UPDATED: Distant Worlds 1.0.4 Public Beta 2 Now Available

[Grotius]

Not disappointed at all, Erik. I'm glad you're taking your time with it. I'll go ahead and download beta 2 now, then.

[sbach2o]

ORIGINAL: deanco2

5. Added maximum weapons energy use to Design screen (top of Weapons panel) so that you can compare reactor power output to optimize military designs

A step in the right direction, but it could be better.

Why can this not be expressed by a simple + or - number?

[...]

Because a simple '+' or '-' isn't enough, at least for mobile ships (and for bases it isn't either because of the contributions of energy collectors).

First, there has the energy draw of the engines to be accounted for, which depends on speed, and in battle the speed of a ship depends on circumstances. These circumstances can cause a ship to stay put (battles involving a base) or move at full speed (battles with either side trying to stay at a distance or fleeing).
The energy number for weapons could be color coded, though: red for when the generators do not supply enough energy while the engines don't draw any. Green when weapons can be fully powered under all circumstances (static energy use + max engine draw + max weapon draw) and yellow for in between.

Oh, and backing these color codes up with a symbol would probably be a help for color blind people. But the numbers are already there, and only three constants and a variable to compare, so no backup is required.

Color coding of the number for bases could work in a similar fashion, this time taking into account what the energy collectors can supply but not taking that for granted.

[SiempreCiego]

hi Erik,

playing with the latest beta. all good so far. no crashes, etc...

In regards to several of the valid and not so valid complaints that have been made. If you intend to buy a game, a bit of research should be done maybe prior to purchase. If like me you feel it is worth throwing caution to to the wind and buying the game upon release, you are taking a risk that there might be a range of issues to be resolved. Buyer beware.

[RViener]

Erik, Can you give me an idea of what issues you are still working on for the 1.04b3?
Bob Viener

[visor172]

Hi Erik,

thx for your work first.


I have some strange probs with refuelling in middle game time.

Some, now more, ships are travelling to one special moon for refuelling also without any fuel so they are slowed.

For example they stand near a grand star base but travveling at a long distance to this special moon only for refuelling. I can do what I want they go with slowed speed to this special moon. I rght click refuel at nearest place or refuel at nearest space station, doesnt matter they go tho this special moon for refueling with slowed speed.

I produce 4 troop transports at the grand star base at my home world. When they were finish the leave the base with only a little fuel and fly directly to this special moon far away with slowed speed after having consumted the last rest of fuel.

If I give fleets order to refuel at nearest space port or from the fleet screen they also go to this special moon.

Do I have a rebellion against me or are there any special drugs at this moon? )

In this way I cannot manage my fleets, they all heading to this monn or maybe other places if they are out of fuel,


Any ideas?


Visor

[visor172]

some more infos.....

I work with the ctrl Key too, trying to override maybe former commands, disband fleets, give orders to single ships.....nothing work they travel to other places for refueling

[sbach2o]

ORIGINAL: visor172

some more infos.....

I work with the ctrl Key too, trying to override maybe former commands, disband fleets, give orders to single ships.....nothing work they travel to other places for refueling

Have you made sure that there are more appropriate, closer places for refueling? Look for any place that has enough unclaimed fuel of the correct type to serve at least one of the ships which are refusing to go there in preference of that moon.

And you might upload a save game to matrix' FTP server.

[Litjan]

ORIGINAL: visor172

Some, now more, ships are travelling to one special moon for refuelling also without any fuel so they are slowed.


Visor

Did you check what kind of fuel they need and if that is available at that starbase? Is the starbase already completed (maybe still under construction and not operational/damaged)?

Just some ideas.

Jan

[Sliverine]

@atlana: oh...yea i was assuming his usage was similar in context to a standard home user. The usage you described is more like a dedicated server which of course, has entirely different requirements altogether.

[TheSAguy]

I just got this error.
No tsure what caused it:

[DiggyDad]

I got a big one for ya!

[DiggyDad]

Actually, the strange thing for me is I never got a crash until 1.04beta, go figure. It is a beta though.

[Erik Rutins]

Just a quick note for you all regarding the update status. First, thank you for all your reports, both on bugs and on the balance of the economy.

We undertook a further overhaul of the economy in response to some of the results we say, including how the private sector handles its own assets and how the AI makes some economic decisions. This build is currently in internal testing. We are going to spend the next few days testing that further and fixing the rest of the 1.0.4-related bugs and crashes before releasing 1.0.4 Beta 3. I would expect that on Monday or Tuesday at this point, with an official release by the end of next week, with any luck.

[freeboy]

do you recomend b2 or b1?

[taltamir]

b2 is better than b1.
I am waiting for b3 for now.

[Bubblewrap]

Does anyone know if the shipdesign images are all PNGs now?  In images\units\ships\family4 there were still some BMPs in 1.03. I don't have 1.04 installed, so i can't check it...

[Igard]

Bubblewrap, the BMPs are still in the family4 folder. Don't know when they plan to update this.

[lancer]

Goodaye Eric,

I'm thinking of doing a detailed AAR and was wondering if Beta 1.04 v3 is going to require a new game in order to make the most of the new economic balancing?

Eg. If I want a galaxy that will go the distance do I need to wait till the official 1.04 or can I go ahead with what's here now?

Cheers,
Lancer

[Erik Rutins]

I would wait for Beta 3 personally, or 1.0.4 official as Beta 2 is very much a work in progress.

[atlana]

i encountered a strange behavior, or rather lacking of a behavior;

I use one of my cruisers (usually the only one at the beginning of the game [:D]) in the beginning to roam the galaxy by hand, to investigate "strange things/coords" that pirates sell me, or that ruins tell me about.

And it happened with the 1.04 Beta 2 more than thrice that around an abandoned starbase in the middle of nowhere, that have some derelict ships floating in a non-warp zone, that i can not take ownership of them all, as it usually happens when approaching them.

Bug or design?

I got a save-game if wanted.