Difference between revisions of "User:Eleazar/Multi-Species/Natives"

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m (Production: typo)
(added simple version and a few more details)
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("Indigene" is the noun form of "indigenous", it sounds more appropriate than "native")
 
("Indigene" is the noun form of "indigenous", it sounds more appropriate than "native")
  
A galaxy consisting of empty planets and with only a handful of distant player species feels unnecessarily barren - especially in the opening stages of the game. To mitigate the dull vacantness of the galaxy, i propose adding two or three times the number Indigene species as empire-building player species (including AIs). Each indigenous species if left alone would never make it to another star. Basically they are minor characters ''in'' the game rather than players ''of'' the game. Though they won't a star-faring civilization on their own, joined with a player species they can make a big difference. They have fewer positive pics than the player species, (which provides the great benefit that they don't have to be balanced against the player species, or even each other.)
+
A galaxy consisting of empty planets and with only a handful of distant player species feels unnecessarily barren - especially in the opening stages of the game. To mitigate the dull vacantness of the galaxy, i propose adding two or three times the number Indigene species as empire-building player species (including AIs). Each indigenous species if left alone would never make it to another star. Basically they are minor characters ''in'' the game rather than players ''of'' the game. Though they won't a star-faring civilization on their own, joined with a player species they can make a big difference.
  
The advancement of indigenous culture and technology varies, which effects how great a force (for good or ill) they can be within your empire.
+
* Indigenes have fewer positive pics than the player species, (which provides the great benefit that they don't have to be balanced against the player species, or even each other.)
 +
 
 +
* The advancement of indigenous culture and technology varies, which effects how great a force (for good or ill) they can be within your empire.
  
 
* Indigene species may need to have a simpler [[User:Eleazar/Multi-Species#Ethos_.28ideology.29|Ethos]], i.e. one with fewer elements to properly fit in a multi-species empire.
 
* Indigene species may need to have a simpler [[User:Eleazar/Multi-Species#Ethos_.28ideology.29|Ethos]], i.e. one with fewer elements to properly fit in a multi-species empire.
  
 +
* Indigenes might have the option of being randomly created.  This would provide a lot of variety, and add some zest to exploring, but naturally some of the resulting species would be rather odd.  Worse, some might be nearly useless, but you don't have to add them to your empire.
  
===Indigene Interaction===
+
 
 +
NOTE: This whole section has been re-shaped to make things simpler.  In my mind "Uplift" has been abandoned, or at least postponed until after 1.0.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Simple Version===
 +
 
 +
Indigenes are simply species with fewer total pics, which don't have the tech to leave their planet.
 +
 
 +
When an empire encounters an Indigene planet, it can open communications, or invade.
 +
 
 +
If the player communicates a simplified diplomacy screen is opened. The topic of negotiations is getting the planet to willingly join your empire. The Indigene's initial opinion of your empire is based on the compatibility of your empire's actions with their ethoi. Planets whose local strength is closer to yours may drive harder bargains.
 +
 
 +
The empire may offer better [[User:Eleazar/Multi-Species#Status_.28Rank.29|status]] as inducements. The empire may also bribe or threaten.
 +
 
 +
If the indigene planet ultimately accepts, it is added to the empire, and any status, and/or bribe promised is automatically given. If the planet doesn't accept, the empire may attack, or simply come back later. Status may be lowered later, that will naturally annoy them, but not end the deal.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===More Interesting Version===
 +
 
 +
====Indigene Interaction====
  
 
With Indigene planets you have up to 3 special options, ''Study'', ''Communicate'', and ''Educate'', in addition to the normal military options. All these options may require a special type of ship to be present.
 
With Indigene planets you have up to 3 special options, ''Study'', ''Communicate'', and ''Educate'', in addition to the normal military options. All these options may require a special type of ship to be present.
  
====Study====
+
 
 +
=====Study=====
 
An item is added to the science queue. Once a modest number of RP have been spent, you'll learn the Indigene's language and pics (stats). ''Communicate'' is now unlocked. ''Study'' may be helpful even if you wanted to exterminate or exploit, because you'll learn how they might be exploited, or how well they could fight.
 
An item is added to the science queue. Once a modest number of RP have been spent, you'll learn the Indigene's language and pics (stats). ''Communicate'' is now unlocked. ''Study'' may be helpful even if you wanted to exterminate or exploit, because you'll learn how they might be exploited, or how well they could fight.
  
====Communicate====
+
 
 +
=====Communicate=====
 
A simplified diplomacy screen is opened. The topic of negotiations is getting the planet to willingly join your empire. The Indigene's initial opinion of your empire is based on the compatibility of your empire's actions with their ethoi. Planets with more advanced tech and whose local strength is closer to yours will drive harder bargains.
 
A simplified diplomacy screen is opened. The topic of negotiations is getting the planet to willingly join your empire. The Indigene's initial opinion of your empire is based on the compatibility of your empire's actions with their ethoi. Planets with more advanced tech and whose local strength is closer to yours will drive harder bargains.
 
The empire may offer better [[User:Eleazar/Multi-Species#Status_.28Rank.29|status]] and/or Tech Level advancement as inducements. The empire may also bribe or threaten.
 
The empire may offer better [[User:Eleazar/Multi-Species#Status_.28Rank.29|status]] and/or Tech Level advancement as inducements. The empire may also bribe or threaten.
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If the indigene planet ultimately accepts, it is added to the empire, and any status, education, and/or bribe promised is automatically given. If the planet doesn't accept, the empire may attack, or simply come back later. Status may be lowered later, that will naturally annoy them, but not end the deal.
 
If the indigene planet ultimately accepts, it is added to the empire, and any status, education, and/or bribe promised is automatically given. If the planet doesn't accept, the empire may attack, or simply come back later. Status may be lowered later, that will naturally annoy them, but not end the deal.
  
====Attack====
+
 
 +
=====Attack=====
 
Invasions generally spark a ground war. The Indigenes get a fighting bonus from being on their homeworld(?), and while technologically inferior, may be able to hold out a long time. Some mid-game bio-warfare techs may allow you to exterminate them without a fight.  
 
Invasions generally spark a ground war. The Indigenes get a fighting bonus from being on their homeworld(?), and while technologically inferior, may be able to hold out a long time. Some mid-game bio-warfare techs may allow you to exterminate them without a fight.  
  
====Educate====
+
 
 +
=====Educate=====
 
This is available only after a planet has been added to your empire, assuming the planet is not already high-tech. Education advances the tech-level which allows more population, allows the planet to be more productive, but also makes it easier to effectively rebel, should they become unhappy with you.
 
This is available only after a planet has been added to your empire, assuming the planet is not already high-tech. Education advances the tech-level which allows more population, allows the planet to be more productive, but also makes it easier to effectively rebel, should they become unhappy with you.
  
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* Or should education only be available at first contact, to peg a total species at one tech-level?
 
* Or should education only be available at first contact, to peg a total species at one tech-level?
  
===Technological Stages===
+
 
 +
====Technological Stages====
 
To break down the info in another way, a species may fit in one of 4 technological stages. This determines which resources they can produce. Species in the lower stages are easier to control, but less productive.
 
To break down the info in another way, a species may fit in one of 4 technological stages. This determines which resources they can produce. Species in the lower stages are easier to control, but less productive.
 
* TL1 ) Primitive: Haven't invented more than basic tools.
 
* TL1 ) Primitive: Haven't invented more than basic tools.
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* TL4 ) High-Tech: Similar to a starting player.
 
* TL4 ) High-Tech: Similar to a starting player.
  
====Production====
+
 
 +
=====Production=====
 
These are the types of production that can be produced at each tech level. This is not meant to imply that (for instance) only TL4 planets engage in any kind of industry, but that only the industry of a TL4 planet is ''useful'' for your interstellar empire.
 
These are the types of production that can be produced at each tech level. This is not meant to imply that (for instance) only TL4 planets engage in any kind of industry, but that only the industry of a TL4 planet is ''useful'' for your interstellar empire.
 
* TL1 ) Food, Minerals
 
* TL1 ) Food, Minerals
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* TL4 ) Food, Minerals, Trade, Science, Industry (all)
 
* TL4 ) Food, Minerals, Trade, Science, Industry (all)
  
====Population====
+
 
 +
=====Population=====
 
Indigenes get the "homeworld" special for their starting planet. However, at lower tech levels they can support less population, something like:
 
Indigenes get the "homeworld" special for their starting planet. However, at lower tech levels they can support less population, something like:
 
* TL1 ) 20%
 
* TL1 ) 20%
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* TL4 ) 100%
 
* TL4 ) 100%
  
====Combat====
+
 
 +
=====Combat=====
 
I don't know how ground combat will work so the following is rather sketchy.
 
I don't know how ground combat will work so the following is rather sketchy.
  
 
Though everybody gets a bonus to defend their homeworld, lower tech-level Indigenes should be less effective fighters, however the decentralize nature of their society may make them ore resistant to bombing and other such attacks. TL3 and 4 might also have planetary defenses.
 
Though everybody gets a bonus to defend their homeworld, lower tech-level Indigenes should be less effective fighters, however the decentralize nature of their society may make them ore resistant to bombing and other such attacks. TL3 and 4 might also have planetary defenses.
 
 
 
NOTE: This whole section has been re-shaped to make things simpler.  In my mind "Uplift" has been abandoned, or at least postponed until after 1.0.
 

Revision as of 21:49, 21 February 2010

Don't mark up this page. If you wish to discuss these ideas, please use this topic.


Introduction

("Indigene" is the noun form of "indigenous", it sounds more appropriate than "native")

A galaxy consisting of empty planets and with only a handful of distant player species feels unnecessarily barren - especially in the opening stages of the game. To mitigate the dull vacantness of the galaxy, i propose adding two or three times the number Indigene species as empire-building player species (including AIs). Each indigenous species if left alone would never make it to another star. Basically they are minor characters in the game rather than players of the game. Though they won't a star-faring civilization on their own, joined with a player species they can make a big difference.

  • Indigenes have fewer positive pics than the player species, (which provides the great benefit that they don't have to be balanced against the player species, or even each other.)
  • The advancement of indigenous culture and technology varies, which effects how great a force (for good or ill) they can be within your empire.
  • Indigene species may need to have a simpler Ethos, i.e. one with fewer elements to properly fit in a multi-species empire.
  • Indigenes might have the option of being randomly created. This would provide a lot of variety, and add some zest to exploring, but naturally some of the resulting species would be rather odd. Worse, some might be nearly useless, but you don't have to add them to your empire.


NOTE: This whole section has been re-shaped to make things simpler. In my mind "Uplift" has been abandoned, or at least postponed until after 1.0.


Simple Version

Indigenes are simply species with fewer total pics, which don't have the tech to leave their planet.

When an empire encounters an Indigene planet, it can open communications, or invade.

If the player communicates a simplified diplomacy screen is opened. The topic of negotiations is getting the planet to willingly join your empire. The Indigene's initial opinion of your empire is based on the compatibility of your empire's actions with their ethoi. Planets whose local strength is closer to yours may drive harder bargains.

The empire may offer better status as inducements. The empire may also bribe or threaten.

If the indigene planet ultimately accepts, it is added to the empire, and any status, and/or bribe promised is automatically given. If the planet doesn't accept, the empire may attack, or simply come back later. Status may be lowered later, that will naturally annoy them, but not end the deal.


More Interesting Version

Indigene Interaction

With Indigene planets you have up to 3 special options, Study, Communicate, and Educate, in addition to the normal military options. All these options may require a special type of ship to be present.


Study

An item is added to the science queue. Once a modest number of RP have been spent, you'll learn the Indigene's language and pics (stats). Communicate is now unlocked. Study may be helpful even if you wanted to exterminate or exploit, because you'll learn how they might be exploited, or how well they could fight.


Communicate

A simplified diplomacy screen is opened. The topic of negotiations is getting the planet to willingly join your empire. The Indigene's initial opinion of your empire is based on the compatibility of your empire's actions with their ethoi. Planets with more advanced tech and whose local strength is closer to yours will drive harder bargains. The empire may offer better status and/or Tech Level advancement as inducements. The empire may also bribe or threaten.

If the indigene planet ultimately accepts, it is added to the empire, and any status, education, and/or bribe promised is automatically given. If the planet doesn't accept, the empire may attack, or simply come back later. Status may be lowered later, that will naturally annoy them, but not end the deal.


Attack

Invasions generally spark a ground war. The Indigenes get a fighting bonus from being on their homeworld(?), and while technologically inferior, may be able to hold out a long time. Some mid-game bio-warfare techs may allow you to exterminate them without a fight.


Educate

This is available only after a planet has been added to your empire, assuming the planet is not already high-tech. Education advances the tech-level which allows more population, allows the planet to be more productive, but also makes it easier to effectively rebel, should they become unhappy with you.

Educating a species takes some time.

Unanswered questions:

  • If a species has been spread to multiple planets, are they educated en mass or one planet at a time?
  • Within the time-frame of the game will indigenes advance their tech-level on their own?
  • Or should education only be available at first contact, to peg a total species at one tech-level?


Technological Stages

To break down the info in another way, a species may fit in one of 4 technological stages. This determines which resources they can produce. Species in the lower stages are easier to control, but less productive.

  • TL1 ) Primitive: Haven't invented more than basic tools.
  • TL2 ) Tribal: (need better name) Approximately Medieval tech level.
  • TL3 ) Civilized: Approximately 19-21 century tech level.
  • TL4 ) High-Tech: Similar to a starting player.


Production

These are the types of production that can be produced at each tech level. This is not meant to imply that (for instance) only TL4 planets engage in any kind of industry, but that only the industry of a TL4 planet is useful for your interstellar empire.

  • TL1 ) Food, Minerals
  • TL2 ) Food, Minerals, Trade
  • TL3 ) Food, Minerals, Trade, Science
  • TL4 ) Food, Minerals, Trade, Science, Industry (all)


Population

Indigenes get the "homeworld" special for their starting planet. However, at lower tech levels they can support less population, something like:

  • TL1 ) 20%
  • TL2 ) 40%
  • TL3 ) 70%
  • TL4 ) 100%


Combat

I don't know how ground combat will work so the following is rather sketchy.

Though everybody gets a bonus to defend their homeworld, lower tech-level Indigenes should be less effective fighters, however the decentralize nature of their society may make them ore resistant to bombing and other such attacks. TL3 and 4 might also have planetary defenses.