DW2 FAQ/QnA megathread - Ask your question here!

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e
Awesome Erik, one last question: guess what I will order my wife for Christmas? [;)]

Could it be DW2? It's the perfect gift! [8D]

[Webbco]

Will there be a greater variety of and depth to discoverable events/abandoned ships, etc? Will there be secrets hidden in deep space?

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Webbco
Will there be a greater variety of and depth to discoverable events/abandoned ships, etc? Will there be secrets hidden in deep space?

Assuming you turn on the main and faction stories, there's a lot more to discover. The main story is basically equivalent to what was the default story in DW1, but with more locations and events. The faction stories go well beyond that, similar to an expansion story for each faction. Even with both turned off, there are still special locations, ruins, etc.

Regards,

- Erik

[ncc1701e]

I am starting to dream of a planet in a solar system hidden in a nebula that can damage ships.

Only when you have shields tech level 25, you will be able to enter this nebula and this solar system just to find out that the ancients have left a guardian to destroy any intruders trying to steal their last secrets...

[8D]

[ncc1701e]

Any technology to counter long range scanners? I don't remember, did not play DWU since Warplan...

[Erik Rutins]

Yes, Stealth technologies can greatly reduce the power of sensors/scanners. In DW2, ships/bases have the following states:

1. You don't know anything is there
2. You know something is there and its approximate size
3. You know something is there, its approximate size and what empire it belongs to
4. You know #3 + what role it is (what type of ship, what type of station) and all the basic info that goes with that
5. You know #4 + You can see its full component details as well (requires a Trace Scanner)

In DW1, we only had #1, #4 and #5. Sensors on their own based on diminishing power will create these "bands" of lower knowledge so that the closer something gets to your sensor, the more you will know about it. Stealth can greatly affect that, even to the point where you never really get full info about it, just maybe #1-3, until it's on top of you and attacking you.

Regards,

- Erik

[martok]

^ That is most excellent to hear. I like that DW2 has that level of gradation in sensors -- and that stealth technology can effectively counteract it.

[Tanaka]

Regarding events and randoms- Will we finally be able to turn off those free super powerful derelict ships just lying around waiting to be found to destroy game balance? In DW1 if you turned off stories and events I believe they were still placed randomly on the maps. Please say yes...

[Cauldyth]

Hmm, will it be possible to spec out a ship that completely masks its empire of origin, even if it attacks? One of the coolest aspects of DW is that combat doesn't automatically trigger war. It would be an interesting form of subterfuge to anonymously raid your opponents shipping lines. [:D]

[Galaxy227]

ORIGINAL: Cauldyth

Hmm, will it be possible to spec out a ship that completely masks its empire of origin, even if it attacks? One of the coolest aspects of DW is that combat doesn't automatically trigger war. It would be an interesting form of subterfuge to anonymously raid your opponents shipping lines. [:D]

This is actually a really great idea, but would be annoying if impossible to counter. I suggest a technology that is capable of detecting these "undetectable," anonymous ships. You can prey on those unfortunate enough not to have said technology, but for those that do...

[Cauldyth]

Yeah, there'd have to be a counter. Maybe use your spy network to find out who's behind the attacks! [8D]

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Cauldyth
Hmm, will it be possible to spec out a ship that completely masks its empire of origin, even if it attacks? One of the coolest aspects of DW is that combat doesn't automatically trigger war. It would be an interesting form of subterfuge to anonymously raid your opponents shipping lines. [:D]

As it stands right now, if you had enough of a divergence between your stealth tech and their sensor tech, you could hope to hide pretty much everything up until you attacked. When you're in the same location attacking their stuff, we assume that it reveals enough in the way of your energy signature that they can identify everything (except they still won't get all of #5 without a powerful enough trace scanner).

The huge advantage stealth gives is that normally enemy ships and fleets can't be everywhere, so long range detection allows time for defense fleets to adjust to intercept an incoming attack. If they don't even know the attack is happening until the incoming fleet is almost there or already on top of the target, often the attack has a far greater chance of success.

Regards,

- Erik

[SirHoraceHarkness]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

The huge advantage stealth gives is that normally enemy ships and fleets can't be everywhere, so long range detection allows time for defense fleets to adjust to intercept an incoming attack. If they don't even know the attack is happening until the incoming fleet is almost there or already on top of the target, often the attack has a far greater chance of success.

Regards,

- Erik

This begs the question of will the dw2 AI be significantly upgraded from dw1? If there was a real weakness to the first game then the AI would probably be the most pointed out past some of the UI shenanigans.

[muncuss]

hi Erik, i just thought, can u add sub fleet mechanic in future update? to make easier organizing something like commanding several task force or system defense fleets in X sector with one click

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: SirHoraceHarkness
This begs the question of will the dw2 AI be significantly upgraded from dw1? If there was a real weakness to the first game then the AI would probably be the most pointed out past some of the UI shenanigans.

We're certainly going to give it our best shot. I know of a lot of specific things the DW2 AI does much better than DW1, but the real question of whether it will give you a more competitive game remains to be seen.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: muncuss
hi Erik, i just thought, can u add sub fleet mechanic in future update? to make easier organizing something like commanding several task force or system defense fleets in X sector with one click

I'm not sure I fully understand the question, could you elaborate?

[Jorgen_CAB]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: muncuss
hi Erik, i just thought, can u add sub fleet mechanic in future update? to make easier organizing something like commanding several task force or system defense fleets in X sector with one click

I'm not sure I fully understand the question, could you elaborate?

I would think and probably also like a sub-fleet type organization if possible. Anyone who played Aurora 4x would know exactly what I talk about.

The general idea would be that a fleet could be built of several blocks of sub-fleet and you then can move them as one fleet or peel of a fleet with ease and later merge them again. Each sub-fleet could even be assigned different orders and stances within a fleet perhaps etc... probably many interesting mechanics that could come from it.

It also would be easier if fleets are then organized in sub-fleet section in the menu so they are listed in like a tree structure. At the top you see the fleet and then you can drill down and see the sub fleets. When you click the fleet you get to see all the ships assigned to the fleet but you also see each sub-fleet... if you select a specific sub-fleet you then see the ships in that sub-fleet.

In Aurora 4x you can actually build a more or less infinite number of sub fleets... but that game have both admin, fleet and sub-fleet elements and then admirals assigned to them individually. The Admin command then give military and/or logistical bonuses to its fleet elements based on range.

[ElanaAhova_slith]

Are you going to have a 'season pass' purchase option? Subscribing to get all the DLC and expansions pre paid and a discount?

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Jorgen_CAB
In Aurora 4x you can actually build a more or less infinite number of sub fleets... but that game have both admin, fleet and sub-fleet elements and then admirals assigned to them individually. The Admin command then give military and/or logistical bonuses to its fleet elements based on range.

Sorry, understood now but I haven't played Aurora and we do not plan to have sub-fleets, which does not mean you can't have smaller fleets, larger ones, fleets with various roles and admirals assigned where you want, it's just not the exact same system you described.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: ElanaAhova_slith
Are you going to have a 'season pass' purchase option? Subscribing to get all the DLC and expansions pre paid and a discount?

Not sure, but I think it's unlikely, though we often have "collections" of sorts later on.