Declaring War

My favorite way to declare war is to blow something up. Usually an enemy freighter, a transport, constructors, etc. It usually gets their attention. Last night I declared war on the Drengin's by landing troop transports on a class 15 planet. I'm not sure if there's a way in the diplomacy screen to declare war (there probably is) since I never go that route.

Basically though if you are new to the Galciv series (which from your post it sounds that you are) there's lots of tricks to learn. First of all, your first few games should be on a galaxy setting of tiny through medium. Secondly, make sure the AI for all of the other races are set to beginner or below. Third, did you watch the tutorials? That will get you started.

As for ship building I'm finding it best to focus on a single weapons technology. You have laser tech, missile tech, and finally mass driver tech. Pick one and focus on it. As you progress you get smaller and better weapons that have more damage output. The other weapon techs you may get over time through diplomacy. Your ships probably stink because they're simply outclassed and you've fallen behind in weapon tech.

I hear attacking someone is a pretty good way to declare war

Yes. Attack and you will have your war.

Another reason your ships might stink is because (with a few exceptions) they don't really come pre-designed -- its best (IMO) to upgrade them every couple of new technologies, whereas the pre-made ships will only pop up if you have THEIR list of tech requirements... which usually doesn't happen (for me) untill long after I've had the fun of designing a new vessel.

And don't worry about the whole "how many factories? What do I research first?" thing -- I played GalCiv1 to death, and *I* still don't get the new mechanics yet... heck, half the reason I have so much fun designing ships is because I still can't figure out how to get some of the components to do what I want them to

Speaking of what you can't figure out... anyone mind telling me how the HECK I'm supposed to choose one "stack" of ships when I have 3/4 fleets in the same square, so I can troll through and find the ships I need to pull out to go repair and replace \them with all the newcomers waiting a square or two away?

/
And, even more fun, now that I have a thread I actually want to put on my watch list, it won't go... anyone else having problems?

You have to attack an enemy ship, to declare war your self. I wish there was a feature like the AI has which allows them to delcare war on you even if they are far away from you, and can't blow something up that is yours. Another way to have war is be the opposite Alignment of the civilization you want to attack, and keep asking for tribute. Then let you military drop just short of their's but not too low or you won't be able to defend yourself. Then build up and you have war. Still wish that there was a declare war button though, like the surrender button in the diplomacy screen that once you send it to another race, you get defeated, but in a more honorable since I guess. Also cuts on time if you know your gonna lose. As for the ship builder, it just takes time.

Believe me it took me awhile to get it, but now I'm building new ships left and right. Once you get the hang of it, it's actually quite easy. You can put what ever structure components you want on your vessel, but it's weapons, defenses, and other modules must equal what the ship can carry that number is displayed under the ship viewscreen, and is a factional number Ex. 250/480 First number is the amount of capacity you have already used, and the second number is the maximum that you can fit on the ship's hull. The red diamond things all over your ship model is where you can place modules, and such. It's really not all that bad.

I hope this helps a bit. Like anything else in life it just takes a bit of practice, and you'll get it eventually!

Good Luck,
Darkrious

They are all correct! You just have to play to learn. 4X games are very complicated, and that's why we all like them so much. The first three scenarios of the campaign are fairly easy, so you might try those. (The fourth is a different story).

Read the forums. Especially once all of the initial complaining dies down. People will post strategies and tips.

Also, a single game can easily take 10 hours or more to finish. Unless you have that kind of time, you should plan to play in managable chunks. I usually divide my gameplay into phases, and stop at the end of a phase. (Explore and colonize phase; builup, make friends, and research phase; squash my weakest enemy phase; etc.).

Oh yes, stinky ships. Remember that some of your enemies will have inherent military bonuses so your ships likely won't go toe-to-toe with them until you get a technology or numerical advantage, especially the Drengin.

Good Luck!

absorbing the game manual is a good place to start.Get a refreshing drink sit back and read.You will get more if you get familiar with the charts of the civs later on.

Easiest way to declare war as stated is to just attack a ship of the Civ you want to attack.

However you can also do is in diplomacy. Say you want to attack the Drengin. Dial up the Torian and trade with them. Offer them on your side that you will attack the Drengin and give it to them. They will thank you. As soon as you finish up the talks you'll find yourself at war with the Drengin. I found this out by accident.....oooops.

Formal Declaration of War would be nice. Also, it would be nice if you could threaten people with war in exchange for stuff. Or even, "Surrender, or we'll declare war."

Yes! Let's add this in the next update. Shouldn't be a big hasstle to implement.

Formal Declaration of War would be nice. Also, it would be nice if you could threaten people with war in exchange for stuff. Or even, "Surrender, or we'll declare war."

Wow there have been a few times in game I WISH I had that option!

for instance I'm still trying to learn the trade/diplomacy stuff and click different things to see what happens, well I pissed off the Altarian's in trying to trade, so they took it upon themselves a few turns later and took out a few of my unprotected starbases and a constructor ship, well to make a long story short, I went with it and clobbered them, then went after the Drengin, and changed the game into a neat twist/ learning experience.

OP, this is what I'm waiting for also:

once all of the initial complaining dies down. People will post strategies and tips.

I'm a Noob to this genre, and still don't understand many facets of the game yet, each game you try, you will learn more and more.

Idea: I wonder in the future, if this game will allow us to record our games to share with others like the OP and I , to watch and learn from? (if not perhaps a recorded walkthrough of a veteren player showing the steps in a basic game)?