Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Please discuss Aurora on the general discussion forum guys, thanks.

That's a bit harsh, this is a comparison thread, so logically the game is compared... And you shouldn't be afraid of Aurora's competition, just have a look at a screen ... [:D]

I was not trying to be harsh, just moving through posts quickly and was making a point. I'm not asking you to not discuss it, but discussion of other games should go in general discussion. If you want to compare DW against other games, that's fine, but if the discussion turns into a discussion of another game it should go to general discussion. As you know, we have no problem with discussing other games generally.

why not Gal Civ 2 and all its mods?

As far as Aurora, the price is right. And the designer should be applauded.

At my age, time--not money--is the most valuable commodity, and the time spent trying to figure out that spreadsheet could be better invested in a game like DW. I generally hate RTS games, but DW is not like AI Wars, and has much greater depth.

I can't imagine any strategy or 4X gamer disliking DW or feeling they were short changed.

ORIGINAL: solops
I am worried about it being too much like SINS, my least favorite of the lot.

Don't be, the game has far more in common with the likes of Galciv and SotS than it does Sins. I like Sins but it is an RTS game at heart with '4X' elements whereas Distant Worlds is pure 4X that just doesn't happen to be turn-based. The nearest comparison I can think of to how that works are the Paradox games/series like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron although, as I've said elsewhere, the continuous time actually feels more natural in DW IMHO.

I don't understand the decision to make all ships in a system visible once you enter a system (as stated in the manual and help). Why not incorporate sensors (active/passive/em/thermal/whatever) so ships could hide out in a system waiting to ambush or spring a trap? Imagine keeping your standoff missle cruisers in the back line, unprotected and having your opponent sneak a small group of fast-moving destroyers around your sensor range and then rapidly closing in for the kill. Of course this highlights another problem with combat as things stand, you can create your long range missle cruisers, but they'll just charge into the thick of battle along with every other ship you have. Kind of defeats the purpose...

You can create a snooping remote sensor anywhere including dead space.

Don't be, the game has far more in common with the likes of Galciv and SotS than it does Sins. I like Sins but it is an RTS game at heart with '4X' elements whereas Distant Worlds is pure 4X that just doesn't happen to be turn-based. The nearest comparison I can think of to how that works are the Paradox games/series like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron although, as I've said elsewhere, the continuous time actually feels more natural in DW IMHO.

Unfortunately, just like EU or HoI, combat involves very little in the way of tactics. You create your fleet (like your EU or HoI armies) - send them into a system and see what happens, just as when your armies entered a province. Perhaps this will be improved over time.

ORIGINAL: lordxorn

You can create a snooping remote sensor anywhere including dead space.

Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that once your ship enters a system, it can see everything in that system, even if it has the lowest tech sensors available in the galaxy. You should be able to hide a fleet behind planets, moons, etc, unless your opponent has very sophisticated and advanced sensors or remote sensors scattered around the system.

It might be quite nice not to be able to see the ENTIRE galaxy map from the start but to discover systems and therefore potential colonies as your sensors improve in their tech and your empire expands.

Maybe see only the stars initially...

Thanks for all the comments.

Herston: "Don't be, the game has far more in common with the likes of Galciv and SotS than it does Sins. I like Sins but it is an RTS game at heart with '4X' elements whereas Distant Worlds is pure 4X that just doesn't happen to be turn-based. The nearest comparison I can think of to how that works are the Paradox games/series like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron although, as I've said elsewhere, the continuous time actually feels more natural in DW IMHO." -- This is something of a relief.


Nim8or: "Unfortunately, just like EU or HoI, combat involves very little in the way of tactics. You create your fleet (like your EU or HoI armies) - send them into a system and see what happens, just as when your armies entered a province. Perhaps this will be improved over time." -- Wow...that is certainly sub optimal. Does anyone know if there are plans to give more detail and control to tactical combat and to add mystery to the star map? Seeing the stars is fine. We can do that ourselves even now.