Things I would like to see in Universe

Distant Worlds is a vast, pausable real-time, 4X space strategy game which models a "living galaxy" with incredible options for replayability and customizability. Experience the full depth and detail of large turn-based strategy games, but with the simplicity and ease of real-time, and on the scale of a massively-multiplayer online game. Now greatly enhanced with the new Universe release, which includes all four previous releases as well as the new Universe expansion!

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jamthree
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Joined: Sat May 18, 2013 7:55 pm

Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by jamthree »

Stuff that would be nice to see in Universe, please add your comments.

[request/bug] Fleets not set to auto need to stop acting as if auto is on, this is beyond annoying I really want to be able to tell a fleet/ships to do nothing and not have them run and get themselves killed when their auto is off and my attention is elsewhere.

[request] Fleet formations.

[request]Get rid of luxury extractors, gas and mining should pick them up, they add nothing to the game and make it ridiculous to micro station building. I can't think of anything that is more superfluous and unnecessary to the game as luxury extractors.

[request] give us a "state miner" ship type so we can use the manual mining process without designing a ship that has unnecessary requirements

[bug]All stations but spaceports should require at least one cargo, for instance research stations, without the cargo they get in a perpetual fuel need and can't retrofit

[request] be able to change the names of planets/systems/ships

[request/bug] Exploration ships on manual set to explore a system should explore all asteroids or a new option should be added "explore system and asteroids", why auto does this and manual doesn't is strange.

[request} when clicking on a star/black hole/gas point it should tell you the % explored and if there are any space creatures from you last view of the system

[request] A checkbox on the race pick yours and the table view for opponents) part of game setup "use lore system" have pre-designed systems for each of the races, i.e. Sol for Terrans

[modding] Put a viewer in the game off the main menu where you can see shipsets, add the ability on game setup to select a shipset for yourself and opponents.

[gameplay] Add a "passenger" ship and make agents travel to destinations, i.e. if you can't make it to a pirate base you can't steal tech from them, you could take this in all sorts of directions as well, ways to shoot them down etc, some diplo actions could require the agent to travel to that factions territory (like make alliance)

[gameplay] make exploration a little more star treky, make exploration ships require alot more components (science stations, etc), and give them a procedural encounter table so interesting stuff is always happening as you explore, these ships could also ferry agents, like escorting a diplomat

[DLC] contract an artist, finish up fleshing out the pictures for each of the races agents, well pay for it
feygan
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by feygan »

[request]Get rid of luxury extractors, gas and mining should pick them up, they add nothing to the game and make it ridiculous to micro station building. I can't think of anything that is more superfluous and unnecessary to the game as luxury extractors.

While I can see your point they do add flavour to the game as you can design small fuel gas mining stations or large planet ones such as star wars Bespin. It really doesn't take away that much time adding a single item to a design otherwise why bother having variety in other aspects when you could just have a one does all component type.
[request] give us a "state miner" ship type so we can use the manual mining process without designing a ship that has unnecessary requirements.

As frustrating as the civilian miners can be they are part of the entire state/civilian design of the game, if we have a state miner why not a state freighter too?
[request] be able to change the names of planets/systems/ships

You already can for planets/ships/bases, if I recall correctly there is a rename button in your property window. Or it could be that you simply click on the item in questions name then type a new one. You can rename systems but only in the game editor mode so it would be nice if it was extended to just include the standard playing mode.
[request] A checkbox on the race pick yours and the table view for opponents) part of game setup "use lore system" have pre-designed systems for each of the races, i.e. Sol for Terrans

This again I think falls into design ethos, the lore I believe states humans came from Earth long ago, and so if you play humans you are really a long lost colony etc. You can find an independent human group on a Sol system. However I do agree you should have some form of starting option whereby you could play without the storylines and have a set of official homeworld systems to play from.
[gameplay] Add a "passenger" ship and make agents travel to destinations, i.e. if you can't make it to a pirate base you can't steal tech from them, you could take this in all sorts of directions as well, ways to shoot them down etc, some diplo actions could require the agent to travel to that factions territory (like make alliance)

While I like this concept I think it would make DW a horrible micromess, all characters already spend time to travel to locations, I guess this is simulating them boarding various civilian ships etc. Now for a spy to travel aboard one of your own ships to an enemy location to steal stuff you have to question the logic involved. Your ship would just get shot down instead. Unless you then have to have a whole new branch of ships that fly undercover missions etc, this is where you could open up a huge micromanagement issue. All characters could do with some form of expansion but I think it best if that went in the guise of extra ways to use them and a variety of outcomes and consequences rather than an increase in the mechanics of their implementation.


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DevildogFF
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by DevildogFF »

Don't worry, they won't give you any information or feedback because evidently Universe is super top secret until a week before launch.

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Spacecadet
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by Spacecadet »

ORIGINAL: jamthree

Stuff that would be nice to see in Universe, please add your comments.

[request/bug] Fleets not set to auto need to stop acting as if auto is on, this is beyond annoying I really want to be able to tell a fleet/ships to do nothing and not have them run and get themselves killed when their auto is off and my attention is elsewhere.

If you have the individual Fleet auto turned off they should only respond to their defensive stance (Engage System targets, Nearby targets, etc.)

You may need to turn off the auto option of each ship in that particular Fleet as well, I don't recall.

[request] Fleet formations.

[request]Get rid of luxury extractors, gas and mining should pick them up, they add nothing to the game and make it ridiculous to micro station building. I can't think of anything that is more superfluous and unnecessary to the game as luxury extractors.

[request] give us a "state miner" ship type so we can use the manual mining process without designing a ship that has unnecessary requirements

[bug]All stations but spaceports should require at least one cargo, for instance research stations, without the cargo they get in a perpetual fuel need and can't retrofit

Hmmm, I thought this was the case already.
[request] be able to change the names of planets/systems/ships

You can already do this, I've done it in my current game.

For planets, you can do it in the Colony screen when the planet is selected (bottom right area).

For ships, you can do it in the Ships screen, same bottom right area when ship is highlighted.
[request/bug] Exploration ships on manual set to explore a system should explore all asteroids or a new option should be added "explore system and asteroids", why auto does this and manual doesn't is strange.

[request} when clicking on a star/black hole/gas point it should tell you the % explored and if there are any space creatures from you last view of the system

[request] A checkbox on the race pick yours and the table view for opponents) part of game setup "use lore system" have pre-designed systems for each of the races, i.e. Sol for Terrans

[modding] Put a viewer in the game off the main menu where you can see shipsets, add the ability on game setup to select a shipset for yourself and opponents.

[gameplay] Add a "passenger" ship and make agents travel to destinations, i.e. if you can't make it to a pirate base you can't steal tech from them, you could take this in all sorts of directions as well, ways to shoot them down etc, some diplo actions could require the agent to travel to that factions territory (like make alliance)

[gameplay] make exploration a little more star treky, make exploration ships require alot more components (science stations, etc), and give them a procedural encounter table so interesting stuff is always happening as you explore, these ships could also ferry agents, like escorting a diplomat

[DLC] contract an artist, finish up fleshing out the pictures for each of the races agents, well pay for it
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Shogouki
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by Shogouki »

ORIGINAL: DevildogFF

Don't worry, they won't give you any information or feedback because evidently Universe is super top secret until a week before launch.


Well it could be that they haven't released info because they are not sure it will launch on time. Either that or they are just too busy trying to get it finished since its such a small team.
Canute0
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by Canute0 »

Stuff that would be nice to see in Universe, please add your comments.
Don't you think this is a bit late ?
Universe is nearly finished, this don't will have any influence to that last expansion anymore.

Maybe you should start a new threat "Things I would like to see in DW 3" !!
jamthree
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by jamthree »

[request]Get rid of luxury extractors, gas and mining should pick them up, they add nothing to the game and make it ridiculous to micro station building. I can't think of anything that is more superfluous and unnecessary to the game as luxury extractors.
While I can see your point they do add flavour to the game as you can design small fuel gas mining stations or large planet ones such as star wars Bespin. It really doesn't take away that much time adding a single item to a design otherwise why bother having variety in other aspects when you could just have a one does all component type.

Thats the entire point, they add 0 flavor, gas and mineral are enough. They are a huge cost to put on a station especially if that station is going to be mining the far more common gas only or mineral only planet / asteroid. There is nothing from preventing you putting a whole lot of gas or mineral engines and making a larger mining base. But when you extrapolate all the combinations

Mineral
Mineral/Luxury
Gas
Gas/Luxury
Luxury Only *which still requires a useless mineral or gas extractor

You end up managing AOT of design's just to micro luxury extractor costs which really don;t add anything to the game. Maybe if you wanted to add ALOT of planets with Luxury only resources and create a luxury only base, well maybe.
[request] give us a "state miner" ship type so we can use the manual mining process without designing a ship that has unnecessary requirements.
As frustrating as the civilian miners can be they are part of the entire state/civilian design of the game, if we have a state miner why not a state freighter too?

There is nothing wrong with Civilian miners, also there is no Manual way to trade. There is, however, a way to manually mine, and it is useful with shadows early game. But you have to put extractors on another ship base. Either manual mining shouldn't exist or we should get a ship type.
[request] be able to change the names of planets/systems/ships
You already can for planets/ships/bases, if I recall correctly there is a rename button in your property window. Or it could be that you simply click on the item in questions name then type a new one. You can rename systems but only in the game editor mode so it would be nice if it was extended to just include the standard playing mode.

If there is a button that is awesome I dont know when that was added but still awesome, However I did forget to put system names as well which would be nice to rename.
[request] A checkbox on the race pick yours and the table view for opponents) part of game setup "use lore system" have pre-designed systems for each of the races, i.e. Sol for Terrans
This again I think falls into design ethos, the lore I believe states humans came from Earth long ago, and so if you play humans you are really a long lost colony etc. You can find an independent human group on a Sol system. However I do agree you should have some form of starting option whereby you could play without the storylines and have a set of official homeworld systems to play from.

So then make the system the lore system the humans start in, maybe add this as part of the modding package so you can choose start systems you create in an editor, and again its all optional.
[gameplay] Add a "passenger" ship and make agents travel to destinations, i.e. if you can't make it to a pirate base you can't steal tech from them, you could take this in all sorts of directions as well, ways to shoot them down etc, some diplo actions could require the agent to travel to that factions territory (like make alliance)
While I like this concept I think it would make DW a horrible micromess, all characters already spend time to travel to locations, I guess this is simulating them boarding various civilian ships etc. Now for a spy to travel aboard one of your own ships to an enemy location to steal stuff you have to question the logic involved. Your ship would just get shot down instead. Unless you then have to have a whole new branch of ships that fly undercover missions etc, this is where you could open up a huge micromanagement issue. All characters could do with some form of expansion but I think it best if that went in the guise of extra ways to use them and a variety of outcomes and consequences rather than an increase in the mechanics of their implementation.

Having an actual ship opens all sort of possibilities and there is already a huge mess of freighters a few small ships wouldn't add much its not like there are 100's of agents per faction. It would also eliminate some of the "gameyness" from the auto movement.



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elanaagain
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by elanaagain »

you cannot change the names of moons. This makes the display in the expansion planner very frustrating as moons don't list with the planets in the same solar system. ARRGGG
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feygan
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by feygan »

ORIGINAL: elanaagain

you cannot change the names of moons. This makes the display in the expansion planner very frustrating as moons don't list with the planets in the same solar system. ARRGGG

Moons get changed the same way planets do.
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Grotius
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by Grotius »

I can't figure out how to change the name of anything. What's the secret?
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Aeson
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by Aeson »

ORIGINAL: Grotius

I can't figure out how to change the name of anything. What's the secret?
Select the object, bring up its details screen, left-click in the object name field on the details screen, type whatever you want in there. Alternatively, find it in your ship/colony/construction yards/fleets list, select it in that list, left-click in the object name field which should show up somewhere on that screen, type in whatever you want.
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Grotius
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by Grotius »

Thanks! That works great. I appreciate it.
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Grotius
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by Grotius »

Sorry to necro post, but a follow-up question: I can rename ships and bases, but I'm still not able to rename planets or moons or systems. Can any of these be renamed in-game? Or must one use the editor?
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FingNewGuy
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by FingNewGuy »

ORIGINAL: Grotius

Sorry to necro post, but a follow-up question: I can rename ships and bases, but I'm still not able to rename planets or moons or systems. Can any of these be renamed in-game? Or must one use the editor?

In Universe, you have to use the Editor to rename moons, planets, stars, etc. that are not colonies. Its easy enough: open the Editor, double-left click on what you want to rename, and voila! [:)]
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elanaagain
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by elanaagain »

One very frustrating thing about the resource planner is that moons are NOT listed with their parent planet. This means you can't select by name, hoping to see what’s in a specific system and make plans. All you see are the planets, (good so far) with random moons interspersed (not so good). If moons were named with the parent planet’s name first, then the display would show all you know about a system.
For example: In the system “Aprox” there are 5 planets and two moons. Naming the moons in this manner (with the planet name as a prefix) would enable the resource display to put the planets and their associated moons together when displaying info alphabetically. This would be a great help to human users making plans.


‘Aprox 1’ Barren rock <resources>
‘Aprox 2’ Barren rock < unknown >
‘Aprox 3’ Continental <resources>
‘Aprox 3-the Moon’ barren rock <resources>
‘Aprox 4’ Desert <resources>
‘Aprox 4 -Phobos’ barren rock <resources>
‘Aprox 4–Demos’ barren rock <resources>
‘Aprox 5’ Gas Giant <resources>
‘Aprox 6’ Frozen gas giant <resources>
‘Aprox 6 Europa’ Ice <resources>
‘Aprox 7’ Frozen gas giant <unknown>
‘Aprox 7’ Frozen gas giant < unknown >
‘Aprox 8’ Barren rock < unknown >



Any chance the designers could amend the code so moons don’t get unique names that break the alphabetical listing function of the resource planner display? I have asked for this several times over the past few years.
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Grotius
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by Grotius »

Thanks, FlingNewGuy. And I agree with elanaagain: I wish moons took their names from their parent planets.
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FireStarterXoX69
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by FireStarterXoX69 »

The biggest request for me in this game would be to add a check box in the options much like there is for "Automate newly constructed ships", but the other one would be for "Automate newly 'ACQUIRED' ships".

Playing as a pirate in this game is impossible for me because of this missing "feature". If you acquire a construction ship as a pirate, which you will all the time, and you miss it because you are doing micro on other aspects of the game... you are screwed because that construction ship(s) is building large space ports all over the map (among other things).
Azurian
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by Azurian »

Does the Game Editor ever lift the "fog of war" or can you edit what you can currently see?
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pycco
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by pycco »

ORIGINAL: Azurian

Does the Game Editor ever lift the "fog of war" or can you edit what you can currently see?

yes you can edit anything.

ORIGINAL: FireStarterXoX69

The biggest request for me in this game would be to add a check box in the options much like there is for "Automate newly constructed ships", but the other one would be for "Automate newly 'ACQUIRED' ships".

Playing as a pirate in this game is impossible for me because of this missing "feature". If you acquire a construction ship as a pirate, which you will all the time, and you miss it because you are doing micro on other aspects of the game... you are screwed because that construction ship(s) is building large space ports all over the map (among other things).

right clicking brings up all ships with no orders, in a fleet
It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
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FireStarterXoX69
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RE: Things I would like to see in Universe

Post by FireStarterXoX69 »

You don't understand what I'm saying. When a ship is 'acquired' it is automatically set on automation. There should be a checkbox at the very least so I can disable this. If you micro pretty much everything, like I do, then you will find this pretty game breaking (when playing pirates). On regular playthroughs I do not even research boarding pods for this reason. If you play on high speeds you will simply miss the messages that you have acquired new ships, and if those ships are construction ships, they will build things at will.

In fact, your response to my post... has nothing to do with what I even said. You must have quoted the wrong person.
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