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SotS and DW - 2/15/2010 12:23:54 AM

Xmudder

Posts: 119
Joined: 2/15/2010
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I remember reading that SotS was more about building ships and fighting than traditional 4x. Will this game be the same, or can you be a peaceful builder? I think Sins had a similar focus on combat over administration.

Also, how are colonies placed? I know the administer themselves, but do you have to build an actual ship or just tell the game "colonize here." And is there a malus to having too many colonies, or just to putting colonies in unattractive places. I'm going to guess you need to research new technologies to colonize certain locales, such as tundra / ice planets? That's been a space based 4x staple.

Post #: 1

RE: SotS and DW - 2/15/2010 1:20:31 AM

elliotg

Posts: 3597
Joined: 9/10/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Xmudder
I remember reading that SotS was more about building ships and fighting than traditional 4x. Will this game be the same, or can you be a peaceful builder? I think Sins had a similar focus on combat over administration.

You can certainly be a peaceful builder if you prefer. Some alien races/empires are quite aggressive, others are quite peaceful. So which empires are near you can make quite a difference to whether you face inevitable conflict or not. Even when aggressive empires are nearby, there's still quite a few options to keep the peace.

There's also penalties to being constantly at war - war weariness is quite a problem for most races. So wars are best when they're short and decisive with specific objectives in mind. And most alien races will show common sense when they're losing a war - they'll sue for peace.

quote:

Also, how are colonies placed? I know the administer themselves, but do you have to build an actual ship or just tell the game "colonize here." And is there a malus to having too many colonies, or just to putting colonies in unattractive places. I'm going to guess you need to research new technologies to colonize certain locales, such as tundra / ice planets? That's been a space based 4x staple.

You build colony ships and send them off to colonize planets or moons. As your empire grows (more colonies) the level of corruption in your empire increases and you lose more tax revenue.

Yes, you need to research to colonize progressively less hospitable planet types. Some planet types are only colonizable when there is an existing independent alien race present.

(in reply to Xmudder)

Post #: 2

RE: SotS and DW - 2/15/2010 1:36:56 AM

Xmudder

Posts: 119
Joined: 2/15/2010
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: elliotg
You can certainly be a peaceful builder if you prefer. Some alien races/empires are quite aggressive, others are quite peaceful. So which empires are near you can make quite a difference to whether you face inevitable conflict or not. Even when aggressive empires are nearby, there's still quite a few options to keep the peace.

There's also penalties to being constantly at war - war weariness is quite a problem for most races. So wars are best when they're short and decisive with specific objectives in mind. And most alien races will show common sense when they're losing a war - they'll sue for peace.

You build colony ships and send them off to colonize planets or moons. As your empire grows (more colonies) the level of corruption in your empire increases and you lose more tax revenue.

Yes, you need to research to colonize progressively less hospitable planet types. Some planet types are only colonizable when there is an existing independent alien race present.

Thank you for your answers. I think I like the balance between war and peace.

Do moons have the same terrain types as planets?

So colony ships are consumed but construction ships can be re-used to build more bases and mining outposts?

Can you build combat bases, or are they only for commerce and industry? Also, can you upgrade them?

(in reply to elliotg)

Post #: 3

RE: SotS and DW - 2/15/2010 3:07:13 AM

elliotg

Posts: 3597
Joined: 9/10/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Xmudder
Do moons have the same terrain types as planets?

Yes, although moons are generally only hospitable types when they are moons of gas giant planets.

quote:

So colony ships are consumed but construction ships can be re-used to build more bases and mining outposts?

Exactly.

quote:

Can you build combat bases, or are they only for commerce and industry? Also, can you upgrade them?

Yes, you can build any kind of base you can design. You upgrade them by retrofitting them to a new design.

(in reply to Xmudder)

Post #: 4

RE: SotS and DW - 2/15/2010 4:46:02 AM

Xmudder

Posts: 119
Joined: 2/15/2010
Status: offline

I'm almost glad I only just heard of this game, the waiting is already killing me. Just watched the videos for a second time.

Is there a downside to automating the raising of troops, spies, and the designs of ships? I think I prefer the advisor suggestions to full automation, where available. Looks like a good way to learn the game.

Edit: to make the question a question, if I turn on "let Ai handle ship design" will I still be able to design my own ships?

< Message edited by Xmudder -- 2/16/2010 12:50:02 PM >

(in reply to elliotg)

Post #: 5