Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:03 am
Tzlaine wrote:
BTW, for additional reference (in regards to micro issues) to my suggestion of using supply routes, I would note that (in general) designating a route only involves selecting a destination ; the best route to the destination is automatically chosen by the AI.
eleazar wrote:
loonycyborg wrote
I have some concerns with this statement, otherwise everything else is good. If supplys routes are that abstracted, and not represented physically, how do you know specifically where your supplies are being attacked\blockaded? Do you receive a sit-rep about a system in trouble, and send a fleet to clear the system, or what? How do you know how it affects that part of the empire if you don't know where the supplies are coming from\going to? How do you gauge the overall supply "importance" of a system?I also oppose the creation of supply lines, as suggested elsewhere in this thread. This also sounds like boring and micromanagey. Again, I think that managing one number is a better solution.
BTW, for additional reference (in regards to micro issues) to my suggestion of using supply routes, I would note that (in general) designating a route only involves selecting a destination ; the best route to the destination is automatically chosen by the AI.
eleazar wrote:
For any blockaded, or effectively blockaded system a normal military fleet would\should be used, however, if their is minor raiding involved, I think either an escort fleet or armed supply ships(either one lightly armed) can handle most raiders. Sending out a fleet to chase every little raid would get old and lead to micro, that otherwise could be abstracted. As for the need for raiders, in general, I don't see any key strategic need, however, I personally like the idea of harassing (through hiring privateers) another race\player without having to formally declare war.Up to this point there has been discussion of to what degree pirates, anti-pirates, privateers, escorts, blockade-runners, etc. should be abstracted. What i haven't seen is a reason why we need these as special types of ships. I understand the need to treat cargo ships in a special abstract way, but i don't see a reason that your ordinary non-abstracted military fleet can't serve all other roles in the protection or disruption of supply lines.
I have a preference for mostly abstracted. Abstracted ships are always behind the scene, unless you see some "passing through" a system, while inside a system. Additionally, when a system is under attack, supply ships, in their brief "normal" mode (in system) can be attacked and detsroyed, as with any other ship, or installation.Abstracting (or semi-abstracting) pirates, privateers, and escorts seems to lead to an unnecessary, additional set of rules regarding the interaction of concrete, semi-abstract, and totally abstract ships.
loonycyborg wrote
I've heard of that algorithm before, but don't remember any additional details, other than being related to what you already mentioned.Sounds like job for Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm.