Emperor L
[ Posts : 1237 ]
 | [Post Date: 26-Aug-2008 20:51]
Ok, here is a list of sections that need completing for the guide:
Help
Buildings
Ships Components
Ships Classes (Done)
Galaxies
Stars
Planets
Tech
Tech Tree
Battles (Done)
Space Battles (Done, part of battles)
Orbital battles (In progress)
Conquering (In progress)
So, I guess the first section (Help) should be an introduction to the guide, and have links to the other main sections. Maybe rename this section to Contents or something...
Maybe create a new section for 'Getting Started' also, to explain how to register, create an empire etc. Maybe have some screens here.
Could ship components and classes all be put into 1 section named 'ships'? This main ships page can explain about ships, and link to the other sub sections.
Also, maybe instead of just giving sections of stats, maybe it could be in a structure more related to what the player will be doing, so maybe sections like:
Getting Started
~ Creating an Account
~ Log in
~ Create a New Empire
~ Membership and Benifits
The Game Screens
~ Head Quarters
~ Stellar Map
~ Colonies Page
~ Planet Search
~ Science Screen
~ Battle Reports
~ Fleet Management Screen
~ Ship Designer
~ Alliance and Relations Screen
~ Forums
~ Profile Page
~ Empire Selection Screen
Building Your Empire
~ Resources
~ Buildings
~~ Ground Based
~~ Orbital
~ Science
~ Exploring
The Galaxy
~ Stars
~ Planets
Battles
~ Space Battles
~ etc
This message was edited by Emperor L
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Maverick
[ Posts : 1331 ]
 | [Post Date: 27-Aug-2008 12:48]
Entire encyclopedia is created in semiautomated manner. Most pages are created based on real in-game values by some scripts. It is structured in 2 level tree.
"Help" should be called "Basics, game rules and info". It should contain some welcome text in basic information about the game. No more, no less
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Maybe create a new section for 'Getting Started' also, to explain how to register, create an empire etc. Maybe have some screens here.
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Yes "Getting Started" will be as a separate section with some sub-menus. I think that some tutorial or step by step guides would be enough for this section. Lets say a beginners guide, containing first steps from registering up to colonizing first planets. Maybe an advanced guide that clears some complex issues or set of small tutorials/guides that describes hard parts of the game.
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Also, maybe instead of just giving sections of stats, maybe it could be in a structure more related to what the player will be doing, so maybe sections like:
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Your structure have its potential and some parts could be implemented. I'm not sure about "The Game Screens" part, though. From our experience a very small percentage of players read help. The majority what step by step guides or strict explanation of some parts and/or in-game item parameters. So, we'll come back to section "The Game Screens" after everything else is done and ready
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Could ship components and classes all be put into 1 section named 'ships'? This main ships page can explain about ships, and link to the other sub sections.
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Because of 2 level structure we cannot put them in one section.
This message was edited by Maverick
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Emperor L
[ Posts : 1237 ]
| [Post Date: 27-Aug-2008 15:11]
Ok, I will try and write some stuff. I just havent had much time lately...although I haven't been doing much really, just time seems to go so fast...think its long holidays that do it, the days just seem to fly by and before you know it a month has passed...I dont know 
Anyway, I am building some ships for testing invasion and bombardment, and shall send them soon. I dont really know how many I need, but will try and work something out.
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Maverick
[ Posts : 1331 ]
| [Post Date: 27-Aug-2008 17:04]
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Ok, I will try and write some stuff. I just havent had much time lately...although I haven't been doing much really, just time seems to go so fast...think its long holidays that do it, the days just seem to fly by and before you know it a month has passed...I dont know
Anyway, I am building some ships for testing invasion and bombardment, and shall send them soon. I dont really know how many I need, but will try and work something out.
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Ok. Thanks a lot
Yes, summer flew by for me also
BTW: What do you think about getting more testers for next beta round? Any candidates?
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Emperor L
[ Posts : 1237 ]
| [Post Date: 27-Aug-2008 19:18]
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BTW: What do you think about getting more testers for next beta round? Any candidates?
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Yeah, I guess that would help find the bugs faster, and also its good to have more opinions and ideas on how things shuld be.
I dont know of anyone though...but if you can find anyone that could help.
Disrupter also hasnt been on here recently, not sure where he went...
BTW, I notice lots of empires in the game, are they all your test empires, or are their others playing? Maybe we could get some alliances started...
This message was edited by Emperor L
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Emperor L
[ Posts : 1237 ]
| [Post Date: 27-Aug-2008 21:02]
Here are some descriptions for each ship type:
Drone:
A small, fast ship often used for exploration.
Freighter:
Trade ships used for moving food and population around your empire.
Transport:
Drop ships used for transporting your troops into battle. Required for planetary invasion.
Colony Ship:
Large ships used for starting a colony on a new world.
Corvette:
Very light war ships that provide a little attack power, for a very low cost.
Frigate:
Light war ships that can carry more equipment than a corvette. Often used by smaller empires and to add extra weight to larger fleets, for a relatively low cost.
Destroyer:
Medium sized war ships that can hold a range of weapons and equipment. They are often form the bulk of medium sized empires fleets, and are quite cheap to build.
Cruiser:
Large war ships commonly used by larger empires. Can carry a variety of equipment and weapons. A little expensive, but their size makes them useful for many situations.
Battleship:
Very large and heavy war ships, used by large empires. They are expensive to build, but will hold plenty of weaponry and equipment. They have a wide range of military uses.
Titan:
Huge war ships used by the largest empires, to show their military might. Very expensive to build, but have a huge amount of space for weapons and equipment.
This message was edited by Emperor L
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Emperor L
[ Posts : 1237 ]
| [Post Date: 27-Aug-2008 22:41]
Here is a description for the battles page:
Battles form a major part of Delta Quadrant: Horizons. Empires must fight their rivals for glory and supremacy, and to claim their position as the greatest empire in the galaxy.
Battles in Delta Quadrant: Horizons are split into three main categories. Space Battles, Orbital Battles and Invasion.
Space Battles:
Space battles involve fleets from two or more empires that are in orbit of the same star. For a space battle to start, at least one side must initiate it. This can be done in several ways.
If a fleet from any empire has aggressive status, and is idled around a star, this fleet will engage any non-allied fleet in orbit of the same star, and start a battle. [Include if NAP also counts as non-battle relation].
If a fleet has guard status, and is idled around a star, this fleet will engage any enemy fleets in orbit of the same star, and start a battle.
If a fleet has defensive or guard status, it will engage any fleet that has an aggressive mission against its own empire within the same star, such as bombard or invade.
If a fleet is idle and still has no target, but another fleet from its empire is involved in a battle around the same star, the fleet will join the battle.
Finally, if an idled fleet still has no target but ‘Help ally’ is set, it will help any allied fleet that is involved in a battle around the same star.
Orbital Battles:
Is this another name for bombardment? Or is this where orbital buildings fight fleets?
Also need some details about bombardment etc.
Invasion:
Invasion involves transports from one empire trying to capture a planet from another. In order for invasion to take place, a fleet with transports must be given the command to invade a planet, and must first have dealt with any fleets owned by the target empire in orbit of the same star.
(need more details about invasion)
BTW, maybe make the battles page all one page, and have the full explanation of all battle types on the same page. Else it will be very short on the battles page.
This message was edited by Emperor L
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Maverick
[ Posts : 1331 ]
| [Post Date: 29-Aug-2008 20:30]
Ship classes description implemented. Thanks.
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If a fleet from any empire has aggressive status, and is idled around a star, this fleet will engage any non-allied fleet in orbit of the same star, and start a battle. [Include if NAP also counts as non-battle relation].
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yes, NAP do count. An aggressive fleet will not attack a NAP fleet.
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Orbital Battles:
Is this another name for bombardment? Or is this where orbital buildings fight fleets?
Also need some details about bombardment etc.
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Bombardment and Invasion have an orbital phase. When bombarding all planetary defenses will attack aggressor fleet. Ships will fire at planetary defenses first and then will destroy orbital buildings, if any. Same time ships throw bombs. So orbital phase and bombardment gos simultaneously.
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Invasion:
Invasion involves transports from one empire trying to capture a planet from another. In order for invasion to take place, a fleet with transports must be given the command to invade a planet, and must first have dealt with any fleets owned by the target empire in orbit of the same star.
(need more details about invasion)
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Invasion is possible if all orbital defenses where destroyed and no defending fleets are present. So, unlikely Bombardment, Invasion has 2 phases, orbital battle and then ground battle. Then drop ships unload troops on planet. Each turn troops fire at each other until a side wins. To conquer a planet all defending military units must be destroyed and conquering troops must have at least on unit left. During the ground battle any fleet can bring reinforcements and drop then on the planet, so a battle for a colony could last quite long.
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BTW, maybe make the battles page all one page, and have the full explanation of all battle types on the same page. Else it will be very short on the battles page.
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Yes, its better that way
This message was edited by Maverick
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Maverick
[ Posts : 1331 ]
| [Post Date: 29-Aug-2008 20:33]
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BTW, I notice lots of empires in the game, are they all your test empires, or are their others playing? Maybe we could get some alliances started...
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There are 2 more real player from our company that partially work on this project. All other are test empires.
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Emperor L
[ Posts : 1237 ]
| [Post Date: 29-Aug-2008 21:01]
Ok, I will finish the battle section soon. Also, it needs some formatting, as right now its just text. I will probably email the next version, as I cant format things on the forum, like ad bold, color etc. Or I could put the HTML tags for it, even though it wont display formatted, you can see what I mean. 
Also, the quote marks in the part:
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Finally, if an idled fleet still has no target but �Help ally� is set, it will help any allied fleet that is involved in a battle around the same star.
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Seem to have been replaced as squares, can those symbols not be used...maybe its because its the symbols used in word, and not the standard " symbol.
This message was edited by Emperor L
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Emperor L
[ Posts : 1237 ]
| [Post Date: 30-Aug-2008 00:58]
Ok, just so I got this right bombardment works as follows:
First clear fleets.
Next planetary defences first fire at attacking fleet. If any ships equiped with bombardment weapons survive the fleet will first attack planetary defences.
If the fleet destroys all defences, it will attack orbital buildings. At the same it will drop bombs on planet and destroy buildings/population/troops.
If any population or troops survive the attack, and some ships survive with bombs, the battle continues for another round.
And that repeats untill either the attacker flees, or their bombardment ships lost. Or the planet is cleared of population/troops.
And for invasion:
First clear fleets.
Next use normal ships to clear orbital defences (is this all defence buildings?) and if all are destroyed, next send in transports.
Ground defences (maybe troops?, population or ground based defences, like missile base) attack transports. If any transports survive, they drop troops on surface and these attack troops from planet.
If attacker looses all troops, the battle ends and invasion fails.
If defender looses all troops/population. Then invasion is sucessful, and planet and remaining buildings get captured. Do resources?
Also, here is the changed first part, including NAP and things.
Battles form a major part of Delta Quadrant: Horizons. Empires must fight their rivals for glory and supremacy, and to claim their position as the greatest empire in the galaxy.
Battles in Delta Quadrant: Horizons are split into three main categories. Space Battles, Orbital Battles and Invasion.
Space Battles:
Space battles involve fleets from two or more empires that are in orbit of the same star. For a space battle to start, at least one side must initiate it. This can be done in several ways.
If a fleet from any empire has aggressive status, and is idled around a star, this fleet will engage any fleet within the same system, that does not belong to an ally, or empire that it has NAP with.
If a fleet has guard status, and is idled around a star, this fleet will engage any enemy fleets in orbit of the same star, and start a battle.
If a fleet has defensive or guard status, it will engage any fleet that has an aggressive mission against its own empire within the same star, such as bombard or invade.
If a fleet is idle and still has no target, but another fleet from its empire is involved in a battle around the same star, the fleet will join the battle.
Finally, if an idled fleet still has no target but ‘Help ally’ is set, it will help any allied fleet that is involved in a battle around the same star.
Just an idea, but like in the DQ:E guide, maybe make 'Delta Quadrand: Horizons' bold, and where it says, 'enemy' make it red, ally green and NAP yellow/orange color.
This message was edited by Emperor L
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Emperor L
[ Posts : 1237 ]
| [Post Date: 30-Aug-2008 01:20]
Also, here is the description for the Tech page. Again its not very long, so maybe the Tech tree can also be on this page.
In Delta Quadrant: Horizons, you must research many technologies in order to advance your empire. You research technologies using research points that are made by your scientists and science buildings. These points can be used to progress along the tech tree, and research new technologies.
The tech tree:
The tech tree is divided into several paths, each related to a different area of science. You are free to progress along these paths in any order you wish. However certain technologies have prerequisites that you must have researched first.
[Insert tech tree here].
Also, here is a description for the top of the ship classes pages.
In Delta Quadrant: Horizons, there are several classes of ship that can be researched and built. Each class has advantages and disadvantages that you must learn to exploit if you wish to build a successful fleet.
While small ships are cheap, and available near the start. These ships have little space, and can carry less weaponry and equipment than a larger ship. They also tend to have higher maintenance costs per unit of space provided, than the larger ships.
Large ships, while expensive are more versatile. You can equip them with better, larger weapons, and also different equipment, such as bombs for bombardment. Large ships however are slow, and require more advanced engines to keep up with the smaller ships, and this can hold your entire fleet back.
Ship Classes:
[insert the list of ships and descriptions here]
Also, like with the ships page, I think maybe the buildings page should have the building name, picture and description. And the other 2 pages with the stats as they are. Same with the ships class page. Thats fine, but another page with the stats would be good.
This message was edited by Emperor L
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Maverick
[ Posts : 1331 ]
| [Post Date: 31-Aug-2008 13:29]
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Ok, just so I got this right bombardment works as follows:
First clear fleets.
Next planetary defences first fire at attacking fleet. If any ships equiped with bombardment weapons survive the fleet will first attack planetary defences.
If the fleet destroys all defences, it will attack orbital buildings. At the same it will drop bombs on planet and destroy buildings/population/troops.
If any population or troops survive the attack, and some ships survive with bombs, the battle continues for another round.
And that repeats untill either the attacker flees, or their bombardment ships lost. Or the planet is cleared of population/troops.
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Battles are almost what you've described, but with small correction. No clear fleets first thing. Defending planet together with defending fleet will attack bombing fleets. Attacking fleet do target defending fleet first and then planetary defenses, but they still dropping bombs from first battle round. Bombs destroy defensive building first then other buildings. Same time they kill population (they don't kill troops yet, but will).
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And for invasion:
First clear fleets.
Next use normal ships to clear orbital defences (is this all defence buildings?) and if all are destroyed, next send in transports.
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Same as bombardment. Fleets and planetary defenses fight together. Attacking fleet targets defending ships first and then orbital defenses.
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Ground defences (maybe troops?, population or ground based defences, like missile base) attack transports. If any transports survive, they drop troops on surface and these attack troops from planet.
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This stage was simplified. If all orbital defenses were destroyed we consider that troops can be dropped without any problem.
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If attacker looses all troops, the battle ends and invasion fails.
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Right.
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If defender looses all troops/population. Then invasion is sucessful, and planet and remaining buildings get captured.
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Population is not involved in battle just militia.
No, resources are not captured. Some technologies will be possible to capture in future.
Description is correct and follow game logic. I think this part is OK, at least for now
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Just an idea, but like in the DQ:E guide, maybe make 'Delta Quadrand: Horizons' bold, and where it says, 'enemy' make it red, ally green and NAP yellow/orange color.
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yes, you are right.
ALSO: I've changed 'Orbital Battles' to 'Bombardment' as it fits better for our case.
This message was edited by Maverick
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Maverick
[ Posts : 1331 ]
| [Post Date: 31-Aug-2008 13:53]
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Also, here is the description for the Tech page. Again its not very long, so maybe the Tech tree can also be on this page.
In Delta Quadrant: Horizons, you must research many technologies in order to advance your empire. You research technologies using research points that are made by your scientists and science buildings. These points can be used to progress along the tech tree, and research new technologies.
The tech tree:
The tech tree is divided into several paths, each related to a different area of science. You are free to progress along these paths in any order you wish. However certain technologies have prerequisites that you must have researched first.
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Because of some technical issues it will be quite tricky to do that. Instead I will put all this text into Tech page and add 'The big list' in the tech tree
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Also, here is a description for the top of the ship classes pages. ...
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Done
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Also, like with the ships page, I think maybe the buildings page should have the building name, picture and description. And the other 2 pages with the stats as they are.
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Well, I think it is enough what we have now for buildings. We can show their description when mouse is over building's icon though.
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Same with the ships class page. Thats fine, but another page with the stats would be good.
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What stats do you mean? Maintenance, space?
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Emperor L
[ Posts : 1237 ]
| [Post Date: 31-Aug-2008 14:20]
Ok, I will write up the invasion/bombardment later. Just one thing though. What eaxtly are the orbital defences? What buildings count as part of this? Is it just:
Missile Base
Space Base or Battle Station or Star Fortress (depending on highest built). So Star Forteress replaces the other 2, not work with them.
Stellar Converter
So planets can at maximum have 3 orbital defences buildings?
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Because of some technical issues it will be quite tricky to do that. Instead I will put all this text into Tech page and add 'The big list' in the tech tree
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Ok, so as its quite short is some other information needed for the tech page? Maybe information about how to use the tech tree and how to progress? Maybe some information about the border color, and the tech queue?
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Well, I think it is enough what we have now for buildings. We can show their description when mouse is over building's icon though.
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I was thinking for the actual 'Buildings' page, as right now that is empty, and other than a short description about what buildings are, what else should go on this page? Maybe a description of each building type, like farming, production, military etc? And how they help your empire?
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What stats do you mean? Maintenance, space?
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Yeah, all stats such as build cost, space, maintenance, base defence, and any other details. This could be like the page for the ground based buildings, just a list of stats. Thic could be on a second page.
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