Combat Information Center (CIC) and unlocking engagement strategies

sumghai

At present, ships are capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously, and appear to prioritize the closest ones.

I'd like to propose a new 5x6* compartment called the Combat Information Center (CIC) that would allow more advanced strategies for larger ships, such as prioritizing certain targets, enable salvo fire of missiles or even fleet control (e.g. telling certain friendly ships to engage specific targets, coordinate formations). This part is intended to operate separately from larger control rooms/bridges, but as always, a ship with a functional CIC but no working control room is still uncontrollable.

Another possibility is that control rooms alone (irrespective of size) would only be able to manage a certain number of weapons and defense systems, such that a CIC would be required to raise or remove this limit.

*Dimensions specifically chosen such that they can only be used on medium to large vessels, and the different-numbered sides allows for odd or even number-wide ships

Walt

Tobi-wan_Kenobi I think such AI options should be built into every ship, not just those with a certain room.

I tend to agree with this.

sumghai Another possibility is that control rooms alone (irrespective of size) would only be able to manage a certain number of weapons and defense systems, such that a CIC would be required to raise or remove this limit.

I kind of like this idea -- or at least applying this idea to different-sized command/control rooms. Larger control rooms with more crew would allow for ships with more systems. (But then what happens when a ship's large control room is destroyed, they still have a small control room, but are now over the system limit?)

Tobi-wan_Kenobi

I think such AI options should be built into every ship, not just those with a certain room. I wanna be Admiral Adama as much as the next nerd, but locking control options behind a tech wall would be confusing and annoying when you're using a ship that doesn't have access to them.

minimurgle

Walt (But then what happens when a ship's large control room is destroyed, they still have a small control room, but are now over the system limit?)

Instead of a "a small control room can handle 5 guns or a certain mass". Control rooms could be able to handle an infinite amount of stuff as they normally can but give them an efficiency rating similar to FTL drives.

sumghai

Walt But then what happens when a ship's large control room is destroyed, they still have a small control room, but are now over the system limit?

In this case, we'll start off with having all systems remain active, but as each of them runs out of energy they become permanently disabled (i.e. cannot be recharged) until only a number of systems equal to the small control room's limit are left. Rebuilding the large control room will, of course, restore the disabled systems.

Walt

minimurgle an efficiency rating similar to FTL drives.

What would that efficiency rating effect?

minimurgle

Walt Probably how effective this ship is.

Speed (turn and normal speed
Weapons (damage, accuracy, fire rate
Shield damage absorbtion (can take less damage with low efficiency)
Energy efficiency (Maybe it takes longer for people for AI to start refilling?)

Just some ideas. I'd love to see what other people could think of. My logic is that the Command Center is the Is the most important part of the ship, without one it can't run, so on might think it'd effect near everything.

Elethio

Walt

Perhaps have all energy using modules take damage slowly whenever powered, and have the Bridge(s) negate that damage with enough coverage (I'd really love to see repair be more dynamic- something the crew actually does).

Or use bridges completely differently, like here:
https://forum.cosmoteer.net/d/1465-tonnage-limits-for-control-rooms