Please god no tactical combat.  combat viewer all the way.

I like options myself. I would always start games with the combat viewer at 1x and watch the battle, then speed up, speed up some more, then quick battles. I would love it if there was an option added to have more direct control like Moo2...hopefully one that didn't take hours to complete

First tactical combat is pure strategy.

Second, since you dont want to answer this question now please have the founders programm open until you are ready to do so.

For me that is the essential question as simple viewing combat ruined glaciv 2 for me personaly.

I have a feeling this is going to be one the most hotly argued points around. 

I'd like to see more depth to the combat. If it means adding a tactical element then I am OK with that. Civ v managed to add a lot of tactics elements to strategic combat (flanks, range, ect ect) without adding tactical sub battles, but that system had it's own down sides. Most 4x games have tactical sub battles for a reason. It allows for more depth in the combat and that allows more depth in ship building. The lack of depth in designing ships was one of the things I found lacking in GC2

Actually, I could see both being easily implemented. Again, and obviously, we can use MOO 2 as an example.

It had tactical combat (my favorite) that wasn't in real-time (I was "eh" about it) and if people didn't want to do that there was the AUTO button. Plus menu options prior to starting the game.

Personally, I would like to see a full tactical/strategy game that allows for auto-complete (whatever) and posesses a video playback of battles so we could see a turn-based battle play out in "real-time".

Or, and here's an idea, allow for real-time/turn-based (rounds) battles implementing both micromanaging for those that want it and perhaps player-made maneuvers like playbooks or some such.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE add in Tactical Combat.

I could care less about Multiplayer.  Tactical Combat is my #1 wish list feature I'd like to see in the game.  For the naysayers, give them Autoresolve combats like Galciv2.

PLEASE ADD TACTICAL COMBAT!!!! I can't wait.

I'll throw money at you even without tactical combat, but I'll add cake and other perks if Tactical Combat is added as well.

Let me also add that I'm puzzled that some people here DON'T want to see it included.  But I suppose strategy gamers come in all types.

That why they are called STRATEGY games.

If the battles are similar to SoaSE but with the epic exploration like GalCiv II I'll pay whatever you want for GalCiv III.

You kinda argued against yourself there.

Peoples will always be brainier than AI. Tactical nor otherwise will change that. For me, having tactical means my ships won't pull bone-headed maneuvers that fly in the face of all logic. I like my errors to be my own.

I think you guys will like what we're doing with the battles. I'm dying to talk about it but I'd be instantly killed off.  I think it'll seem obvious in hindsight.

I have been hoping for some sort of tactical combat in a GalCiv game for years. Participated in the tac combat polls and debates years ago on the GalCiv 2 forums. Stardock, don't let us down!