GalCivI or GalCivII

which one to start with?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Hi, Maybe this question has already been posed (many times) before, but a quick search didn't locate any results. I'm a fan of TBS and amongst others the Civilization games. After playing quite a lot of Civ games in the past I feel it is time for some change and a new challenge. Therefore I thought I'd give Galactic Civilizations a try now as I've heard lots of positive criticism about it over the past few years. So what do you think I should start with? Would it be better to give GalCiv 1 a go first, or go directly for 2? And in case of the latter, should I also immediately get the expansion packs or just start with the basic version? Thanks a lot, Edward.
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There's no need to play GalCiv before picking up GalCiv2. There may still be a few folks around that have played both versions but most people I know have never played the original GalCiv so it's certainly not necessary to have played the original.

As far as the version, for some reason the Purchase link that takes you to where you can see the various options seems to be broken at the moment. Actually the web team has been doing a lot of work on the forums so I assume this is a very temporary condition.

Basically the versions of GalCiv2 are:

Dread Lords (DL) - the original version of the game

Dark Avatar (DA)- the 1st expansion pack

Twilight of the Arnor (TA) - 2nd expansion currently at Beta 5

Caveat Emptor. I'm not in any way associated with Stardock and I'm not sure about the exact bundling options. However with that said your best bet is to go for the latest bundle of Twilight that gives you everything. As far as I know you do have to have the previous versions in order to run the latest. I think there is a Twilight expansion only version for those with the previous versions but you'd need the whole bundle to get started.

The good side of this is that you do get all versions of the game and once you've bought it you get free and continual upgrades so there's no issue buying TA even though it's still in Beta and probably does have some issues, but you can certainly start out with DA and/or DL and then when TA is released be all set to go.

Anyway GalCiv2 is a great game. I've spent probably close to a thousand bucks on PC games in my lifetime most of which very quickly saw the inside of my garbage can, but I've been playing this game for close to two years now and I still find it interesting and exciting.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
No reason not to go straight for GC2 with the latest expansions. Each expansion builds on the last one, providing a deeper game with stronger AI and more options. Coming from Civ background it won't be that hard for you to get a handle on things, and I suspect you'll really enjoy the game.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Get the latest, it would be somehow easier to cope with the long wait expected for a GC3 version, if ever!
75% of the gaming value is directly tied with the kind (and replayability, btw) of fun you may or could have straight out of the gate... the remaining 25% is HOW much. :)
TA looks very promising which is why i already have the money order reserved and just waiting for SD to announce the official release date of the 'final post-beta' version to buy it. Possibly by month's end or early April, i heard.
I'm patient (although DL & DA are already on my PC), maybe you aren't though.

- Zyxpsilon.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Some of the stuff in Galciv 2 if left over from Galciv 1 so i would suggest both, playing the campaigns in order from Galciv 1 to Galciv 2 TA because it helps make you understand the story of the Galciv universe, plus it's kinda like watching a movie trilogy. So basicly, I would pick both.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I suppose if you're the kind of person that bothers to play campaigns in this type of game that's a valid point, you'd want to play them in order. If you're just going to play sandbox games (ala Civ) then you should just cut straight to the most recent.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for all the replies. I would probably be interested in following the storyline from the beginning if it has a great campaign, but I doubt I will have enough time to play all the way through both games (+ expansion packs), and there's a chance I will mostly play the sandbox mode. So I will buy GalCiv2 with all the expansion packs to start with, and if I'm really captured by the storyline, I will consider buying GalCiv1 as well :).

Thanks for the help,
Edward.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Umm I might be a little odd here, but I still play the GalCiv1. :SURPRISED: :p

I've got both but I like to playing the first on my laptop on overseas flights as it doesn't tax the battery/GPU/CPU too much.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
but I doubt I will have enough time to play all the way through both games (+ expansion packs), and there's a chance I will mostly play the sandbox mode.
End of quote


Certainly nothing wrong with that. I have been playing GCII and it's expansions now for 2 years and i have never played beyond the the 1st campaign mission on Dread Lords.

Sandbox and Metaverse modes are all the fun i ever needed. :)
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've never played any of the campaigns either. I want straight for the sandbox mode. I started a Dread Lords campaign once, but lost interest pretty quick.

I dont' think it would be worth playing through GC1 just to get the backstory. I haven't found it to be all that relevant, at least to sandbox mode. If the GC2 expansions are any indication, the game evolves greatly with each release so I would go with the most current one.