Does GalCiv scale?

from Stardock Forums
So, I've played a decent amount of games so far, but I've felt no inclination to go beyond the Medium sized Galaxy. It just seems to me that, by the endgame, there are almost too many planets (not to mention ships!) for me to deal with.

I try to use all the automation features... Governors are a godsend, even if it is annoying to switch between them, but they don't handle ship production well. And I use autopilot as much as possible, but you can't really depend on it when entire systems are hanging on the balance of how your ships move.

My question then, is: Does Galatic Civilizations scale? Do people regularly play on Large and Huge galaxies? And if so, is it a complete time sink? What things do you do to manage it?
397 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
The amount of planets you have to manage also depends on the planet abudancy you select. If you don't feel like having as many planets to worry about you can always set their frequency to rare.

As far as playing on large+ I like to play those regulary. The amount of time that you can sink into them depends on the planet frequency and how much you're willing to micromanage everything.

~SDC~
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Yeah, I usually set the abundancy to common on smaller maps and occasional on larger ones. But the question still remains whether GalCiv scales. If you can only reasonably control a static number of planets even as the maps get larger, then it doesn't scale.
Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Oh if you mean by scaling the amount of planets you control then it does, there will be many more planets for you to control on gigantic compared to say medium.

~SDC~
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
It's ok on larger maps. I find that on small maps I'll have a plan for each planet and I'm micro-managing everything, taking it slow because each planet matters so much.

On large maps you have a completely different economy so you just class your planets (ie hostile border zone, economy-only etc) and run with it. Turns are only a few minutes, although you might need to scribble a few notes (like sector 15,7 starbase = culture).

I also like the way minor races can have 2-4 systems with say 10 planets total on some maps, makes them a factor.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Ironhawk

I don't believe it scales, as far as the definition you're using. I don't have a problem playing on larger galaxies, and actually enjoy it more.

I just finished with a huge galaxy, abundant planets, and didn't have a problem. I was going for a research victory, and didn't once get into a war with anyone. I can see if you're more into a military victory, it would be much busier managing ship builds. As it was, I just built enough military to keep strong enough so the Dregin wouldn't come-a-knockin'.

I had 3 seperate govenors set up (full production + research + morale), (research + morale), and (morale). Once I "acquired" a planet (did alot of culture builds, so they came to me without fighting ), I would assign a gov., set military to constructors (auto-launch; great addition!! :) ), and just come back and collect the constructors when a few accumulated.

It all depends on how much "micro-managing" you really want to do. I play more of a "hands-off" approach, letting my Govs handle the planets, and I just collect the ships and tell them what to do. Again, depends on what you want to get out of it. Someone who manages every single planet, and squeezes every bc of production out will be more successful than I am, but I'm playing the game I want, and I like the fact it allows you to do that! :)

~SDC~
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm hands off as well. It's good to hear that you can managed large numbers of planets in that way tho. Maybe I will boot up a Huge galaxy and play Culture or Research and just try to stay away from ships completely.

Tho, in the culture games I've played so far, the judicious use of war has accelerated my victory in many cases :)

I wonder if anyone has tried to win a military victory on a huge map?