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The Tarib are a fantastic find because of their ability to do fine on Inferno worlds, because Inferno worlds are kind of like Master of Orion 2's Toxic worlds: the garbage planets that are so garbage you can't upgrade them. But Tarib don't care, so you can just seed the otherwise useless worlds with those dudes and have a nice productive planet!
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Apr 18, 2019 21:12
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nweismuller posted:
The fact that they're introduced with something like "we've got star harpies" makes me really believe that their name is a nod to "Space Herpes" from the incredibly cheesy 1984 movie Ice Pirates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-me2inj1nNw
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Apr 19, 2019 14:57
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Notahippie posted:The fact that they're introduced with something like "we've got star harpies" makes me really believe that their name is a nod to "Space Herpes" from the incredibly cheesy 1984 movie Ice Pirates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-me2inj1nNw Augh. Ice Pirates. I wince to remember it.
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Apr 19, 2019 17:21
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How do the colony mechanics with multiple races work? Different biomes can support different quantities of various races, but do you have different pop capacities per species? Does each pop 'occupy' a biome to varying levels etc?
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Apr 19, 2019 20:32
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Teledahn posted:How do the colony mechanics with multiple races work? Different biomes can support different quantities of various races, but do you have different pop capacities per species? Does each pop 'occupy' a biome to varying levels etc? The maximum total population for a planet is the maximum population of the best preferences for all biomes on a planet. The maximum population of Phidi on Eluz is 2.4 billion, while, strictly because of better habitability on Ice, the maximum population of Humans on Eluz is 3.4 billion. You can thus resettle a billion Humans onto Eluz, while it's completely full of Phidi, and reach a population of 3.4 billion with no problems. Resettling races with better habitability onto a world thus never causes overpopulation based on the population already there, except in certain marginal cases where the increase in population cap is less than a billion from a new species. Another example- a medium Garden world (such as Splendor) can support, on its own, a Phidi population of 4 billion in the reef, 6.9 billion in the ocean, 0.4 billion in the vents, and 2 billion in the forest, for a total maximum population of 13.3 billion Phidi. It can support a Human population of 1.5 billion in the reef, 2.3 billion in the ocean, 0.4 billion in the vents, and 8 billion in the forest, for a total maximum population of 12.2 billion Humans. With both together, maximum possible planetary population is 4 billion in the reef, 6.9 billion in the ocean, 0.4 billion in the vents, and 8 billion in the forest, for a maximum combined planetary population of 19.3 billion in any combination between 13.3 billion Phidi and 6 billion Humans and 12.2 billion Humans and 7.1 billion Phidi. Because economic outputs for population are figured fractionally, this also doesn't result in loss of productivity for fractional units of population- half a billion Phidi and half a billion Humans produce, in total together, 1.5 coins, 2 labor, 0.5 science, and 0.5 food. Planetary output rounds the total output of any economic output to whole numbers, but strange planetary population fractions will not cause loss of efficiency in the process. In Stars in Shadow, friendship really is profit, they set the population figures up to make it so. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 02:54 on Apr 20, 2019 |
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Apr 20, 2019 02:42
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Stars in Shadow is really the first 4X space game i've seen where really setting up species colony by colony pays off and is good to look at - and where making your empire be multispecies pays off as you can put them in planets appropriate to them.
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Apr 20, 2019 05:07
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nweismuller posted:The maximum total population for a planet is the maximum population of the best preferences for all biomes on a planet. ... Just to be sure I'm understanding; for each biome on a planet, each race can grow until the sum of all populations occupying that biome reaches that race's threshold for that biome. This sounds like a better interpretation of planetary occupation than gamey-er solutions like 'planet size' or 'type' (seen mostly everywhere) or even the basic habitability index of Sword of the Stars. Does the player have much control over who lives in what biome or the ability to shuffle folks about? Sorry to be asking so many mechanics questions, I'm quite enjoying your writing too.
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Apr 21, 2019 05:30
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Have the game, never figured out how to play effectively, so learning a lot from this!
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Apr 21, 2019 06:03
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Teledahn posted:Just to be sure I'm understanding; for each biome on a planet, each race can grow until the sum of all populations occupying that biome reaches that race's threshold for that biome. Who lives in what biome on a planet is irrelevant; since races with lesser habitability for a biome don't reduce the ability of races with a greater habitability. 800 million Phidi filling up a unit of vents doesn't prevent the other 3.2 billion that Orthin could fit into vents getting there; likewise, 1.5 billion Humans in a unit of reefs doesn't stop 2.5 billion more Phidi from fitting in. You can probably assume, for purposes of what you imagine, that races occupy their 'friendlier' biomes on a planet first. You can shuffle races off a planet as long as you have shipping capacity in your trade pool; it automatically pulls out transports from the pool to depart from the origin planet and head to the destination at maximum speed, each unit of population filling a full cargo hold (and thus either 5 or 8 cargo capacity depending on your technology). Transports pulled from the trade pool for such a purpose don't earn money from trade while hauling population, but are automatically and immediately replaced in the trade pool once they reach their destination. As such, cargo capacity in the trade pool can serve three different purposes- transporting food from where it's grown to where it's eaten (which automatically happens and ties up cargo capacity), transporting population between worlds, and earning money via working trade routes.
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Apr 21, 2019 07:19
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You don't need to memorize exact capacities. A general idea of "hey, don't these dudes do best on this kind of planet" will do, because when you hover your population-laden mouse cursor over a planet, it'll tell you if the population capacity increases. So if you have some sucky iceball populated by seahorses, you can pick up a population of pillbugs and mouse over it, and oh hey population increase, get a move on little bug dudes. It's very advantageous to have a nice spread of population types in your empire, and like I said earlier, Tarib are a fantastic find because they're the only ones that thrive on otherwise garbage Inferno biomes. MechaCrash fucked around with this message at 11:59 on Apr 21, 2019 |
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Apr 21, 2019 10:39
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Image processing is under way. I might have an update up by Thursday; else I'll be sure to have an update up by Sunday. Sorry about Phoenix Wright-related delays.
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Apr 24, 2019 11:40
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nweismuller posted:'Accidentally'? You'd be amazed at what cats walking on keyboards and/or touchscreens can achieve.
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Apr 25, 2019 16:19
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My girlfriend got me this game for our anniversary. I've been playing as the Yoral, who are preeettty good.
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Apr 25, 2019 23:43
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Fivemarks posted:My girlfriend got me this game for our anniversary. I've been playing as the Yoral, who are preeettty good. Warmth and dry feet to you, Khagan. 
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Apr 26, 2019 00:36
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GOtta say, comparing this to Galciv III? This is way better than that game, and is way more friendly to players. None of that "The galaxy generation is specifically scripted to put the player in a terrible position" nonsense.
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Apr 26, 2019 02:03
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Omobono posted:You'd be amazed at what cats walking on keyboards and/or touchscreens can achieve. I vaguely remember something someone said; a cat walking on a keyboard ad managed to type out FORMAT. Almost lost everything. quote:None of that "The galaxy generation is specifically scripted to put the player in a terrible position" nonsense. Hmm? This sounds interesting. Can you explain?
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Apr 26, 2019 06:17
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Bloodly posted:I vaguely remember something someone said; a cat walking on a keyboard ad managed to type out FORMAT. Almost lost everything. Galactic Civilizations 3's map generation script specifically is set up so that the player will always have bad, isolated starts while computer opponents will have starts ranging from amazing to "okay". Generally the player will be in an incredibly isolated position without many good planets nearby, while computer players will get starts with about three or four star systems tightly bunched and with good planets.
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Apr 26, 2019 08:01
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I though I was perpetually unlucky. gently caress you Brad Wardell.
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Apr 26, 2019 12:28
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Was this true of 1 and 2? I mean, I remember the manual specifically stating they knew where all the planets were(By plot and by mechanics), but was the generation also against you then?
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Apr 26, 2019 13:11
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I am legit impressed with all the playable races in this game. It's a shame how under the radar it is.
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Apr 26, 2019 14:08
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Bloodly posted:Was this true of 1 and 2? I mean, I remember the manual specifically stating they knew where all the planets were(By plot and by mechanics), but was the generation also against you then? Absolutely not.
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Apr 26, 2019 16:13
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One thing I've learned in this game, and this is something that Nweis will end up covering, is that you DO NOT TRUST THE GREMAK. Even if they're allied to you, even if they're 100+ Friendly with you, they cannot be trusted. The moment you're drug into a war and they see that you're weak, they will stab you in the back. They have no sense of right and wrong, on "Predator" and "Prey". They do have the best looking ships, though.
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Apr 27, 2019 18:57
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Remnant of Empire By CSY 3104, the processing power made available by nanocomputing had begun to show notable benefits in Combine scientific and engineering efforts. More sophisticated AI, although still not sapient by a long stretch, nonetheless was a powerful tool for management of large data sets, extracting meaning from apparent chaos. With new analytic tools, Phidi science entered a new age. Self-Organising Networks represents our third major improvement upgrade from level 1 to level 2, this time for Labs. Level 1 Labs produce 4-6 science, based on staffing, while Level 2 Labs produce 6-10 science, based on staffing.   Later in 3104, the CSSF arrived in force at the Misam system, where they were promptly engaged by the Human barbarians occupying the three destroyers in-system.   As the Human vessels were armed solely with light coilgun mounts intended for close defense, the CSSF was able to destroy one of the Human vessels and heavily damage another before the Humans could close range, although the limited accuracy of most of the CSSF vessels at range limited their combat effectiveness. The damage to the second destroyer knocked out nearly half of its firepower.      The remaining Human vessels swept into engage, focusing their full fire on the CSSF Bladed Squid, crippling its primary weapons and inflicting several casualties amongst its crew. They did not survive long afterwards, however, as the full firepower of the CSSF was able to be focused on them at close range.   With the Human combat vessels destroyed, researchers on the Curiousity and Venture were able to pick apart the wreckage of the Human vessels, taking samples of their weaponry for study. Meanwhile, ransacking the converted transports used by the Human barbarians as support vessels uncovered a wealth of mined fissionables, hydroponics equipment, and basic tools- enough to have supported these Humans in their many long years of isolation in Misam.  As the CSSF was returning to the Seralta system for repairs and to rendezvous with future colony missions, long-range observations made a note of a new space ray soldier at the Enif system in CSY 3105. Although plans had been to dispatch the next colony mission to Enif, the presence of the space ray soldier instead diverted plans to Rasalgethi. The CSSF had no belief it could possibly challenge the space ray soldier in battle.    Combine negotiators approached the Orthin Conference in CSY 3117, seeking permission to permit scientific information to cross borders, paving the way for certain large-scale collaborative research efforts. Although Orthin isolationism made them reluctant to approve such a step, nonetheless the Conference was significantly more willing to approve this arrangement than the already-existing opening of trade between the two star nations. Phidi science benefitted immediately, while continued friendly contact served to soften Orthin mistrust of the Phidi.  By CSY 3130, a project to refit the Curiousity and the existing ships of the CSSF finally modernised all existing Phidi vessels to take advantage of fusion reactors, high-powered coilgun weaponry using superconductive coils, and advanced fire control using nanocomputing. With the improved range and accuracy of CSSF vessels, their effectiveness in combat would doubtless be greatly increased.  Over the early 3140s, efforts within the Combine to create a truly unified interstellar banking system and currency finally bore fruit. No single commodity was viable as a backing for an interstellar trade currency, but careful design of bundled commodity backings that would retain comparable value across differing worlds and alien cultures proved to be possible, with diligent labor by banking analysts and financial traders. A viable interstellar currency proved to be an immediate boon for trade, making the products of a multiplanetary economy available more cheaply and more easily for all the citizens of the Combine, and greatly increasing the volumes of trade possible to be served by Phidi freighters. Interstellar Currency increases our Markets from level 1 to level 2, increasing their base Morale bonus from +8 to +12 as a greater variety and volume of goods becomes available for our citizens, increasing their base income from 2-5 coins based on staffing to 3-10 coins based on staffing, and providing additional trade routes for every Market we have. A major boost both to Morale and to income.  In CSY 3148, the space rays that had arrived in the Gemma system once again mysteriously disappeared, with little explanation as to how they could possibly enter hyperspace. With access to Phoron once again possible, investment into the development of the world promptly resumed, as shipments of food from the planet resumed.  CSY 3164 saw the arrival of a Phidi colonisation mission escorted by the CSSF- now newly reinforced by the destroyers Carnivore and Mottled Ray- at the Rasalgethi system, there to be confronted by the 'Death's Hand' barbarians who controlled the system.   Although the Human forces at Rasalgethi were stronger than those which had controlled Misam, comprising two destroyers and a heavier cruiser, the increased range and accuracy of the CSSF's weapons stood them in good stead, engaging and destroying both destroyers swiftly before they could close to their own weapons range.     The CSSF scout Venture came under fire of the cruiser's main guns- a pair of coilguns, more primitive than the standard CSSF coilguns in use. The damage it took inflicted light casualties, but by this time the cruiser was within range of the whole CSSF, which promptly tore it apart with focused fire, thus bringing the strange, nihilistic Death's Hand cult of Rasalgethi to an end.     More examples of rapid-fire light coilguns were recovered for Phidi study following the battle, while it became clear that the great oceanic world slated for colonisation had, in years long past, been site of a major colony. As the first Phidi settlers arrived on the world of Surao, it became clear that a whole massive industrial plant was established on the islands, still capable of being repaired and restored by Phidi labor, and greatly accelerating the development of the world.  Even as Surao was being colonised, the space ray soldier which had been present at Enif once again disappeared to locations unknown. With plans once more in place to send a colonisation mission to Enif, the CSSF withdrew back to Seralta to await the next colony ship to be assembled in Tendao orbit.  The integration of the Commonwealth of Splendor into the Phidi Combine had raised a number of new challenges for the Combine, struggling to maintain its ideals and its Charter while serving an alien population. In CSY 3177, formal revisions to the Combine Charter were approved, providing greater latitude of form for alien Combine member states while still attempting to preserve the fundamental ideals of freedom, open trade, and internal peace of the Combine. With this new revision to the Charter, a series of referenda amongst the Human populations of Splendor were held, restoring many of the constituent components of the Commonwealth as democratic republics rather than traditional Combine franchises, while still retaining Charter guidance to ensure the Combine's ideals were upheld. With this, we no longer get an 'alien rulers' morale penalty, meaning that- barring outside shocks- we won't get loss of productivity from dissidents in peacefully-integrated planets. Morale is basically a cushion against these bad effects, but, as I noted earlier, I prefer to ensure that morale on my planets goes up anyhow- in that it indicates a more contented population.    In CSY 3188, the Curiousity arrived at the Rasalhague system, there to be confronted with a new star nation. The Shadow Company, like the Stone Hammers, was a Gremak military dictatorship formed from remnants of the Gremak Imperial Fleet in control of a world once controlled by the Gremak Empire. On contact with the Curiousity, the Shadow Company demanded a hefty tribute to stay their hands, which the Combine agreed to in order to preserve the current peace. The Shadow Company world of Gakol, for its part, was a heavily-developed world covered in permanent ice sheets, with a barely-breathable atmosphere, its oxygen generated by the extensive agriculture over the surface. Nearly three billion Gremak ruled over an enslaved population of over five billion Humans and Ashdar Teros, held in check by cleverly-designed slave collars and a large ground military.    The Curiousity encountered another alien nation in CSY 3210, this one significantly friendlier to the Combine. The Imperial Republic of Sebarsk, built on the lifeless, arid world of Sebarsk, was an Ashdar Haduir republic still holding to ancient traditions in which the republic ruled as the government in place for the ancient Ashdar Empire in absentia. The Ashdar presence on Sebarsk had nearly died out after the 'Great War' nearly 20,000 Tendao years ago, after the warp lanes ceased to function. Although the Imperial Republic had held to its Imperial identity with stubborn pride and maintained a reasonably developed industrial base, the news brought by Phidi explorers of active Gremak spacefarers and the promise of Phidi economic and technical aid that could help the Haduir of Sebarsk better survive on their hostile world led the Sebarsk Planetary Senate to vote to join in the Combine as a member state, after bitter debate over the betrayal this represented to their loyalty to the Empire. There's only one portrait for 'Ashdar splinter colonies leader', and it uses a Teros face. We should probably assume that the Imperial Governor of Sebarsk is actually a Haduir, given that Sebarsk has an exclusively Haduir population.  The Ashdar Haduir were an air-breathing reptiloid species, about as tall as Humans. Although they did not match Phidi in mercantile skills, their cautious, precise approach to problems nonetheless rendered them skillful administrators, while their melancholy temperament was sharply at odds with Phidi optimism. The Haduir of Sebarsk held the cultural memory of the Golden Age of the Ashdar Empire sacred, even though many of the details had been lost in the period of collapse following the Great War. The Planetary Senate of Sebarsk continued to govern the republic following its admission into the Combine, although the position of Imperial Governor was replaced with a Combine Representative who served as chief executive of the government, to be appointed by the Combine's Magnate. Ivolo, the last Imperial Governor of Sebarsk, was promptly confirmed by the Combine government as the first Combine Representative.   The early 3220s saw a pair of notable technical advancements in the Combine one after another. Although industrial-scale genetic modification of crops and stock for aquaculture and agriculture were, by this time, well-established in the Combine, the use of modified organisms to prepare marginal portions of a planetary surface for settlement was a new innovation, one that required careful study of local conditions on each planet. Work based on the reverse-engineering of Human close defense coilguns led to a new generation of rapid-fire light coilguns for close-quarters battle, capable of engagement at longer ranges and with greater force than the existing light lasers in use by the CSSF.   The CSSF was in no position to immediately take advantage of this advance, however. In CSY 3220, the colony mission to Enif arrived, escorted by the CSSF- now further reinforced by the newly-commissioned Irontooth Shark. There, the colony ship and the CSSF were confronted by the space rays in system, which swept to make an intercept.     Long-range fire from the CSSF rapidly crippled the attacking space rays, leaving them to drift on ballistic courses through space. Continued fire from the CSSF on the crippled space rays led to the inevitable conclusion, with the dangerous beasts cleared from the system.  The first wave of colonisation onto the planet Mehu consisted of Phidi, although Human immigrants almost immediately set off to seek their fortune on Mehu, along with Phidi from elsewhere in the Combine. Work to restore the great cities of Mehu to operational condition began, while massive industrial plants were rebuilt in the ruins of ancient factories. It was anticipated that Mehu would, with investment and a growing labor force, eventually become one of the primary heavy industrial worlds of the Combine and a center of shipbuilding.  With new technologies to work with and Mehu colonised, a new generation of destroyer designs was concluded by the CSSF, taking advantage of Human-style light coilguns upgraded with superconductive coils and advanced fire control to back up the primary coilguns for destroyers. Although a relatively modest upgrade, it nonetheless represented a new step forward in CSSF combat power.  CSY 3234 brought the survey by the Curiousity of the Castor system, which hosted a small iceball planet colonised by the Orthin. This world proved to be the largest center of consumer-oriented light industries and shipping in the Orthin Conference, as well as supporting a metals industry of reasonable size and the largest single scientific community in the Conference. The Phidi Combine and Known Space as of CSY 3242  With the growth of heavy industrial centers beyond the homeworld, the heavy industry on Tendao has largely been retooled to support assorted light industries and commercial centers, and the port facilities to handle an ever-greater volume of shipping. Additional research facilities sponsored by Phidi merchant princes and corporations have been established on Tendao over the past 150 years, cementing Tendao's place as the primary center of scientific and technological development in the Combine. Local incomes and quality of life have risen dramatically, both from the increased commercial focus of the world and due to the greater efficiencies allowed by the now well-established interstellar banking system of the Combine. The population is growing rapidly, recovering from major emigration to Surao and Mehu. Morale on Tendao is now +61, up from +36 last update.  Nuo is, if anything, even more heavily-industrialised than 150 years ago, its local aquaculture abandoned in the face of competition from Phoron and Surao. Expanded light industries and commercial zones have brought more wealth to the planet, which enjoys a rising quality of life. Emigration to Surao has led to a dip in population from its peak of over nine billion, while much of the current population is being assembled into a new colony mission to the Dubhe system. Morale on Nuo is now +44, up from +23 last update.  A population of over one billion Humans emigrated from Splendor now shares Eluz with the native Phidi, while local agriculture has been abandoned while local mining, metal refining, and shipping industries have expanded. Eluz, formerly notably 'rustic' in lifestyle for the Combine, now has access to many more of its modern conveniences, and local incomes go further than ever before. Despite competition from Splendor, Eluz remains- for the moment- the primary industrial-scale producer of metals in the Combine, with a far greater output than 150 years ago. Although Phidi on Eluz have, as a rule, higher incomes than the Humans that have emigrated here, nonetheless Human quality of life on Eluz is still quite acceptable. Phidi morale on Eluz is +27, up from +10 last update, while Human morale on Eluz is +12, just edging out the baseline +10 morale they'd enjoy in a Human empire with no markets.  The use of genetically-engineered organisms to moderate the local environment has proved to allow a notable economic expansion on Onni, whose local light industries and commercial community are expanding along with expanded cities. The planet is the primary center of scientific research in the Combine after Tendao itself- it is estimated that perhaps half of the innovation enjoyed in the Combine takes place on Tendao and Onni combined. As with many places in the Combine, the growth in interplanetary trade allowed by the establishment of an effective interstellar banking system has led to improved quality of life on Onni, although changes here have thus far been less dramatic than on some other worlds. Morale on Onni is now +27, up from +23 last update.  Despite Human emigration to Eluz and Mehu, the Human population on Splendor has nearly doubled over the last generation, while the Phidi population has more than doubled. The increased population has alleviated earlier labor shortages, while the improved interplanetary trade has shown itself in dramatically increased incomes. The passage of time has dulled the gratitude of the Human population for their rescue by the Combine, but reform of governments in Human-occupied portions of Splendor have led the Splendids to consider themselves better-served by their government. The continued work to settle and tame Splendor's continents continues to show itself in an attitude of optimism amongst the Human Splendids, who enjoy a higher quality of life than ever before. The Splendid metals industry is a major contributor to Combine supplies, although, as of yet, not yet matching the output of Eluz. Morale on Splendor is now +44 for both Phid and Humans, up from +36 last update. The 'Rescued Refugees' modifier has worn off, but the elimination of the 'Alien Rulers' penalty makes up for that, while the +20 to Human morale for City Planning makes up for the difference due to increased Phidi benefit from Markets and the 'Phidi Loyalty' modifier.  With Phoron no longer isolated from the larger Combine, it has benefited from both investment and emigration, changing it from an isolated backwater to a major exporter of food with extensive light industries and mercantile activities in its cities. Quality of life has dramatically increased over the past 150 years, while population now exceeds 4.5 billion. Phoron still suffers from a dramatic labor shortage, and aquacultural yields are yet significantly lower than they could be. Even so, approximately a third of all the food consumed in the Combine is grown on Phoron. Morale on Phoron has grown from +10 to +44 since last update, a major jump.  Between the extensive industries restored on Surao and immigration from other worlds, Surao has rapidly grown to be a heavily-developed industrial world with very extensive heavy industry, well-established light industry and shipping, and aquacultural and research sectors of respectable size. A population of over five billion now calls Surao home, enjoying a prosperous, modern lifestyle. Local shipyards on Surao have begun to assemble the exploratory vessel Inquiry, which shall soon take up the slack left with the loss of the Discovery at Keid. Morale on Surao is +44.  The Republic of Sebarsk has already begun to benefit from its membership in the Combine, with technical aid allowing them to build new reactors to power new cities, and with Phidi investment helping spur growing industry and commerce. The Phidi willingness to aid the Republic has engendered a general feeling of gratitude and goodwill amongst the Haduir of the planet, who had grown to fear that they would be plunged into slavery by the Gremak without aid. Morale on Sebarsk is +22- +12 from the market and +10 from the 'Rescued Refugees' modifier.  Mehu's population still remains little over a billion, although waves of Human and Phidi immigration to the planet are expected to change this in short order. The rapid establishment of a modest heavy industrial base on the planet has been fueling further development, although it remains, for the moment, a poorly-developed frontier world with only portions of its great cities restored to operational status. Mehu's morale remains at +10 for now.  Eleven of the twelve destroyers of the CSSF- the Predator, Great Blue Shark, Reef Shark, Bladed Squid, Hunter, Banded Eel, Benthic Squid, Crimson Eel, Carnivore, Mottled Ray, and Irontooth Shark- are currently stationed in Mehu orbit, recently refitted to take advantage of the new light coilguns available. The CSSF scout Venture is likewise stationed in Mehu orbit, while the last destroyer of the CSSF, the Gray Ray, is en route to Splendor, the last ship in the CSSF to still have the older defense lasers as secondary weapons.  Research into manufacturing methods to produce carbone composites making use of a lattice of carbon nanotubes is well under way, promising to produce armor materials with incredible tensile strength per weight. The use of these composites in ship armor promised to notably improve ship protection, while experience with new fabrication methods could well allow for a breakthrough in industrial productivity. A number of other fields presented themselves to Phidi study, although amongst the most interesting to many researchers at this point is further exploration of the physics of tachyons, hopefully making use of these new lessons to probe the nature of hyperspace more effectively.  The Orthin Conference, although evidently embroiled in war on two fronts, remains at good terms with the Phidi Combine- and, in fact, has expressed an interest in a fueling and logistics treaty allowing ships of either nation to use the ports of the other as operational bases. Although this could well allow Phidi to explore further stars, it could also potentially place the Combine in direct competition with the Orthin Conference over habitable worlds on Combine borders.  The Phidi economy has seen massive growth over the past 150 years, even despite the new tribute burden imposed by the Shadow Company. The tribute agreement with the Stone Hammers has lapsed, but the peace thus far endures- no doubt helped by the CSSF presence near the Musal system. Science and innovation has accelerated dramatically, with new research facilities and the advancements in AI aiding research. The greatest challenges facing the Combine at the moment are a dramatic shortage of shipping capacity to properly serve the greatly increased demands of interplanetary trade, and the continued pressure growing populations have been placing upon Combine food supplies. The Combine's population is now at an estimated 57 billion, most of whom are Phidi, although nearly 10 billion Humans and somewhat over 2 billion Haduir have joined the Phidi in the Combine. With adjustments to the Combine legal system to accomodate Human and Haduir needs, the Combine is now truly a multi-species society dedicated to peace, freedom, and prosperity for all its inhabitants. Growing investment, trade, and technical breakthroughs have greatly improved the productivity of Phidi society, while new friends have joined them in the Combine. With more time to address the current economic challenges of the Combine, it is anticipated that the future shall be brighter than ever before- even if the rumors of war drifting from the Orthin Conference have raised concern amongst some in the Combine. Still, any threat to the Combine seems distant, for now. Matters for Vote 1- Research Materials science, physics, and shipbuilding will all likely see major advances over the next 150 years, although other priorities may have time to be addressed. Research into a new generation of ship weapons to go along with heavier security hulls may be possible, while work into xeno-engineering and boarding tactics could allow for the Human barbarian colony ship in Alphard to be captured and its population integrated into the Combine. Research into cloning could allow for institutional actors to directly sponsor increased population growth, no longer limited by adult breeding populations, research into habitat domes could allow colonisation of planets previously too hostile to be considered, study into social analytics could allow heavier development of major worlds with a concomitant economic growth, and research into new communications and networking technologies could lay the groundwork for future economic breakthroughs. The xeno-engineering and boarding tactics course costs a total of 1310 RP, cloning costs 900 RP, habitat domes cost 1500 RP, social analytics costs 2800 RP, and communications and networking costs a total of 1600 RP. 2- Weapons Research At some point, even if it is not an immediate priority, new and heavier security hulls will call for new weapons. The simplest and cheapest program would be to develop new heavy coilguns to place fire at longer ranges. Research into charged ion beams would be relatively affordable, and provide for heavier firepower at short ranges than the existing coilgun weaponry of the CSSF, although it would come at a cost in long-range firepower. Intense study into advanced laser weapons may allow for lethally-effective weaponry at short to medium ranges, although the cost involved would be very significant and draw from more peaceful priorities for longer than may be preferred. Heavy coilguns would cost 480 RP, ion beams would cost 1100 RP and require an early diversion into advanced field theory (for 600 extra RP, although advanced field theory is needed anyhow for other priorities we'll have), and advanced lasers would cost 2380 RP, possibly also straining our existing ship power sources. 3- Industrial Worlds With the colonisation of Mehu, it is likely that the economic focus of Surao or Nuo shall shift from its current position as a heavy industrial center. Surao could be redeveloped as a second aquacultural world like Phoron, or have existing industries retooled more towards light industry and research along with a modest aquacultural expansion. Nuo could retool its heavy industrial base entirely to serving the metals industry, or supplement a new metals industry with an expanded research and scientific services sector. Please vote both for a world to redevelop and a redevelopment plan to follow for the world you choose. 4- Orthin Conference Proposal The proposal by the Orthin Conference to establish a fueling and basing treaty offers both advantages and risks- extending Combine range while opening promising worlds on Combine borders to competition for colonisation by the Orthin Conference. Please vote either yea or nay on the proposal. 5- Colonisation Targets The next immediate targets for Combine colonisation are the large glacial world in Gemma, likely to be developed as an agricultural world to help alleviate pressures on the food supply, or the ocean world in Dubhe, whose native deep-sea biosphere could be harvested for abundant gem-grade ornamentals.
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May 1, 2019 04:36
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Hey there! Great showing of possibilities. 1) Vote for Boarding. While it will not yield significant benefits to other areas of research and is something designed as a completely antagonistic development.. We have a star system which the inhabitants are under the yoke of a brutal slaver species. They are a constant threat to our borders by thier mere presence and the requirmeent both of paying them a tribute as a possible deterence to antagonism which indirectly supports thier oppressive system, and the necessity of having naval operations nearby in the case they become aggressive. Whether or not those oppressed would wish to join us is not the question. Here, the question is whether we as a species morally can sit back and let any species be enslaved against thier wills when we have the capacity to free them. It is not something that is based upon the markets, but of morals and ethics. It is something we owe the greater galaxy. Pending early completion of boarding vote for Cloning as second due to more population = more stuff across the board. 2) Ion Beams. relatively cost effective, a medium range weapon.. upgraded heavy coilguns are also a good alternative, however one might in turn consider the old addicum of 'all your eggs in the same spawning ground'. Variety of weapons and designs are good, and ion weapons would also be based upon fields that we would have to research for other things. Advanced lasers would be a massive investment and would require a heavy redesign of our ships as well to be able to effectively use them based upon projections of the power requirements, which is a heavy added expense and research requirement. Ions give us an alternative to current coilgun weapons, with no major tradeoffs nor extra research. 3) i feel that Nuo would stand to be remade to focus on the Metals Industry, where we have seen shortages before lead to an almost economic standstill. We for the moment seem to have sufficient light industries, scientific and aquaculture and a planet dedicated to metal production would hopefully yield us greater room for industrial expansion as well as if needed fleet buildup. 4) Yay The Orthin have asked us this of their own initiative. We can forestall incidents or misunderstandsing by ensuring we do not take on worlds that fall within the sphere of influence of the Orthin and ensure that we respect the areas that they are expanding into. Caution in this will hopefully avert any diplomatic misunderstandsing while letting us spread our explorers throughout more of the galaxy - and hopefully allow us closer diplomatic relations with the Orthin over the long term. 5) Gemma. As we have seen from the.. Random hyperspace appearances of th strange space rays and other entities, the possibility lies for disruption of our food production. While we produce enough to sustain the Combine, having secondary sources is a wise investment against future shortfalls or disruptions. A gem industry, while it would likely prove quite fruitful for our markets, would be a purely economics induced boon aimed at luxury goods and is of secondary concern for the moment where we are relatively economically solvent. Also great post and writeup Nweis!
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May 1, 2019 05:52
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To clarify something- boarding tactics are not necessarily needed to deal with the various Gremak pirate nations we've met, but would be needed to take the Human colony ship in Alphard without causing a massive tragedy. That said, if we get it, free Human colony ship.
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May 1, 2019 06:11
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nweismuller posted:To clarify something- boarding tactics are not necessarily needed to deal with the various Gremak pirate nations we've met, but would be needed to take the Human colony ship in Alphard without causing a massive tragedy. That said, if we get it, free Human colony ship. Eh, I happen to like boarding actions! Something to be said for theatricality and.. Freeing the oppressed peoples! Also something to be said for fun in seeing how exactly the meta-thoughts on how this is played out work in-universe. And something I coul try and toss out a fluff post for training maybe down the line if can bounce it off you. wedgekree fucked around with this message at 07:39 on May 1, 2019 |
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May 1, 2019 07:34
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wedgekree posted:Eh, I happen to like boarding actions! Something to be said for theatricality and.. Freeing the oppressed peoples! Go ahead and toss a PM at me, then, if you need my feedback.
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May 1, 2019 07:49
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wedgekree posted:Also something to be said for fun in seeing how exactly the meta-thoughts on how this is played out work in-universe.
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May 1, 2019 08:16
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Section Z posted:Guns with "Coupons" and "Credits" settings? I am a representative of an Orkin Prince with many slaves and precious heirlooms as his inheritance. Unfortunately I cannot access my inheritance without your assistance. For wiring me five hundred credits, you will get a portion of my inheritance of up to one Hundred millyon Credits from me, your grateful Orkin Prince.
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May 1, 2019 08:28
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Being able to understand and liberate alien starships is surely an excellent focus for the Combine 1: Xeno engineering and Boarding tactics OY YA GITZ. YA SHOULD ALWAYZ BET ON DAKKA 2: Heavy Coilguns The more you know, the more you earn. 3: Nuo and science While there is a slight risk that the Orthini may take worlds for the combine, this is eclipsed by the possibility of encountering new trading opportunities on the far sides of the Orthini empire. 4: Accept their proposal (and build more explorers) And what is a Phindi without wealth? 5: Dubhe
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May 1, 2019 10:49
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1: Xeno engineering and Boarding tactics They will welcome us as liberators. 2: Heavy Coilguns Got better stuff to invest in than guns. 3: Nuo and Pure Metal Might as well specialize properly. 4: Yea Bugs are friends. 5: Dubhe We are the Lots Of Money faction, so lets capitalize on that.
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May 1, 2019 14:12
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1. Boarding 2. Heavy coilguns 3. Nuo for Metals 4. Yay for Orthin 5. Dubhe first. We're still in the early expansion phase.
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May 1, 2019 14:21
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1 - Research Domes 2 - Weapons, Ion Beams 3 - Industry is good. I don't care which world. 4 - Yea 5 - Gemma first
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May 1, 2019 15:55
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wedgekree posted:Hey there! Great showing of possibilities. This.
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May 1, 2019 20:03
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I would wrap up the vote and play through the update, but we have some tie votes. I'll wrap up the vote on the weekend; hopefully I can get some tiebreakers by then. Thanks to everybody for reading, and for your participation! I've been having great fun with this LP, and people getting involved has definitely helped my fun. 
nweismuller fucked around with this message at 13:09 on May 2, 2019 |
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May 2, 2019 13:07
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Boarding Tactics and Ion Guns so that we can deal with the pirates in a more peaceful way than blowing them up from afar. Nuo- Metal/Science retooling Orthin- Yea Gemma for colonization
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May 2, 2019 13:20
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Oh good, a tiebreaker. I will play the update now, and perhaps can get out a short lorepost before the weekend. E: Oh wait, the disposition of Nuo is now tied... will wait a bit more.
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May 2, 2019 13:59
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I'll switch votes from Science to Metals for Nuo then 
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May 2, 2019 14:03
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Well, THIS update got a metric crapton of screenshots. I might look into paring the system discovery shots down on this one, because we got a LOT.
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May 2, 2019 15:05
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The Human High Command and the Fargone Humans Humanity was, by the time that the warp lanes once again became accessible, a scattered people severely regressed from their state before the 'Great War' of legend. Although the Phidi had encountered spaceborne Human barbarians and a planetary Human population which had lost space technology, not all of the fragments of Humanity suffered a complete technological regress. The Human High Command is the government of what was, perhaps, the largest single group of Humans that survived what the Humans under the High Command call 'the Long Night', a spaceborne population which had been stranded in the desolate Fargone system for many years. As the Fargone Humans retained a sufficient knowledge and resource base to establish a functional modern society, they soon built themselves up to a multisystem power with a functional industrial base supporting a civilian population now freed from the hardships of their long exile in space and a growing military strength. The Fargone Humans lack accurate records further back than the start of the 'Fargone calendar', a standard timekeeping system based on traditional watch days of 24 hours and 'years' of 365 days, which Human tradition holds is based on the ancestral Human homeworld- although further details on this homeworld are ambigious. By the Fargone calendar, the warp lanes reopened in year 1100. The Fargone Humans retained more widespread literacy throughout their exile than other Human groups thus far encountered, and it is believed their language, 'English', is closer to the ancestral language form than other Human groups thus encountered. The Human High Command, the government uniting the Humans descended from those in exile in Fargone, is a military dictatorship established for 'the preservation of the Human species'. The Admiral of the High Command is the supreme executive of the government, vested with essentially autocratic power. A democratically-elected civil government manages the day to day administration of civilian affairs, but civil authority may be superseded at any time by military decree. It is to the credit of Admiral John Carver- the Admiral of the High Command in 1100- and his successors that they have mostly avoided overriding civilian authority during their administration. The Human High Command holds itself as the legitimate government of all Humans, a position which has led to tension between the High Command and the Phidi Combine over the disposition of Splendor. The High Command's attitude towards barbaric spaceborne groups, however, is less forgiving, viewing them as armed rebels who disgrace the name of the species. As such, the various conflicts between the Phidi Combine and Human barbaric groups have not been a point of diplomatic tension between the Combine and High Command. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 05:43 on May 8, 2019 |
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May 2, 2019 15:56
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