Random Event Ideas?

from GalCiv3 Forums

I know we're not there, but now I think would be a good time to start collecting ideas for the kind of Random Events we saw in GC2, because it's likely that some of them might require a non-trivial amount of work to implement.  And, of course, this is one of the areas where having a Modding interface would be *really* nice.

 

I'll start off with two suggestions:

1).  Xenomorphs.  Or, at least the idea of Xenomorphs.  I'd like to see a random event that rapidly kills off population on a planet over several turns, and the only "cure" is to send over a couple of transports of troops to "fight" the monsters.  And if you don't, there's a significant possibility that another of your worlds will be infected, with a possibly cascading effect.  Start with maybe a 1% death rate the first turn, doubling every turn until everyone's dead (8 turns).

 

2). Better (and more often) plagues.  It would be pretty nice to have these thrown at people on a semi-regular basis, and require people to deal with them.  First off, I'd like to see them start out on some world, and spread throughout the galaxy (or not spread) according to a variety of factors: 

  1. Are there any trade routes between that planet and any other
  2. Planets in the same system are highly likely to be infected
  3. The ability to quarantine would be there, but it would cut off economics to/from the planet, and have a noticeable impact on your empire
  4. infect ships nearby when the plague started, and kill them off if a cure isn't found soon, and/or use them as disease vectors
  5. Cures would be of random difficulty, or, alternately, there could be no cure even, only treatment, which leaves an Empire permanently contaminated, and long-term would require constant outlays of money to keep the disease in check.

 

OK, I lied. Two more idea:

 

3).  Natural disasters.  Things that destroy buildings and such, not just cost population and/or money to fix.

4). Pests.  Things that can do a variety of stupidly annoying things: some new species of space locust that eats armor plating on ships, reducing all armor-equipped ship's defenses by 25% until killed off;  reduce the food production on planets, requiring you to increase cross-planet food shipments (if we ever get that implemented) or simply take off population to avoid famine;  infect trading goods, reducing trade income due to destroying/damaging goods, etc.

 

Overall, I'd like to see these events be MUCH more common - one every few dozen turns or so.  They introduce a real sense of chance into the game which I find a real significant add to the enjoyment.

 

32,881 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Overall, I'd like to see these events be MUCH more common - one every few dozen turns or so.  They introduce a real sense of chance into the game which I find a real significant add to the enjoyment.

While I completely disagree with you about the frequency with which I would like to see random events, more choice is almost always better, so putting a setting for super high frequency of random events on the slider in game setup would be great, especially of the players that enjoy this don't mind seeing duplicate events.

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

i like the ideas here but having that kind of frequency is overkill IMO i mean playing the alpha i get 200+ turns in and im still exploring the tiny-small maps if you got hit with a new plague every 20-30 turns you would spend half your tech curing plagues 

even on the highest frequency i wouldn't expect a plague outburst more then once in 50 turns and even then every time a civ got hit with one plague their ability to deal with it should allow them to cure it faster and more cheaply then the previous outburst

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Doesn't have to be a plague.  Just a Random Event.  There were all kinds of Random Events in GC2, the only problem (from my standpoint) is that they were either (A) far too infrequent - I seldom got more than 3 or 4 in a 1000+ turn game, or (B) tied directly to the Ethics determination, and thus stopped when your researched Ethics.

It's a big galaxy, and having a Random Event pop up every several hundred turns (at best) was kinda ludicrous.

Having a variety of different kinds of Events avoids the problem of every one being a dire problem.  I mean, there were plenty of cool ones in GC2, and we should be able to come up with some more. Getting new asteroid fields. Strange radiation increasing birth rates. Xenophobia. Xenophilia. New civilizations popping up. Increased or decreased hyperspace speeds.  These are the kinds of things that make the game more random (and more challenging), and we should think up a bunch more so that a typical game has more than 2 or 3 over the entire course of play.

Why not have to make a small decision about something every 30 turns or so?  Or, better yet, tie the frequency of Random Events to the number of planets you own (which only makes sense).

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Ahh. my mistake i thought you meant a new plague every couple of dozen turns or so

The only real issue i see here (now) at least for the mega events is that if it becomes too frequent it loses its appeal this is supposed to essentially be a big thing that could turn the entire game on its head

 

I think there should be several stages of events with certain ones happening more frequently

Gc2 had this with i think minor and major events but let’s add a few more

Mega event (space) affects everything

Mega event (race) affects everyone

Major event (race) affects an entire race

Major event (space) affects a large region of space (hex radius =20+)

Moderate event (race) affects several planets in proximity 1-3 star-systems worth

Moderate event (space) affects a large region of space (hex radius 5-15)

Minor event (race) affects the people on a single planet

Minor event (space) affects a single space object or tile

Special event escalation - any event below mega can be escalated to the next tier 

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Why are those suggestions always bad things?

 

Why not a 'Diplomat Bart Simpson' did a horrible faux pa with the Drengin envoy by barfing all over him. Unknown to Bart, this action was viewed with respect and now we have secured an opportunity for trade. You have 4 turns to make an offer for X, Y or Z.

 

Anyway I would love more smaller events that are not always bad but not over powerful. Say like small percentages in trade discounts, fuel or flight increases. Stuff that is FUN to read about!

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

i want a special extra category of events called "lively galaxy". If you check that box, the chance of events like planet explodes into asteroids, or star explodes to black hole, or new minor race appears, nebula collapses into a new star, etc, would be very high (like 1 such event per x stars in the galaxy per 20-30 turns). basically the idea being that the galaxy in changing alot. 

 

could maybe be a dlc. 

 

I am also still a fan of mega events that affect the map in some way, for example a slowly growing black hole that you have to stop expanding by building special starbases nearby. Especially if the event could spawn in a smart location where it would be beneficial to one race and detrimental to another. Or in general, more events that require some intervention or action instead of things just happening and deal with it.

 

 

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I have a good one, when a Black Hole emits an energy so massive, and travels such long distances, that if any planet, star, or system in the middle of its way, or ships, would vanish.

 

Travelling at the speed of light these Black hole energy bursts would be a very good addttion to the game.

 

Bmaccord

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

This is exactly the kind of thing a DLC pack would be great for.

And, yes, Larsenex, I would expect that a good portion of them are beneficial, not bad.  In fact, even outside the Ethics-style portion, I'd like it if the player could chose to react from a couple of different option, and the outcome NOT revealed until after you make a choice.  Pick the right option, and you'll end up with goodies, while pick the wrong one, and well...   (So, when Bart Simpson barfs in the Andoi Ambassador's lap, the correct choice to get a +5 diplomatic bonus with the Andoi is "Great Dinner, Andoi! I enjoyed it even more the SECOND time through!")

So, how about it folks, let's get to listing some fun things (and, I like Androshalforc's outlines for effect, but I'm not thinking that we have to have the game allow us to pick from that list - more, that we should try to think of Random Events in those general groups...)

 

 

Reply #9 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I couldn't disagree more with everything in this thread other than If we have to put up with Random Events (which you could always turn off in GC2) they should be more varied and generally more beneficial and Fun.  I like to win and I don't enjoy Masochistic games and I should be catered for even if I'm in the smallest of minorities please.

 

Reply #10 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

A plague should only affect one species, and should be migitated or negated by some medical-buildings.'

I like the idea of more varied random events, but it would be annoying if they impact the game to an extent where they determine the game more than your actions.

Reply #11 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I'd love to see EU-style political events.

 

 

Reply #12 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I'm a sadist with these special events; I love them, and more are always better.

Reply #13 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Schaefespeare, reply 9

I couldn't disagree more with everything in this thread other than If we have to put up with Random Events (which you could always turn off in GC2) they should be more varied and generally more beneficial and Fun.  I like to win and I don't enjoy Masochistic games and I should be catered for even if I'm in the smallest of minorities please.

 

i kind of disagree with the more beneficial part 

pesonally i think the majority should be neutral 50-80% with a minority being beneficial/ detrementil 10-25% each