Suggestions for 5.7 and beyond

[Theodidactus]

yeah, they are good for that. I'd probably like them more if they could move other things (minerals, missiles, etc.)

[Thiosk]

Offensive Tractoring

Gravity wave focusing enables the long-range gravitational tethering of ships.  The tech line is designed to enable beam-warships to trap and tether ships outside the combat range, slowing them in much the same way that a black hole interacts with non-newtonian technology.

The technology could also be used by missile ships to play "keep away" on beam ships-- shaving their precious speed advantages.

Example:  A class 1 offensive tractor would slow the target ship by 1000 km/s. 

Range would have to be considered.  I was thinking the 20-50 m/km range to give beam ships a middling way to project power over long ranges. 

Power Requirements:  I'm thinking these babies should be a huge draw on power.  This would prevent people from plopping a class 10 megatractor on every ship in the fleet-- you need a big heavy tractor, plus a big heavy powerplant to run the thing continuously.  No capacitors, because the weapon needs a continuous power supply.

Finally, you know you want this, because
BOARDING OPERATIONS
Nuff said.

[Shininglight]

Offensive Tractoring

Gravity wave focusing enables the long-range gravitational tethering of ships.  The tech line is designed to enable beam-warships to trap and tether ships outside the combat range, slowing them in much the same way that a black hole interacts with non-newtonian technology.

The technology could also be used by missile ships to play "keep away" on beam ships-- shaving their precious speed advantages.

Example:  A class 1 offensive tractor would slow the target ship by 1000 km/s. 

Range would have to be considered.  I was thinking the 20-50 m/km range to give beam ships a middling way to project power over long ranges. 

Power Requirements:  I'm thinking these babies should be a huge draw on power.  This would prevent people from plopping a class 10 megatractor on every ship in the fleet-- you need a big heavy tractor, plus a big heavy powerplant to run the thing continuously.  No capacitors, because the weapon needs a continuous power supply.

Finally, you know you want this, because
BOARDING OPERATIONS
Nuff said.

This seems like a cool tech line, especially when you consider that with technology like that you could likely create a force beam ala starfire, incredibly small aperature so only one armor square, but extremely large, powerful and VERY close range. but requiring fairly high technology levels as well as being extremely power intensive.

[Erik L]

Offensive Tractoring

Gravity wave focusing enables the long-range gravitational tethering of ships.  The tech line is designed to enable beam-warships to trap and tether ships outside the combat range, slowing them in much the same way that a black hole interacts with non-newtonian technology.

The technology could also be used by missile ships to play "keep away" on beam ships-- shaving their precious speed advantages.

Example:  A class 1 offensive tractor would slow the target ship by 1000 km/s. 

Range would have to be considered.  I was thinking the 20-50 m/km range to give beam ships a middling way to project power over long ranges. 

Power Requirements:  I'm thinking these babies should be a huge draw on power.  This would prevent people from plopping a class 10 megatractor on every ship in the fleet-- you need a big heavy tractor, plus a big heavy powerplant to run the thing continuously.  No capacitors, because the weapon needs a continuous power supply.

Finally, you know you want this, because
BOARDING OPERATIONS
Nuff said.

Viable against ships only? Or could I smack a missile salvo with this, making my interception chances better?

[Five]

Crews should gain experience while in combat, not just when recieving damage...maybe make it when they fire too or something. Seems rough that i can kill enemies and get no crew xp but i can let them pound me and get some.

-Five

[Person012345]

A few friends and I were discussing the possibility of rudimentary ground-unit design. I'm not sure exactly how it would work, but I was thinking potentially you might design a ground unit in the same way you design a ship component and the like. It would add some flavour to ground combat rather than having generic "infantry battalions" and "assault infantry battalions".

[ExChairman]

Auto fire: Would be nice to be able to place only certain weapons on autofire.
Example: Bismark class BB. 4 Double 12" laser turrets for anti shipping and 8 single 6" laser all target cannons.
When I order the big guns to fire on enemy ships, they will engage missiles first and only if there is no missile they will fire at they enemy ship I want them to kill....
Maybe a auto fire box at each fire control, or a system were you place groups of weapons with specific orders and then give them a autofire box.

[HaliRyan]

Auto fire: Would be nice to be able to place only certain weapons on autofire.
Example: Bismark class BB. 4 Double 12" laser turrets for anti shipping and 8 single 6" laser all target cannons.
When I order the big guns to fire on enemy ships, they will engage missiles first and only if there is no missile they will fire at they enemy ship I want them to kill....
Maybe a auto fire box at each fire control, or a system were you place groups of weapons with specific orders and then give them a autofire box.

Auto fire isn't really intended for player usage. If I remember correctly it's there for use by the AI, and players are allowed to use it as well for kicks.

Although it would be nice to see it get improved so that the AI is a bit more deadly in larger engagements.

[MehMuffin]

Viable against ships only? Or could I smack a missile salvo with this, making my interception chances better?

It seems that the strength of the tractor would degrade with the speed of the object/you need tracking speed to use it, because slowing down a missile moving at 50kps is a much more difficult matter than a ship moving at 5kps.

[Theokrat]

#1) Civilian shipping is, by far, the most annoying thing in Aurora. I frequently want to launch guided missile attacks on my civilian shipping....that's how much it annoys me. Trade and commerce is usually my favorite part of strategy games (I'm a peace freak) but in Aurora, it ads very little and takes a whole heck of a lot: every system is crowded with blue dots I have absolutely no control over, and they don't seem to contribute very much. Honestly, if they all exploded, would it hurt my empire at all?  Civilian shipping needs to be more fun: perhaps slightly more interactive or at least cooler to study.

Well, you can just change the display setting and you wont see the civilian blue dots at all. I personally find that civilians do add quite a lot. They generate a noticeable amount of wealth, and more importantly, they provide a significant source of infrastructure for free. From a meta-point of view they also somewhat reduce the need for colonist-micromanagement.

But yeah, one of the greatest issues of the game is performance, and civilian shipping lines are one of the culprits as it seems. I could happily live with the minor drawbacks of a no-civilian lines option if that allows the game to run more smoothly. At any rate, the announced changes mean there will be less civilian traffic around, since obsolete ships now get scrapped after a while. So just maybe we will have some better performance then.

[waresky]

Steve.

an very need useful info r: where is and how much amount of them of: minerals in every Colony are reserved on surface? (MINED obviously..NOT below surface:...we have a perfect minerals Report window)

Improve ore transport for taskgroup in and out.
Better management in war and know where,when ,how much.
WE need to know where is mineral colony depot and amount for everyone around.

Apologize my poor english.Hope r understandable.

[Zook]

Do you mean the Stockpile?

[Sloshmonger]

Steve.

an very need useful info r: where is and how much amount of them of: minerals in every Colony are reserved on surface? (MINED obviously..NOT below surface:...we have a perfect minerals Report window)

Improve ore transport for taskgroup in and out.
Better management in war and know where,when ,how much.
WE need to know where is mineral colony depot and amount for everyone around.

Apologize my poor english.Hope r understandable.

Do you mean a window with something like:
Duranium: 1,000 -
    Earth: 1,000
Neutronium: 1,200 +
Corbomite: 2,835,520 -
    Earth: 58,000
    Mars: 6,710
etc...

If so, I'd also like that... maybe an option to exclude reserve levels, so you'd only see what is available for immediate transport.

[waresky]

Do you mean a window with something like:
Duranium: 1,000 -
    Earth: 1,000
Neutronium: 1,200 +
Corbomite: 2,835,520 -
    Earth: 58,000
    Mars: 6,710
etc...


yes srry damn..horrible english:))

"Stockpile" on Colony surface yes!

ive been missed this useful info..am fear we havent those info..
If so, I'd also like that... maybe an option to exclude reserve levels, so you'd only see what is available for immediate transport.

[Garfunkel]

Yes please, that would be excellent!