Space Warfare

[Bluemofia]

if this happens, I forsee the developement of a 3D map.

 

[AA-battery]

Well, I think that if there is to be space warfare that there will be no units, instead it will be more along the lines of intelligence operations. You probably have to build a small wonder first and then you have options that you may chose that will cost you gold, depending on how safe you want the mission to be.

 

[sir_schwick]

If anyone has played SMAC, lets use the Satellite system from that. In SMAC you had to have an Aerospace Complex to build Satellites. These satellites increased gold, trade, food, and some acted in as a missle shield. It was simple but comprehensive.

 

[bkwrm79]

I agree with Sir_Schwick, I liked the SMAC system a lot. The only improvement needed is more competition from the computer in space.

 

[rhialto]

Let me add my voice to the chorus. SMAC style space combat / development was excellent. Although I couldn't help feeling the development aspect gave dispropotionately strong advantages to the guy with the most cities. Perhaps instead of giving 1 gold/food/shield to each city, a satellite gives 10 total, spread as evenly as possible in proportion to city population (or city culture) instead?

 

[sir_schwick]

Maybe they could update the system so that satellites fit into a scheme, rather than adding an arbitrary point. You would have to build a GPS system to increase naval speed and trade from naval operations. Communication satellite networks would increase trade. Scientific satellites would allow certain advances to occur easier. Meterological satellites could help decrease affects from dangerous weather(if that matters) and increase food production. Instead of a +1 bonus, it makes a difference in a more realistic and natural way that favors development.

 

[ejday]

You would have to build a GPS system to increase naval speed and trade from naval operations.

Fantastic idea. Other possibilities:
1) Surgically guided weapons [ie. cruise missiles... and maybe a submarine/cruiser that can launch them].
2) Giving a bonus even to older bombers [Example: GPS guided fins on 2Klb formerly dumb bombs].
3) GPS jamming.
4) Satellite warfare (as is brewing... how long will the DoD suffer EU's Galileo if it looks like Syria is using it for guidance? And look for China to hoist it's own GPS by 2025...). Space-based lasers and kinetic kill vehicles (who remembers "brilliant pebbles"?) aren't far behind.

...Communication satellite networks would increase trade...

1) And happiness... Most TV gets from one coast to the other via satellite.
2) Military communication satellites are huge. Could reflect this with small bonuses...
3) Plus give an espionage possibility to crack codes. Maybe crack a code and you see where their subs are for a couple turns.

...Scientific satellites would allow certain advances to occur easier...

1) Heck, some advances may not be available at all without certain micro-gravity dependant experiments.

...Meterological satellites could help decrease affects from dangerous weather(if that matters) and increase food production...

1) Meteorological satellites are surveillance satellites with crappy resolution. Space program should default reveal blind spots in the map.
2) Surveillance sats should show surface naval units (at least traditional ones) and large ground-based units. Armor shows up, SpecOps does not.

Oh, and one other thing:

...I'm thinking that there should be some way to represent the actual treaty which prevents space warfare.

There is no such treaty. There never has been, doubt there ever will be. While they've had three UNISPACE conferences, current law only prohibits WMDs (nukes) in space. Remember the movie "Space Cowboys"? No, don't feel bad, most don't... either way, it was based on a real program the Soviets had to park nukes in polar orbit for quick attack. Right now, the only place where anything more than harsh language is a no-no is the moon.

 

[Turtleneck]

if this happens, I forsee the developement of a 3D map.

A 3D map with space as a zooming out from sea level?? I'm getting the chills just from thinking of how much memory that would use.
But I think wars in space just goes a little beyond the timespan that the Civs have covered except for Call to Power (which then again, wasn't really one of the civs).

I'd much rather the design team focus its brainpower on the EXISTING gameplay and how to make it better before moving on. So far they've been experimenting all the way from Civ 1... Maybe they'll have a formula down by Civ V or VI, and then we can see a true space strategy game emerge.

...Or just an expansion pack to Civ IV, who knows?

 

[sir_schwick]

Satellites are a very contemporary, that is what we are discussing. 3D maps with shuttleremes this is not.