Re: An Elithian Alliance game

[JorgasElite]

Carrier: Cylarne
Fighter 1: Ember
Fighter 2: Aeroix Fighter
Fighter Bomber: T.A. NBS (Non Baryonic Shielding)
Bomber 1: Spark
Bomber 2: T.A. UNT (Unstable Nucleic Torpedo-ship

[kingnecromancer]

Oh were Namedroping eh. I guess all of my race has really evolved from a tribalistic, rustic, NC like faction to a cross of TR government and Vanu technology.
So must of the vehicles are gold and blue colored.(Like protoss) If they had to be fought against, I would put them as late game Enemies/Allies (Maybe depending on your actions?(Choosing one quest adds them as allies but makes another race hate you, and vice versa)

Carrier: AlphaCharlie-Alpha (Sorta like this)
Fighter 1: AlphaAlpha-Bravo ( Small, nimble, uses swarm pods, which are extremely small rockets, about the size of 2 fingers )
Fighter 2: AlphaAlpha-Charlie (Bigger than it's counterpart, uses bigger, more conventional rockets)
Fighter Bomber: Alpha-Alpha/Bravo-Bravo (Biggest fighter, also the slowest, Packs the biggest punch, as well as having a large Ravenus cannon under its belly)
Bomber 1: Alpha-Bravo-Bravo (A huge, lumbering bomber, lightly equipped for air-to-air, packs High, Concentrated damage)
Bomber 2: Alpha-Bravo-Charlie (A huge, lumbering bomber, lightly equipped for air-to-air, fires HE bombs (Large area, little damage)

All names can be shortened to the first letters, Thus Charlie-Alpha would be C-A. The first code is to designate the terrain(Alpha for air, Golf for Ground, Novemeber for Navy, Sierra for space) The second code is used to designate the purpose of the aircraft, Example A is a fighter, B is bomber, C is Carrier. The third is to determine which model it is, so If it says Alpha-Alpha-Alpha, It is a an AIR FIGHTER FIRST EDITION. If a number comes after the model code, it is for an update to the same model, to fix errors or improve it. If there is an / in the first or second code, it can either do both or change. So Alpha-Alpha/Bravo Is a fighter and a bomber.

[Aegonian]

What would the primary function of bomber-class spaceships be? Assaulting eenmy spacestations, I guess?

For the Aegi, I'm not yet sure what ships they'd use. There will certainly be the Aeroix Fighter and M-ASA Standard Fighter, and probably the M-ASA Standard Carrier, but there are a lot of ships to choose from.

Also, this is the model I'm using for my early prototypes of the game:



I will be building more models soon.

(Btw, the background is a simple custom skybox I made. It features Elithia somewhere in the background!)

If you could get an artist to help, that would be great! I know lots of good artists and programmers (what is to be expected if you follow a Game Development education), but I don't think any of them will have time to work on another game...


Jorgas and Necro, do you have any visual designs for the spaceships? Maybe some old creations on Spore?

[Sataz]

I can't tell for sure if this post will help because I haven't read all posts in here, but what if you were to do the space-battles like the ones from star wars battlefront 2?

[JorgasElite]

I might make some models on Spore.

[thunderpants]

I can't tell for sure if this post will help because I haven't read all posts in here, but what if you were to do the space-battles like the ones from star wars battlefront 2?

I think we agreed that's how it would work.

What would the primary function of bomber-class spaceships be? Assaulting eenmy spacestations, I guess?

Working of the Battlefront 2 idea, if we did destroy the enemy flagship/carrier (?) then they would do a lot of damage.

[Aegonian]

I built two more test models, one of the M-ASA Standard Fighter, and a simple one of the M-ASA Standard Carrier.

I think that each team should have a stationary flagship or spacestation (like in Battlefront), and that carriers would be more powerful, bigger ships that protect the flagship/spacestation.

There could also be a story mode, in which players play can replay some of the events of the roleplay. I can't think of any specific events right now, but there could be assaults on bases, defending convoys, large space battles with only fighters and other small ships etc.

[Aegonian]

I've been playing around in Unity a bit, testing spaceship and camera movement, particles etc. Here's a screenshot of my test scene in Unity:

[Aegonian]

I have been working on the game a bit, and I thought it might be nice to have a level select in which you can view a planetary system, select a planet and then select any battles available near that planet. I'm still working on the script, but once it's done, the camera can be rotated around the sun, and when you click on any of the planets, the camera will move towards that planet. Here's a screenshot of the level select so far:

[kingnecromancer]

It looks hard Aeg, keep up the good work!

Once I am back, I will be able to make some models in spore.

[thunderpants]

Okay, I've been looking into it and 3D models look to be a bit advanced to start with. I'd rather not bite-off too much than we can chew, and make a pig's ear of it (In non-English, I'd rather do something a bit smaller right than a larger task badly).


I do want to say that a 4X game would work quite well (and Open Source engines do exist [and look easily moddable...]) and each race would be very different (making games fun but harder to balance).

For example the Notix would specialise in numbers and be a reactive race. For example we predominantly carriers and Trinks for combat, but also obtained different sub species from encounters with different races and relics and in fact the low-maintenance costs of the Trinks comes from Aeginian Technology.

[Aegonian]

I've actually been working in Maya quite a bit lately (as part of my Computer Graphics assignments). I've yet to delve into uv-mapping and texturing (I will start doing that next month), but as long as we don't use characters (or only simple ones), 3D models should be doable.

A 4X game will likely require a lot of complex coding: AI is quite hard to do. If we can do it, it would be awesome, but I think it will be challenging.

[thunderpants]

I've actually been working in Maya quite a bit lately (as part of my Computer Graphics assignments). I've yet to delve into uv-mapping and texturing (I will start doing that next month), but as long as we don't use characters (or only simple ones), 3D models should be doable.

A 4X game will likely require a lot of complex coding: AI is quite hard to do. If we can do it, it would be awesome, but I think it will be challenging.

I'd personally find AI easy and more interesting to work on. It's all reactive actions and some random errors to prevent it from being perfect. I found 1 game which could be interesting to dissect and remod it's called Free Orion.

I'd like to make each race play quite differently as well, so the Notix are very reactive, gaining access to different technologies dependent on situations that occur (which makes a Notix force which has been around for a longer time, more powerful due to more varied research)

Whereas the Aegi for example where quite a cultured and peaceful race if I recall correctly, so they would gain bonuses from having different Allies at the time.

[kingnecromancer]

I was reading these and I thought: "How can I contribute my skills to this plan?"
And then, "Oh, I am usually good with ideas, so let's contribute ideas."

After thinking for a few seconds, I thought once again. This time, I said "What makes a good game?" Then more specifically "What makes a good 4X, or RTS?"

Then it hit me. I realised the key to the most successful rts of all time, Starcraft, Is diversity.

True, some games may have different units, but Starcraft had completely different playstyles for each. You might as well of been playing a different game with the same graphics. So, I contribute to you now this:

Let's make the game diverse. Every faction should play differently. So there will be a faction for everyone. The Notix seem to have a lot of Trinks, so they could be the Zerg, overwhelming through sheer numbers.

On an unrelated note, I think the game should have a campaign and a scenario and maybe later a multi-player. In the campaign we could have a scenario with rogue Theleans or what have you? All the factions could have a campaign, all ending with the same final battle, or something else entirely.

For the Erixians, (Because everyone seems to be adding their own race), I guess they could be a weak faction in the beginning of the game, but could have some of the heaviest hitters at the end of their tech tree.

[thunderpants]

Yeah to be honest for the Notix I was thinking we fit the Communist Russia/Zerg slot quite well. We have numbers and like the Zerg of SC2 are quite reactive in play style. In fact we work on the Big Bases with Orbital add-ons which quite resembles the Zerg Macro Hatchery Playstyle.

I can't remember any specific combat styles that spring to my attention with any other races, besides the Hea-Hoan's Passive and Active Stealth systems, and the Dremeton's overwhelming need for Water to fill their ships with.

[JorgasElite]

I think that the T.A. should be focused on having extra powers to use. One could be having warp drives that you can link together, acting like zerg nydus worms. If you know what I mean. And an actual power could be to focus on gathering/making a certain resource very fast for a certain amount of time. If you remember the semi-cloning device.

Now I'm just saying, the powers don't have to be overpowered. As long as everyone is equal we should be fine. If one empire seems to powerful, we would have to make it less.

[Aegonian]

The Aegi will likely rely a lot on having allies, yeah. Although the Aegi are reasonably large in numbers, their military forces are smaller than those of most other races. The Hymids are their primary ally in combat - the Aeginian fleet has almost as many Hymidian ships as it has Aeginian ships.

The Aegi's technology is very advanced - partially because they were one of the earlier races to gain spaceflight (several millennia before the Dremeton started using primitive tools, in fact). They rely on advanced weaponry and spaceships in combat, and often use hit-and-run tactics, while their destroyers and dreadnoughts attack from far away.

I've yet to play any Starcraft game myself, so I can't really connect the Aegi to any playstyle.


If the Hymids are also going to be included, they should also be a race that's heavily dependent on other races - even more so than the Aegi, in fact. The Hymids have a very high rate of production and can very quickly rebuild their armies, but nearly all of their technology was gained from other races. If they have no allies, they won't progress on a technological level, and are unable to produce their more powerful ships.


The Theleans, on the other hand, are very much reliant on their numbers, while their ships are generally also heavier hitters compared to the other races. I think that if they are to be included in the game, they should be an NPC empire - they're far too powerful to be playable.

[thunderpants]

I agree with the Theleans as being an NPC empire.

Also by contrast the Notix didn't obtain space flight until later than most other races. We're a race of subterranean, blind creatures who weren't aware of any other life until the Dremeton's started drilling for Ice. In fact we where in a dark age of civil war and strife until we realised the potential threat of invasion. Only after then did we really unite and due to our small population at the time, then focused on producing as much goods as we could, so that we would be seen as a worthy ally and not some small prey. Thus the production of Toys, and other goods and our push for a united Aeroix Fighter (Our space-age technology was behind everyone else's and we wanted to have 1 weapon capable of defending ourselves with should any other empire attack.) The introduction of Trinks was to help prevent our society sliding into a Class system, and thus have potential for Civil War, and our Caste System saw that our system ran with efficiency.

TL;DR: Notix only started space flight and making a real army due to the threat we saw from the rest of the Alliance.

[JorgasElite]

In other words, nydus worms in Starcraft are giant worms that can tunnel around to different spots. When two are connected, units can pass through to the other side quickly. The warp drives could work the same except you would have to create each side first.

[Aegonian]

What races do we currently have? Aegi, Notix, Erixians, T.A., Hymids (and possibly Theleans as NPCs)? Did I miss any?

Other major races I can think of are the Dremeton, Hea-Hoans, Hyvons, Cratons (and possibly Ventrons), Centens, Humok (before the Concordate torched their planet), and the Darkness. Should we add any of these, too?

[thunderpants]

Definitely Dremeton, they are too much of the THEA history to be forgotten. Same with the Hea-Hoan and the Hyvon aswell as the last race of the big 5 I have forgotten... which would be the Humans.

[Aegonian]

I'll write some stuff for the Dremeton and Hyvon soon, then! For the Hea-Hoan, we'll have to look back at the roleplay, it's been a while since anything was heard from them.

The last Council race was the Humans, but I think that was largely due to their sheer numbers. I can't recall what kind of culture they had, other than that they lived underground. If we do include them, they'll probably require a change in name to prevent people from thinking they're related to actual humans - they're actually a completely unrelated race. The Aegi and Humok are the only ones with a direct connection to actual humans, as they are both descendants of humans.

I think that the Cratons should also be in the game - they played a huge role in the history of the Aegi, Dremeton and Hyvon. They started losing significance on Elithia after losing the Great War, but their actions greatly influenced the development of some of the biggest races.

EDIT: Also, congrats to Jorgas (and myself!) for reaching 1200 posts! Kingnecro is almost at 1000 posts, too! Notix is obviousl still far ahead of anyone else, at just over 1600 posts - that's quite a lot!

[kingnecromancer]

For the races, I don't know if the Xorg (Pronounced Ecks-Org, btw) would make for a good race. Well not a playable race. Maybe as an NPC race, such as the Theleans, as their power is too great to be usable by players. After all, they had manufactured life in certain quadrants of the galaxy (Galacsphere? GalaxySphere thingy?) and the only people they respect are the Theleans and Creatons.

However, I think that all the active members of the forum should get their species in, as well as some of the key, older species.

[JorgasElite]

If you were to add the Darkness in they would have to be an NPC empire, but I guess it could be possible to play as them. But the problem is that the Notix and Darkness would have to have the same strategy, strength in numbers.

[Aegonian]

@KingNecromancer: It's Galaxsphere, you almost got it

I'm sure they'll use different technologies though, which could make the two play very differently even though they rely on a similar strategy.

The Dremeton, much like the Aegi, prefer diplomacy over conflict, and will only engage in combat when all negotiations have failed. In combat, they rely a lot on heavy-hitters, supported by swarms of smaller spacecraft. They're a relatively young species compared to some others, and have spent most of their time living underwater, which is why they also rely a lot on technology obtained from allies or salvaged from fallen enemies. They have developed a number of strong technologies themselves, but as they're used to underwater conditions, they have few technologies optimised for functionality in space.

The Hyvon, on the other hand, are a rather old species, being direct descendants of the Theleans. They use many Thelean technologies, including powerful laser-based weapons and Hyverium-coated hulls, giving their ships a high resistance to all attacks. The most fundamental differences between the Hyvon and the Theleans are their sheer numbers, and the fact that the Hyvon are more organic than the Theleans, making them vulnerable to certain methods of biological warfare, whereas the Theleans are completely invulnerable to them. In short, the Hyvon rely on very powerful ships, which are still quite fast and maneuverable, but are few in numbers.

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