I know it's probably not polite to start a membership in the forum with a feature request, but I hope i will be forgiven.
I love the game. Usually, when I play it, I don't like to think about the soldiers as about simple meat for guns; I'd love to think about them having them character, past, feelings etc. Quite childish, I know, but this make me think whether it would be possibly to add --relatively cheaply-- some features which would help to create such emotional attachment from player to the soldiers, so he would want to keep them even if they are not so good. Some of those ideas are really trivial.
Before you go into reading the list, please keep in mind that what I wanted to achieve is to add more RPGism into the game. I am not sure whether developers' idea about the game is compatible with this approach; definetely I hope it is.
1) Medals. After the mission, if the soldiers had some exceptional achievement; like shot three aliens in a mission -- he can get a medal of some kind. This wouldn't change a bit in soldiers stats; the only effect is a candy for the player. The changes needed: in most basic form, just a few lines of text in soldiers description and after the mission. Later some artwork could be added.
2) The newspapers. After some civilian is killed, the press attacks the PHALANX. After a female soldiers gets an medal (See 1) ), after first soldier gets 10th mission etc etc. In most basic form, it could be an email as "Commander, as usual I made a digest of a local press. You may be interested by the article in the local newspaper"... Later, some artwork could be added (think pretending real papers). Later, newspapers could reflect happiness of the nations.
3) The interviews
Some jerk from the press wants to interview PHALANX heroes. You agree, your soldier is unavailable for some time. You don't agree, no problem. It may influence happiness of the nations. Changes needed: that the soldier is unavailable for some period, but he receives the pay. He can't be transferred, attached to the ship, he can't participate in the mission. After some time he goes back.
4) The VACATIONS! Because soldiers are human too. Surely they would want from time to time visit their family. No, really, keep reading. I am not saying about taking a hollidays, but say you got an email from your soldier with request of vacations, because their father is sick, mother died etc. Definetely would need keeping track of such events (we wouldn't want the soldier to ask for permit to go the funeral of his/hers mother for the tenth time). You could refuse (by simply ignoring the email). Changes needed: a checkbox "on vacation" with the soldiers. They would be unavailable for the mission. You could call them back from the vacation at any moment, but it would in reality take some time before they would go (som status like "vacation cancelled... in a way to the base").
5) Battle fatigue. Combined with the previous. If you won't give the vacation, you get an email from the doctor (if you have hospital) saying that X needs a holliday, since the doctor is affraid of his mental health. If you keep ignoring such requests, the best thing: DESERTERS! Yeah. And then you decide whether to catch the deserter, whether to admit him back to the ranks, or have him shot.
Yes, this would modify heavily tactics: you would need more soldiers, and you would have to spare them, exchange them etc. The game would be harder. Also, it would need more than adding some text in some places, like in 1-3) proposals.
6) Can soldiers have friends and enemies? During recruitment, soldier would have at random assigned 1 or 0 friends (or enemies). If two enemies are in the same base, the soldier would ask for transfer. If friend dies, morale falls, you get a report from the medic etc etc.
7) Soldier character traits. Does not change gameplay. Just to inform the player, that the soldier X likes the trouble; the other is shy; etc. A bit similar as the proposal of providing "background" for the soldier, which is -- if i am not mistaken -- already in the list of accepted proposals.
Random events to create more RPG character. Imagine you got an email "Commander. I am affraid that during the last visit in base I found that our soldiers started making booze. This is serious offense, with participation of X. I suggest consequences..." Of course, this would be solely to the add some colour to the story, and wouldn't change a playback. Other similar idea "Commander. The senator X wants to visit a base. " and then "Commander. I was able to tell politely senator X that he can't". Or "The X from Tokyo wants to sue us for faling to protect civilians. Our law department already works on the case, I am just wanting to keep you informed". Such emails are I think relatively easy to implement, while they would add some RPGism to the game.
9) List of killed soldiers, with the place and date of death.
10) Maybe the requirement, that the player should "sign" a letter to the "family of KIA soldier" (by just clicking in appriopriate place). Just to create a feeling of real loss. Or emails from family of KIA. Or maybe that would be too much...
Anyway, this were my ideas. I hope you would like them, though after reading the TODO list I realise the chances for implementation are not great.
