Slitherine

quote:


POST 1
A pre-warp setting would suit the Solar Drive and commerce concept from awhile back, though I would like to add another element. Unfortunately, it feels a tad iffy to me. I don't think that I have heard of any 4X to try it.

The basic idea is that in addition to not being able to directly manipulate the Private Sector, that sector is actually an Independent faction. Any worlds, mines, stations, and areas it claims is something that it owns. In fact, all of the Private Sectors for each empire owe the barest loyalty to their originating points (though the Loyalty attribute helps in reducing prices and preference), and will try to make as much money as it could and have the Empires buy things from them. The Private Sector easily expands to new solar systems and colonize worlds, and offers to sell them to the highest bidders at some point, or perhaps hiring out solar systems for limited times. To invade an Independent world, or Solar System, means that it is harder to buy things from the Private Sector, including worlds, ships, technology, or information.

The Private Sector has its own techtree, separate from that of the Empires and is generally supposed to be stronger in the early and midgame, only losing dominance as the empires come into their own. People generally colonize places in order to fulfill their desires, be it wealth, Independence, curiosity, or for a new life - Empires can't really supply this early on, because they are rigid and stratified structures, unable to make the dreams of people come true. The Empire has no place in the colony rush, and tries to instead to get what it wants by selectively purchasing certain properties and slowly expanding, not via pure military strength, but from good economic choices and exploration.

That isn't to say that Empires can't own worlds, but their efforts should be much more concentrated, while the Private Sector covers everything that the Empires are not focusing on.

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POST 2 (Much like the post above, a bit iffy to me.)
Yah, knew about the Empire selling ships to the Private Sector. It might actually be an interesting way to further separate The Way of Light and Way of Darkness extremes, by having the more "Open" governments possess a stronger Private Sector, while "Closed" Governments have more control, but has an weaker economy for it, in terms of expansion and how income is gained.


Open Governments:
+Buys various goods from Independent sources for excellent prices.
+Has a better reputation with Free governments.
+Gains the most income through tourism and promoting trade.
+Private Sector expands quickly in regions surrounding Open Empires.
+Increases maximum amount of Free Trade percentage.
+Private Sector performs research at an accelerated rate.
+The collection and trade of Luxuries is emphasized.
+Obtaining a large amount of a race will significantly increase the volume and value of trade with Empires and Independent worlds that have that race. A multi-racial empire becomes stronger.
+May license technology developed by the Private Sector for use, but pays fees per licensed component. Developing the technology afterwards will remove the fee.
-Purchase of colonies, sources of material, and other things through a market. Open Governments are bad at the cutthroat ways of Closed Governments.
-Doesn't make many sales through constructing ships for the Private Sector
-Weak influence on Private Sector ship designs, which often goes for what is cheap or the highest quality vessels in the galaxy. Quite random.
-Invading worlds will really damage this government's ability to deal with Independent sources.
-Private Sector can't readily enter Closed Empire regions, especially for colonization purposes - they are apt to be blown to smithereens.
-Negotiating with pirates would cost more and hiring them as privateers will incur a greater penalty.
-Pirates will manifest along trade routes.


Closed Empires
+Tightly controls the ship market, so there are increased sales of starships within their region, and the designs more closely match what is mandated by the Empire.
+Private Sector is very slow to expand, which gives more time for the Empire to colonize worlds and solar systems without having to deal with Private Sector.
+Obtains more taxes from colonies, and has a higher maximum cap for taxation. (100% for Way of Darkness?)
+Impressive migration rates, within the region.
+Ships are more durable and perform better than that of Open Empires, due to the best materials being reserved for Empire vessels.
+Invading worlds has little effect on interactions with Private Sector markets, due to pre-existing hostility.
+Purchasing black-market materials smuggled from other empires is possible, dependent on Pirates occupying such areas. This includes technology, rare resources, maps, and so on.
+Promoted Privateer activity doesn't particularly concern citizens, they already got other things on their plate, so they can't be concerned about what happens to other people.
+Armies on each world provides a morale bonus.
+Receives extra money from each convoy inspected within their territory - escorts and frigates will intercept convoys, board them, and retrieve what is deemed contraband.
+The fewer races integrated with your Empire, the happier and more productive your primary race would be. Worlds will start becoming segregated, with minorities being shunted to worlds your race doesn't like.
+Boosted research ability for Military Sector.
+Collection and trade of Strategic Resources is focused upon.
-Increased corruption.
-Low tourism levels.
-Little incoming migration from regions outside of the Empire's. Most of the migration is outwards, most likely that of people who don't want to be in the Empire.
-Larger amount of pirates, especially around low-morale worlds.
-Worlds without armies have lower morale. Systems with little or no navies have lower morale.

• Empires do not build colony ships, they build outposts. These outposts have a small population (1-5k) and would be similar to a mining station in that you get the goodies.
  
• The Private Sector can build a 'Colony Ship' which is exactly as we have now. The difference is that the private sector only builds a colony ship at a colony when the demand is met.
  
• Planets grow until they start getting 'crowded'. Crowded can mean 75% of max population. At this point, people demand more space and endeavor to move to one of the outposts.
  
• The private sector AI then builds the ship, loads up some civvies, and ships them off to the best outpost planet you currently control.
  

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shark7

The problem is that with 4X games, you almost can't avoid the colony rush.

Of course, there might be one way...by taking colonizing out of the hands of the player and putting it in the private sector.

Here could be the system:

• Empires do not build colony ships, they build outposts. These outposts have a small population (1-5k) and would be similar to a mining station in that you get the goodies.
  
• The Private Sector can build a 'Colony Ship' which is exactly as we have now. The difference is that the private sector only builds a colony ship at a colony when the demand is met.
  
• Planets grow until they start getting 'crowded'. Crowded can mean 75% of max population. At this point, people demand more space and endeavor to move to one of the outposts.
  
• The private sector AI then builds the ship, loads up some civvies, and ships them off to the best outpost planet you currently control.
  

This is a possible way to do it...not one that I personally want to use, but it would definately take the colony rush away from the player and make it more important to develope your econmy and culture. I'd support it as an option, but not the default.

quote:

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shark7

The problem is that with 4X games, you almost can't avoid the colony rush.

Of course, there might be one way...by taking colonizing out of the hands of the player and putting it in the private sector.

Here could be the system:

• Empires do not build colony ships, they build outposts. These outposts have a small population (1-5k) and would be similar to a mining station in that you get the goodies.
  
• The Private Sector can build a 'Colony Ship' which is exactly as we have now. The difference is that the private sector only builds a colony ship at a colony when the demand is met.
  
• Planets grow until they start getting 'crowded'. Crowded can mean 75% of max population. At this point, people demand more space and endeavor to move to one of the outposts.
  
• The private sector AI then builds the ship, loads up some civvies, and ships them off to the best outpost planet you currently control.
  

This is a possible way to do it...not one that I personally want to use, but it would definately take the colony rush away from the player and make it more important to develope your econmy and culture. I'd support it as an option, but not the default.

Though a nice idea this simply would replace the colony rush with an outpost rush, correct?
(I am assuming that empires cannot build colonies on planets with foreign outposts)