If i'd want SpaceEmpires_6 from Malfador Machinations, i'll buy it.

I'd somehow enjoy a "configurable" amounts of system features, though;

- The limit of 5 planets & 3 Asteroids (which is buggy, AFAIC, since CP.xml won't deploy the listed amounts as defined) on sandbox maps could become a matter of ship lanes and PQSs & other parsec driven "items".

- The current sector (15x15) would then BE such a system where highly variable locations of planets on a much bigger grid would proportionately allow for  *maybe* more than 5 and still be "visually" appealing.

- Then, The old sectors are replaced by a new 15x15 quadrant type.

- Effectively making an immense map Fifteen times larger ---visually--- only.

Strangely, this doesn't even take more memory, it's a simple coordinates recalibration function.

Just got this one off of the Elemental forums: In the ship designer, instead of having the weapon and engine modules look like weapons and engines, but with the engine trail/beam/projectile coming from the center of the ship; have the weapon and engine models be extras, and have the weapon/engine itself be nothing more than an invisible point from which the FX would eminate.

So basically like GC1 only with a better UI.

That's also what I said. 

Well in-system shouldn't require hyperdrive, so "movement" isn't perhaps the best way to put it.

We may wind up needing two classes of engines if we do it that way, although that's not a bad thing.

But that's a better UI for the same functional mechanic-even though it's not just a GUI.

Exactly, all of your peripheral system parsecs (U/D/L/R, 15 per sides) are tied with the exit of single sector (possibly selectable too that has empty space, an anomaly, asteroids & even a rogue planet, etc) zoomed out to be - itself - a 1/15th of the quadrant. And so on.

Think about the F1 to F5 and optional zoom factors option in settings.

Better yet, visualize the current grid tile that contains your HW on a parsec... and dump another grid of 15x15 onto it - zoomable.

The trick would be to randomize the entrance of oncoming ships & fleets to any of these 15 tiles; imagine an invasion troops sneaking in your squared region of space (system) by a corner or right near a planet which unluckily or not in ON or too near that edge. Assuming the Star is the middle or not, btw. (Defensive Governor X message to you; We're happy to report that the Yor fleet that's been on our radars for three weeks was gobbled up by our local singularity!) And more, possibilities.

But what are we talking about.  Stardock devs are probable not able to program a map like that.  This is just to see if their still reading.

I hope

escorts for the freighters.  What I mean is when the frieghters go miny on you.  Any escorts you have with them should stay with them.

Why not give it as a choice samething as watching or particapating in combat or just letting the comp do the whole thing.

Neither do i *almost* (as you may now about my solid opinion over a Tactical "feature" both for surfaces & space combat), but we DO have an Invasion screen that pre-supposes some activities are happening.

I don't want an overly complex system... just a few options (as explained partly with the previously suggested "Ultimate Espionage" sabotage tactics -- oops, here's the *T* word again!) to at least feel i have some sort of control or influence in strategic terms.

Skip buttons are always available. Even for the simulations we currently have.

Don't know if this was already mentioned on this huge thread, but what I'd really like is the ability to customize your own AI scripts. It's slightly frustrating that we get to choose between these different AI "personalities" without knowing what differences exist between them. This would open up the possibility of a new type of metaverse competition as well--custom ai tournaments.

I think rescripting is needed, because I doubt that we will ever find a race out there that we are ------- the good or the evil.

I want to see a system where influence is not just a factor of imps/modules and physical proximity. It might be good to have a system simelar to that of SoaSA in which influence spreads along trade routes and (maybe) some sort of "comm line" system. The way it is now, it is in desperate need of work.

EDIT: Fixed typos that made it almost unreadable.