DW2 FAQ/QnA megathread - Ask your question here!

[zgrssd]

Playing my first game as Boskara here. Wondering if it's worth enslaving my opponents worlds or should I just assimilate them ( or exterminate )?

Appreciate any responses, before I jump in later and find out the hard way haha. Cheers.

Always Assimilate before enslavement. Lack of Assimilation increases Upkeep, and Slaves will not assimilate.

Also I am unsure if slavery is even mechanically usefull. It increaes the Planets privat credit production - but it drops your tax rate due to unhappiness. So at best it funnels money into PE.

[Scotias]

Playing my first game as Boskara here. Wondering if it's worth enslaving my opponents worlds or should I just assimilate them ( or exterminate )?

Appreciate any responses, before I jump in later and find out the hard way haha. Cheers.

Always Assimilate before enslavement. Lack of Assimilation increases Upkeep, and Slaves will not assimilate.

Also I am unsure if slavery is even mechanically usefull. It increaes the Planets privat credit production - but it drops your tax rate due to unhappiness. So at best it funnels money into PE.

Honestly I'm rolling in credits atm anyway so I might try it out and see but for the most part I'd rather play it safe. I just figure if the only downside to enslavement is a reputation hit and upsetting everyone of that race then I'm not too worried

Thanks for your reply, I'll assimilate those pops first then

[SamuraiProgrmmr]

I'm currently playing the latest beta with Boskara. I can say that my conquered planets become happy very quickly (no matter the race) so that does not appear to be an issue.

However, I know the Boskara special race victory conditions involve killing and/or enslaving.

This is my first game since the latest beta so I don't know if it is widespread or just a Boskara thing, but the economy is ON FIRE! I have never had an economy that was this productive before.

In case it matters (and if anyone know whether it does or not, please enlighten me), I set independent colony relations to manual and diplomatic. Then, when the time comes, I invade without warning. For empires, I set relations to manual and neutral. Then, again, when the time comes, I invade without warning.

[Thineboot]

Does anyone have experience with imprisoned Double Agent spies?

[zgrssd]

Does anyone have experience with imprisoned Double Agent spies?

You can sell them back to the other side, where they will propably be summarily dismissed for having -10 to -20% in all skills.

It is money, without the danger of strenghtening the enemy.

[Thineboot]

Does anyone have experience with imprisoned Double Agent spies?

You can sell them back to the other side, where they will propably be summarily dismissed for having -10 to -20% in all skills.

It is money, without the danger of strenghtening the enemy.

While didn't ask because of a few credits more or less I forgot the event... so you're probably right, they will take him back and that's the last thing we might see of him...

Do Teekan have burial rituals and if so, does anybody here know them? Since we're Human and not Terran, the least I could offer Ruty - is Ruty his first name? - a final last farewell gift like a personal urn with a selfcremating devise, to feel a last time the warmth of the Desert instead of being eaten alive by a herd of Sand Slugs...

That said, my hopes were that there are some use for someone getting this trait. It's pretty senseless when everybody knows that he has become a double agent, that contradicts the whole concept of turning an agent, right?

[zgrssd]

Does anyone have experience with imprisoned Double Agent spies?

You can sell them back to the other side, where they will propably be summarily dismissed for having -10 to -20% in all skills.

It is money, without the danger of strenghtening the enemy.

While didn't ask because of a few credits more or less I forgot the event... so you're probably right, they will take him back and that's the last thing we might see of him...

Do Teekan have burial rituals and if so, does anybody here know them? Since we're Human and not Terran, the least I could offer Ruty - is Ruty his first name? - a final last farewell gift like a personal urn with a selfcremating devise, to feel a last time the warmth of the Desert instead of being eaten alive by a herd of Sand Slugs...

That said, my hopes were that there are some use for someone getting this trait. It's pretty senseless when everybody knows that he has become a double agent, that contradicts the whole concept of turning an agent, right?

Just hit "Execute" and flavor it as releasing him.

Either way, he will not be a character the game tracks anymore

[Thineboot]

You can sell them back to the other side, where they will propably be summarily dismissed for having -10 to -20% in all skills.

It is money, without the danger of strenghtening the enemy.

While didn't ask because of a few credits more or less I forgot the event... so you're probably right, they will take him back and that's the last thing we might see of him...

Do Teekan have burial rituals and if so, does anybody here know them? Since we're Human and not Terran, the least I could offer Ruty - is Ruty his first name? - a final last farewell gift like a personal urn with a selfcremating devise, to feel a last time the warmth of the Desert instead of being eaten alive by a herd of Sand Slugs...

That said, my hopes were that there are some use for someone getting this trait. It's pretty senseless when everybody knows that he has become a double agent, that contradicts the whole concept of turning an agent, right?

Just hit "Execute" and flavor it as releasing him.

Either way, he will not be a character the game tracks anymore

As I've said, no Terran. And what example would that set for any other spy preferring Human democracy over their own government? Change sides, become a double agent... and get slaughtered by those treacherous Humans? They would surely hate us, becoming more vigilant to steal all out stolen tech, strengthening our rivals for peace. No way I'd do that.

[zgrssd]

While didn't ask because of a few credits more or less I forgot the event... so you're probably right, they will take him back and that's the last thing we might see of him...

Do Teekan have burial rituals and if so, does anybody here know them? Since we're Human and not Terran, the least I could offer Ruty - is Ruty his first name? - a final last farewell gift like a personal urn with a selfcremating devise, to feel a last time the warmth of the Desert instead of being eaten alive by a herd of Sand Slugs...

That said, my hopes were that there are some use for someone getting this trait. It's pretty senseless when everybody knows that he has become a double agent, that contradicts the whole concept of turning an agent, right?

Just hit "Execute" and flavor it as releasing him.

Either way, he will not be a character the game tracks anymore

As I've said, no Terran. And what example would that set for any other spy preferring Human democracy over their own government? Change sides, become a double agent... and get slaughtered by those treacherous Humans? They would surely hate us, becoming more vigilant to steal all out stolen tech, strengthening our rivals for peace. No way I'd do that.

"Double Agent" is poorly implemented.
It is not like they are a double agent for anybody.

They will not help you, if you send them back.
The other side will know of the trait (and resulting skill loss), so likely just fire him.
It is simply a -20% to everything. No mater if they are with you or their original empire or someplace else. "Double Agents" are plain worthless.

[Thineboot]

I've asked about experience... so here are my experiences:

Does anyone have experience with imprisoned Double Agent spies?

You can sell them back to the other side, where they will propably be summarily dismissed for having -10 to -20% in all skills.

It is money, without the danger of strenghtening the enemy.

Double Agent is a -20% on all six Spy Skills and nothing else.
You can see this after returning/gifting him back at their homeworld local bonuses.

You don't get money by selling them back to the other side. It's counted as a gift.
You can include a spy in a deal in case they have something to offer in return like a station in your claimed territory.

[...]
Just hit "Execute" and flavor it as releasing him.

Either way, he will not be a character the game tracks anymore

Executing and releasing is a 10 relation difference.

The released Double Agent returns to their homeworld. You can see this by checking the local bonuses. After a while the bonuses relating to the spy vanish.

[...]
"Double Agent" is poorly implemented.
It is not like they are a double agent for anybody.

They will not help you, if you send them back.
The other side will know of the trait (and resulting skill loss), so likely just fire him.
It is simply a -20% to everything. No mater if they are with you or their original empire or someplace else. "Double Agents" are plain worthless.

Judging Double Agent from the outside, I agree. So you have deeper knowledge about the implementation or were you able to locate rules how character traits work? I've tried to find a hint in the files, so far without success.

[zgrssd]

A Spy is a Trade good in negotiation. Same as any mining station or technology.
You can demand money for him, same as any mining station or technology.
It is counted as a gift if you do not get a fair return for the spy, same as any mining station or technology.

When I said "get paid for it" I of course meant "demand as much money as the oher guy is willing to pay for the spy". That is how you get paid for stuff.


While Double Agent itself is a -20%, other skills and experience can be a factor too, so the total skill amounts can not be determined.
Either way, he gets dimissed so not realy relevant?

Judging Double Agent from the outside, I agree. So you have deeper knowledge about the implementation or were you able to locate rules how character traits work?

This question makes no sense to me.

My whole point is there are no special mechanics at work here.
It is a -20% to everything. That is it. Exactly what it says in the tooltip. Exactly what is reflected by the skill totals.

[Thineboot]

A Spy is a Trade good in negotiation. Same as any mining station or technology.
You can demand money for him, same as any mining station or technology.
It is counted as a gift if you do not get a fair return for the spy, same as any mining station or technology.

When I said "get paid for it" I of course meant "demand as much money as the oher guy is willing to pay for the spy". That is how you get paid for stuff.


While Double Agent itself is a -20%, other skills and experience can be a factor too, so the total skill amounts can not be determined.
Either way, he gets dimissed so not realy relevant?

Judging Double Agent from the outside, I agree. So you have deeper knowledge about the implementation or were you able to locate rules how character traits work?

This question makes no sense to me.

My whole point is there are no special mechanics at work here.
It is a -20% to everything. That is it. Exactly what it says in the tooltip. Exactly what is reflected by the skill totals.

Ok, once more, your so called Trade good in negotiation has (in this case, don't know about other Double Agents or empires) a potential worth of 30,000. And the empire of origin was willing to trade exactly Nothing. So again, no money. If you have experienced otherwise or know how it is implemented, let us know. Otherwise please accept, that there is (so far) no money to gain and you don't get paid in credits.

As shown before (above), and again only the negotiation part (below), you'll get the standard exchange rate of 1 relation per 2,500 credits.


Either the Double Agent compensates exactly a random combination of none spy related skills this specific spy had at creation - there are no entries in his Events for any non spy skills - for unknown reasons or it only affects the spy skills. Since similar old spies end up with +2% Sabotage, +19% Espionage, and +14% Concealment the assumption, that it's a flat -20% on all spy skills seems reasonable, especially when the popup shows -20% for all six spy skills.

And again, once release the character showed up in the local bonuses of his homeworld. And again, only for those six spy skills and no other hidden skills, that were not shown in the Double Agent popup, like there are none shown for a Corrupt scientist even so Corrupt affect skills.


So either you know better, than let us know, please. Or accept findings of someone else, too.


So far I hadn't the impression, that you're one of the developers. Do you have any knowledge about the code, how things like Double Agent are implemented? Than say so and I'll listen and learn and won't argue about things you know first hand.

[zgrssd]

A Spy is a Trade good in negotiation. Same as any mining station or technology.
You can demand money for him, same as any mining station or technology.
It is counted as a gift if you do not get a fair return for the spy, same as any mining station or technology.

When I said "get paid for it" I of course meant "demand as much money as the oher guy is willing to pay for the spy". That is how you get paid for stuff.


While Double Agent itself is a -20%, other skills and experience can be a factor too, so the total skill amounts can not be determined.
Either way, he gets dimissed so not realy relevant?

Judging Double Agent from the outside, I agree. So you have deeper knowledge about the implementation or were you able to locate rules how character traits work?

This question makes no sense to me.

My whole point is there are no special mechanics at work here.
It is a -20% to everything. That is it. Exactly what it says in the tooltip. Exactly what is reflected by the skill totals.

Ok, once more, your so called Trade good in negotiation has (in this case, don't know about other Double Agents or empires) a potential worth of 30,000. And the empire of origin was willing to trade exactly Nothing. So again, no money. If you have experienced otherwise or know how it is implemented, let us know. Otherwise please accept, that there is (so far) no money to gain and you don't get paid in credits.

What do you mean "willing to trade nothing"?

You showed us that value is solid, given it couns as a +12 Gift. The three gift options are 5/10/15 reputation. So the value should be around 30k.

Do you mean there was no option to ask for money because they had no money?
That is not a detail I have any way of knowing, as I can see onto your screen, do not have your savegame and can not read your mind.

Of course you can not get money the other side does not have.
Why do I need to say that?
How is that not "too obvious to say"?

[Dex101]

Hi,

Apologies if this has been answered or I'm missing something obvious.

Are there special events that allow the AI to peacefully colonize further than the set maximum colonization distance?

Some opponents have been colonizing independents further than the maximum colonization distance.
I think they could be colonizing the independents by invasion but some of the colonies are simply too far away from them, for some of them having to cross my territory, with closer alternatives.

[zgrssd]

Hi,

Apologies if this has been answered or I'm missing something obvious.

Are there special events that allow the AI to peacefully colonize further than the set maximum colonization distance?

Some opponents have been colonizing independents further than the maximum colonization distance.
I think they could be colonizing the independents by invasion but some of the colonies are simply too far away from them, for some of them having to cross my territory, with closer alternatives.

The lockouts for maximum range and being in another Empires territories do not apply to independant colonies.

Only if you colonize a empty planet do they apply.

[Thineboot]

A Spy is a Trade good in negotiation. Same as any mining station or technology.
You can demand money for him, same as any mining station or technology.
It is counted as a gift if you do not get a fair return for the spy, same as any mining station or technology.

When I said "get paid for it" I of course meant "demand as much money as the oher guy is willing to pay for the spy". That is how you get paid for stuff.


While Double Agent itself is a -20%, other skills and experience can be a factor too, so the total skill amounts can not be determined.
Either way, he gets dimissed so not realy relevant?



This question makes no sense to me.

My whole point is there are no special mechanics at work here.
It is a -20% to everything. That is it. Exactly what it says in the tooltip. Exactly what is reflected by the skill totals.

Ok, once more, your so called Trade good in negotiation has (in this case, don't know about other Double Agents or empires) a potential worth of 30,000. And the empire of origin was willing to trade exactly Nothing. So again, no money. If you have experienced otherwise or know how it is implemented, let us know. Otherwise please accept, that there is (so far) no money to gain and you don't get paid in credits.

What do you mean "willing to trade nothing"?
[...]

When you quote someone, quote them, don't rephrase what they said to change the impression.

[...]
Ok, once more, your so called Trade good in negotiation has (in this case, don't know about other Double Agents or empires) a potential worth of 30,000. And the empire of origin was willing to trade exactly Nothing. So again, no money. If you have experienced otherwise or know how it is implemented, let us know. Otherwise please accept, that there is (so far) no money to gain and you don't get paid in credits.
[...]

According to Merriam-Webster,

Definition of nothing (Entry 1 of 4)
1: not any thing : no thing
leaves nothing to the imagination

. So what are you imaging when I say Nothing?

[...]
You showed us that value is solid, given it couns as a +12 Gift. The three gift options are 5/10/15 reputation. So the value should be around 30k.
[...]

You can Send a Gift, which are 3 predefined values. The highest is 37,500 which is the equivalent of 15x 2,500 and gives you a +15 relation boost. The other two values are 37,500 x0.667 and x0.333 respectively. Three digits after the decimal point. That's why it's 25,013 and 12,488 respectively, both rounded up. The displayed relation value is rounded and not the one that is used when it comes to negotiations, whether you have crossed the threshold or not.

You can make individual gifts via Negotiate a deal. The game tells you this, so please don't mix them up.

[...]
Do you mean there was no option to ask for money because they had no money?
That is not a detail I have any way of knowing, as I can see onto your screen, do not have your savegame and can not read your mind.
[...]

No, that's what you make out of Nothing. I said Nothing, I meant Nothing, and than there are your nice words... Just accept that Nothing means Nothing. You don't have to see onto my screen, you don't have to have my savegame, you don't have to read my mind, you just have to understand Nothing as Nothing.

But for your sake I've added your imaginary they had no money. They had money, more than 30K. And I even gave them a 7 digit raise, just in case they had other plans, and let the game run for over a month to recalculate. And again, Nothing, they offer Nothing in exchange for the release of the character, or anything else for that matter.

[...]
Of course you can not get money the other side does not have.
Why do I need to say that?
How is that not "too obvious to say"?

I don't know why you have the need to say that. I don't know your intentions. I know that I've asked

Does anyone have experience with imprisoned Double Agent spies?

and meanwhile it's obvious, that you don't have any experience with Double Agent spies. I have offered more details by testing a few things, and still you doubt and twist my words. I honestly don't understand why you are even doing this.

This is not the first time you added an explanation as if your interlocutor does not understand the simplest things. If it makes you feel better keep on doing it. In my eyes, it only reflects on you, not the other person.

[haegint]

Playing game version 1.0.4.6 as Humans.

At the risk of this being an utterly daft question, but how do I find where pirate bases are located? Is there some sequence of clicks I can do in the UI that shows me their locations?

Tried googling, did not find an answer. Perhaps there is none and I have to find their bases through exploration and sheer luck? Thank you.

[zgrssd]

Playing game version 1.0.4.6 as Humans.

At the risk of this being an utterly daft question, but how do I find where pirate bases are located? Is there some sequence of clicks I can do in the UI that shows me their locations?

Tried googling, did not find an answer. Perhaps there is none and I have to find their bases through exploration and sheer luck? Thank you.

Unless you found them the hard way, you can not locate them. You need scout ships stumbling over them.

But once they do that, you can find it under Military, Known Dangers. They usually even show up if they are currently neutral or friendly.

[100thMonkey]

Playing game version 1.0.4.6 as Humans.

At the risk of this being an utterly daft question, but how do I find where pirate bases are located? Is there some sequence of clicks I can do in the UI that shows me their locations?

Tried googling, did not find an answer. Perhaps there is none and I have to find their bases through exploration and sheer luck? Thank you.

Unless you found them the hard way, you can not locate them. You need scout ships stumbling over them.

But once they do that, you can find it under Military, Known Dangers. They usually even show up if they are currently neutral or friendly.

Also, once they're "known" (one of your ships have seen their base), you can view the pirate faction locations (tags) from the galaxy map by going in the Diplomacy section of the control center. You have to be zoomed-in at a certain level to see the tags.

But, you'll also see the other empire's tags, and the visual noise of the Diplomacy Relations map overlay, which I find as annoying as useless.

[haegint]

Cheers and thanks for the help, guys. OK, there is no easy way then, at least got reassured of that. Still, you gave me some pointers how to re-find them after first discovery - which is probably easy to miss with all the stuff going on.