X4: Foundations is an Excellent Game....But Diplomacy....4x

[Hebrux]

I freaking love this game! I've played many 4x Strategy games like Galactic Civilizations, Stellaris, Civilization, Star Sector, and Distant Worlds. And one thing that I've always wished for, is to be able to zoom into first person and control a ship while I expand my empire. X4 fulfills this dream for me, allowing me to zoom in from a macro-scale and control a single ship in first person while my fleets continue to follow the commands I gave them. I just wish the game had more depth at the Empire Level.

The Empire Level, when you own multiple sectors and have the means and resources to produce your own ships. It doesn't take much to become a dominant force in the Galaxy but once you reach this stage, it doesn't feel like you're making an impact.

One game that allowed you to start from a single freighter and grow to an Empire level while still feeling like a 4x game was "Unending Galaxy". I think they way they handled the Empire level was pretty good, even though all they allowed you to do was give/receive tributes and create alliances with factions.

I wish it wasn't so, but other than through missions, Diplomacy is practically non-existent in this game:
1. It would be nice to be able to increase reputation by giving gifts (gold) or decrease reputation. With the ultimate goal of becoming allies with a faction.
2. Trade with other empires/factions in a 4x style trade menu where we can for example, trading sectors or technologies (if research becomes more prevalent in the future)
3. Have the other factions treat you like a credible State/Faction once you reach "Empire Level" and begin engaging in diplomacy with you including formally declaring war or peace with your State/Faction.

The modding community for this game is Excellent and I appreciate some of the mods that have been created to try and bridge the 4x strategy gap in this game. It would be Epic if these 4x features made it to the vanilla game.

Thank you.

[martingolding96]

!. killing criminal traffic for -15 rep factions can get rep to increase to a better standing then doing missions from -14 on-wards can get you the friendship with factions slowly.

3. when reaching around 27 rep the factions ship routes/actions become visable but thats all other than they become valid teleport targets when you get any of the teleport research at a sector range of 1/3/5/inf.

But yeah it would be nice if we can interact with the other factions more.