Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: elliotg

2nd:  With such a large universe to play in, what are the types of opposition we are looking at as players?  Pirates and Independent colonies have already been mentioned (do these actually do anything, or are they simply things to conquer or harvest for resources), as have "grand menaces" to borrow a term from sword of the stars.  How many hostile empires are we looking at in a given galaxy (just a range would be nice... could it be hundreds?)?

Pirates will actively attack your and other empires, and can become quite strong if you don't squash them. Independent colonies trade their resources with you and are often great targets for new colonies, because they have an existing population. Independent colonies can also become havens for pirates - they'll ambush your freighters as they trade resources at these colonies - giving a kind of 'wild west' feel to them.

The maximum number of proper empires (not pirate factions) in the game is 20. This is mainly so that each empire can have a distinct identifying color. And IMHO hundreds of empires just wasn't very fun (I tried it [:)]).

Some empires can become quite large, and some races are naturally quite aggressive. So you tend to naturally get grand menaces in the form of evil, all-conquering empires.

And there's also space monsters that can be a real pain - they can disrupt trade and prevent you from colonizing valuable planets. Some of them are quite strong, and need several ships to take them out.

3rd:  It was mentioned that resources are needed for colonial development and happiness, and that government types and racial characteristics are involved.  Is it possible to have civil wars and/or rebellions?  The reason I ask is that an addition of significant penalties for failing to keep your nation happy has always been a big thing for me, especially with the prospect of having to face elements of your own empire in combat.

Yes, civil wars and rebellions can occur. Colonies can decide to leave your empire, either becoming independent or switching to another empire. So keeping your colonies happy is important. Colony unrest is exacerbated when you are at war for long periods - war weariness can become a problem for some races and government types.

ORIGINAL: lwarmonger
So independent colonies are dynamic, grow, and can establish relationships with various factions? That sounds awesome.

Also, should a civil war/rebellion occur within your empire, does that create a new empire from a number of your colonies, fleets and bases? Or is a rebellion simply the secession of your said colony from your empire?

ORIGINAL: SeanD

No specific time locked down yet... but we're "close." The game isn't in alpha or anything.

ORIGINAL: Baleur

I hope its out next week

ORIGINAL: adamsolo

Did an overview of Distant Worlds at SpaceSector.com: http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2010/01 ... tegy-game/

Enjoy!

ORIGINAL: Son_of_Montfort

ORIGINAL: tgb

SoM:

You know my tastes well enough, I think.  I found Armada 2526 bland and generic.  Will I enjoy this more?

Well, Armada may have lacked some distinguishing qualities from previous 4X games, sure. I still find Armada to have an enjoyably strategic style of play, however.

Now, in regards to Distant Worlds, I'm not going to flat out say "yes, you will enjoy this" because I don't want people to blame me for buying a game and being dissatisfied. That's what an official reviewer is for... [:D]

In all seriousness, in regards to unique style of gameplay - I can honestly say that Distant Worlds stands out as being something very new. I can also say, with pretty good conviction, that I haven't ever played a 4X space game quite like this before - and I mean that in a GOOD way (and let me confess, if there is a 4X game out there, I've probably played it). Comparisons will be drawn, inevitably, to the Europa Universalis series, had it been set in space. That is somewhat accurate, but misses some of the really neat "living space empire" feel of the game. Imperium Galactica, waaay back when, also had some similarities, but the scope of IG is FAR less than DW.

Let me give you a little taste:
What other game do you know of, where you have about 4 planets colonized over about 3 different solar systems (2 in your home, and 1 each in other places). You have built some space stations over these, and sent some builder ships out to rich gas giants and non-habitable planets in these systems to building mining outposts. After a while, you notice that the civilian dock of one of your space stations is building a mining transport ship (these are run by civilian companies) - it finishes and you watch it fly to pick up luxury resources from one of your non-habitable ice worlds (lets say a type of exotic animal fur). The ship wheels back into your space station - dropping of the goods, and increasing the happiness and economic growth of your colony.

During all this - you, as the player - did not order any action (well other than the initial building of the mining outpost and space station above your colony). You might have been sending a fleet to smash pirates, building a research station over an interesting moon, deciding what future worlds to colonize, conducting diplomacy, or just watching your empire grow. The mining took place all on its own - as part of a living empire.

How does that strike you as unique? [8D]

There is more about the "living empire" that I would like to talk about, but I don't want to get too detailed lest I overstep and lest things change before release (and don't ask me when, they don't give peons this information).

SoM

Nearly all of the dangers to freighters are at the endpoints of a trip, either at the origin or the destination. It's very difficult to intercept a ship while it is enroute.

ORIGINAL: adamsolo

Did an overview of Distant Worlds at SpaceSector.com: http://www.spacesector.com/blog/2010/01 ... tegy-game/

Enjoy!

ORIGINAL: Okim

Nearly all of the dangers to freighters are at the endpoints of a trip, either at the origin or the destination. It's very difficult to intercept a ship while it is enroute.

Is there any way to intercept a ship in hyperspace? Can we make ambushes in deep space by using hyperspace inhibitors and other similar nasty thingies?

Can your exploration vessels and other ships scan enemy ships and show what they are carrying?

Can we board and capture enemy ships? And if so is there an option to analyse it (tech salvaging and such? Can we scrap ships and abandon planets?

The last question is about modding. How easy it will be to access game data files for modding and will there be any tools for modding provided with the release?

ORIGINAL: Okim
While looking at your screenshots i`ve noted that there are several classes of ship vessels (roles) that have their own size value. Components have their own size too, so the mechanics of ship design is quite understandable. How many ship classes (roles) will we have in DW? Do we have to research new ship sizes?

Are there any items that require a specific ship size?

Is there a maximum number of weapons/drives per ship?

What about abandoning planets?