Need some questions answered please

before I buy the game.

from GalCiv2 Forums
I have downloaded the demo but so much to lear, wich I love.

I have a few questions I like answered before I buy the game, and these answeres will convince me to get it or not.

I havn't had much time to try the demo yet, and was wudnering if the demo is exactly the same as the full game.

1) How is space combat? I read it's just ships flying around shooting each other. I love the moo series and loved that you can control combat and shoot this ship or that ship. I know it's not like it, so I can take it, that it's more like Call to Power 2 animation battles? I can live with that since there is so much more to this game. How do I know if my ship build is working, can I see if I need ecm or eccm or faster engines or better weapons? Will I be able to see this in the animation?

2) How is the spy game? I always loved the spy game by either stealing tech or blowing things up in the other empire. Is it fun? How does it work out?

3) I keep reading that there is great support from the developers of the game. Is this true? I don't like the idea with their expansion coming out only getting it online, I only buy it in stores so does this mean the end support for this game I am about to buy?

4) In your experiances how is this game for you. Tell me why you like it, what makes it so special.

5) Do people come and visit these forums or are these forums dead? I am surprised with MOO III that the forum is still alive, not much going on, but a few people still there, what is it like here, everyone friendly and helpfull?

I am on the fence leaning to buy or not to buy, going to try the demo, looking forward to your comments.
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
1) There is no tactical combat in GCII. Warfare is purely about the ship design and manouvering on the galactic map. The combat viewer can be helpful in letting you know how much damage your ships are capable of doing to your opponents and vice versa- look at the damage scores underneath.

2) Espionage is currently unfortunately lacking- it consists solely of setting your espionage spending with each civ. The more spending, the faster your espionage rating with that civ increases, and the more info you can see about them. This will be massively expanded with the expansion.

3) The support is very good, with patches almost always including gameplay tweaks as well as the standard bug fixes. Most importantly, the AI improves with each update. The expansion pack is only for sale online, but you can buy a boxed version that they'll post to you rather than downloading. I can't speak for Stardock as to whether GCII will continue to be patched after DA is released, but somehow I doubt it.

4) What I like about GCII? A very good ship designer, which allows you a lot of freedom as to what ships you can design. An AI that can provide a decent game without cheating. Regular updates which really help to keep the game fresh.

5) The forums are quite active, with several pages of active threads at any time.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
no espionage? is it relevant then in this game or should I be spending my money else where? I really love the spy game.

If I wait for the expansion pack, is it a stand alone game or do I need Gal Civ II first? Can I send a money order and they will ship it to me or I can download it off the net that way then? That really bites that you have to start downloading games online toplay, I love my out of the box, guess after 10+ years of playing, I am too old to change lol.

Thanks for your post.
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Again, I can't talk for Stardock, but I imagine there may well be some form of saving if you buy the original game plus expansion pack together.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I thought I read somewhere that they provide free updates for a year after release. Unlike most expansion packs, DA does not include some new content and bugs fixes. DA include major new functionality and those likely will introduce new bugs. Although Stardock may not release patches after DA to add new features and rebalance the game; I would hope they will continue for a while with smaller bug fix patches.

The work Stardock has put in the several patches since v1.0 (v1.0X, v1.1, v1.11, v1.2, v1.3, v1.3A, and v1.31) far exceed what you get from most game development companies. In addition to bug fixes, v1.1(improved ship designer) and v1.2(improved modding support) were like free expansions and v1.3 introduced a major game rebalance (which not everyone likes). v1.1, v1.2, and v1.3 also all improved the AI!
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If espionage is that big a deal to you, then GC 2 is not appropriate since there is currently only a token amount in the game. (You pay money, you learn more and more about the race - that's pretty much it)

However, Dark Avatar should be out reasonably soon and that is supposed to have espionage in it, so maybe wait and see what that's like.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
did some playing the demo and research. wow this game is great, never got into combat, very simplistic but but fun fun fun. I love it, so far. Love the music, gives good atmosphere to the game.

I see I will need GC II to play the expansion, so I will get it then figure out how to get the expanison since I don't have a credit card. Please Please reconsider StarDock and sell in stores

So much info to learn the game, going to sleep now, will play some more tomorrow, thanks guys for your comments, keep them coming

espically of why you love the game.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
1) There aren't tactical battles in GC2, but they are planning to put them in GC3. The tactical battles in MOO2 were fun, but it was kind of easy to beat the AI if you knew what you were doing. I think by GC2 the AI will be good enough to learn some new tricks. If you watch the ship battles you do get to see some numbers, but its not hard to work out what's a good combination anyway. (The ship battle screen is being improved for the expansion).

2) Espionage in the main game is mostly just spying, but when you get to the Advanced level, any excess you spend can be used to steal tech. In the expansion it's getting an overhaul, with new sabotage features and defensive spies.

3) Unfortunately, to get the expansion you'll have to buy it online. Maybe you can give a friend the money and have him use his card. I do that for my sister a lot. =/

4) It's hard to explain, but I find it terrible addictive. It's different to MOO2, which I also enjoy, but it rocks. The ship designer is one of my favourite features. The expansion is going to add a lot more features though.

5) You can often find active threads past the first page. There seems to be a lot of traffic here.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I can steal tech? That is some good news for me at least, always loved stealing tech.