Balance issues?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Are there some balance issues within the game for non-default options / easy options ?

Let me explain, I fired GalCiv2 up tonight after finally getting Civ4 out of my system.

Settings - abundant planets/stars, only 3AI, easy level, slow tech just to test the waters and see everything as it is the first game

Myself and the AI are haemorraging cash like anything, once you get to 4/5 colonies there is no way to re-coup enough taxes to break even (this probably fair enough on default settings to prevent over-expansion / run-away players but with the settings I chose the planets are abudant and are there to be taken. The UP AI is taking them and making the same mistake - too fast expansion , they are all -1000 or more and losing greatly each turn.

There is one minor race with one planet - they are the only one with +ve cash

Incidentally I am not a total GalCiv n00b so I know about economical enhancing techniques (maybe the slow tech means I cannot research these options fast enough to use before it is too late?)

It may be me and if I trry again I'll cut down on the planets, but some points to consider

a) it may not be me
b) i guess most beta testers are a little bit fanatical about the game and try harder options, could easy level / non-default problems be missed?
c) most people who will buy it off the shelf won't be as fanatical as the testers here and will be disillusioned if this happens to them



9,787 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I just remembered something else, the galaxy went into recession and after 3 years it hadn't come out, however I quit for the night and continued today, does the game 'forget' about the recession if you quit and re-load? Maybe this was a contributory factor
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

These are things that are being addressed actually. 

1) Colony maint is now up front.

2) It has been reduced since your version.

3) Starting funds will be higher.

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
1) Colony maint is now up front.
2) It has been reduced since your version


Good to hear, and thanks. While the cost of establishing a new colony may be a help for those that don't like the "planet rush" at the beginning of a game (esp. on a gigantic galaxy), the 25BC each that it was costing seemed to me to be a severe penalty for liking to engage in the rush for planets.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Part of the strategy in a strategy game is to look after your economy! I tend to play on large maps with all 10 A.I's and just past the quarter stage of the game, with an average size empire.There is so much money around, that it actually starts to become an irrelavant factor in gameplay for both A.I and humans players,in my view.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
yes the recession is unlucky. but have you seen how many ships your buidling? in the beginning i have anyone build ships except the ones that can spare citizens for colonies. then later when i've built a few planetary improvemeants i tell them to build a constructor. try messing around with the % that goes torward military/research/social. to much in one area (ex: military) will defiently pull you under. and glad to know about more starting cash
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Recession is fixed.  It was tied to a GalCiv I date.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Recession is fixed. It was tied to a GalCiv I date.


Outstanding.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Raising the starting cash seems to be a really poor solution. The problem is the economy balance is lousy at the start, at the beginning of the game your homeworld should make a minor profit not a loss. Otherwise how the hell did it ever save up that cash in the first place? True if you go on a major building program or something you should quickly run out of cash, but if you dont go crazy with building then surely you should not be running out of cash that quick, and should be able to be solvent WITHOUT any trade routes or other enhancements. Only once you start trying to build a space fleet and lots of goodies on the planet should the economy go -ve and require things like trade routes to survive.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I ram my tax rate and spending up to 100% and adjust downwards over time as my fleet grows expensive to maintain (reduce spending to cover maintenance) and as approval starts to wane (lower tax).

If your empire is competitive the people tend to be happy paying higher taxes so that's no problem.

Thought occurs, are you guys taking out loans to buy more ships/structures quickly? I rarely if ever take out a loan and instead rely on the high government spending to complete things quicker or I buy manually using the surplus funds I gradually bring in. Having said that, perhaps the loans need some balancing, I look at how much they are likely to effect my economy and avoid using them at all.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Make the home planets already developed at teh start.Problem solved.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Tried playing on a large screen with all other races enabled at brilliant level. Let me tell ya, spending money was at a premium and diplomatic skills a must, so economy must be maintained. Also figured out that starting with a nice square of manufacturing (like 300% to 700%) is not all its cracked up to be. You make ships faster than you economy can keep up with, colony wise especially.

W/R
Suralle

PS: Has anyone else noticed that high taxes create a really weird effect on morale? Personally, if I had to pay 80% taxes there is no way I would be happy even given the chance to adjust. Imainge the inflation. Greenspan would croak!
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
IIRC in a previous article brad said the reason the population can vary so much is dependent on the number of people declaring tax. Perhaps they are happy since even though you are taxing them at 100% they are only declaring 10% of their income and you havent noticed heh.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Make the home planets already developed at teh start.Problem solved.


Or not. You would never get more than a handful of people to agree on what the starting buildings should be. It all depends on play style.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
Not to mention that if your home planet is already developed, that's going to take a BIGGER bite out of your budget. I've had games where due to bonus tiles I was using deficit spending before my second colony ship landed, even with a nasty tax burden.