Well as you guys do your projects I do chnage my task order to harmonize with any project that is being worked on. For instance if you went and worked on the disease stuff I would then focus my efforts on that. Or when people need icon/buttons I help out that way. But I think we all do this to some extent. I mean we are a team after all. Working together helps the project as a whole. Infact I recall you helping me out when I needed help with the metal ore stuff. Which was done because DH requested that I finally redo the metal resources.
What do you mean "reliable" because I have been to the
Galactic Era before. It took a LONG time on snail but I got there. And with the viewports I can get there without having to resort to small maps.
Hydromancerx
I know that I'm just starting to participate a little more, but I've mentioned this idea several times and I think it would solve a lot of problems.
Optional Era Selection:
I think the best thing you could do for playtesting, and increasing player/modder access to other eras, is make it a priority to build in a
Choose Starting Era option to C2C.
Eventually I also think you should be able to optionally select eras(including alternate ones) and adjust their possibility (dark age/alien invasion/post-apocalyptic) of launching. I would love to be able to control a dark age/apocalypse/ disaster in-game as well as in start options, and it's probability of triggering as well. It would also be nice to be able to adjust the timing of eras in-game as you play - game/research speed as an adjustable slider.
If you could start in the Trans-human or Galactic Eras directly, then you are alot more likely to comment on, or be able to quickly playtest them. It's all about accessibility.
If you can get to those eras easier, then you have more reason to start working on them. (might also get C2C a lot more players, those who prefer to skip the prehistoric, but want to help with the others.)
I think that even though I love them, that the Prehistoric and Future Eras, as well the Alternate potential ones, should be as selectable and controllable as possible, so that people can experience C2C easier.
And another idea.
You could even set up default (recommended) configurations of starting game play.
1. New Player (tutorial) - difficulty easy - map Standard Earth, etc. Prehistoric starting Era, normal historical path.
2. Explorer mode (random generation) - GeoRealism Map generation, most interesting and new features. Most recommended different (non-vanilla) experience to see features.
3. Max Historical (fixed path tech-tree) -Standard or GEM earth map, most probable future tech tree / options. Most like basic Civ Experience + C2C enhancements. Most common experience.
4. Max Settings (unpredictable time frames, random alternate era selection) GEM or GeoRealism random map, maxed out options for maxed out computers. Playing C2C to it's best limits/possibilities. Max default experience for those who want to push the limits.
5. Playtesting mode (Enables new features and individual modules as selectable) - for playtesters and modders to change features and reset features on the fly. Eras/features could be accessed, sped up, slowed down, removed, and added on the fly for playtesting.
This could make multi-maps more accessible.