okay.. chess

anyway what eventually needs to be done is to "prepare" all those text lines describing the events for the final implementation in some sort of code-similar pattern in order to take as much of the thinking work away from the devs as possible, i.e. to make a list in which effects, pre-conditions and different outcomes are already listed in full!
I don't think many "interactive" random events with user-choices and galaxy conditions to be taken into account !over a period of turns! (simple user-choices will much likely be implemented) will ever get programmed, it just kind of blows up the (time-)frame like we say here ..

I hope we can have nice graphics, 2D still or even movie, for all the random events.

We still need them for more of the minor race structures.




Can you select NASA images for us to use in areas such as random events and
minor race structures? : Mike can set you up with access to SharePoint and
point out file types needed. I can convert most file types if you do not
have the image software. :roll

Gotta throw out a disclaimer ... when it comes to the incredible artwork like Malvoisin found, that's way beyond my skills too. I'm like Matress when it comes to most things - I couldn't render or animate my way out of a wet paper bag.

However, my best set of simulation tools comes with an animation package that lets me make some crude movies of the simulated impacts. The movies are geared more towards science (i.e. visualization of the results). I've helped to extend the tools over the years too, so things are getting better.

To see what 100,000 exploding, sticky particles looks like, search for "Baptistina" on my movie page: http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~benke/pres ... ovies.html


On the other hand, I do also know several very good space artists! So if anyone needs some dazzling artwork for an intro or in-game random events, I could try to make some contacts. These artists tend to like being paid, however, since their art puts food on their table... but some might be flexible too...

Speaking of good artwork - I LOVE mstroebel's Supremacy intro... excellent art!!

About the >90% Baptistina probability - yes, the scientists spent a LOT of time (almost a year) trying to cover all their bases and account for all reasonable possibilities because they knew their results would be questioned closely. Carl Sagan said it best: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."

Regarding NASA artwork that Kenneth_of_Borg asked about, unfortunately I only have "public" access... you can find lots of good artwork in various places via google, but it takes a while. NASA has done SO many past space mission and concept studies that end up with beautiful artwork getting buried.

By the way, Kenneth_of_Borg's image capture of his cube's attack on the USS Constellation sends shivers up my spine - excellent artwork there, no? The Borg take pride in their work. Hollywood is probably the best source of game-related artwork, me thinks...

Regarding random event formulas, as was speculated above... seems reasonable that we could generalize certain random events and program the formulas into the game rather then the specific events.

We might lose something in the process, regarding the impact (on the player) of the event - the events might end up being watered down, generic, cookie-cutter happenings. But if we keep that in mind up-front and try to spice things up with some randomization within each event... this approach sounds good to me!

For example, it seems simple for an asteroid/comet hazard random event to have a variable level of initial detection (EXCELLENT thoughts on that in the earlier posts, by the way - yes early detection in settled systems with a scanner and OB's is a GREAT idea IMHO), and also variable levels of damage and duration proportional to the scope of the impact. So planetary impacts could follow a general formula with "magnitude" and "advanced warning" as randomized parameters.

Nice!

Sounds good. We all understand about the time it takes.
This is a hobby and career and family come first.

I will continue my work on the major race fleets for now.
When that is done I can Google out non copywrite protected
images for the other stuff. (If Zeleni has not done all that
for us by then.) If you do happen on downloadable images
you think we can use just post in a link.

It sounds like you have a good background to work with the
random events planning. As MOE pointed out here is what
we have so far.

http://www.botf2.com/Shared%20Documents ... 20List.txt

http://www.botf2.com/Shared%20Documents ... Incomplete).txt

I think you can work it out to more detail. When you do
the Borg art department can go to work on it. If that is
what you would like to do the admins can set up a stick
for the ongoing work.

PS: the image above is from the re-mastered original series.
It was the attack by a Doomsday Machine episode.
You remember, the giant killer ice sickle thing - the captain
of the Constilation was obsessed with stopping it to the
point of over acting.

as for the artwork..I "hired" a couple of talented guys over at http://www.trekmeshes.ch and put their images on http://www.botf2.com/bote/shared%20docu ... 20screens/ . They'll be featured in-game probably when alpha5 comes out or sooner as a separate update. We'll see..

Ah - I stand corrected - the Constellation was not your handiwork. Still great artwork, though!

As for overacting commodores... LOL...

I recall an old trek novel where a super-doomsday machine was used to counter a Borg attack - or at least I think it was a Borg attack. Or some other nasty out there. Interesting book...

For my main involvements with the various projects, it's looking more AI-related (combat and/or general game AIs)... those might be the areas I can help with most. I'd love to see these games have killer AIs. The random events and most other areas seem like they already have some good momentum built up - but I'd sure like to stay involved in those discussions too. Maybe I can contribute a future thought or two... plus there might be some intersection between AI and other areas...

Sound good out there?