Galactic Civilizations 2

[Lord Herman]

Does anyone else play GalCiv2?

Myself, I play the game on and off. I occasionally play a metaverse game, although I never pay much attention to my score.

My favourite race are the Iconians. I always like to play a tech race, and their story is quite nice, too. In fact, I love how every race in the game has a story that also involves the other races.

Is anyone getting the Dark Avatar expansion? I've preordered it (a few days after the beta ended, unfortunately). From what I read, the amount of new features and the change in gameplay almost make it a sequel, rather than an expansion pack.

Oh, and would anyone be interested in starting a metaverse empire? If we can find enough OOTSers who play GalCiv2, that is.

[Om]

I was thinking of picking this up the other day actually. Is it any good compared to the likes of MoO?

[Artanis]

I was thinking of picking this up the other day actually. Is it any good compared to the likes of MoO?

From what I've heard, it's supposed to give Civ4 a real run for its money, for what it's worth.

[RationalGoblin]

Hey, I play it to! I prefer the Yor, as I love machines.

Metaverse empire? Explain it to me.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Got this game last week from a friend. It has already decreased my GPA by about 0.2. Crazy addictive.

You like the Iconians, Lord Herman? Funny, I'm a big fan of the Yor. I renamed the leader to HK-47, though.

Also, Technologist government for the win.

Heh, sim-yor-ninja'd.

[RationalGoblin]

Hk-47? Awesome.

And for the technologist government, I almost always pick that. My brother plays WoW a lot, so I can't play it much, but I could get on today. So, as I said before, how do you play a metaverse game?

EDIT: Adanedhel9, I usually create my own race too, but If I don't, it's usallly the Yor.

[adanedhel9]

I've had GalCiv2 for a while. I play it on and off. I typically customize my races (I'm a creator; I have to do it my way), but I typically focus on trade and research.

Oh, and I've never done anything with the Metaverse.

[Lord Herman]

I was thinking of picking this up the other day actually. Is it any good compared to the likes of MoO?

In my opinion, it's the best turn based strategy game since MOO2. But I'm still waiting for a true MOO2 sequel.

Metaverse empire? Explain it to me.
...
So, as I said before, how do you play a metaverse game?

A metaverse game is a quasi-multiplayer game. In short, the game logs your score and some stats about the game you played, and it uploads it to a ranking list thingie. You can start a metaverse game by clicking 'metaverse' in the main menu.

You can also join an empire, which is a bit like a clan in other games. Your score is added to your empire's total, and there's a ranking list for empires. So what I'm proposing is starting an empire with all the GalCiv2 players on these boards.

You like the Iconians, Lord Herman? Funny, I'm a big fan of the Yor. I renamed the leader to HK-47, though.

Statement: HK-47 is the awesomest droid ever.

Oh, and I've never done anything with the Metaverse.

You should. The only difference between a normal game and a metaverse game is that your score is kept.

[Om]

In my opinion, it's the best turn based strategy game since MOO2. But I'm still waiting for a true MOO2 sequel.

High praise indeed. I just saw the game on the Paradox Interactive forums (the European publisher), I don't suppose you know how they compare to other Paradox games?

[Lord Herman]

I'm not sure. I don't think I've played any other games from Paradox. But I can tell you that although Stardock is a small and relatively unknown (until the Starforce incident, that is) developer, it made a game that is better than most high-profile games that are released these days.


In other news, I decided to go ahead and create this empire of ours. It's called 'The Empire of the Stick'. It's invite only, so anyone who wants to join should PM me (and tell me their Metaverse username), and I'll send them an invitation. Anyone who posts here is welcome.

My computer exploded just after I confirmed the Empire's creation... an omen?

[madfool2]

I normally play as any race, and always create a trade empire that seems weak, but then ends up conquering the universe.

[RationalGoblin]

Ok, but I need to create an account. I'm gonna research all the way to immortality!

EDIT: Uh... I can't create an account...

[angry_russian]

To me, Galciv2 was a huge disappointment. Before release Stardock bragged a lot about how good their AI was, devs posted cool game examples where they explained in great detail how the AI owned them.

But really, the AI sucks. I don't think I've seen such an incompetent and inflexible AI. It performs more like a bunch of poor-written scripts bundled together than like a cohesive entity.

The worst side of the AI is tactical combat. Seriously, I don't think I ever saw it do anything smart there. For example, if I leave my fleet parked next an AI-controlled planet I'm at war with, the AI will not launch its ships, form a fleet and counterattack. Instead it will wait for me pick off its ships in orbit one by one. Heck, I can even leave my undefended transports next to their planet and more often than not, the AI will stay put and do nothing.

Sure, the game is challenging but I find that the challenge is provided by the game mechanics, not the AI. I mean, I spent most of the time in game developing my empire, trying to get the economics to work, increasing my production and research capabilities. Then when it's time to take on the AI, it offers no challenge whatsoever. Kind of disappointing.

[Lord Herman]

According to the devs, the AI is a lot smarter in Dark Avatar, especially if you turn on the extra CPU power thing. And the AI's failure to intercept transports is a known issue. I believe they've fixed it for the final build of DA.

[Dragor]

I want this game so much, but I can't find it in stores.

[Lord Herman]

You can order it from www.galciv2.com. Alternatively, you can wait a few weeks, and buy the gold edition (galciv2 + expansion), which will be available in stores.

[Artanis]

I want this game so much, but I can't find it in stores.

If you don't mind ordering online:
http://www.galciv2.com/Purchase.aspx

[Om]

I'm not sure. I don't think I've played any other games from Paradox. But I can tell you that although Stardock is a small and relatively unknown (until the Starforce incident, that is) developer, it made a game that is better than most high-profile games that are released these days.

Hmmm I've ordered the latest Paradox game, EUIII, but it might not run on my PC. If not I think I'll get over my disappointment with GalCiv. I've been reading some user AAR's and it looks like fun.

[Green Bean]

This game looked cool, so I bought it.



It turns out that you can't run a brand new game on a five year old computer

[DocZoid]

High praise indeed. I just saw the game on the Paradox Interactive forums (the European publisher), I don't suppose you know how they compare to other Paradox games?

It is not anything like Paradox games. The closest comparison is Civilization 4 and Master of Orion 2.

GC2 is pretty good, I preordered it and all, but honestly I have not had it installed for quite some time. It just didn't offer that..I dunno..that certain something that makes me keep coming back to games. Civ 4, MOO2 and Paradox games all have that missing ingredient.

But hey, Om, I definitely enjoyed it for the first little while I had it and it's quite conceivable you would keep coming back to it. Then again, EU3 is just being released (I will make a thread for it in a moment), so that will probably suck up your time

[Nerd-o-rama]

Well, it's a little like Paradox games in that it's Grand Strategy, but you're right. It's closer to Civ III and IV than anything else I've played.

And what it's missing, and what most 4X games are missing, is replayability. Each individual game (outside of the odd little Campaign that GC2 has) is fundamentally the same, the only differences being the (infinite) amount of choices made by the player and AIs, and random factors like map layout.

[Tzekan]

I love this game!

My Thalan forces are doing well in game, though i should really sort out the Metaverse thing... I always pick the Thalans for their Uber-homeworld a military production bonuses. They just seem so much more powerful at first, not having a poxy class-4 planet is so much better.

Of course, research is always the focus...

Empire of the Stick? As soon as my metaverse works, i'm in!

[J_Muller]

From what I've heard, it's supposed to give Civ4 a real run for its money, for what it's worth.

I have both. They're about the same as far as quality goes.

I prefer Terrans or a custom, personally. I've just started playing against Bright opponents.

[DocZoid]

I prefer Civ 4 by far. Nothing beats multiplayer with a bunch of friends..
GC2 would benefit greatly from having MP.

[RationalGoblin]

Alright, that's annoying. It says I have am unrecognized response when I try to log in my account. Whould anyone help with this?

[Thervold]

I played this off and on. Although I've had the same game on a huge/abundant/abundant map going on for months now. I tend to play a customized version of the Drath. Has anyone bought DA and can tell me if it's worth it to add to my existing game?

[Lord Herman]

Alright, that's annoying. It says I have am unrecognized response when I try to log in my account. Whould anyone help with this?

Do you have a software firewall (windows firewall, for example)? You might have to put GalCiv2 on the accepted programs list.

Has anyone bought DA and can tell me if it's worth it to add to my existing game?

From what I read on the GalCiv2 forums, the expansion is pure awesomeness. I'm particularly looking forward to the hostile planet environments, asteroid mining, super race abilities, and of course the new races. The change list on the Dark Avatar page of GalCiv2.com is quite huge, and lots of the newer changes aren't even on that list.

[RationalGoblin]

And where would I find the firewall? Sorry, I haven't had a much of a problem with it before.

[Dragor]

I prefer Civ 4 by far. Nothing beats multiplayer with a bunch of friends..
GC2 would benefit greatly from having MP.

Hotseat is a bit annoying when you've got 4 people in a tiny room with one chair, though. The seat does get really hot because everyone's hopping off after immidietly pressing Enter.

Anyhow, on topic, I may just get this game. I have a lack of space games.

[Lord Herman]

And where would I find the firewall? Sorry, I haven't had a much of a problem with it before.

If you are using Windows Firewall, you should go to Control Panel (in the start menu), open 'windows firewall', and go to the 'exceptions' tab. Click the 'add' button, and select the GalCiv2 executable.

But the firewall being the problem is just a wild guess. Normally, your firewall should have given you some kind of pop-up window the first time you started GalCiv2.

If you keep having trouble, you ask for help on the GalCiv2.com forums.