What do the combat viewing options do? Which makes combat look coolest?

from GalCiv2 Forums
In the options screen there are several viewing options for combat. What do they do and which are the coolest options to make all combats look as awesome as possible?
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
It really depends. The different camera views work for different ship types.

The one setting I found that really improved the anxiety feel to me was changing the speed from 1x to 2x. Not only does that mean that it doesn't take as long so I spend more time actually playing the game, but the accellerated rate of combat just feels more intense if I am paying attention to it.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I use Cinematic for those close-up views of the diff. ships taking action... but with this view I find that I also can't focus on the total view of the action but rather on individual ships...
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I use free cam and swing it down to get a view from the sidelines, as it were. Usually I have it going at 2x speed, too.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Top Down 1 or 2, 2x speed. If i'm fairly sure of the outcome, I just skip to the end
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top


To answer your question, here is a description of each camera option:
+ Top Down 1: This is a top down view that auto-adjusts to keep each ship on the screen. It is originally oriented so that the attacking fleet is on the left and the defending fleet is on the right.



+ Top Down 2: This is a top down view that auto-adjusts to keep each ship on the screen. It is originally oriented so that the attacking fleet is on the top, and the defending fleet is on the bottom.


+ Chase Cam 1: This is a camera that follows behind a single ship. It is oriented so it always faces the direction the sihp is moving.


+ Chase Cam 2: This is a camera that follows a single ship. It is always oriented in the same direction, while the ship can move in other directions.


+ Orbiting: This is a camera that follows a single ship. It orbits in a circle above and around the ship, and always faces the ship it is following.


+ From Center: This is a stationary camera that is placed at the center of the battle field. It keeps focused on a single ship.


+ From Startt: This is a stationary camera that is placed where the fleet started the battle. It keeps focused on a single ship.


+ Track Target: This is a camera that follows a single ship. It is oriented so it always faces the ship in focus and an enemy ship (most of the time, it is the enemy it is shooting at)


+ Cinematic: This is a camera mode that switches between the other camera modes.



I like using Cinematic, speed 2x, myself.


I also like pausing it during a cool scene, like a ship exploding, and then switching to Free Cam and zooming in and swinging around to see the explosion from a different angle.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Track target or Free camera 2x speed. wish free camera was more responsive on the zoom function. Also would like to view the battle from whatever ship I click on. Cinematic camera mode needs alot more work as it switches too often and is pretty random. I'm sure these things will be addressed in the future.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I usually use top down 1 or 2, as I like to be able to be able to see every ship in the combat.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
The Options Screen has these Battle Options::

These affect GRAPHICAL representation of the battle only, and not the outcome of the battle.

+ Move Camera To View Attacks
This makes the camera in the main map mode scroll to the location of a battle before the battle takes place

+ Show Battle Sequence
This turns battle animations on/off that involve the player's ships

+ Show Opponent's Battle Sequence
This turns battle animations on/off that involve othe player's ships

+ Show Ship Damage
This turns the damage animations (smoke, electric zaps, etc) on/off. This can be turned off if your system performance is low.

+ Show Explosions
This turns explosion animations on/off. You may disable this if you want to speed up your battles, or if your system performance is low.

+ Disable Engine Trails in Full Battles
This turns engine trail effects off in the combat viewer if checked. Again, if your system performance is low in the combat viewer, you may try disabling engine trails.

+ Always Watch Player Ships In Full Battles
This will make cameras that focus on a single ship always watch a ship that belongs to the player. If this is not checked, they may focus on any ship in the battle.

+ Battle Length:
This is the length of battles involving single ships.
Your choices are:
+ Instant Battles - the losing ship instantly disappears with no animation
+ Quick Battles - both sides fire at the same time (in main map mode), then loser explodes
+ Normal Battles- attacker fires, then defender fires, then loser explodes
+ Full Battles - battles are viewed using combat viewer, and, when closed, the loser explodes on the map

+ Full Fleet Battles
This option affects battles involving at least one fleet. If checked, a battle involving a fleet on either side will be viewed in the combat viewer. (see next option for an exception) If not checked, battles involving a fleet will use the same battle type as the above battle length. (single ship vs. single ship willl still be viewed in combat viewer if Battle Length option is Full Battles)

+ Show Full Fleet Battles Only If BOTH Sides are Fleets
This option is only in effect if the above option is checked. If both the above and this option are checked, only battles involving a fleet on either side will be viewed in the combat viewer. All other battles will use the battle type specified in Battle Length option.

+ Auto-Play Full Battles
This option will cause the battle in the combat viewer to automatically start playing. If this is unchecked, the player will need to click the "Play" button in the Combat Viewer to start the battle.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Awesome! I'm having a lot of fun with this. So far free camera with lots of pausing to re-set the camera angle seems to be the most fun for me!
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
2x speed should be the default. On 1x the ships don't feel like they are "moving" just flopping around.