Aurora 4x

Fiction => C# Test Campaigns => Steve's Fiction => Aurora => The Great Houses => Topic started by: Steve Walmsley on November 04, 2018, 06:31:48 AM

Title: Comments Thread
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 04, 2018, 06:31:48 AM
Please post any comments in this thread. I'll lock the fiction thread to make it easy to read.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Jovus on November 04, 2018, 09:29:58 AM
Quote
so it was actually House Fuchida who gained an early edge due to a scientist with a good combination of research skill and administration skill.

Yessss. We're on our way to Fuchida declaring him/herself First Lord of the Star Terran League and kicking off the Succession Wars already!

In before Fuchida decides to focus their ground-force efforts on fast, heavy armor organized into light platoons called 'lances'.

(Yes, I know I'm leaning over-heavily on Battletech here.)
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Father Tim on November 04, 2018, 09:42:39 AM
I was excited about House Varenne's "right Regiments of Foot" -- and wondering what a Left Regiment of Foot would look like -- when I realized it was probably eight.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 04, 2018, 09:55:40 AM
I hadn't realised I posted! Must have done that accidentally. Still working on the post, so new update soon.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 04, 2018, 10:16:00 AM
Correct update now posted :)
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 04, 2018, 10:16:28 AM
I was excited about House Varenne's "right Regiments of Foot" -- and wondering what a Left Regiment of Foot would look like -- when I realized it was probably eight.

Fixed :)
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Father Tim on November 04, 2018, 10:36:04 AM
I'm disappointed that it wasn't some Kaga/Akagi style tactical innovation.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 04, 2018, 10:37:12 AM
I'm disappointed that it wasn't some Kaga/Akagi style tactical innovation.

Well, Fuchida is heading straight for carriers so I am sure you will see Akagi and Kaga soon :)
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Bremen on November 04, 2018, 02:03:39 PM
My first thought was putting mortar teams in a mixed formation seems an odd choice; one of their biggest advantages is that they can provide fire from the support position, so I would expect you'd want them to be their own formation. I guess after the changes to how damage works light bombardment isn't strictly inferior to other choices as a front line weapon, though.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 04, 2018, 02:11:25 PM
My first thought was putting mortar teams in a mixed formation seems an odd choice; one of their biggest advantages is that they can provide fire from the support position, so I would expect you'd want them to be their own formation. I guess after the changes to how damage works light bombardment isn't strictly inferior to other choices as a front line weapon, though.

For the moment I am role-playing rather than min-maxing. However against some opponents (for example those with a lot of light vehicles), the extra damage is very useful. I might pull them out separately depending on how things progress. It is very early days.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: idefelipe on November 04, 2018, 03:18:08 PM
Hey Steve.

Thanks for making this possible, you are making an awesome.. legendary work.

I have a small question. Currently most of countries include some kind of military deals in their daily relationships. Countries sell and buy military and civilian stuff daily, have you thought in this possibilty? Imagine a race buying technology or even finished ships,fighters, ground units, missiles, installations from other race (or houses if we follow current aar).

I dont know if this kind of transactions are possible or not but l think it would give the game a new level in several ways and strategies. From developing just your economic strenght to buy from external suppliers, to develop your own industry and get some profit reinforcing even their future enemies....

Thanks
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Marski on November 04, 2018, 03:42:11 PM
Is house Reichmann seriously using WW2 equipment for their ground forces?
I mean, Sdkfz. 251 is this half-tracked boi right here
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-217-0493-31%2C_Russland-S%C3%BCd%2C_Sch%C3%BCtzenpanzerwagen.jpg)
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Bremen on November 04, 2018, 04:48:53 PM
I think they're just borrowing names. The new ground units are TNE tech, after all.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 04, 2018, 05:07:28 PM
Is house Reichmann seriously using WW2 equipment for their ground forces?
I mean, Sdkfz. 251 is this half-tracked boi right here
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-217-0493-31%2C_Russland-S%C3%BCd%2C_Sch%C3%BCtzenpanzerwagen.jpg)

Well, not that particular half-track. Just the modern Trans-Newtonian equivalent that they happened to name the same :)
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Garfunkel on November 05, 2018, 03:37:56 AM
House Aurelius probably isn't using actual crossbows either, just naming their weapons like that.

Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Whitecold on November 05, 2018, 05:43:09 AM
House Aurelius probably isn't using actual crossbows either, just naming their weapons like that.
I guess the difference is that one is a name, the other is a model number, which is likely assigned before one even knows which vehicles go into mass production.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Garfunkel on November 05, 2018, 11:03:49 AM
True, but many of those German WW2 vehicles did not have nicknames, and using made-up Sdkfz numbers makes using them a moot point in the first place, at least for those of us who know most of them by heart.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Jovus on November 05, 2018, 02:13:40 PM
House Aurelius probably isn't using actual crossbows either, just naming their weapons like that.

Lies and vicious slander!

In the rebuilding, House Aurelius absorbed San Marino, and their crossbow corps clearly formed the basis for the nuRoman army.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Marski on November 06, 2018, 04:35:33 AM
It'd still be better to just give them a random number, instead of one that historically existed to avoid confusion.
It's a specific production model after all.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Panopticon on November 06, 2018, 11:07:58 AM
Given that in context, both in universe and with us reading the AAR, there is no possibility of anyone getting confused and thinking that his TN ground units are using WW2 tech, I suspect there is not actually a problem at all.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Father Tim on November 06, 2018, 12:05:51 PM
I quite like it.  I've played enough Panzer General to have a solid mental image of a SdKfz 251 and can easily envision it as a TNE unit.  Most of my Aurora campaigns feature 'historically inspired' designs anyway.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Tree on November 06, 2018, 12:45:18 PM
Ever since the picture was posted I've just been imagining it as a half-hovercraft. Two wheels on the front and the rear floats thanks to trans-newtonian magic. It looks ridiculous.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Garfunkel on November 06, 2018, 01:50:10 PM
Ever since the picture was posted I've just been imagining it as a half-hovercraft. Two wheels on the front and the rear floats thanks to trans-newtonian magic. It looks ridiculous.
That reminds me of the hovertanks in the 2300 AD. Which always struck me as slightly ridiculous, because wouldn't the hover portion of the tank be extremely vulnerable, far more so than tracks?
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Marski on November 07, 2018, 02:32:30 PM
Given that in context, both in universe and with us reading the AAR, there is no possibility of anyone getting confused and thinking that his TN ground units are using WW2 tech, I suspect there is not actually a problem at all.
If you see a unit named "Bf-109" do you first imagine it being a jetfighter or the german prop fighter from the WW2? Just saying.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Hazard on November 07, 2018, 02:42:01 PM
Looking at the newly posted shots of one of the house's mineral situation they've got a massive Vendarite and Gallicite crunches incoming.

Which could be worse, Gallicite is IIRC a missile only mineral, but Vendarite also has infrastructure uses.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Panopticon on November 07, 2018, 02:49:07 PM
Given that in context, both in universe and with us reading the AAR, there is no possibility of anyone getting confused and thinking that his TN ground units are using WW2 tech, I suspect there is not actually a problem at all.
If you see a unit named "Bf-109" do you first imagine it being a jetfighter or the german prop fighter from the WW2? Just saying.

When you see M-1, do you get annoyed that it could be the M-1 Garand, the more modern M-1A rifle, or a battletank? Probably not because you have the ability to identify things in context.

I find it unlikely that in five hundred years or so when this AAR is set there is anyone who seriously thinks that the tanks used in the TN ground forces are WWII relics.

Similarly, if someone was talking about modern air superiority and mentioned a BF-109, I might get confused for a second, maybe even ask for clarification that a jet fighter with that designation actually exists, but I won't be going into it with the assumption that it was a prop engine fighter, because that would be silly and I too have the ability to identify things in context.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Father Tim on November 07, 2018, 02:58:56 PM
Given that in context, both in universe and with us reading the AAR, there is no possibility of anyone getting confused and thinking that his TN ground units are using WW2 tech, I suspect there is not actually a problem at all.
If you see a unit named "Bf-109" do you first imagine it being a jetfighter or the german prop fighter from the WW2? Just saying.

My Aurora starships have three masts and dozens of 'sails' to catch stellar radiation to power their reactors.  And TNE propellers are just the thing to haul small craft through the Luminiferous Aether between worlds.

Did I mention some of my 'hovertanks' use anti-gravity tech while others are true Ground-Effect Vehicles?  That my Garrison Units are riot police and my Assault Infantry are model ED-209 Urban Combat Robots?

The true strength of Aurora is that it doesn't over-define and techno-babble explain many of its systems.  My units may be mechanically identical to yours, but I'm free to fictionalize them almost any way I like.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Bremen on November 07, 2018, 03:09:17 PM
Looking at the newly posted shots of one of the house's mineral situation they've got a massive Vendarite and Gallicite crunches incoming.

Which could be worse, Gallicite is IIRC a missile only mineral, but Vendarite also has infrastructure uses.

IIRC Gallicite is engines, including missile engines. A gallicite crunch is probably third behind duranium and corundium in terms of how crippling it is, IMHO.

Vendarite is construction factories and maybe a few miscellaneous things IIRC? Not nearly as big a deal.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Hazard on November 07, 2018, 04:56:38 PM
IIRC Gallicite is engines, including missile engines. A gallicite crunch is probably third behind duranium and corundium in terms of how crippling it is, IMHO.

Vendarite is construction factories and maybe a few miscellaneous things IIRC? Not nearly as big a deal.

And you're right. Gallicite is the engine material. While the 25 kton depicted has high availability, 25 kton is kinda... limited, when it comes to the needs of multiple empires. At least it really is only used for engines, which limits consumption.

Vendarite's main purpose is fighters, but it's also used in construction factories.

And looking at the pictures again in greater detail you can see the development of a Corundium shortage. Less than 100 ktons in total. Easily accessible, thankfully, but the campaign desperately needs new sources. Preferably ones that are less... contested.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Jovus on November 08, 2018, 07:51:07 AM
I get the feeling that Steve didn't increase the HW resources to deal with the fact that there are five empires rather than one, and we're going to see the consequences of that.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 08, 2018, 09:01:20 AM
I get the feeling that Steve didn't increase the HW resources to deal with the fact that there are five empires rather than one, and we're going to see the consequences of that.

I did increase them to some extent but not five times. All the houses are going to run into problems if they don't find new sources.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Steve Walmsley on November 08, 2018, 09:06:10 AM
Vendarite's main purpose is fighters, but it's also used in construction factories.

And it is the primary mineral for ground forces, so it is a lot more important in C# Aurora.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Person012345 on November 08, 2018, 04:02:29 PM
I get the feeling that Steve didn't increase the HW resources to deal with the fact that there are five empires rather than one, and we're going to see the consequences of that.
More fun that way.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Agoelia on November 16, 2018, 05:46:31 AM
The Viking faction grew up for decades in the extreme cold of scandinavian nuclear winter.  I think they should have a lower minimum temperature, or maybe in the long run they should prefer to colonize colder planets/moons rather than hot ones, or maybe create new species which can live in colder climates.  Or all three of this, just for the sake of differentiating the factions a little more.  Furthermore the vikings were historically great warriors but also great colonizers and explorers
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Sirce on December 24, 2018, 06:14:20 PM
The Viking faction grew up for decades in the extreme cold of scandinavian nuclear winter.  I think they should have a lower minimum temperature, or maybe in the long run they should prefer to colonize colder planets/moons rather than hot ones, or maybe create new species which can live in colder climates.  Or all three of this, just for the sake of differentiating the factions a little more.  Furthermore the vikings were historically great warriors but also great colonizers and explorers

Nice, it has been a while since I checked for a new Steve Walmsley fiction. However, depending on the scientist House Ragnar gets, for once get some Genetics going and create a cold weather Viking! This would be great for roleplaying.
Title: Re: Comments Thread
Post by: Garfunkel on December 24, 2018, 07:21:33 PM
Unfortunately, Steve has abandoned this game, as all the updates were working and he wanted to monitor NPR and spoiler gameplay with the new features.