Gone a fair way into a few games and the battles are getting a bit slow paced for me personally, would like to have some options options which increase the speed of a battle. Might be fairly useful for reducing the time of multiplayer games too, when multiplayer is actually added that is.

I have to agree on the combat items a lot of people are saying. Right now, it is pretty rinse-and-repeat, which can be a bit bland. I'm glad to hear more camera options are being worked on. A free camera would be a welcome addition!



As for the actual combat, I was a little disappointed when I first started playing, as Steam of course didn't have any indication that it was card-based combat. When it said simultaneous turn based, I was thinking fallout/fallout-tactics style with the ship combat, which would have been awesome. Like others, I would like the ability to set formations, target enemies with specific ships/abilities, and have more control over the outcome.



With that said, after playing for a little while, I don't necessarily mind the combat system, but I fear it lacks the depth to remain interesting.



Also, if I have multiple fleets in a system, I would expect that I could have them all join battle against a foe, not have to do it one at a time. You should be able to select which fleets in the system can join the battle... and if you chose more than one fleet on an attack move, it would use the attack move for all fleets selected.



One idea for the pirates/enemy/multiplayer component of ships escaping through your system before you can attack: You should be able to assign a fleet to "blockade" a system. If an enemy shows up, they must fight that fleet before being able to pass through. That would solve a lot of the simultaneous turn based issues with them escaping past. That way too, if a blockade is not set up, they can sneak through the system.



I really like the game, and I think it has the potential to go into my top 10 with some combat system tweaks! I love everything else about it.

More cards and tactical options (Though I'm not very far in the game, so for all I know that could come later) and camera angles of course, but what I would REALLY like to see is more pre-battle stuff. Setting up formations (Not necessarily ship by ship level of detail, but maybe some general choices that would give you a % bonus to offense or defense or whatever else) would be really neat, as well as some other combat choices to make before the battle begins. Again, nothing super in depth and detailed here, but general choices that would effect the battle and how your fleets worked.

Without changing the actual combat model new cards/effects could be added to reflect formations/targeting. Formation cards to let the big ships tank damage, to have small ships take hits for the big ones, targeting the strongest, weakest ships first. All this spiced with some slight advantages and disadvantages.

I would like to see an ability to designate targets for focused fire, as it is now it feels more about having more guns and the better draw in rock paper scissors. Everything else is great but the combat is far to shallow. If it isn't fleshed out it will be the main complaint from future buyers.

gunnergoz wrote:
Just give us old TBS players a chance with this tactical battle idea...as it is now, it just happens too fast for me to figure out who is what and doing what to whom. Give us a TBS option for it and I'll be happy. Or at least a speed selection and a pause button. It is so far the one part of the game that truly galls and disappoints me.

You can see what battle cards are available outside of combat and sort of "pre-plan" by clicking on a fleet and there should be a button that is like "battle options" or something. Sorry i forget the exact wording.

It's thought for multiplayer. I'd like twice as much time for combat. And a way outside combat to review cards available so I can prepare.

Just give us old TBS players a chance with this tactical battle idea...as it is now, it just happens too fast for me to figure out who is what and doing what to whom. Give us a TBS option for it and I'll be happy. Or at least a speed selection and a pause button. It is so far the one part of the game that truly galls and disappoints me.

The core gameplay of the combat are the cards. Maybe add some special cards that would allow bonuses for the all the next steps (so if you chose a tight formation in long range you can have bonuses/maluses at mid and close range).

Delta_v wrote:
Okay, I have to say that I normally stay away from any 4x that doesn't have tactical combat. I'm a die hard MOO2 and Sots player and in my opinion a strong tactical combat is a must in any 4x I play.



That being said, I find the ES combat an amazingly fresh an enjoyable take on tactical combat. It brings in meaningful consequence to your actions in battle but it doesn't bog the player down with unnecessary detail. It seems concise enough to keep the game moving but it doesn't seem to slow the overall pace down.



I know improved camera controls are coming soon but I would also like to see a bit more detail and options in the actual combat itself. Possibly formations or being able to specify engagement ranges or targeting orders for groups of ships or ship types. I'd like to still keep things general and at a high level but I feel engaging the player a bit more in the decision making process would help immerse those of us that are tactical combat junkies a bite more.



Again, fantastic work on ES, this one that I will keep on my hard drive alongside MOO and the other greats for many years to come.

Yes, I'd love to be able to designate different tactics to sub-fleets so to speak. It'd make the battles a lot more dynamic and reduce the paper scissors stone effect a bit. Engagement ranges are a must! If I have kinetic weapons i'd want to get up close and personal very quickly. It'd make having fast kinetic ships a must if you want to get close enough...