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Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 4:08:23 PM   
Mantuvec

 

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Welcome to our second Developer Diary and thank you for your interest in Distant Worlds 2.

We want to introduce this one with our brand new video about Mortalens (HERE)

This diary will discuss some of the “story” behind the galaxy of Distant Worlds 2, an interesting place for you to explore.

One of the best parts of Distant Worlds is that the galaxy is present in full detail and “alive”. There are always things going on almost everywhere you look. Much less is abstracted away than in many other 4x games, where you may only see the ships in your military fleets, or a system may be represented just by a star and a few major planets, or where the galaxy really is just star systems, points if you will, connected by lines that determine where you can go. In Distant Worlds 2, you have all of space, both the systems themselves and every bit of space within them, every planet, moon and asteroid, but also the space between systems, including nebulae, ion, radiation and gravitic storms. Exploration, travel, battles and everything else can happen anywhere within that space.



We’ll get into some more of what exploration is like in a future diary, but in terms of story, this allows us a lot of room to work with to place all kinds of remnants of the “ancient galaxy” as well as unique characteristics and bonuses which separate one planet, moon, star or asteroid from another. You may find ancient ruins, fragments of data revealing previously unknown locations, abandoned or partially destroyed ships, the remains of ancient fleet battles, a unique planetary feature, and so on and so forth. All of this is present at the generation of the galaxy, but some things are much easier to find than others, some can only be found by the best explorers and some are much easier to find once you have the right clues to point you in the right direction. Each generated Distant Worlds 2 galaxy is a truly huge playground with a great many hidden discoveries waiting to be found.



However, it’s not just these more static discoveries that await you in space. First of all, you have what we call “Pirates”, though their full story is much more complex than that brief description or what first impressions will likely suggest. They’ll challenge you initially, as they are used to having a monopoly on space. You’ll likely have to repel their raids and decide whether to focus on destroying them or accepting their terms to some degree in order to negotiate a peace. They do know more than you about the galaxy, if you’re willing to pay their price.



There are also creatures of unusual size and origin that exist in space and travel between the stars. Their origins are for you to discover, but you will find them a significant obstacle to expansion in some systems and a navigational hazard in others.

Here we can make out a Gravillex in the distance which has just missed slicing open a fleeing Human Frigate with its energy beam weapon. These are remarkably aggressive creatures that did not exist in the “Ancient” galaxy, but are now found in significant numbers, often feeding on stars for their energy. The type of star they’ve been feeding on also has a significant effect on how dangerous a given Gravillex may be.



Here’s an Ardilus, normally a much more passive denizen of space that is usually found around gas giants. Beware though, as it is quite territorial if you come too close as this Mortalen Escort just discovered.



There’s also the dreaded Vordikar, but it’s quite stealthy and the last three exploration ships we sent into the asteroids to find one for you never returned. I promise we’ll show you one in a future diary.

Beyond all this though, we have an expanded “Main Story” as well as a “Faction Story” for each of our playable factions (Humans, Ackdarians, Mortalen, Haakonish, Zenox, Boskara and Teekan). This is a major effort above and beyond anything that Distant Worlds: Universe had, involving the creation of a new story and event system which allows us to do much more than we could in the past, including event and story choices (and this is all also open to players and modders who wish to tinker and use the system for their own stories).

Each Faction in Distant Worlds 2 by default represents a certain playstyle. For example, the Mortalen are “Disciplined Warriors” which means that their faction story and faction victory conditions will tend to reinforce that playstyle and reward playing them in that way. While the Main Story will reveal some information about the Ancient galaxy and what happened in the past, each Faction Story will reveal more about the specific background and events that involved that faction, as well as giving the player a great chance to be the first to find some truly unique and rewarding locations. By playing through all the faction stories, the most complete account of the Ancient galaxy can be pieced together.

As an example, here’s a shot taken in “cheat mode” showing a small selection of some placed main and faction story events across a section of a generated galaxy, on top of the normal hidden bonuses, ruins and discoveries. Each of those little labels indicates either a single even or the initial trigger for an event chain. Of course, you won’t have this cheat view to guide you in your own galaxy, but if you explore well and boldly, you should have plenty of good stories to tell!



As always, we want to let you play the game your way, so in the galaxy setup you can choose to enable or disable pirates, space creatures and the main and faction stories, as well as tailoring the amount and strength of pirates and space creatures. You can also disable faction victory conditions and change the government and play your chosen faction in a different way. We look at the galaxy as your sandbox and want to give you the tools to make sure it’s setup the way you would like it to be.

I hope this shed some light on the Distant Worlds 2 galaxy and what your own Distant Worlds story might be like. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with a new Developer Diary for you all!

< Message edited by Mantuvec -- 8/4/2021 5:28:34 PM >
Post #: 1
RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 4:26:26 PM   
SaltheartFoamfollower

 

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The link to the brand new video about Mortalens seems to be incorrect, I get a "404 Not Found".

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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 4:27:17 PM   
LordMM


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mantuvec
Welcome to our second Developer Diary and thank you for your interest in Distant Worlds 2.

We want to introduce this one with our brand new video about Mortalens (HERE)


Mortalens now got their own Optimus Prime ? D:

Brilliant trailer. Really well done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eet9HarZ85I

< Message edited by LordMM -- 8/4/2021 4:28:03 PM >

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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 5:25:17 PM   
USSAmerica


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More great stuff!

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"They need more rum punch" - Me


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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 5:25:56 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SaltheartFoamfollower
The link to the brand new video about Mortalens seems to be incorrect, I get a "404 Not Found".



Thank you for the heads up, just fixed it.

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CEO, Matrix Games LLC




For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

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(in reply to SaltheartFoamfollower)
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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 6:28:19 PM   
ncc1701e


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This game looks great indeed!

I like the design of the Human Frigate. Add two wings to it, few cannons, and it looks like the Arcadia of Captain Harlock.



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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 7:18:55 PM   
Ranbir


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https://i.imgur.com/vglOb4u.png What are the numbers on the right meaning?

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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 8:02:23 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Ranbir
https://i.imgur.com/vglOb4u.png What are the numbers on the right meaning?


Those show the annual rate at which those modifiers are changing.




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For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

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(in reply to Ranbir)
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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 9:11:59 PM   
praetorreich36

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

This game looks great indeed!

I like the design of the Human Frigate. Add two wings to it, few cannons, and it looks like the Arcadia of Captain Harlock.




I like your thinking. Besides I like the design of the human ships too. This looks amazing!

(in reply to ncc1701e)
Post #: 9
RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/4/2021 10:23:20 PM   
sinbuster

 

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That molten effect on the escort looks fantastic. Can't wait to dive into this game.

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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/6/2021 7:57:50 AM   
Kronis


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Hello Matrix and Slitherine,

I am very glad, that you made the story lines for certain races. I know it is not easy to make a good story in 4X games and I am sure that you worked hard to make it happen. However does it mean, that there will be only 7 playable races? What happened to the rest from DWU? For example space dinosaurs Naxxilian or scientists Kiadians etc.? So from 20 races now there is only 7? Please do not do the same thing which creators of remastered MoO did when some of the original races were available only as DLCs.

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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/6/2021 9:11:36 AM   
Galaxy227


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Kronis

Hello Matrix and Slitherine,

I am very glad, that you made the story lines for certain races. I know it is not easy to make a good story in 4X games and I am sure that you worked hard to make it happen. However does it mean, that there will be only 7 playable races? What happened to the rest from DWU? For example space dinosaurs Naxxilian or scientists Kiadians etc.? So from 20 races now there is only 7? Please do not do the same thing which creators of remastered MoO did when some of the original races were available only as DLCs.


3D assets makes creating each race much more time-consuming & expensive, as they are all unique in their appearance (from ships to character portraits). Although not small, you would do well to remind yourself DW2's team is by no means a triple A studio, and can only do so much with their budget & time. Not to mention every race also gets their own extensive storyline.

There's just so much more to each race compared to DW:U. It's only natural there'll be less races at launch. Quality over quantity. And if you really need more races, you could take it upon yourself to mod some in.

< Message edited by Galaxy227 -- 8/6/2021 9:13:48 AM >

(in reply to Kronis)
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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/6/2021 12:41:12 PM   
Cauldyth

 

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Yeah, I'll take 7 fleshed-out (even if some of them aren't fleshy!) races with their own storylines over 20 races that all feel the same, and it won't take modders long to expand on them anyway. Even if the modders have to re-use art assets, since it's now presumably more difficult to produce new ones, I have no problem with that.

(in reply to Galaxy227)
Post #: 13
RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/6/2021 12:49:06 PM   
Kronis


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I already mentioned, right in the first sentence, that I appreciate the story lines. I absolutely agree with your statement Quality over quantity. I was just surprised that from 20 original races there is less than a half playable. In fact having so many races was one of many unique characteristics in DWU. I really can't think of any other 4X game having so many of them.

If you mean "so much more to each race compared to DWU" for example having a specific tech tree for each race, then I have no doubts that 7 races will be more than enough. That would actually be super cool And again there is only a handful of 4X games with this feature.

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Post #: 14
RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/6/2021 3:02:02 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

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That's correct, we mentioned from the first announcement that initially there would be seven playable factions and it does indeed come down to how much more work a faction is, from the animated character art to the 3D ships and bases, to the additional faction techs, to the storylines. The selection of factions for the initial release was also made to try to cover as many playstyles as possible, so hopefully there will be something for everyone in that sense. We are planning to add all of the remaining 20 from DW1 in over time in various expansions and of course the game is fully moddable so folks with the right skills will be able to add factions as well.

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For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/7/2021 11:37:54 PM   
Jorgen_CAB

 

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I find it very understandable that there only are seven factions in the base DW2 game given the amount of work needed to fit them into the game and make them unique and feel different from each other. It also feels natural that more factions will be released as they release expanded game features so new factions can make specific use of them and become more unique. For that reason they would have to wait to fit a few faction into every expansion that fit into the theme of that expansion... I for one hope this game will have many expansion over the coming years for us to enjoy an even greater game.

I think they also said somewhere it will be possible they can make separate DLC outside expansions for additional factions if there is a demand for it.

We also have mods that I'm certain will add new factions to the game eventually, even with the added complexity of 3D arts, there is nothing preventing new factions reusing the current 3D models as a stop gap measure either.

Anyway... I really like the new faction video... quite thematic... keep up the good work! :)

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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/19/2021 7:33:57 PM   
martok


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Dev Diary #3 coming out when?



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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/20/2021 4:11:15 PM   
Webbco


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According to Erik's comment in the first one, it should be today.

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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/20/2021 6:02:37 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

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We finished up the next Dev Diary a couple of days ago, but I haven't yet heard which day Marketing will release it to the public.

Regards,

- Erik


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Erik Rutins
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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/23/2021 4:25:17 PM   
Erik Rutins

 

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I've just been told it will be posted this Wednesday, August 25th.

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RE: Distant Worlds 2 - Dev Diary #2 - 8/25/2021 8:11:48 PM   
rxnnxs

 

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Personally 7 races are enough for me. By the time I have found out how they behave in every way, months up to years are gone.
And there is really no need to have more than 7 in the base game.
What I would expect more than numbers, is a well drawn and designed race and behavior that is unique.

Compare this to Planetary Annihilation :-) ONE Race, only different Commanders (ACUs)... Shame on them!

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