some questions before I buy

from Stardock Forums
As a MOO3 refugee sorely disappointed by that game (or lack of a game), I wanted to ask a couple of questions before I take a chance on being burned yet again by another mediocre offering. Apologies if these have already been asked; I scanned the forum and didn't see the answers.

- is the game modifiable? There's always something about a released game that I don't like, and lately I've taken to buying only games that I can change to suit my own tastes. This is a big one for me.

- I think I saw that you can't design your own ships. Is this true? That's one of the few things I like about MOO3.

- and to anyone who's played both MOO3 and this game, how do they compare?

Thanks much,
Max
310 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I haven't paid attention to the modding just yet because the game as it stands is more than enough to start with at least. Regarding the ship design issue, MOO3 comparisons and so forth, I've an on-going review at: http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81866
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Definitely modifiable, although not *totally* yet - this should improve though. Have a look at the library, there's some mods up right now. Most of the config files are text-based. Haven't played MOO3 so can't comment on that.
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I've played/have both games.

First of all, MOO3 is a great game, it just doesn't show through right now, the patch will bring it in to focus.

GalCiv is awesome. The 2 games are different, have different design approaches. MOO3, you move between star systems along `star lanes'. GalCiv, you move on a completely open map. Both systems have pros and cons.

GalCiv is a more `personal' game. You are absorbed in to it right away. It is more micro management than MOO3.

GalCiv does get a little tedious on a larger map, because of the movement scheme, and micro management, but it's deep, real deep. You can build Star Bases anywhere in free space, using `Constructor' ships. It's awesome. The Star Bases can be upgraded to serve different purposes. Plus. there's natural wonders in space that will enhance a Star Base built on it, at the same time, give you an Empire wide bonus, like research, or ship attack, etc.

GalCiv is modable. I'm not in to modding, but they specify certain files that are moddable.

The only real question is, what are you waiting for? Get it now. You can mail order, it will arrive in a couple days. You can order on line, through this web site, if you have a high speed connection, and be playing the basic game (minus multimedia) in an hour.

Then you'll be staying up late like everyone else on this forum.




Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I played Moo1-3 SE4, stars etc etc etc

I love Galciv. It is a game that is easy to learn but difficult to master (because the AI is so damn good).
Moo3 is a game that is very difficult to learn but easy to master (at the current stage anyway).

You cannot design ships, but given the simplicity of combat that also wouldn't make sense. I thought at first I would miss it but I don't. With this game you focus on the big picture: If and where to deploy your fleets rather than what kind of fleets and how to deploy them. Hunting down freighters and stuff like that is great fun, using your small fighter while keeping the mainstay of a fleet at bay with your capital ships.

Trust me, I love the ship designs in Moo3 but for this game I don't miss it for a second. Tactical combat is foor Moo3 not galciv ;)

This game is a bit more easily moddable than Moo3 but it's similar. Just add files and they are automatically added.

I join the previous speaker in his statement: What are you waiting for! GO GIT IT!

~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
You can't design ships, but the ships can gain experience through winning combat. There's plenty of other things to tool around with, so to be honest, I don't really miss the ship design stuff, even though it was something I found quite enjoyable in MoO2.

Between MoO3 and GalCiv, I'd have to choose GalCiv. While GalCiv was significantly harder to obtain, when I did get it, the game was a lot of fun to play. MoO3 was only a small hassle, but not nearly as much fun, since you tend to not be doing a whole lot. :notsure:

~SDC~
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
At the very least, not doing anything for several turns will get you running behind the rest of the empires ;)

~SDC~
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I've played both, and like both, but at this time, GalCiv has two major advantages. First, the toning down of the MoO3 AI just before it went gold was overdone, and results in a game where the greater challenge is just to get the Viceroys to do exactly what you want them to. Second, things are just more complicated and drawn out in MoO3, which can be a good thing, but I think it was overdone. When I'm playing MoO3, I hate to take breaks, because I'm always in the middle of something, and it always takes a few minutes to figure out what I was doing when I come back to the game. On the other hand, with GalCiv I can pick up where I left off very quickly.

It's depth vs width. MoO3 has more detail where it has any detail, but GalCiv has more things you can do.