Question

[elmo3]

Do the alien races have unique tech trees?  If yes, can you trade, steal/spy to learn alien tech?

[elliotg]

ORIGINAL: elmo3
Do the alien races have unique tech trees?  If yes, can you trade, steal/spy to learn alien tech?

There is some unique alien tech, but the tech tree is largely the same for each race.

However when performing research, each race will emphasize different areas that match their personality, i.e. aggressive races research specific types of weapons, cautious races research powerful shields, etc. So the end result is that each race will end up having different tech advances from other races.

You can trade or steal tech from other empires, but the few unique alien techs are extremely expensive and difficult to obtain if you are not of that race. Obtaining them is doable, but very difficult.

Usually the best way to trade for these unique techs would be to offer to help an alien race when they are in deep strife, e.g. if they are at war with a larger empire and you offer to help them fight that empire, in exchange for their special tech.

[elmo3]

Got it.  Thanks.

[PJL1973]

ORIGINAL: elliotg
1. There are no plans for a demo at this point

2. Correct. The major focus with colonies is to keep them supplied with a steady stream of luxury resources which are delivered by your freighters. You can also construct bases at your colonies (e.g. space ports) which can also help improve them.

Mining stations and other bases are constructed at planets that are not your colonies (i.e. uninhabited) to exploit their resources. These resources are then shipped off to your nearest space port by freighters. All of the resource exploitation and transport takes place using actual ships and bases - there is no abstracted trade system, shipments of resources literally move from their source to your colonies. This makes it possible to disrupt your economy/supply chain, i.e. you really have to protect all of this. It also provides a lot of interesting background activity in the game.

Interesting - don't remember playing any space x4 game that had that sort of trade / resource logistical system. Come to think of it there are very few x4 strategy ganes that did this, with the exception of the Settlers (I & II), and that was real-time too, but not a click fest either, thanks to the way resources and tools transportation was handled via roads, which was almost a game in itself. if you can manage to do somethinmg similar for Distant Worlds without it being a clickfest then it sounds like it could be an awesome game.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: PJL
if you can manage to do somethinmg similar for Distant Worlds without it being a clickfest then it sounds like it could be an awesome game.

DW is not a clickfest, but there can be an influx of decisions to be made when things get hot, and that requires clicking. [;)]

[PunkReaper]

This game is definitely one to watch with several ideas (especially the way the economy works) that are superior to other space games on the market. I have enjoyed Galactic civ for years but this game really kept my interest and has plenty of replayability. Don't know when it is due for release but I will certainly be buying it.

[elmo3]

Can we see an AAR from one of the testers, with lots of screen shots of course!  [;)]

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper

Don't know when it is due for release but I will certainly be buying it.

You won't need to. [;)]

[cdbeck]

ORIGINAL: elmo3

Can we see an AAR from one of the testers, with lots of screen shots of course!  [;)]

When they let us do that... I'm sure one of use will!

[Judykator]

Will I be the solar system, as in reality? Are the stars closest to us? Or whether all the systems and their names are random?

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: Judykator

Will I be the solar system, as in reality? Are the stars closest to us? Or whether all the systems and their names are random?

I'm not sure what the first part of your question means? There is nothing distant in the solar system that you cannot zoom into.

I will try and explain a little about the system and maybe that will answer your questions. These are the options for a new game concerning the system:

Shape:
Elliptical
Spiral
Ring
Irregular

Size:
Galaxy sizes 100, 250, 400, 700, 1000, 1400 stars

Galaxy starting location:
Deep Core
Outer Core
Inner Rim
Outer Rim

Then there are several other options concerning races, government type, etc. Now as far as the naming conventions used for the star systems and planets, Elliot will have to help with that. To be honest, I never paid attention to the naming of them. I was looking for bugs, big juicy bugs. [;)]

[ASHBERY76]

I think he means do the Human start on Earth.

[LarryP]

I need to add one other thing, the zooming in and out in this game is phenomenal! I mean it's really impressive. I zoom out, and put my mouse over where I want to zoom in and I zoom right into where the cursor was set to. I have zoomed in and out all over the system for long periods of time and every time I am in awe at how well Elliot set this up. It is pretty! [&o]

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

I think he means do the Human start on Earth.

I wondered if that's what he meant. Thanks! [&o]

No. The planet names are fictitious. You do not start off on earth and the other planets are not named like our system. Where Elliot gets the naming from I have no idea.

I just started a new game a few minutes ago as Humans and my home planet name is Iskabar 5. [;)]

[Judykator]

Solar System: Marcury, Venus, Earth, Mars, etc.
Naerby stars: Proxima, Sirius, etc.

[ASHBERY76]

ORIGINAL: LarryP

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

I think he means do the Human start on Earth.

I wondered if that's what he meant. Thanks! [&o]

No. The planet names are fictitious. You do not start off on earth and the other planets are not named like our system. Where Elliot gets the naming from I have no idea.

I just started a new game a few minutes ago as Humans and my home planet name is Iskabar 5. [;)]

But does the human backstory mention Earth.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: Judykator

Solar System: Marcury, Venus, Earth, Mars, etc.
Naerby stars: Proxima, Sirius, etc.

Not that I've seen. If Elliot programmed them in, I haven't seen them yet.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

But does the human backstory mention Earth.

No. Not that I've seen.

[elliotg]

The star system names are sourced from a text file which you can easily mod to have whatever names you like.

You can also set the historical home system name of any race, though this is not necessarily the system where you start the game, for reasons made clear in the backstory.

[Jamerson89]

What will the technology tree be like?