tactical combat can be simplified to simply choosing a formation and choosing a direction of movement, roles - defender, attacker, boarding, choose to press start and watch how they beat each other.

Stardock could look at how Illwinter's Dominions series does auto combat? For each army, you set up the formations and orders of units, and then they carry those out to the best of their abilities in each combat.

Now Dominions combat is considerably more complex and involved than Galciv, but there should certainly be something to take from how they do it?

https://www.illwinter.com/dom5/

This is the thing. While I'm almost certain that someone at Stardock, most likely Brad, will refute this, I'm fairly certain that folks there aren't playing the competition. 

Some of their issues and lacking mechanics would be better off if they stole from others.

someone just commented on one of my videos that they didn't like GalCiv4 because it did not have a battle viewer. I told him StarDock was still working on the viewer and it would be even cooler than GalCiv3s battle viewer. People really liked the viewer from GalCiv3 and based on the comments I am getting GalCiv4 needs one to stay competitive in the market.

for me yes its more immersive

It should be a definite option. It's the best way to see the combat roles in action. The problem with the Battle Viewer always was slowing down the game. So for me I'd like to see it only used, if both sides have at least 3 ships. 

I think that an option to employ the view, as I believe was implented in GC3, covers all bases nicely.  I have stated I don't think I would like a battle viewer, as it seems like fluff to me --- since only the result is important for determining how to best build a fleet.   However, it certainly could be implemented as an option for each battle and I wouldn't object to that.   I.E.  I don't think Stardock is going to offend people by putting it in, but as this discussion shows, there would be people that would react negatively to its absence.   

That said, if a viewer  is implemented, I think it should be with one eye on an eventual dlc, perhaps, that drastically improves tactical choice during key battles, with perhaps a pause button.   There is a bit of tactical stuff as it stands with 77B.   One can think about using missile boats to stand off and attack at distance and meleeing with gunboats and beamers.  Against hordes of pirates/monsters, if you have a strong stack with missile boats you can sometimes get two kills in one turn.  Might be better to break up the stack to attack many pirates at once, but just saying, even this one ability creates tactical opportunities.  There may be  an opportunity here.  (That's what Lee is supposed to have said just before Gettysburg.  Oh well didn't work out that way.)

I think the devs could look to a game like Heroes Hour for an example of how to implement a battle viewer. quick, entertaining , light tactics, position units etc. this type of viewer wouldn't slow the pace of the game down and provide some tactical depth an entertainment.

It's a done deal. The battle viewer is already slated for the 0.8 beta.

Unless, and I by no means consider it necessary, you can guide the battle in progress, I don't see the need to zoom into a battle.

Battles were my least favourite thing in Star Control and I avoided it.

Without the battleviewer this just another ordinary game! Just give a checkbox for the ones who don't want it, please don't remove it because without it I'm 99% sure I'd rather have a refund myself!!!!

Well, that's not my experience.  About 10% of my battles in GC3 are rated "Victory Likely" or even "Victory Certain", and I lose said battle!

That's not a complaint, by the way.  I never assumed that either was a guarantee, but more like an "Odds are" indication and not a promise.  It should just say...  War Advisors Say:  "Victory Likely" or "Victory Certain".  If my war advisors are warmongers versus lousy layabout drunks, then I should take that into account.  After all, it's my job as Commander in Chief to make the final decision and issue the orders to fight or withdraw.

The GC4 Battleviewer is a dissapointment.   Unless I can't interpret what I see.  Previous Battleviewers let the player observe how the fleet performed in battle.  You could see what ships attacked in which order, and how they performed.   This Battleviewer has very nice pictures, but you can't visually make out what is happening in any detail during the battle.  

Personally, I quite enjoy watching the battles sometimes. I think it is nice to have as an option, at least. 

For what we call GalCiv IV Next, the battle viewer has gotten the biggest revamp since we started having it.

I'm excited to hear that!

I've always enjoyed watching the battle veiwer.  If GC Next has improved the ship movement and cinematics, that's even better.

The thing I'm most hoping for is seeing some variety in fleets.  Seeing a variety of ships classes clash rather than a couple of the same medium hull ship would make battles a lot more visually appealing.

Looking forward to this and other things you have planned.

Exciting!

Love the new battleview in Galciv IV

This is great news.  I think that a good battle viewer is vital.

I have been playing stellaris for comparison while I wait for the juicy final version of Galactic civilisations 4.  Stellaris has a lot of sophistication both in planet and ship development.  The combat is also more sophisticated.  However it lacks the life and soul of Galactic civilisations.

The diplomacy viewer map in Galactic civilisations is a huge advantage. Just this 1 view gives you a real feeling for diplomacy which is central to making the whole game work.  The icons in stellaris just don't convey the same feel.

Exploration feels more like exploration in galactic civilisation.

Having a battle viewer makes the time and effort that you put into ship design feel worthwhile.  I feel that in stellaris I get very little feedback after a battle.  It is very hard to catch the battle, with the battle often being over by the time you've moved to it.  Even if you do catch the battle, it is very hard to get a feeling for what is actually happening, and which weapons are taking effect and which ones are not.  Yes you can look at the statistics afterwards, but that isn't a visceral feeling.  So I think a battle viewer would Give Galactic civilisations a huge advantage.  I am really looking forward to your planned developments of Galactic civilisations next.

Brilliant work.