So, in another thread I had an idea for Challenge maps, maps that are more like saved games someone gave you that you have to beat. Please note that these are only suggestions.
The challenge maps would be divided up by difficulty, easy, medium, hard, impossible.
So, without further ado, here goes my suggestions for some challenge maps.
Generic Challenge Maps
In generic challenge maps, you can choose which race you want to use. Each generic challenge map has 4 difficulty levels that you can choose from.
Scout Force
You must beat an enemy without being able to use any civilian technology, and you can only build up to 3 military research labs. At easy, the AI has the same limitations as you. As you go up in difficulty the technology the AI has available increases.
Expiditiary force
Like scout force, but with more technology available. It would still be limited, to maybe 6 Military tech and 3 civilian tech.
Time Trial
Basically, a normal game where a time limit is imposed. Defeat all your enemies within this time period.
Defender
Like time trial, but you have to defend for a certain time against unending overwhelming infinite waves of enemies. You get a little time to prepare before the assualt begins.
Faction Challenge Maps
Faction challenge maps are like generic maps in that you can choose your difficulty, but the faction you can play as is locked. These are more like scenarios then anything else. Could also have storyline threads in them.
Vasari Specific Challenge Maps
Fortress Cracker
Similar to time trial, but you start with a sizable empire. However, the enemy also starts with an empire, and a large amount of defenses. Take the enemies capital before the time runs out. More difficulty decreases the time you have.
Excursion
One of my favorite ideas. You start with a large empire, and a briefing informs you that the current commander is dead and you are in charge. Oh, and you understimated the TEC forces, and are now assaulting with everything they have.
Infinite enemy units attack, ala Defender, but it's impossible to hold them back. You are also surrounded, as a small force arrived behind you.
The objective is to build a fleet and run from the enemy force. You have to go through the force behind you to get to a wormhole, which leads to safety. To win, get your capital ship, an Egg, to the wormhole. In between you and the wormhole are enemy forces who will try to chase you down, starbases, phase inhibitors, etc. Use your ability to rapidly lay down defenses (mines, starbases) before you even finish taking the planet. Use your navigators to snag neutral resources on the way, and your eggs colonize ability with it's building speed increase to colonize and then replenish your forces before you move on.
This is my favorite idea, and it might be hard to balance correctly. If it works out though it would be really fun to play.
Advent Specific Challenge Maps
Call of the Unity
The Advent, always low in number, have been taking more casualties then forseen. Reqruitment is needed to replenish your numbers.
It's like a normal map, with a big problem: You can only take planets using culture. You can also convince factions to ally with you for victory. It shouldn't be easy, however.
Limited Resources:
A little similar to a time trial map, but instead of time, you have health. Every time a ship dies, you lose a certain amount of health (perhaps based on the ships cost or supplies). If you run out of health, you lose. Defeat the enemies, and make sure to micro those units!
TEC Specific Challenge Maps
War Funding
TEC needs funding to keep the war going, so you are in charge of a force that is to colonize and set up trade in this sector. However, pirates seem to be quite the problem, and the newly arrived Advent have set up a base here.
The objective is to get a certain income per second within a time period. Pirates will constantly raid, and Advent will try to kill you.
Trade Routes
A TEC outpost is in need of help. Set up a trade route from your homeworld to the outpost within the time limit. You will be under constant attack, however. More difficulty means longer distance.
Tactical Challenge Maps
Tactical challenge maps are basically challenge maps where you don't have any planets or ship producing capabilities. You have to win in a grav well or a small system with your given units. It's all about microing and counters.
I am really tired from writing this giant wall of text, and I don't have enough experience to think of a good combination. But I imagine there are a lot of possible fleet compositions that would be fun.
I hope you liked my ideas. I also really hope at least some of them are implemented in some way.
