Hello all, this is my first post on the forum, i recently pre-ordered the game and thus was granted beta which i think so far is shaping up to become a great game.

so i thought i'd put down some of my thoughts so far. and ps. please excuse my soft rantlike expressions, it's a great game wich should only get better.

I'd like to begin with diplomacy, i know it's still early on in the game's progress but still think it demanded some mention. What i've noticed most is the lack of diplomatic options, and how the AI contantly randomly make and break treaties. the diplomacy system itself reminds me more of classic rts games like warcraft, starcraft and any number of generic titles, wich to say the least leaves much to be desired. what i initially found surpirsing is that all players start out in a ffa state unless forcably designated otherwize, much like the previousley noted game.

To me, logically players should start out at a neutral state and then have independant options of trade agreements, tribute's and perhaps tech treaties and such, players relationship to oneanother should be defined by players actions and shown by a relation-bar. giving tribute or agreeing to a trade agreement should increase relations while placing a large fleet in a sector owned by said neutral player or using the blockade/embargo function should decrease relations. only after either side has issued a declaration of war should hostilites ever arrise, then perhaps only after there being no battle between sides for a certain amount of time should a cease fire be appropriate and likley accepted. alliance is another state in itself where two or more players help eachother in times of need, and would share intel automatically. i found it odd to have an intel treaty with my enemy all im really wishing for is slightly more dynamic diplomacy.



Lanes, although they work somewhat well in the game, aside from a few odd connections wich dont make any sense, i just dont like them. mind you this is my personal oppinion and should be reguarded as such. i'm having trouble finding the right words for it but a system somehow just dosent feel like a star system, the lanes usually connect planets in very odd configuations that makes me feel like im playing in a large dungeon with interconnecting rooms, sort of like a clostrophobic wide open anyway, going to a systems actual sun seems like something one should rarley do and yet it is the only way to get to another system, seems more rational to go to the edge of a system in order to jump out.

yes this is a bit of a pointless rant, i dont really have a better suggestion for it but it would be nice to have some improved systems with stuff like Gas giants, asteroid belts and maybe even planetary orbits if possible. personally speaking larger and more diverse systems would definetley be on my wishlist - and somehow lane'less


that's all i can think of right now.
/Cheers
Tokfan.