[EGM] Proposed features and direction for release 0.1

[Mart]

EGM - extended gameplay mod founding thread is:
Here
This thread is to write and discuss proposed features and direction for release 0.1

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And my proposition for version 0.1:

Direction
- few additions as a warm-up
- something to try to decrease excessive micromanagement, as much, as we do not loose interesting gameplay but players less frequently abandon games.

Features:
- New map ratio
- New official map of Chiron
- some changes to RULES in alphax.txt, with recent Yitzi patch we have many possibilities to choose from.

To explain more:
- Map ratio. Present one is actually something like 1:1. When we declare a map 40x80 (standard size), due to moving diagonally, we can get from pole to pole in 40 moves, but west-east, although we write 80, it is in fact also 40 moves.
Our globe, or some other planet, would be roughly some distance from pole to pole, but west-east would be twice as much!
Also, the edges of the map do not need to represent the poles themselves. The map is cylindrical, so in our game world travel around the globe on the equator is unfortunately the same as on the pole! We could decide, that we leave some poles' areas inaccessible, then our  ratio would be even more than 2:1 (or less than 1:2). Eg. 40x180, or 40x200.
And then there is deciding/calculating/balancing number of tiles. 40x200 is 250% of the standard map tiles.

- New official, "EGM-official," map of Chiron. Something new and refreshing... For discusion is shape of continents, landmarks etc.

- Some changes to the rules (RULES section of alphax.txt) I have no detailed ideas, except for maybe decreased planetpearl yield. This is to decrease abuse of it in late game. I think reworking game economy is something needed.
Any other ideas...

[Geo]

Thing is, from north to south the distance between latitude lines doesn't change. They do for the longitudes the closer you get to the poles.
You can as well think of the equal number of tiles of both map axises as an average for the longitudes, and fixed for the latitudes.
That said, the 'polar caps' edge on a SMAC(X) map is rather ridiculous. It would be far better if the map generator could be changed it such a way as to literally create ice/snow edges on the upper/lower part of the map by either creating a new kind of 'landmark', or changing the parameters of an existing one (like the Monsoon). A 'border' that can only be changed with the appropriate planetary council proposals or plain pollution (climate change).

[Mart]

If we assume, that the map would be north-south from 80 deg. S to 80 deg. N, then equator length would be around 2.25 times longer.

Map sizes currently (horizontal, vertical, total tiles)
Tiny planet|(early conflict), 24, 48 -- 1152
Small planet,                 32, 64 -- 2048
Standard planet,              40, 80 -- 3200
Large planet,                 44, 90 -- 3960
Huge planet|(late conflict),  64, 128 -- 8192

In order to get game horizontal length longer, and having no odd numbers in vertical:

59   52   3068
61   54   3294 - proposed standard
63   56   3528
65   58   3770
68   60   4080 - proposed large
70   62   4340
72   64   4608
74   66   4884
77   68   5236
79   70   5530
81   72   5832
83   74   6142
86   76   6536
88   78   6864
90   80   7200
92   82   7544
95   84   7980
97   86   8342 - proposed huge
99   88   8712
101   90   9090

The new standard size would be only 27 tiles in vertical. It can feel strange.
We could get a bit larger these default sizes.

[Mart]

Maybe this would be good for tests:

68   60   4080 - proposed standard
80   70   5600 - proposed large
102   90   9180 - proposed huge

[Geo]

I'd say those proposed map sizes are large, huge, and immense.

[Mart]

They are somewhat larger in total tile number, but considering south-north:
std is 30 compared to 40, 75% distance
large - 35 to 45, 78% distance
huge - 45 to 64, 70,3 % distance.

And that gives feeling, that maps are actually smaller. It is travel along equator, east-west, longer
68 to 40, 170%
80 to 45, 178%
102 to 64, 159%

If SMACX had Magellan Voyage "World Wonder" then we would really notice this.

[Geo]

If SMACX had Magellan Voyage "World Wonder" then we would really notice this.

The Maritime secret project?