Distant Worlds; 4Ex Space Strategy; What do you think?

I promised an update. here it is:

I have played Distant Worlds / w expansion for about a week now. I had trouble, initially installing it. The maxim troubleshooting site has a link to an ms tool that 'cleans' the NET software. I ran that and Distant Worlds runs fine.

As i mentioned, i am not a RTS fan. However, DW allows the user to selectively turn on/off automation. And the AI is good!

DW is very challenging. The learning curve is very high, but with that comes the opportunity to really get your hands on designing and directing the military, political and diplomatic aspects of your species.

How things work can be vague, or not documented, at times. For example, when using your construction ship (s) to repair a derelict/abandoned ship that may have new tech - ownership of the ship, upon its repair and powering up goes to the civ that has the closest, largest, military ships to the newly repaired ship. Who actually repairs it is secondary. Who has the military crews to take the ship matters more. Its all automatic, and doesn't seem to cause any diplomatic wrinkles.

There are two storylines that unfold as you play the game. One is basic, the other is with the expansion.

DW is full of so many trade offs and interesting decisions, so full of opportunities to try different things. Its the most fun, I have had with any game. yes, learning curve is steep... And i am still learning. But its the best ride I have had in a game.

To keep my promise to compare it with GalCiv2: I've played GalCiv2 off and on for three years. Its great when the random events strike, and very predictable when they don't. If space empires's (Shrapnel games) ship and base building could be grafted into GalCiv2 - that would be an awesome game experience.

Distant worlds: if you have the chops to learn a complicated game (you're here so you probably do), and the patience to find the right balance between automation and what you control yourself - then, yes, go for it. i'm glad i did.

Quoting ElanaAhova,

reply 126

To keep my promise to compare it with GalCiv2: I've played GalCiv2 off and on for three years. Its great when the random events strike, and very predictable when they don't. If space empires's (Shrapnel games) ship and base building could be grafted into GalCiv2 - that would be an awesome game experience.

I'm curious, as someone who seems to be a fan of both, how would you compare Distant Worlds to Space Empires IV or V? Does it have any kind of unit/ship customization approaching the SE level? How about complexity of the tech tree? Are the maps interesting/varied/fun to explore like SE - does each game play out differently?

Looks good for a RTS. I like that you can pause. I hope you can still give orders and set up admin functions while paused then hit continue thus treating it like a turn base game. If anyone can confirm this it will help me decide to buy it or not. I am not a computer and can't do 100 things at once and really hate the old school Lame Time Strategy er Real Time Strategy of make bunch of the same thing, group, send off, make more send off til you overwhelm your opponent. No fun there. So please let me know if you can pause and give orders. If you can then I will buy it.

Yes, you may pause to issue orders, do research, build things, plan strategies, queue missions, or set administrative policies. You can also change the gamespeed from 0.5 to 4X which is very nice for combat or downtime. It's VERY customizable too. My only gripe is that Stardock should have done their interface and UI. Also, there are many strategies as to how to play it, there is no one way to win (ie. Overwhelming force rush). Personally, I like to use fewer stronger ships (think Star Trek).

Quoting Austinvn,

reply 127

I'm curious, as someone who seems to be a fan of both, how would you compare Distant Worlds to Space Empires IV or V? Does it have any kind of unit/ship customization approaching the SE level? How about complexity of the tech tree? Are the maps interesting/varied/fun to explore like SE - does each game play out differently?

It's been a while since I played SE but from what I remember you select a hull and fill it with components. You need a minimum amount of certain components before it becomes valid but you do have a lot of choices. DW is very similar where instead of opening up hulls you essentially open up allowable build sizes for your ships. The basic classes (cruiser, destroyer, etc) are still all there but it is entirely up to you how you fill the beast as long as you provide the basic requirements of the ship (mainly crew and life-support).

Just a update, there are plans for 3rd Distant Worlds expansion in the 4th quarter of this year. So when 4th quarter comes yes do expect Distant Worlds sales on the games and hopefully they make a bundle pack for people still on the fence (beat the bundle idea into them. I am pretty sure they will make one before this new expansion). Can't wait! link

I have no idea what will be in the new expansion, all I know is that I'll be buying it.

Quoting Cauldyth,

reply 132

I have no idea what will be in the new expansion, all I know is that I'll be buying it.

As will I, unfortunately. I've become a Distant Worlds slut.

i am just now looking at this game.

so i am a big fan of galactic civilizations, Galactic Civilizations II, Master of Orion and Master of Orion II, the total war series, the civilization series and many other games of that genre.

I am however not a fan of RTS games, i played them all when i was younger and some more recent additions - command and conquer, dune, total annihilation, supreme commander. They had their moments but RTS can occasionally just become too stressful lol.

so in a search for a Galactic civilizations 2 replacement (great game but when will part 3 come out damit?) i came across distant worlds. I also came across Star ruler and tried the demo but it didn't strike home with me, however i will try star ruler some more later to see if I will warm up to it.

So given that how does Distant worlds compare? I love the idea but the RTS aspect turns me off. Should i jump in or maybe just keep waiting for that 4x space opera to be born that we have all been waiting for?

thanks.

You can pause whenever you want. Maybe not exactly the same as turn-based, but as close as a RTS is able to get.

Endoric, the post you made here and to which I already replied there was made on the wrong sub-board. Post in the general discussion area.

Quoting Endoric,

reply 135

i am just now looking at this game.

so i am a big fan of galactic civilizations, Galactic Civilizations II, Master of Orion and Master of Orion II, the total war series, the civilization series and many other games of that genre.

I am however not a fan of RTS games, i played them all when i was younger and some more recent additions - command and conquer, dune, total annihilation, supreme commander. They had their moments but RTS can occasionally just become too stressful lol.

so in a search for a Galactic civilizations 2 replacement (great game but when will part 3 come out damit?) i came across distant worlds. I also came across Star ruler and tried the demo but it didn't strike home with me, however i will try star ruler some more later to see if I will warm up to it.

So given that how does Distant worlds compare? I love the idea but the RTS aspect turns me off. Should i jump in or maybe just keep waiting for that 4x space opera to be born that we have all been waiting for?

thanks.

For what it's worth, Endoric, I'm like yourself in that I vastly prefer TBS over RTS titles. Despite that, I find the pacing in Distant Worlds truly is quite comfortable. It's much more like that of a Paradox game (Crusader Kings, Euruopa Universalis, etc.) than your typical RTS title such as Starcraft or the Command & Conquer series. While it's by no means perfect in this respect, DW really is pretty friendly to those of us who are more used to turn-based games.

Its not RTS like those games you've mentioned. You can, but dont micromanage units. You give fleets orders such as patrol this area of the map or survey this system..and they do that in real time..but thats like slow time..over like 10+ minutes.. the game isnt stressful clickfest and if too many things are happening at once you jsut pause and issue orders. Time isnt really an issue unless you accelerate it. Galciv2 is a very good comparison. It does have a HUGE learning curve though...dont get scared away by all the details.

The Forums Are Now Closed!

The content will remain as a historical reference, thank you.

Distant Worlds; 4Ex Space Strategy; What do you think?