Multiple Z-levels?

ThatZommy

Not sure how complicated it would be to add, but I was thinking about how multi-decked ships would work. Being able to build one level, and then using the < > keys or some variation being able to jump to a lower or higher level. Not sure how it would work in terms of combat, but it'd make recreating ships from movies or TV a lot easier, and it would make for some interesting new designs, I think.
Might be more trouble than it's worth, though.

Lafiel

Like with 99.999% these have been suggested for ages ThatZommy
You are using mods... volume is never enough if you actually build viable efficient ships and consider cost constraints.

Xenolurker

It's a very neat Idea I'll say. I like it. But i am not quite sure how it would work

Walt

I haven't been able to come up with a way to make this work well in a 2D game. If it were 3D, I could do it, but that would of course greatly increase the scope of what is already a very ambitious game.

Maybe if this game is wildly successful I'll hire a team make a sequel with full 3D multi-level ships. 😉

Matou1612

Maybe we could keep the 2D moving and fighting, but just put an multiple level constructor. Like, example, on the first bridge, power and weapon. Second bridge, thruster and command. Third bridge, weapon and more power. We could alternate by clicking the arrows.

Lafiel

Yeah, the problem is simulating all deck levels at once while actually having only one 2D level visible. Firing weapons and damage management becomes a problem. At some point players will have to micromanage which isn't fun beyond a certain amount of work.
The amount of bitmap is already a big problem not to mention adding more decks. I doubt a change to 3D would solve everything. I think the current game mechanics requiring huge number of crew eats up lots of resources that could benefit the game otherwise.
It would be nice if just playing could be as complex or simple as Starfleet Command and Homeworld yet offering all the construction features. And hopefully with complex & flexible/scale-able 3D solids and not those Lego blocks. But I doubt I will see this in another 2 decades.

Hassie

I believe there is another game that does this, where you build ships on different levels, but when the ships are in action, you only see the top level, but the other levels items still function as normal. The game should be able to easily remember what is on each level of a ship, and being able to switch between each level of the ship is a matter of adding a selector to create new level of the same size as the previous level, just completely empty.

I would go so far as to say that some items should also be more than one story tall. The factories and the reactors would be 2 stories tall, so they would stick up into the new level. The larger weapons could also be two stories tall, while the smaller lasers and cannons could only take up the level they are placed in.

I do believe this is very doable with what you have in the game currently, and while it would take some more work on your part, I believe the addition to multiple leveled ships would greatly increase the immersion this game gives the player. Please do put some thought into adding it, and if you want to see how another game managed it, let know me.

Walt

Hassie if you want to see how another game managed it, let know me.

I'd definitely be curious to see that game.

Hassie

I have been looking all morning, and I cannot for the life of me find the game. I remember it being a strategy game, that you could design your own ships and stations, but that doesn't narrow it down, as nearly every game in the genre has that. I just remember having several z levels to use, with each being a different size to denote how the outer hull looks. I unfortunately have 700 games on steam, and going through them all is a chore. If anyone reads this, and can think of the game, let me know. I may be wrong in how the game is, as it may be 2.5D, not 2D like Cosmoteer.

Lafiel

You mean "Starship Corporation"? That game is just an ordinary puzzle fitting game. The only good thing is indeed the deck levels but that's all going for it. As for designing it does offer a neat score for evaluating the design. I nearly maxed out the score and it seems some parts could be exploited for that.