(Industry) Smoother difficulty curve

[tomyeltz]

Description

A number of new(er) players have been expressing frustration on the Steam forum that Opposition ramps up too quickly and then becomes so unrelenting that it's hard to play/enjoy the game, and I agree. I've also been experiencing some frustration at how often enemies show up to completely take over the game.

I have a few suggestions:

• Change when the oppo timer resets. Right now, it's a 30 minute timer that resets immediately so I end up spending a bunch of it fighting and then rearming before trying to squeeze in a few minutes' worth of the entire rest of the game before the next group of baddies shows up.
• Start with event-driven rather than timer-driven attacks, tied to completing Stargate phases. This gives the players a better sense of being able to prepare for an attack—they know that once they finish the phase, there'll be a fight and they need to be ready.
  • Phase 1: a nasty email warning not to keep working on the Stargate
  • Phase 2: "We told you twice now. Next time, our associates will explain it in person."
  • Phase 3: light opposition
  • Phase 4: light-moderate oppo
  • Phase 5: moderate oppo + another email ("This ends when one of us is dead") + timed attacks start
  • etc.

Thanks as always for your consideration.

[Greeba77]

Excellent suggestions. Adds to the narrative too.

[tomyeltz]

Also, maybe provide an option for just not having combat. Sometimes I just want to build cool spaceships and set up production lines without needing to worry about somebody trying to break my cool spaceships and set up production lines, you know?