Supply lines

from Sins Forums
I preordered the game and downloaded the beta a few days ago, and I'm really enjoying the game so far (I don't think I've ever played a beta with less bugs ). Haven't been here long though, so I don't know if this has already been suggested. (or if it's already a feature )

Anyways, I started thinking about supply lines (à la Company of Heroes) yesterday. Basically, the idea is that if a planet is not connected to your home planet, directly or indirectly (via your other planets, allies, empty planets, etc.), you won't recieve any income or resources from that planet. So if your enemy has a huge empire with a few choke points, you could target those planets in an attempt to isolate as many planets as possible and cripple his economy. Alternately, you could take a fleet and make a blockade at any point on the map (including asteroid fields, empty planets, etc.) with the same effect. The "Gateway" map would quickly become even more interesting with this

It does raise a few questions, though: Do isolated planets have access to the resource pool? (that is, can you build stuff there?) Why do they suddenly stop mining/paying taxes just because they're cut off? Why not just go around the blockade? And so on. Regardless, I think something like this could be quite interestng gameplay-wise. Oh, and I realise it's a bit late to come with feature ideas now, but maybe for a later patch/expansion?

Thoughts?
1,542 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
It's an interesting idea.

But, even though having cut off planets in Sins doesn't stop off their resource income from the mines, it does effectively cut off any trade/refinery ships from that planet (the actual supply routes ) because now they have to fly through the enemy. Chances are, this will also cut the planet off from a large portion of your culture, which will also decrease its credit income a bit. And that planet may as well be dead in the water, since you can't reinforce it without sending ships through now-enemy territory. You can still build defenses, but defenses in Sins aren't meant to stop anything other than small scale raids, any actual invasion fleet won't be stopped by the stationary defenses alone.

So, in the end, having planets cut off from your empire in Sins is just as bad as having territories cut off in CoH, even if the cut off planet doesn't behave exactly like a cut off territory
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
well, I can think of one system, but it may be more clumsy than anything else.

lets say, a newly colonized planet automatically gets supply centre, which creates transport ships similar to the one of trade stations and refineries. as long as the station is up and its ships are alive, construction rate and income levels will be 100% or close to. but attacking the ships or taking out the station could severly cut said ratio. of course it can't cut it to 0 otherwise, you wouldn't be able to build a new one (or that station would just not be affected by it). and if you make it so that one missing station causes all following worlds to be "out of supply" it could be quite crippling. I'd say for something like this to work, the station should be upgradeable in hp otherwise it would indestructable in the beginning and too easily destroyed with a quick raid later on. alternatively, dependence on supply could decline with an increaes in population, as more populous colonies allow for greater exploitation and specialisation, etc.

the whole idea is that I am hesitant to regard all planets as self supporting i.e. I don't think all worlds can produce all goods necessary for ships, station, cities, consumer goods and so on. may or may not be reasonable, depends on the pop number we are dealing with, I'd say a 10 million desert world would be fairly dependent, a 200 million one less so. but that is more fiction/ lore type of thing.

in spite of the proposition though, I don't think the current situation is bad. taking out a key planet can effectively be quite crippling to an enemy.

what - in this situation - would be really nice, would be the ability to create an outpost. maybe an ability any capship has and its just a military thing. i.e. you can't upgrade it, but you can build a small number of military i.e. tactical structures. something like a resupply centre or simply a burden for the enemy (or a foothold to secure a later colony) to take the planet when you know you can't hold it for long anyway, because its too far away. that btw also explains why you would want it over a colony.
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Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Well, having only played a few rounds in beta so far, it seems that Blockades are systematic as opposed to programmatic. Meaning, that blockades / supply lines can be accomplished or cut by you placement and execution of forces rather than through some rules system a la Supremacy (Any of you remember THAT board game?!).

Arikos