No one even has questions?

I used to play Endless Space before they screwed up the handling of secondary monitors on the Mac. There was a little bit of true strategy sprinkled into the game, but not as much as I would prefer. It looks like you are trying to do better on that score.

Anyway I posted a "Guide" on steam that highlighted a tactic that I pulled off in Endless Space using the Warp Drive. It showed a way to grab more space without going to war. The "Guide" just consisted of some screen snaps interspersed with comments. If you could do something similar to highlight specific example strategies or tactics it might give a better sense for your game.

So far I have spent 15 minutes looking at your snaps and videos and all I saw was basic early stage 4x stuff. I look forward to seeing examples from the more unique parts that you have put into the game. (Yes you can assume that the people here have played MOO or Endlass Space or something like that before so you don't have to expain the details of the basics that these games have in common even though the details are likely different in your game.)

So far I have spent 15 minutes looking at your snaps and videos and all I saw was basic early stage 4x stuff. I look forward to seeing examples from the more unique parts that you have put into the game.

I've been pondering how  I can answer this. The reason I only show basic concepts is because without knowing the mechanics of the game is it hard to describe more "advanced" examples. Its like trying to give an example of chess or go to someone who has no idea of the rules. You must tell them  the rules to explain the strategies. But I will try a few...

A problem with on-line PvP is how you get the tactics to work. One side may not be on-line, so the tactics have to be limited to the one who is, or have them pre-programmed. The way I have dealt with this is to eliminate the tactical level and make the manoeuvre element the fleet, so combat is more strategic. This allows for the delay mechanism (engine charging) to give time for the opponent to respond.

The fleets do have standing orders and decide how to respond based on these and their stats. Usually combat only happens when both fleets wish it to. This is very different from most other games as a major battle will only happen if someone decides to "make a stand", this usually occurs at built up stars or choke points.

Most of the time the weaker fleet retreats. This creates a skirmish like situation where small fleets push each other to retreat. When a large fleet is found then it is a matter of assembling your forces and engaging (or running) as the case  may be.

The game should not be mistaken for just a wargame, even though the military strategy can be entertaining, if you focus on conquest you will be outdone by those engaging in diplomacy.

For more on strategy in the game see the strategy forum on the website.

As for other innovative ideas, some basic ones are mentioned between the pics in the first post. One thing I did not mention was routing. This allows  you to automate your fleets, so they can move while you are off line. They can pickup and drop off assets, wait for repair, training or morale to rejuvenate. The routing can get quite complex if you want it to.

Feel free to ask for clarification on any of this or the aspects I described in the previous post.

Update :

2 new options now available :

- Design your own ships

- Negotiate treaties with Independent stars (NPCs)

Graphics marginally improved, I updated the images in post # 1.

Now 98% working in Chrome.

Looks really good so far from what you've posted above! Well done and good luck for the next stages.

Although I guess I'd have to install either Chrome or Firefox to play it, when it's ready 😀 I only use Opera!

auryx

Now working  100% in Chrome.

The tutorial has been axed in favour of in-game hint panels.

We are just starting a new episode of the game and could use another half dozen testers

The episode "Cave Mercatura Furta" has begun.

New game features:

UTS Delivery Service : Send resources to remote stars and territories.
Sector Markets : Resource trade via UTS.
New ship components :
- Engineer Unit : Required to capture transponders.
- Supply Dock : Reduces support by 50% for system ships.
Checklist : Programmable reminders.
Jumpgate Agreement : Required for foreign jumpgate use.
Join Route Option : For new ship builds.
Dragable Map : The map is now dragable!

The episode "Mercatus Volgus Ubivis" has begun.

New game features:

• Dogfights : Takes place during short range combat by fightercraft
• Thrusters, Generators and Ion Cannons : Only usable on Fighters & Interceptors
• Civil Markets : Similar to black markets but deal in legal goods
• Luxuries : Demand now based solely on each star, rather than realm
• Civil Defence Fleets : Replace tribute ship building. CDF's build automatically based on habitat level
• Monuments : May now be dedicated to science, fertility, productivity or shipping. This results in bonus output

The episode "Partes Facere Totam" will begin on September 11th 2020.
If you have never played and wish to join in, please begin the training game now so you can join the above game with some knowledge of the mechanics.

New game features:

New Structures :

Crafter - Crafts components
Power Station - Higher level structures now require power
Slave Market - Provides workers, but increases rebel activity
Training Base - Increases experience of ships at the star

Components : A new asset type :

May be used to reduce costs of building structures, modules and ships.
Should provide a comparative advantage to lords that invest in their research.

Misc :

Tradebases have been removed in favour of the more universal "Sector Markets".
Lords may now enrol officials for extra training at foreign academies.
Shipyards, assemblers and academies may now be dedicated to a single output, reducing time and costs.

I briefly checked this out and can say that there are some nice overall concepts to this game, in a way, it reminded me of the old board game "Diplomacy" but set in space. Just like that classic, combat is present but doesn't take centre stage. Definitely worth exploring for players that prefer a multiplayer experience. 

The episode "Novus Contractus Artis" has begun.

New game features:

• Civil goods markets replaced by "Goods Contracts".
• Support costs for ships reduced.
• Convoy type fleet removed, replaced with Supply Base type.
• New comm channel consolidates intel from foreign realms.
• Imperial fleets no longer garrison guild stars.

I wanted to give it a try as well. I'm still in the training game (has to be finished before you can participate in other games) and I'm having really a good time. Also, mahks asked me if I could leave few words here.

First, I don't have much experience with recent 4x titles, so some of the features I will praise here might just be standard these days.

This being an online multiplayer game, things do take time. But it suits me perfectly, I don't need to log in more than 2 maybe 3 times per day (even though I usually do 🙂 ). At first the game seems to follow the standard setting for a space 4x. But as I progress I start to discover things I find really cool:

• Feudal hierarchy
  The game implements feudal system. You can have other players as your subjects but at the same time you might be a subject to your ruler. This way whole empires can form and I believe it creates mechanics where destroying someone is far less beneficiary than having them as your prosperous vassals.
• Squad management elements
  Your fleets, buildings, planets and starbases can be controlled by trained NPCs who's stats improve as they work for you. Very neat touch.
• Micromanagement made easy
  While at first you will want to transport resources manually, later it might get boring. The developer thought of that and you have a set of tools ready to automate all of this. You can design flows of goods across your empire, automatically have your products sold or exchanged and have the traded goods delivered back where you want them
• Ship Routes
  You assign ships to one-off or persistent routes. Each waypoint can have many options, including stuff like Go there -> Wait for the player to make a trade -> Go back.
• New player experience
  There is a lot of attention paid to this. Most of the information is available right when and where you need it. You don't have to open the manual at all. But when you do, it's a great source of info.
• Community
  Well, very small at this point but I believe this will change. On the other hand it has the advantage of makhs being able to personally help people whenever they need it. I know it's not a fair comparison but he (or she, don't actually know) communicates with the players far better than most game devs do.

So if you wanna have some relaxed gaming experience with rewarding progress, please do hop in and we might have some multiplayer action!

The episode "Quis est lupus inter oves" has begun.

New game features:

• Dossier of known intel for each opponent
• Dilemmas at more stars
• Imperial stars may now delay/search fleets
• Goods contracts for independent stars
• New agent ops :
  - cause service worker strikes
  - cause increase in piracy

@greno-zee Thanks for the great review!

A new episode will start in a week or so.

If you have not played before and want to join in, sign up now and play the training game so you are up to speed when the real game starts.

New features in latest update :

• Jumpgates may now only be destroyed by the star owner.
• Jumpgates may be disabled by engineers and agents, an engineer is required to re-enable.
• GUI changed to flat button style, 3D retro buttons still available in options.
• Food system now fully implemented.
• Managers may be assigned to mines.
• Archaeologists may be assigned to monuments.
• Recycler now cheaper to build, higher levels now convert higher percent of scrap.