SEIV Skills Challenge Game

[bearclaw]

I've had this idea for some time to create a stock PBW game that would test SEIV skills.

Works like this:
9 players are arranged on a custom map in groups of 3. There are 3 colonizable systems for each player. The object of the game is to make it to the 'scoring systems' in the center of the map. To get there, several Challenge systems lie between the colonies and the center. Whoever colonizes the most points planets in the center scoring systems wins!

Stock game, but with a customized map.

[Black_Knyght]

Sounds good to me. Test and see how good you REALLY are, sans any special modding to work in you favor.

[Suicide Junkie]

Stock holds no interest for me, but I'd still be interested in how the players did.

[PvK]

My feeling is the same as SJ's.

What are the challenges you have in mind? Generally the most challenging and skill-requiring thing is fighting other players, IMO.

[bearclaw]

PvK said:
My feeling is the same as SJ's.

What are the challenges you have in mind? Generally the most challenging and skill-requiring thing is fighting other players, IMO.

Basicly, the start of the game would be to colonze systems to build up your support then you'd need to be able to get a relatively large fleet through approx 3-5 systems that won't have any support bases for you to rely on. Each of these system would have an SEIV hazard to navigate. Blackhole (not a biggy) an AI race that will be hostile, I've also thought about a bunch of nebula's set up to form a sort of maze (something I've used the map editor to create). Then the end would be getting to the scoring systems and claiming/colonizing as many planets as possible.

My thinking is that you'd have to be at least fairly capable to be able to support a fleet substantial enough as well as research enough tech to get there without waiting too long before the others start their run.

[PvK]

I see. Interesting.

[douglas]

Any rules for player interaction? Unless I'm misinterpreting your initial post, each player will encounter two other players before even attempting the challenges and the group of three will all have the same path to go through, which could lead to some unusual diplomacy and possibly people winning or losing based largely on the skills and inclinations of the other two players in their cluster.

Also, I'd suggest disabling Stellar Manipulation so you don't get players bypassing the entire challenge with warp point openers.

[bearclaw]

Stellar man and Intel would be disabled so as to avoid others being able to 'steal' maps.

As for player interactions, that's up to the players. If one cluster of players gets into a war situation, they run the risk of letting another cluster burst through.

[Ed Kolis]

Reminds me a bit of Cosmic Encounter, how you needed to get 5 colonies in your opponents' home systems to win...
/me wonders if the victory conditions in SE5 can be modded to say you need to control specific planets other than homeworlds... that would be interesting
It would also be fun to make a mod based off of Cosmic Encounter... the problem is, how do you give the feel of Cosmic in SE4/SE5? All I can think of is:
1. Lots of unique, bizarre racial traits, much like Stars!
2. Mod treaties so that they are geared toward short-term temporary alliances with lots of backstabbing, instead of long-term alliances.

[bearclaw]

Cosmic SEV! Now THAT would be cool.
(cosmic encounters ranks as my all-time favorite board game)