the satellites technology

[mtminded]

hi there,

i'm not sure if i just missed something but as far as i know, there is no technology or improvement, that makes you discover the whole map.

what use is the satellites technology(i know what it does ingame, but for realisms sake), if i still got plenty of black points on my map?
then i searched by myself through the editor, but found no option to show the player the whole map.

if it is possible to 'invent' solution, would you plz show me how?

great thanks,

mtm

btw: i lack of time so i apologize if there is already a thread that discusses this fact.

 

[Archimedes]

MTM

Someone created a satellite unit. You could incorporate this into the game becoming available with satellite technology. As it's a unit it needs to be moved around to reveal the black areas on the map but it is also useful for checking the movement of enemy troops etc.

Archi.

Originally posted by mtminded

i'm not sure if i just missed something but as far as i know, there is no technology or improvement, that makes you discover the whole map.

what use is the satellites technology(i know what it does ingame, but for realisms sake), if i still got plenty of black points on my map?
then i searched by myself through the editor, but found no option to show the player the whole map.

if it is possible to 'invent' solution, would you plz show me how?

great thanks,

mtm
[/B]

 

[mtminded]

well, that's not that, what i want.

i don't like the idea of moving an unit over a huge map (for this purpose i could modify the explorer) just to reveal every bit of it.(but i need to see as much as possible to find more strategic ressources )
i just want it to be discovered all at once. (technology or small wonder would be fine)

mtm

 

[Ambrost]

I agree, the satellite unit as created is inefficient and just a fix to an otherwise omitted feature. Satellites would be great, if properly implemented into the game. My suggestion would be to have three types of satellites, an orbiting satellite and a geosynchronous satellite, and a misc unnammed satellite.

An orbiting satellite would enable a view of the entire map, but would “reveal” or turn of the fog of war for a view of a particular region for each turn. This area would change each turn. You would have to build up a constellation of satellites (depending upon the size of the map) to reveal more of the map. With each successive satellite, one more chunk would be available.

A geosynchronous would orbit above a particular location. This would be better for focusing in on certain enemies and other strategically important geographical areas, like coastlines for early
warning (without the picket of ships).

The third, unnamed satellite, would provide misc benfit, such as adding culture, science, commerce, happiness etc. to cover the other types of benefits satellites offer - TV, communications, research, etc.

In any event, this might require a small wonder, like a Space Center to manage the satellites, prior to allowing them to be built. I would have them be an expensive improvement, and tradeable (akin to sharing intelligence).

 

[Joe R. Golowka]

I always have the whole map explored by the end of the 1800s anyway via map trading and pressing E on a few ships.

 

[Ambrost]

After reading many posts, there is inadequate use for modern warfare for two reasons:
1. Either the world has been conquered by the modern era, or
2. The Modern Era units are limited in effectiveness (I personally run around in Modern Armor, and that’s it other than a few Mech.Inf., rarely using other units as many other posters do)

Satellites would add one thing that is lacking from the Modern Era: intelligence.

Satellites that enabled a view of the world would
1. Turn off the fog of war, enabling that satellite’s civ to see the units
2. Add realism (I don’t think that America or Russia could have parked a fleet of transports with heavy machinery at the doorstep of the other without knowing, and look to real world
modern battlefields, and the recon that satellites provide)

 

[Scipio Africanu]

I agree completly that satellite's would make for a much more realistic and fun battleground experience. After all intel on your enemy is probably one of the foremost concerns when entering a conflict. However I don't think they actually need to add a whole other catagory (such as SMAC) for satellite units. Though it would certienly improve gameplay in this manner you could create a satellite unit if certien things were modified in the editor. You could concievably create a satellite unit then give it unlimited operational range. Make it immobile and recon and it could preform recon missions anywhere in the world. The place where it was built would represent its center of coordination for that satellite and being its unable to move or rebase it would be fairly realistic. Another thing is if you could give it multiple actions (like modern armor is able to attack twice) it could preform multiple recons in a single turn. Of course the editor at this point makes it so the maximum operational range is 8, and I don't think you cna give things multiple actions/attacks yet so this is something that we can only dream about now. Hopefully the future will bring better tides.

 

[blue72]

You could modify the Apollo Program so it would reveal the map on build.

 

[mtminded]

as i get it, most of you understand the nessessity of satellites.
but then, i don't want proposals which way (unit, building, technology) one could include this feature, but i'd like to get a hint on how to develop it, for the editor is not useful for this right now.
ok then,. thx Scipio Africanu for ur idea, i think i'll try something like that - the editor is not everything - praised be the hexeditors...

 

[kring]

Originally posted by blue72
You could modify the Apollo Program so it would reveal the map on build.

How would you do this? I want to be able to see the whole world, like you could in Civ 2.

 

[cameramano]

I'm taking a Cold War Spying class at Michigan State right now, and everyone's perceptions are a little off as to what sat. can do and when they can do it.

Yes, they should reveal the whole map, but instant enemy positions is a very modern advance. Until the late seventies, film was dropped in cannisters from sats. Those great pics from the Cuban missle crisis were from U-2's and recon during the 70's to keep the Israeli-Egyptian cease fire used blackbirds. Even now, real time information for tactical recon is done using craft such as the predator. Sats. are for strategic intel.

I think that sats should not allow you to see troops, but the strategic resources (improvements) in cities. This will allow you to gauge the enemies ability to wage war, which is what sat. recon has traditionally done.