Good videos to watch before buying DW2?

[acarney]

Watched a set of 4 from Boiler Gaming, tutorial from IcOn Gaming, set of 4 videos by Scott's Space on the game mechanics, 2 sets from Strategy Gaming Dojo, and started watching a series by DasTactic about reptiles vs. bugs.

Background: Never played 4X games before, and have learned to shun RTS games as being click fests. But DW2 looks different, and closer to a TBS game that I am familiar with (Stars!), so want to give it a shot. But I want it to be fair shot. (IOW, don't try DW2 & give it a bad review because of player ignorance.)

So are there video series that I should look at before buying DW2? Or am I reaching the point of diminishing returns?

[Nightskies]

I think those videos should give you a good idea of what the gameplay is like- its not like a Starcraft RTS where your actions per minute even remotely matters. I'd expect you're also aware of the jagged edges that the game currently has from reviews by actual players, and if so, I think you're at the point that you should go in now or later, given the number of videos you've already watched.

I also went in thinking those reviews were from player ignorance, and to a degree there is some (such as complaints about the ship designer being more limited) but it turned out to be fair assessments by large.

[acarney]

Thanks Nightskies,

You're right about the current state of the game: Don't think it's quite there yet, BUT I perceive it to be in a playable state. That said, spending more time on the videos allows time for,

• The devs to release the next patch, and/or
• DW2 to go on sale

Absence of either won't prevent a purchase. Still have some unanswered questions, that watching more videos might help with,

1. Colonization Range Limit: What's a good value when starting the game?
2. Races: What play style does each equate to? Boskara == All out war, while the Teekan == Trade & avoid conflict. As to the others, not sure.

Even Scott’s Distant Worlds 2 Guide didn't help much with these.

[Nightskies]

I think the videos channel on the official discord will give you plenty to look at.

Your ideal Colonization Range Limit will depend on the size of the galaxy (bigger: increase range), the number of stars (more stars compared to size of galaxy: decrease range), and how many empires there are (more empires: decrease range). It also affects how quickly the faster expanding empires can snatch up the more valuable targets- if you want a more even spread, notch down the limit to 100 or 200. The default IIRC is 400, a rather large range- half the width of a small galaxy. I personally prefer smaller range limits now, but initially larger.

Looking at the Racial Victory Conditions are a pretty good way to figure out the intended play-style of each race.

Ackdarian
-Perform the most research
-Own the largest capital ship
-Control the largest ocean colony
-Have the most research treaties

Boskaran
-Control the most homeworlds
-Destroy the most enemy troops
-Exterminate or enslave the most
-Destroy the most enemy ships and bases

Hakoonish
-Control some rare resource sources
-Earn the most trade income

Human
-Control all continental colonies
-Have the most defense treaties
-Destroy more enemy ships and bases than lost
-Earn the most tourist income
-Earn the most trade income

Mortalen
-Have the most experienced general
-Have the most experienced admiral
-Conquer the most enemy colonies
-Win 70% of wars
-Subjugate the most empires

Teekan
-Start the fewest wars
-Earn the most trade income
-Gain the most research and tech from salvage
-Have the most NAPs
-Destroy the most vordikars

Zenox
-Control the most ruins
-Lose the fewest ships and bases
-Lose the fewest troops
-Build a planetary missile defense facility
-Explore all the systems

There's a bit more to it than that, like how the Boskara and Zenox have to deal with their more challenging planet preference, but personally I find that their ship style, relevant racial techs, and ideal weapons are the only other factors to really consider.

Ackdarian
Fast, multiple large frontal weapons with fighter bay slots on smaller ships, ideal for aggressive beams and blasters. Has racial engines, which is great for fighters. Their sensor is barely worth noting. They've suffered from a nerf to ship maintenance (I think they needed the bonus as strong as it was pre-nerf, which wasn't that strong on its own in the first place), and while fighters are very strong, they have severe limitations, which makes Ackdarians a more difficult race to play IMO.

Boskaran
Extra weapons, generally forward-facing small arc weapons, ideal for torpedoes. Has racial torpedoes and blasters. These are very cost-effective options, allowing Boskarans to field a lot of ships with plenty of punch. They'll have to, because they're also relatively fragile overall.

Hakoonish
Multiple large weapon slots primarily on the front and broadsides, ideal for beams. Has racial graviton beams and a stealth-granting countermeasures system, allowing entire fleets to easily include stealth. Hakoonish beams are a powerful option that is a good counter to aggressive enemies.

Human
Has the most diverse designs, but doesn't have many large slots among their smaller ships. Has supplemental racial small missiles and rail guns. Rail guns are very powerful options that lose effectiveness against higher tier defenses, but the human rail guns remain viable until the late game (very strong if rushed).

Mortalen
Fast with extra weaponry that mostly is on the fore, ideal for blasters. Mediocre racial techs. Easily the most aggressive race without much flexibility.

Teekan
Unique emphasis on rear-facing weapons, early access to fighters, ideal for area and torpedoes. Ho-hum racial ion bomb, but decent mid-late game racial fighters. Their real strength is how well they colonize and populate.

Zenox
Wide arc large weapon slots and extra defense, ideal for beams. They have powerful racial conventional beams and shields. As part of fleets, their ships are incredibly strong in using their racial options.

[zgrssd]

Keep in mind that some core things are still changing. Just from the recently updated Road Map, Points 2, 3, 4 and 11 all sound like mayor changes might be coming.
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 39155efd8c

A lot of them bugs you saw in those videos no longer exist. But quite a few of the bad design decisions still do exist.

[acarney]

I think the videos channel on the official discord will give you plenty to look at.

Your ideal Colonization Range Limit will depend on the size of the galaxy (bigger: increase range), the number of stars (more stars compared to size of galaxy: decrease range), and how many empires there are (more empires: decrease range). It also affects how quickly the faster expanding empires can snatch up the more valuable targets- if you want a more even spread, notch down the limit to 100 or 200. The default IIRC is 400, a rather large range- half the width of a small galaxy. I personally prefer smaller range limits now, but initially larger.

Looking at the Racial Victory Conditions are a pretty good way to figure out the intended play-style of each race.

Ackdarian
-Perform the most research
-Own the largest capital ship
-Control the largest ocean colony
-Have the most research treaties

Boskaran
-Control the most homeworlds
-Destroy the most enemy troops
-Exterminate or enslave the most
-Destroy the most enemy ships and bases

Hakoonish
-Control some rare resource sources
-Earn the most trade income

Human
-Control all continental colonies
-Have the most defense treaties
-Destroy more enemy ships and bases than lost
-Earn the most tourist income
-Earn the most trade income

Mortalen
-Have the most experienced general
-Have the most experienced admiral
-Conquer the most enemy colonies
-Win 70% of wars
-Subjugate the most empires

Teekan
-Start the fewest wars
-Earn the most trade income
-Gain the most research and tech from salvage
-Have the most NAPs
-Destroy the most vordikars

Zenox
-Control the most ruins
-Lose the fewest ships and bases
-Lose the fewest troops
-Build a planetary missile defense facility
-Explore all the systems

There's a bit more to it than that, like how the Boskara and Zenox have to deal with their more challenging planet preference, but personally I find that their ship style, relevant racial techs, and ideal weapons are the only other factors to really consider.

Ackdarian
Fast, multiple large frontal weapons with fighter bay slots on smaller ships, ideal for aggressive beams and blasters. Has racial engines, which is great for fighters. Their sensor is barely worth noting. They've suffered from a nerf to ship maintenance (I think they needed the bonus as strong as it was pre-nerf, which wasn't that strong on its own in the first place), and while fighters are very strong, they have severe limitations, which makes Ackdarians a more difficult race to play IMO.

Boskaran
Extra weapons, generally forward-facing small arc weapons, ideal for torpedoes. Has racial torpedoes and blasters. These are very cost-effective options, allowing Boskarans to field a lot of ships with plenty of punch. They'll have to, because they're also relatively fragile overall.

Hakoonish
Multiple large weapon slots primarily on the front and broadsides, ideal for beams. Has racial graviton beams and a stealth-granting countermeasures system, allowing entire fleets to easily include stealth. Hakoonish beams are a powerful option that is a good counter to aggressive enemies.

Human
Has the most diverse designs, but doesn't have many large slots among their smaller ships. Has supplemental racial small missiles and rail guns. Rail guns are very powerful options that lose effectiveness against higher tier defenses, but the human rail guns remain viable until the late game (very strong if rushed).

Mortalen
Fast with extra weaponry that mostly is on the fore, ideal for blasters. Mediocre racial techs. Easily the most aggressive race without much flexibility.

Teekan
Unique emphasis on rear-facing weapons, early access to fighters, ideal for area and torpedoes. Ho-hum racial ion bomb, but decent mid-late game racial fighters. Their real strength is how well they colonize and populate.

Zenox
Wide arc large weapon slots and extra defense, ideal for beams. They have powerful racial conventional beams and shields. As part of fleets, their ships are incredibly strong in using their racial options.

This is great stuff, Nightskies. Thanks!

Watching a very long series created by TortugaPower, about the Zenox. Would have figured these ice cats as the weakest race, but he capitalized on a few things:

• Spies have have stolen an amazing amount of tech. How much money & time has this saved?
• Ships with very good lasers & fast recharging shields. Not only are they very effective in ship-to-ship, they are also great at planetary bombardment.

[acarney]

I think the videos channel on the official discord will give you plenty to look at.

Tried this link, and didn't get anywhere ... could be because I'm not subscribed to DW2 on Discord.

[Joram]

After putting this together I reread your post and you already found them. . Just leaving this here for others who want to reference the videos you mentioned. I also think the race description up above is great but here are some videos for you.


There's a number of series on this really. I prefer Dastactics but Scott's are good too.
DasTactic
https://youtu.be/GOs9jzjQ6uc
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGB6 ... j_3gZc1lrZ

Scott's
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEm4 ... E6AFrP6kT9

Das also is on Twitch playing this once a week for Slitherine (so it's their channel, not Das')

I've heard TortugaPowers are also good but have not seen them.

[Nightskies]

Ah, here's the link to join the discord server. https://discord.gg/3MRQx2KR4W

Indeed, the space ice cats are surprisingly potent. I made a post about it on the Steam forums as well.

[acarney]

Ah, here's the link to join the discord server. https://discord.gg/3MRQx2KR4W

Indeed, the space ice cats are surprisingly potent. I made a post about it on the Steam forums as well.

Thanks Nightskies,
Found that link on Steam.

[acarney]

After putting this together I reread your post and you already found them. . Just leaving this here for others who want to reference the videos you mentioned. I also think the race description up above is great but here are some videos for you.


There's a number of series on this really. I prefer Dastactics but Scott's are good too.
DasTactic
https://youtu.be/GOs9jzjQ6uc
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGB6 ... j_3gZc1lrZ

Scott's
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEm4 ... E6AFrP6kT9

Das also is on Twitch playing this once a week for Slitherine (so it's their channel, not Das')

I've heard TortugaPowers are also good but have not seen them.

Already watched all of those.

Regarding TortugaPower's videos, he did a 37-part series about playing the Zenox, which I had the preconception as being one of, if not the weakest race to play. Over 2/3 into it, and its only series to start at Prewarp, and go very deep ... maybe even to victory.