On the recent debate on the game design aspect of mechanics and numbers.

While, the terminology and way of explaining of BATTLEMODE leaves much to be desired (its better to use already established terms and concepts, instead of inventing new names on them), I agree on the most part of the explanation.

Good game systems, that promote replayability and challenge, are the ones with simpler and less obtuse basic rules, but that includes a great amount of interacting/interlocked mechanics. This is complexity through emergence. Its better to extend easy uniform rules, than to patch each special case and situation. Also this includes in discussion systems where each decision (either direct actions, buffs applied, or "builds/designs") impact is so weak, redundant, obscure, or limited in scope, that becomes irrelevant which path are you following to reach the objetive. "Numberwang" its not only about numbers, but about weak decisions, HARD readability, and weakly actionable mechanics.

This kind of "simple" yet complex systems lead to the classic "easy to learn, hard to master" games. You can find this in good old strategy games like chess and Go, where rules are easy to learn in mostly in a few games, but each move generate a chain reaction of possibilities for future moves. Sometimes not even the creators of the games know what will result from those. So, emergent complexity systems are the ones where there are not just one use mechanics whose consequences start and end in mostly one place.

Maybe the use of AoW4 as an example to prove this may be unfortunate/unappropiate, but aside that, i think want BM meant is useful game design wise.

I am a 4X game developer, and I am not perfect, but i try to make each, even the small, player decisions a fun trade off, and a commitment, where there are not obvious all-winning strategies. I prefer to make "natural extensions" of current systems, instead of adding yet another disconnected system. For example, in my space 4X, when I introduced ground units, instead of treating them as a separate kind of entity, I extended the spaceships mechanics just enough to include them. Now, everything is (internally) like a ship, and work with the same rules, be it a tank, a mech, a submarine or a spaceship.

And yes, dont forget the fun! Game systems should be fun to discover and engage.

When played Stellaris looong ago (before the constant mechanical reworks and DLC bonanza),
I liked a lot the concept of multiple FTL travel methods.

Then I was sad when they opted for Star Lanes, like almost every other space strategy game. This decision is mostly to accomplish something like "space terrain", already present in terrestrial/planetary games. Choke points and other strategic terrain considerations arise naturally in land-based games, but space is too free.

I think this was more of a loss, in creativity regards. Sure, Star Lane is an option and has its place, but it has become too ubiquitous.

As something that only lived in my memories, I was inspired by this and brought back an ("improved") interpretation of this concept to the game I am working on: HARD VOID.

This is a work in progress, but currently there are "sublight","warp","subspace", and "wormhole" travel methods, with distinctive mechanics:

• Sublight: the slowest one, cheap, but moves freely. Limited by speed and has to accelerate.
• Warp: standard movement. free movement between astros in the same universe, but can be slowed down by the universe's dark matter distribution.
• Subspace: movement is required to go between "normal" and "subspace" universes, but it's fast. Also affects the crew's minds (debuffs). Also is the main way to arrive at subspace dimensions.
• Wormhole: high freedom movement, can move between universes freely. Engines are bulky, slower, and power hungry.

What do you think about this?

If you are interested on HARD VOID:

Trailer: https://youtu.be/YWFbsyiLbp8

Latest battle demonstration: https://youtu.be/xxI0FgK6xwU

Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978460/HARD_VOID/

Website: https://hardvoid.com

Discord: https://discord.gg/teV8Jfm552

In HARD VOID, you can select the ship systems to include in the ships with almost no restrictions. You can design ships without a warp engine, with multiple propulsion systems, several kinds of weapons, and more.

After selecting the systems, you can generate procedural ship hulls until you are satisfied with one for the design.

Recently you can also create ground unit designs: infantry, motorized infantry, mechs, and tanks!
Soon sea ships, submarines and aircraft will be added.

Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978460/HARD_VOID/

Discord: https://discord.gg/teV8Jfm552