suggestion to change the default setup
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:03 pm
The default galaxy setup with 61 systems and 3 AIs is pretty ancient, going back to when the AI's hardly mattered, and the game got bogged down much more quickly than now (perhaps excepting the current late-game server bloat, but that can be dealt with somewhat via periodic save and reload). I'd like to propose we make the default 150 systems and 6 AIs.
Another default setting I think should be reconsidered is the default AI aggression. We added the low aggression modes and put the default to Beginner back about a year ago when a number of dynamics were different-- the game started at a much faster pace and Aggressive AI's could really wipe up the map quickly against an inexperienced player. We got quite a few complaints back then about that with a harder default AI. I don't think there's nearly so much risk of that these days. I may be biased but I think it would make a more gripping intro to the game if the default were Aggressive or Maniacal.
Another default setting I think should be reconsidered is the default AI aggression. We added the low aggression modes and put the default to Beginner back about a year ago when a number of dynamics were different-- the game started at a much faster pace and Aggressive AI's could really wipe up the map quickly against an inexperienced player. We got quite a few complaints back then about that with a harder default AI. I don't think there's nearly so much risk of that these days. I may be biased but I think it would make a more gripping intro to the game if the default were Aggressive or Maniacal.