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Gameplay
This requirement covers gameplay outlines, including how the game is structured, goals, etc. Basic requirements doc for the system as a whole. This draws heavily from the Game Theory notes, so be sure to read those before this document.
Pyxis is a real-time, web oriented space strategy game. Players form guilds and alliances and battle other players as well as hostile non-players in an effort to control the largest portion of space they can.
The basic premise is a simple one, to expand and conquer. Players must seek out planets and establish bases on those planets, called outposts. These outposts then have to be defended as they gather precious resources, such as food and ores.
The Universe
Game play takes place in the "Universe", a near infinite expanse of space populated with hostile aliens, trade pplanets rich and poor. For the world of Pyxis, a Universe is a single game server where action takes place with or without the player.
The Universe is controlled by three primary forces, the players themselves and their Guilds, the Aliens and the Trade Federation. The Guilds will be discussed in more depth later on.
The Guilds
- The primary focus of the Universe will be on the players themselves, and the empires the players create. The term "guild" is used to describe those empires and the player base behind them.
- This concept allows for several in game benefits:
- Well established terminology and proven idea used by many games
- Allows for strategic and political alliances between players to help them advance further in the game
- Good dramatic potential - alliances will come and go, players forming new guilds to combat older, well established guilds, lending an air of drama to the game
The Aliens
- The Aliens are Non-Player Characters (NPCs) that harrass and threaten players. Controlled by automatic processes and/or manual intervention by game staff, they add an extra element of challange into the game. Aliens are designed to provide non-player obstacles to be overcome, some of which may require a large number of players to band together to defeat.
- This concept allows for several in game benefits:
- A different type of challenge to allow for multiple styles of gameplay
- Near infinite possibilities for inventing new alien races to throw at the players. Some may become infamous (think the Zerg from Starcraft), while others might be short lived, quickly wiped out by the Guilds, but the potential is always there.
- Good dramatic potential - players may be given the opportunity to align themselves with alien races, as well as fight them, giving them automatic assistance in battle or receiving requests for aid on a periodic basis.
The Trade Federation
- Every system needs some semblence of government or it will collapse. The closest thing in the Universe would be the Trade Federation. A shadowy coalition of powerful individuals, the Trade Federation oversees all commerce and basic economics for the Universe.
- Run by automatic processes and/or game manual intervention by staff, the Trade Federation represents a non-agressive challange for the players. This concept allows for several in game benefits:
- Centralized location for trade of resouces between players (and/or NPCs?)
- Premise for having a single currency, which can be controlled by game staff
- Good dramatic potential - possibly the TF is behind some or all pirate raids as a means of driving up shipping costs, etc. Also gives an outlet for players to act in "down with the man" type of ways, fighting against the TF by pirating shipping lanes, etc.
Basic Gameplay
Before engaging in gameplay, players must sign up for (and possibly pay for) an account. See Account documentation for more details on this process.
Once an account is established and the player is logged into the game, there are several ways in which they can play out the game, each important to the process and catering to a different style of play. A brief description of each follows.
Exploration Mode
Players are given the opportunity to seek out new sections of the Universe. A fleet of ships must be assembled and given orders as to where to go. A time-table will be created showing, in real world time, how long it takes for the journey to happen and the player can send off their exploration party.
While exploring, a number of possible things may happen to a player's fleet. The following outlines the basic list of what might happen while exploring:
- Attacks by mercenary/pirate forces
- Attacks by hostile Alien forces
- Attacks by hostile Guild forces
- Chance encounters with neutral or friendly Alien forces
- Chance encounters with neutral or friendly Guild forces
- Discovery of new territory and the resources it contains
- Discovery of occupied territory and the forces it contains
Once a new area has been found, exploration can be turned into expansion with the establishment of an outpost. For more details on outposts, and how they were, refer to the Outpost Functional Specifications
Exploration and the functional details are covered in more depth in the Exporation Functional Specifications.
Combat Mode
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Diplomacy Mode
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Piracy Mode
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Statistics Mode
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