Games where you command a starship

**Forward Observer** · 07-02-2005, 19:24

If you can find a copy, there is also Klingon Academy. This game is all about training for starship command and combat. The control is just how you would expect with lots of sub-commands for the various aspects of a capitol ship.

The game comes with a huge manual and is on 6 disks. The extra disks were needed to contain all the live filmed footage including Christopher Plummer as the Klingon academy instructor.

The ship to ship combat is filled lots of attention to control of sub-systems but the actual combat is a bit disappointing since the physics engine seems to be closely related to that of a carnival bumper car ride---meaning that you have to spend a lot of time avoiding collisions, and when you do collide, the two ships bounce off each other with no damage.

Can you imagine two capitol ships colliding at speed in outer space--I'm no physics expert, but I think that even if their shields prevented external ship damage, everything and everybody inside would be turned to mush.

Still, it's not a terrible game.

**The_Doctor** · 07-02-2005, 19:34

-I-War. It is 11 years old.
-Star Trek bridge commander. I played a demo of it and did not like it.
-battlecrusier series. I have not played it, but it looks needlessly complicated.
-Klingon Academy. I once tried to download the demo, only to have my sister to press the "X" about 99%.

**Krusader** · 07-02-2005, 20:57

Well the latest Battlecruiser game is free I think. Can't recall its name.

**The_Doctor** · 07-02-2005, 22:09

Well the latest Battlecruiser game is free I think. Can't recall its name.

Yeah, I found it on fileplanet a while ago. I might give it a try.

**Crandaeolon** · 07-02-2005, 22:16

-I-War. It is 11 years old.

I-War 2: Edge of Chaos is (c) 2001, and it's still a decent game. But, the playable ships are only corvette-size, so it might not be exactly what you're looking for.

You might want to check out Nexus, if you can get it for cheap. It's a tactical-level space combat simulation (about a dozen ships per side at maximum), and the combat system is somewhat detailed with lots of subsystems, different damage types, power management etc.

The downside is that it's very linear, as in almost zero replayability.

**Lehesu** · 07-03-2005, 05:14

Just a slight tangent, but has anyone ever played Star Wars Rebellion? I am absolutely hooked. The critics complain about the cumbersome interface, nebulous resource management, and rather elementery tactical combat, but it is a real gem if you can get past all that. Very detailed.
I just get a sense of dark pleasure in being able to create a Super Star Destroyer in only 58 days at my built-from-scratch super stardock.

**lars573** · 07-03-2005, 05:40

Originally Posted by Lehesu

Just a slight tangent, but has anyone ever played Star Wars Rebellion? I am absolutely hooked. The critics complain about the cumbersome interface, nebulous resource management, and rather elementery tactical combat, but it is a real gem if you can get past all that. Very detailed.
I just get a sense of dark pleasure in being able to create a Super Star Destroyer in only 58 days at my built-from-scratch super stardock.

Perked interest. Request more information.

**Lehesu** · 07-03-2005, 06:53

It is a strategy game set in the Star Wars universe that encompasses the entire galaxy (a lot of planets). You can play Rebel or Imperial. You start out with few ships, planets, troops, and characters, and work to increase planetary membership and strengthen fleets.

To this end, the discerning strategist utilizes fleets of capital ships, snubfighters, loyal characters, special forces, diplomacy, ground troops, and scientific development to beat the other side. Both factions have completely unique fleets, troops, characters, and spec forces, but they serve similar functions. But in order to build troops, fleets, and special forces, you must carefully cultivate planets and create troop training facilities, stardocks etc. You must also provide defense for these valuable investments. This all takes place in real time measured in days (the speed of the days can be changed...on the lowest setting, time moves very slowly and should give you more than enough time to issue orders).

The fleet combat takes place in a tactical setting. The graphics are crude, the ships are slow to respond, and the system is just plain inelegant. Nonetheless, it can still manage to make for some exciting battles. Combat takes place in a 3d box representing the space that the battle is being fought in. Orders can be given to individual capital ships (which can be named for whatever strikes your fancy) and snubfighter squadrons. Combat is actually reasonably complex: each ship has different ratings in weapons, shields, hull, damage control, etc.

For example, a Victory class Star Destroyer is excellent at orbital bombardments (pounding planets into submission) but is rather slow and has only turbolasers, which are effective against capital ships, but not so much against fighters. On the other hand, the Lancer class frigate is specifically designed to wipe out fighters; it is equipped with large numbers of laser cannons to shoot them down, but no turbolasers.

Another example: Although a Mon Cal cruiser is undergunned when compared to an Imperial Star Destroyer, redundant systems makes the ship highly resilient in combat. This allows the Mon Cal to "stick around" and end up destroying the Imp. However, the downside to so many redundant systems is that is takes so long to repair.

The game is an acquired taste, but the manual is thick and does a reasonable job of explaining things. If you can stomach some of Paradox Entertainment's stuff, than you should have no problem with this.

**Productivity** · 07-06-2005, 08:39

Originally Posted by Martinus

-I-War. It is 11 years old.

No it's not. If I had to take a guess I would say 7-8 years, but not 11.

**ChaosLord** · 07-06-2005, 17:00

One note on Freelancer, you can fly the Destroyers, Battleships, etc... You just need mods to enable them. Go check out www.lancersreactor.com its a good site for Freelancer mods. I recommend the Evolutions mod, it adds more ships/sectors, and improves AI performance. The other nice thing about Freelancer is most popular mods have a few servers up running it. So you should be able to find a server that peaks around at least 15-20 people.

All that said, for a pure space sim I-War 2 or Freespace 2 is better. Freelancer is just nice for ease of use, mods, and online play.

**The_Doctor** · 07-06-2005, 17:18

Freelancer is an excellant game.

Capital ships are hard to control in the mods have played.

**Zalmoxis** · 07-06-2005, 22:08

I was gonna recommend Nexus as well.

**hoom** · 07-07-2005, 09:27

Iwar is 1997.

There is a very good Babylon 5 mod for Iwar 2 for those interested in that kind of thing http://mods.firstones.com/buda5/iwar2/index.html