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Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor

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Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor

Beta Schedule

from GalCiv2 Forums

BETA SCHEDULE

The second expansion pack to Galactic Civilizations II is about to go into beta. For Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor, we're going to try something different. Something that we think will be particularly fun.

The biggest single feature of the expansion pack isn't the Terror Stars, which are admittedly pretty cool. And it's not the map editor, campaign editor or scenario editor which do add a lot of new possibilities. And it's not even the Metaverse tournaments, which will probably be pretty popular. Nor is it the updated graphics which do bring Galactic Civilizations II up to a whole new level. No, it's the unique technology trees per player.

Let me emphasize this: The fact that each of the 12 major races will have their own technology trees we think is a major milestone for this type of game. The implications of it are far-reaching since technology trees are from whence ship components, planetary improvements, etc. come from.

Let me further add that these technology trees are not just cosmetic changes. Let me give you a couple of examples: The Arceans don't get Warp Drive or any other higher level propulsion techs. Instead, they have special factories unique to them that allow them to make their own ships faster. The Yor don't have factories but instead have collectives that produce based on their population. And, did we mention...these techs are tradeable back and forth. But thanks to a new AI enhancement (a willingness to trade a particular tech variable) tech trading will become vastly more intelligent.

So for the beta, to reward the users who are pre-ordering the beta (and hence funding this project) we are doing something special: The betas will introduce the unique technology trees in small groups so that players can really see the impact of them and have a chance at being introduced to them and be able to make suggestions on how they can be tweaked.

Below is the tentative schedule: UPDATED

  • Beta 1: October 25th - Terran Alliance, Drengin, Arcean technology trees

  • Beta 2: November 8 - Yor, Torian, Korath technology trees added

  • Beta 3: November 20 - Korx, Drath, Iconians trees added

  • Beta 4: November 29 - Thalan, Altarian, Krynn technology trees added

  • Release Date: December 12.

As much as we've enjoyed Dark Avatar as an expansion pack, I am certain that Twilight of the Arnor will be liked even more by players.

To pre-order Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor visit here.

66,075 views 78 replies
Reply #26 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sounds great, however the pre-order page doesn't seem to let me pre order the game with the tokens I bought through total gaming.


When I did it, the context was so confusing and took so much stabbing around that I couldn't say anything more than "Keep trying, it should still be possible." I bought my first tokens for this (and in anticipation of NotMoM2), and I *think* that starting an entirely fresh (cookie-dumped) browser session helped. Perhaps the code that sells tokens gets the actual spending code disoriented or something.

@chucksled: I did admit that I thought I'd sound insane to many of y'all But I really did feel obliged to mention the point b/c Stardock have pretty much said that the biggest maps don't get much (any?) internal testing, and TA is going to offer "immense" maps. There could be all manner of odd graphical problems, etc., that will only appear in mid or late game on those maps.
Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Or are the tech trees user friendly and we can make our own?


my guess is they will be totally mod-able - at least, i'm hoping they will.


if like the rest the game,... All the tech trees will be modable ...

I`m hoping custom Races will have there own not just use one of the other races tech tree !!!

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Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I`m hoping custom Races will have there own not just use one of the other races tech tree !!!


unfortunately brad already confirmed that custom races would chose between one of the other tech trees; though, i don't see much harm and little/no extra work (on part of the devs) in allowing them to stay with the tech tree from DA as their own option.

for what it's worth, i'm hoping it'll be possible to create an entirely new tech tree from scratch (in modding), and that there won't be a limit on how many one could create.
Reply #29 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
for what it's worth, i'm hoping it'll be possible to create an entirely new tech tree from scratch (in modding), and that there won't be a limit on how many one could create.


Well thats a real kicker, I tought you'd just be able to make a tree for your race in game.
Reply #30 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
for what it's worth, i'm hoping it'll be possible to create an entirely new tech tree from scratch (in modding), and that there won't be a limit on how many one could create.
Well thats a real kicker, I tought you'd just be able to make a tree for your race in game.


oh i'm not saying it will work that way, just that i hope it will. it all depends on how the game gets coded, (if the core application will recognize more than 12 tech trees).

still, between the super abilities and the unique tech trees, we're talking about 144 permutations for building unique custom races. and if you want to play against those races, throw in the 13 AI personalities and you've got 1,872 permutations (of course, who knows how the AI personalities will handle mis-matched tech trees and super abilities, hopefully not too bad).
Reply #31 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

for what it's worth, i'm hoping it'll be possible to create an entirely new tech tree from scratch (in modding), and that there won't be a limit on how many one could create.


Well thats a real kicker, I tought you'd just be able to make a tree for your race in game.


Well once it is out we`ll know how to mod it then,... i got a few ideals for the tech tree for my custom race

Reply #32 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yay for pre ordering! I'm really looking forward to playing as the Arcean's! not having to put engines on ships will make the First Strike ability veeeeery useful!
Reply #33 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Are you going to make a discount bundle for the two expansions? I haven't purchased Dark Avatar yet, and would probably buy both expansions if you offer them at a discount.
Reply #34 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As you can see in the big list, there is already an expansion bundle available 40 dollars.

You can buy it here.


Reply #36 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As you can see in the big list, there is already an expansion bundle available 40 dollars.

You can buy it here.


I don't think that's what he meant. I think he was talking about something like Gold Edition with everything rolled together into a single install, and disk space optimized. Per conversations I've had with Sales, it'll probably happen, but there are no plans/dates yet. Gold Edition packaging / marketing plans did not develop until boxed DA had been on shelves for awhile and started to fade.

drrider
Reply #37 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for the responses. Actually I did mean an expansion bundle, the $ 40 bundle is just what I was looking for. I just didn't find it, since it wasn't listed on the Galciv2 main site.

Okay, I'll probably buy it. I just have to get some work done on my master's thesis first - if I buy the game I probably won't get anything done .
Reply #38 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sounds great, however the pre-order page doesn't seem to let me pre order the game with the tokens I bought through total gaming. Hopefully I am just temporarily blind when I try to pre-order, otherwise I would feel a bit duped sitting here with $69 worth of useless tokens.


You can preorder with tokens via the TGN website.

Reply #39 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Looking good Cant wait for the first beta to be available!

Long live Stardock
Reply #40 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I love you guys. I just...love you.

A big thank you to everyone involved in the GC2 project! Keep up the amazing work and keep leading the industry to the light side like you always do
Reply #43 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Have you contacted sales about this? [email protected]

I am sure they will be able to help you out in this situation

Good luck bjoe427
Reply #44 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Moon Bases I don`t know if any one has though of them this way but here goes !!!

have moons with different resources to mine,.....water to help with barren worlds

and maybe populations levels,..energy,other resources to help filter out toxic rdioative

and material to help with building ships faster and or better (ship quality) other things then wat or star bases do!!!!
if it is going to the same planet that the moon rotates then the collector can be on the planet!!! each rotation the extractor can beam so much to the collector for X amount of ratations till set amount has been beam to it!!!

If it is going to other worlds the extractor beams to a collector which in turns beam it to a relay station or collector which in turn beams it to the planet side collector or more relays till it gets to the planet!!! the farther the planet the longer it takes to collect the resources

depending on how rich the moon is,.. how many moon bases you get 1 or 2 maybe 3 if it is real rich in resources the moon miner lands on moon and you improve the square the square tells you which resource is available

of course this ideal may need to be tweake

Nasty
Reply #45 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What about the Altarians? Are they not in the game?

Reply #46 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
shhh don`t ask to many question !!!
Reply #47 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

What about the Altarians? Are they not in the game?



Well, the rest of the text refers to 12 races, so I'm guessing they just forgot to list them, aye? Heck, it took me the longest time to remember what the race not listed was when I first noticed there were only 11 races on the beta schedule...

The last week only has 2 races listed, so I'm guessing they either don't have them for the beta or it will be on that week.

Reply #48 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thinking the latter- but I'm curious as to how they'll handle things.

Reply #49 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If I remember correctly, the Altarians are going to be built along the lines of high research costs with large payoffs...
Reply #50 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Do i need original instalation disks thean i buy the expansion, (i have Galactic civilizations 2 Gold), to install the TW, becouse i gave my disks to a friend of myne to play, and hes in Boston and im in NY?

Can you plz make some new Screens make awailable for view? especially those of various planetery improvments? and a few more ability points, at leat like 5, THX
Go Stardock! I love you're games!