Victory Conditions – New Options!
Several issues I have seen in my own games (and from posts by other players) include the length of time it can take to win or "finish" a game. Currently in games vs the computer you must chase their fleet between systems sometimes endlessly in order to slowly destroy them 1-2 ships at a time. EVEN after having control of most every system in the game… the AI can still run around and survive for lengthy amounts of time.
Also, a lot of players (including myself) have been seeking shorter game times… While I really do enjoy the 4x nature of this game… I can’t fully explore its potential. Currently there is really only one single goal for EVERY empire and player to enter this universe… Complete annihilation of every other life-form and race in existence…
I purpose we get alternate game modes and victory conditions to really SPICE up and improve this game way beyond the greatness it is now… Read below for several of these ideas and please post any comments or suggestions you may have… Hopefully some of the devs will chime in and consider our opinions further!
Don’t get me wrong! I do enjoy some really epic and long games at times! But there are plenty of other instances when I’d like to dominate after only a few hours, giving me time for a 2nd game!
Victory Conditions:
Artifact Control – This mode would require players to find… capture… and defend artifacts around the solar systems. If a single player gains control of all artifacts in existence… A count-down is started warning all other players that victory is near (say 15-30 min or something).
Control Point – A mode that awards points to players for controlling either specified systems or possibly a higher % of the available systems. Basically, depending on how implemented, players would slowly gain points towards victory if they either control more planets than an opponent or if they control pre-specified control point locations (similar to artifact control).
Home Worlds – If you lose your homeworld.. Game Over. (or at least timed delay till you lose giving you a chance to establish a new one). If a timed delay is considered… The cost for upgrading a planet to homeworld should be greatly increased… Requiring a player who loses their homeworld to have substantial resources saved up.
"Space Race" – This shouldn’t actually be called space race as… Well… If you haven’t gotten into space yet, you’re playing a different game. However an option to achieve victory based on research and/or building non offensive/defensive buildings that cost HUGE amounts of resources and time to construct would be a great would to add diversity to game victory! I believe many space games use research that turns you into gods or something similar as a similar option to this.
Diplomacy – Win by becoming allies with all races… Currently you gain faction with a race by completing missions against enemy races or through trade (I think… I haven’t used either very much)… But if a player could "win" by allying with all factions (or several) and then destroying the remaining… It would giving yet another way to shorten the game span. Why would you want to shorten it? Well, so you can play another!
These are just a few common suggestions… I hope something comes of them!
Again, remember... These would be OPTIONS! Just like many other games who have used similar options. You would choose which victory conditions fit your play style or goals!