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Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:29 pm
by klauss
They should be rare.

But dead-star systems might be cool:

Re: Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:48 pm
by travists
What would they be populated with? Archeological digs perhaps?

Re: Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 7:29 pm
by klauss
I can imagine their planets would be filled with radioactive materials, or materials generated under high temperature.

Lots of mining bases and refineries in the area too, unless it's too far from population centers.

Re: Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 7:50 pm
by travists
It sounds like what we need is a more advanced random universe generator. One that by adding options can be expanded. And allow for more logical faction layouts and population levels.
Steps:
  1. Determine system type: singular, multiple, dead, etc.
  2. Determine star(s) type: red giant, yellow dwarf, dead, etc.
  3. Place systems
  4. Calculate stable orbits
  5. Place planets and features
  6. Calculate habitable zone
  7. Populate planets based on habitability, distance from faction core, etc.

Re: Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:05 pm
by pheonixstorm
On a side note, dead could mean more than one thing. With the war between the TWON and Ancients it could also mean dead by other means. In Master of Orion 3 there are several worlds that are pretty much dead (if you read the history) from the old wars between the Antarans and Orions that destroyed pretty much entire solar systems. Either blowing the planet apart or by orbital bombardment and rendering the planet lifeless for millions of years.

Re: Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:25 pm
by travists
The TWON-Ancients war could well be the most noticeable of such conflicts. Some may have obliterated themselves shortly after becoming interstellar. However, Clarke's "magic law" would be stretched, I think, to have stars killed. Though "dead worlds" would be a nice addition as well.

Re: Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:57 am
by pheonixstorm
The biggest weapon in MoO3 was the stellar converter. It was supposed to have blasted a planet apart kinda like how the death star laser worked only due to game mechanics the end result was a red world that you could never terraform. There are several 4X games with doomsday weapons like these as well as stories as well. All a matter of names and results really.. What about a ring world though or artificial planet?

Re: Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:30 pm
by travists
A ring world would not be natural, and huge! An artificial planet would be interesting.... Are such within humanities grasp in UTCS' time?

Re: Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:11 pm
by kark88
I think an artificial planet and other large constructs might be more likely to be built by the Rlaan as they have been in space much longer than either the humans or Aera.

Re: Inspiration for new system types

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 10:53 pm
by klauss
Large constructs would be nice. Maybe not planet-scale, but bigger than usual.

Technically, they would have to be made up of several interconnected sub-units, for performance's and independence's sake (subunits get culled individually, but they can also be shot individually, so it makes an interesting unit).

It would be nice to fiddle with the idea, find out which mega-structures* are within canon, come up with concept art, then model, integrate, and sprinkle within select handcrafted systems.

Ancients would also be eligible for mega-structures. Derelict structures.

* yep, like that show on the discovery