Below are some ideas for making science ships and planet scanning more engaging and making different play-throughs different.
Break up Science ships into three types. Based on starting ethics or government types you would start with one of the three types and could get the other types through technology later in mid-late game.
Explorer: Explorer-class vessel's are based on ships like Star Trek's Enterprise. Unlike Science ships, Explorers are entirely AI controlled - they are given missions (similar to how EUIV works - you have a list of available missions you assign them to - they proceed with accomplishing those goals) and complete quests autonomously. Special events can occur, even between stars. Planets visited by explorers get deep-scan level data.
Explorers would upgrade along with Military vessels and get different abilities based on size - it might be worthwhile keeping a few smaller explorers around.... Explorers would begin with more democratic ethics or governments....
Science Academy Ships: Similar to the current setup, the Science Academy ship would scan planets but would lose the scan debris ability to the Salvage ship (see below).
Salvage Ships: Debris scanning would be detached from both Science and Explorer ships. Salvage ships would take their place and would include debris scans as part of their abilities.n
MEC: Military Exploration Crafts or MECs are the third type of Exploration Ship. Military Dictatorships and Monarchies might start with them instead of the Science Ship.
MEC's are themselves broken into three types:
Scout- Scouts are controlled similarly to science ships - they can do a light-scan on systems and can salvage debris.
Dropship- Dropships operate as combination transport and science ship. Dropships are capable of doing deep-scans but take longer to do so than science ships.
Deep Space Exploritory Vessel (DSEV):
Based on the Carrier-size Military vessel, DSEV's aren't available until mid-game.
DSEV's operate similar to explorers but have a different primary pool of events. DSEV's are controlled by the Admiral placed in charge. DSEV's have hangers and "defensive" weapons but won't stand up to much more than a destroyer on its own. Admirals may (depending on policies) build up their own "Exploration Fleets" which can lead to different event options- they can of course also join rebellions if they become disloyal.....
Note: Deep Scan's vs Light Scans is an idea I had for making science more rewarding.
Light scans reveal some anomalies and the energy credits and minerals on a planet. Deep scans can reveal additional resources, higher level events, and strategic resources.
Break up Science ships into three types. Based on starting ethics or government types you would start with one of the three types and could get the other types through technology later in mid-late game.
Explorer: Explorer-class vessel's are based on ships like Star Trek's Enterprise. Unlike Science ships, Explorers are entirely AI controlled - they are given missions (similar to how EUIV works - you have a list of available missions you assign them to - they proceed with accomplishing those goals) and complete quests autonomously. Special events can occur, even between stars. Planets visited by explorers get deep-scan level data.
Explorers would upgrade along with Military vessels and get different abilities based on size - it might be worthwhile keeping a few smaller explorers around.... Explorers would begin with more democratic ethics or governments....
Science Academy Ships: Similar to the current setup, the Science Academy ship would scan planets but would lose the scan debris ability to the Salvage ship (see below).
Salvage Ships: Debris scanning would be detached from both Science and Explorer ships. Salvage ships would take their place and would include debris scans as part of their abilities.n
MEC: Military Exploration Crafts or MECs are the third type of Exploration Ship. Military Dictatorships and Monarchies might start with them instead of the Science Ship.
MEC's are themselves broken into three types:
Scout- Scouts are controlled similarly to science ships - they can do a light-scan on systems and can salvage debris.
Dropship- Dropships operate as combination transport and science ship. Dropships are capable of doing deep-scans but take longer to do so than science ships.
Deep Space Exploritory Vessel (DSEV):
Based on the Carrier-size Military vessel, DSEV's aren't available until mid-game.
DSEV's operate similar to explorers but have a different primary pool of events. DSEV's are controlled by the Admiral placed in charge. DSEV's have hangers and "defensive" weapons but won't stand up to much more than a destroyer on its own. Admirals may (depending on policies) build up their own "Exploration Fleets" which can lead to different event options- they can of course also join rebellions if they become disloyal.....
Note: Deep Scan's vs Light Scans is an idea I had for making science more rewarding.
Light scans reveal some anomalies and the energy credits and minerals on a planet. Deep scans can reveal additional resources, higher level events, and strategic resources.