Yes I know you can turn them off in the options menu.
.......and
Have moving black holes. Think of the havoc that could cause.

Is not a moving black hole sort of like a space monster writ large? [:D][;)]

[Kayoz]

ORIGINAL: tjhkkr
Is not a moving black hole sort of like a space monster writ large? [:D][;)]

A very very small monster, actually. Black holes aren't very big at all. Some theories postulate that the black hole proper (not it's event horizon or ergosphere) is a singularity.

[drillerman]

The thing is that at least a black hole is sort of more believable than a giant slug in space.[8|] At least you can see them all the time. In the game they would have to move very slowly. Obviously we would have the option to turn them off but it might add a twist to the game???

[Bingeling]

Black holes travelling and influencing anything (apart from those seeking them out) would not make much sense at all. I don't find the game's time frames to be very large.

[Kayoz]

ORIGINAL: drillerman
The thing is that at least a black hole is sort of more believable than a giant slug in space.[8|]

Given our ingenuity - even given our pathetically small experience - in modifying plants - a slug living in space and feeding on the asteroids isn't that odd. AFAIK, nobody ever said the slugs were natural.

And it if is... well, we've only examined part of one tiny ball. We have nothing to compare "our" life form to. Big universe out there. Bound to be a lot of weird stuff.

ORIGINAL: drillerman
At least you can see them all the time.

You can't. You can see the effects of a black hole. You can't actually see the black hole itself.

ORIGINAL: drillerman
In the game they would have to move very slowly. Obviously we would have the option to turn them off but it might add a twist to the game???

I agree with you here, entirely. The time scope of a DW game is a few hundred years at most. That's diddly in terms of the lifespan of a galaxy. A black hole moving across the galaxy at speeds that would influence the game is far more unlikely than the space slugs.

[Haree78]

ORIGINAL: Kayoz
You can't. You can see the effects of a black hole. You can't actually see the black hole itself.

By that same logic I could say that I can't see my TV screen because the TV is off

It is an interesting idea though that you could say that a black hole is impossible to observe, or rather once observed impossible to take the results outside of the Event Horizon unless we invent teleportation I guess. Is there anything that doesn't get affected by gravity like that?

[Dracus]

Not a expert on the matter but I think the reason we could not see a black hole without all the junk being pulled it is due that the fact that our eyes are designed to see light waves and if ligh is not being produced or bounced off the black hole then we can not see it. This does not mean that we can not detect it by some other method.

[Kayoz]

ORIGINAL: Dracus

Not a expert on the matter but I think the reason we could not see a black hole without all the junk being pulled it is due that the fact that our eyes are designed to see light waves and if ligh is not being produced or bounced off the black hole then we can not see it. This does not mean that we can not detect it by some other method.

The statement was in response to "see a black hole"; the nail of which your statement on light hit on the head.

As to whether anything isn't affected by that sort of gravity - erk - no idea. Physics under those conditions isn't something I have any comprehension of. Things get plain weird. Here's a pretty good description, though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U309Z0XQEhU#t=06m40s

[tjhkkr]

ORIGINAL: drillerman
The thing is that at least a black hole is sort of more believable than a giant slug in space.[8|] At least you can see them all the time. In the game they would have to move very slowly. Obviously we would have the option to turn them off but it might add a twist to the game???

I was just messing with you a bit... [:)]
But I can see what you are saying.

I turned monsters off... and then turned the giant Kaltors in all the ship yards into Crystaline Entities...
So I do see your point. [:)]

FYI: I think IGard is implementing a Crystaline entity. Cannot wait to see how his looks. But I watched my own and it is way cool to see move...[:)]

[tjhkkr]

ORIGINAL: Kayoz

ORIGINAL: tjhkkr
Is not a moving black hole sort of like a space monster writ large? [:D][;)]

A very very small monster, actually. Black holes aren't very big at all. Some theories postulate that the black hole proper (not it's event horizon or ergosphere) is a singularity.

I stand corrected... very small with billions of tons of mass...
I was trying to make a little joke... [;)][:)]

[Kayoz]

ORIGINAL: tjhkkr
I stand corrected... very small with billions of tons of mass...
I was trying to make a little joke... [;)][:)]

It was a cheap excuse to get my post count up. Oops, damn... there I go again!

[lsc9x]

Sounds like a freaking amazing addition to an already awesome game!

I just started playing DW with Legends a few days ago, and I am already massively hooked. Best strategy game I have played in DECADES.

Thanks so much for all the hard work!

[ASHBERY76]

Now we finally have some info.I WANT MORE.[:D]

[Igard]

ORIGINAL: tjhkkr

FYI: I think IGard is implementing a Crystaline entity. Cannot wait to see how his looks. But I watched my own and it is way cool to see move...[:)]

Already implemented TJ. I put in the Picard Era Total Conversion mod. That's the mod that changes all the base game files, not the actual mod that goes in the customization folder.

The CE replace the silvermist creature, so it's exactly the same behaviour. I changed the text as well so you get some backstory and a vague mention of the fact it can now spawn 'offspring'. [:)]

[ehsumrell1]

ORIGINAL: Igard

ORIGINAL: tjhkkr

FYI: I think IGard is implementing a Crystaline entity. Cannot wait to see how his looks. But I watched my own and it is way cool to see move...[:)]

Already implemented TJ. I put in the Picard Era Total Conversion mod. That's the mod that changes all the base game files, not the actual mod that goes in the customization folder.

The CE replace the silvermist creature, so it's exactly the same behaviour. I changed the text as well so you get some backstory and a vague mention of the fact it can now spawn 'offspring'. [:)]

...and if I must say....Igard did a FANTASTIC job of the Crystaline Entity changeover. In the
'Star Trek' frame of mind, the immersion is great! Good job Igard! PASS THE ALE!!!!!

[tjhkkr]

IGard always does an extraordinary job...

But I need to put mine out there if for no other reason than to prove I can do it to... [:D]
Another Star Wars/Star Trek contest... actually kind of a stupid contest because Star Wars does not have a lot of space creatures like Star Trek... unless I want to turn the slugs into mynock. [:D]

[ehsumrell1]

Drink enough of Igard's Vintage Romulan Ale and ANYTHING will look like a Mynock!