I prefer RTS combat, but the current combat system works well with the game. However it could be better with some camera options

Calico wrote:
The Voters and the Devs have spoken! Combat will stay as it is, with a few fine tunings here and there. Stop beating the old poor horse!

We will never stop beating this dead horse, just because a bunch of voters think that the current combat balance issues can be resolved by tweaking stats doesn't make it true. I highly doubt any combat every being fixed at this point, there are simply to few variables at play to prevent pure industrial output being the only factor that matters in multiplayer conflicts.

DeathSarge wrote:
You may count this as a dumb responce, but here's my two dust for why my loyalties lie where they are. The current combat is amazing, though the camera is kinda screwed up cause it only works well on large fleet battles, because it is like nothing we have ever seen before. Unique, I like things unique.

Ahem, Gratuitous Space Battles. It is essentially the same thing just with out the turn-based battle. I am sure if you looked hard enough you could find a game that has done something like ES does; it is just a matter of sifting through all of the 4x games, indy or otherwise.



@Poll



I chose "Something Else" because while the battle system is pretty cool it needs to be a lot more tactical. We need more cards, more specialized ships, more options really. Maybe cards that can alter when certain ship classes are to engage or when they are to stay out of firing range. This would help prevent the loss of smaller ships in late game battles until they get into the fight at closer ranges.



I can count on my hands the number of times in my 890 turns of playing ES (somewhere around 140 manual battles) the number of times a battle has lasted into the medium range and I can count on only one hand the number of times the battle has lasted to the close range cycle. IMO battles are too quick because you just have all of the fleet shooting at the same time going to weaker ships first them bigger ones with some basic modifiers to the damage.



The battle system can also benefit from more battle scenarios. Some possibilities:



Stand off:



Ships start off in line formation with both sides facing each other and only missiles are really effective at the opening stage. As each turn progresses the fleets get closer and so laser and beam weapons become more effective. There can also be scenario specific cards like flanking or ranking up on the line (cutting defensive/offensive line in half and forming ranks).



Pursuit:



One fleet chases down another through out this battle. The amount of movement the fleet has will determine if they can out strip the pursuers before the end of the battle. Possibly have a mechanic where if a fleet gets far enough away that the battle is automatically lost. In order to keep it fair the fleet being pursued cannot fire on the pursuing fleet with beams/kenetics unless it comes very close. Missiles would be the weapon of choice for this type of battle. If the pursuing fleet catches up then you enter into a normal, broadside, battle on which ever stage of the battle you were previously on and the cards change tot he normal set.



Chaotic:



This one would be more relevant to massive end-game fleets that have many ships. It is similar to the normal broadside battle but the ships are intermingled in a massive war-like battle. Special cards from all battle types could be applied as well as friendly fire. This battle would play out in combination of all battle types. Some ships would be broadsiding, others would be in pursuit, while others yet in standoff. You would have to gauge which tactics are going to win you the battle even though you may have to sacrifice ships to come out on top. For example you are more likely to win by betting on the pursuit style ships and so standoff ships are more likely to be destroyed even though you have a higher change of winning the battle.



These are just a few examples, but they display how the current battle system can be enhanced to be much more then an on-rails flight path/battle mechanics.

Nosferatiel wrote:
A retreat card will be included.

There already is one, at least for the Sowers. I have only played as Sowers/Sophons so I dunno which other races have it. Sophons doesn't though.

I enjoy the combat in ES, my only gripe is lack of camera control and perhaps some better ship turrets / animations or even formations/ tactics for the automated periods

With the current set up for how thew weapons and defenses work, this game is unplayable to me.

I voted for turn-based since its the style that i prefer most but i wouldnt say no to the current style and i would like to see how it can be improved more

Devs won't make these changes this late into development.



Maybe for ES2, I'd like to see interactive real-time combat.

supersoaker9 wrote:
Devs won't make these changes this late into development.



Maybe for ES2, I'd like to see interactive real-time combat.

Most of us are not talking about an actual revamp, but actual changes to the games numbers and balance, changes that can be easily done in an afternoon!

the current system just fine, but i hope to get something extra shall i? something like reinforcement. i know there is balance issue there, but why not we have 2 fleet park in the same system joint battle? Also, sometimes i could help my allies to help, sounds ok?



reinforcement requirement:

- maybe a tactic card for hero?

- or some tech for some unique culture like cravers?

The combat is fine as it is, a few tweaks to the camera and maybe some preparations before the battle (tactics, formations) and you've got a unique gameplay experience.



Also the players are generally the "Emperor" of their chosen race, YOU take care of YOUR empire, You AREN'T however the admirals and generals of your armies and fleets

The combat makes sense, it's not too deep where you need to micro manage everything and it isn't too distant where you don't have a choice on what moves to make.

Voted for the current system, but I would like Turn Based Combat as well

It would be really great to include a system for fights with more than one fleet. (I think of a map where you can tell your fleets to go for a special enemy fleet and the opponent can try to intercept with his fleets. This would give shipspeed something usefull in combat and i think this can be implemented quite easy)

As i wrote before turn based is the style that i prefer but as other ppl already said, i am sure that the current combat system can truly shine. All that it needs is tweaking to give "endless" versions of fights. I have faith that the Devs will not stand idle and will implement more staff in the future. The combat style is unique just give it some room to show its true potential



P.S. give same combat style for ground combat, as far as i know there is no ground combat atm

The combat for this style of game is fine st the moment, with only minor changes needed if at all. The problem is the fact that this game is designed around multiplayer, and having 8 people being able to do tactical battles would seriously bog down the game, and make multiplayer almost unplayable. The devs HAVE stated that the combat is this way is cause of multiplayer, and it is something they've thought about considerably, I like the combat though, only thing needed is a freecam or different angle selections to make it a little better. The game is almost released, so I doubt any combat overhaul would be out before release, but if they do overhaul the combat they need to keep the original for multiplayer, or at least the option to choose.

Fine as it is. But could be better.

In fact when the player in front plays randomly the cards it is simply impossible to have a counter strategy by logically anticipating his "moves". Ok I'm Sower-minded... Damn organics!



A system in which you can determine the primary targets on which the fleet should focus could be also a nice improvement.

Voted "Turn-based Combat" as I would like to have as much time as I want to check the enemies fleet and to choose my cards. What the ships do in the respective phases is good for me, I don't need more in-depth interaction.

I actually like the combat a lot more than I originally thought I would after reading reviews etc. It's different, but strangely fun and he random card element makes it much more tense than other forms of space combat implementation.



Can it use some improvements? Definitely.



For example I'd really like to see a pause option so I can check out the enemy fleet at the start, see which weapons they have etc. and have time to read my card options.



Secondly, a bit more camera control would be nice. Often I find myself staring at my frigates rather than the enemy battleship that is exploding.

I really like the current combat system except for:

Not being able to choose what you engage (considering you can only engage once per turn)

The combat cards are hard to understand (what does +20% block means?)



Otherwise the whole Kinetic, Beam and Missiles scores are quite nice.

Short simple battles are also ideal for this kind of game. I'd like a combat system like Heroes of Might and Magic too but this isn't the best game for it and I don't think an overhaul of the combat system is appropriate this close to the official release.

The current combat system is fine, from my point of view at least. The main reason behind my statement is that in multiplayer, having turn based battles would take too long to complete a game.



However, if the current battle system was used in multiplayer and a turn based battle system OR the option to use it was available I would most definitively love it.

Game just really needs balancing tweaks more than anything, how the combat works is dandy and fun.



Only thing I'd want to change is more time to decide on that first card, as I often have to rush and just click something rather than actually think. But once the range phase starts, I have plenty of time to think of the next two ones to grab.