IztokBitenc

Hi! [quote]In playing GalCiv2 (ToA) there is a lot of information that I, as a player, can glean from the board... Now the computer AI can do all of that, every single turn![/quote] True. But what can AI do with that info? Remember that AI has to be told (with program code) what to do in just about every situation, analyze every possibility, check every possible response. Computers can crunch numbers. That's what they are made for. But without proper code they are just ultr

Hi! [quote]Every time I have a ship on my screen, though, the game slows to a snails pace... Is there something I can do to make it run better, with the shiny new graphics turned on? [/quote] I'm affraid there's nothing you can do. IMO your graphics card is simply not strong enough to render all the 3-d ship graphics fast enough. At least I had the same issue with my old Radeon 8800LE card. I solved the problem by making tactical (icon) view my default play mode. BR, Iz

Hi! [quote]I always have trouble with keeping my population happy[/quote] You may find the wiki article on [link="https://www.galciv.wikia.com/wiki/Approval"]approval[/link] usefull. BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]But when I click on the Update button that is connected to the line for DA, nothing happens![/quote] Might be a problem with SDC settings. Try swappig the server (Tools / Settins / Internet / Server) - just choose another one. BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]in Galciv 2 Dark Avatar, there is no visual range indicator[/quote] I see the area in my version of DA (1.8g). It was also never disabled. So it seems you have a problem with your comp. Have you updated the game and drivers? BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]is it viable now to go with the armada/swarm approach[/quote] Combat mechanics in TA hasn't changed, so IMO the size still matters the most. But with changed mainenance costs and some mil SB support for speed they could be viable as suicidal defenders (like AntiMatter missile in GC-1, just not so cost-efficient). BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]My really slow and old rig: CPU: P4 1.8GHz (single core, not the dual) / 512MB RAM[/quote] My proc is even worse: P4 1.5GHz, but I have 1.5 GB RAM, so it can run DA up to large-all-abundant quite smoothly. In this "density" I've never tried anything bigger, because [U][B]I[/B][/U] can't stand such a size. ;) With 512MB you're probably limited to medium all-abundant galaxies, if you don't want to wait 10 minutes for a comp to process each turn. BR, Iztok<

Hi! [quote]I decided to stick to Normal level to get familiar with the game mechanics.[/quote] I know what you've been thinking. I too stepped down one level of difficulty when I got DA. But it was not necessary. After you've played and won a game on "tough" or higher, is "normal" simply too easy, regardless of changes in game mechanics, because at "normal" AI doesn't use some of its "higher brain functions", and it also operates only at 75% of its capability (at least in DL it was so,

Hi! [quote]Stealing tech when invading...is it random?[/quote] I've looked into that in an early DA version. I'd say at that time it was semi-random. When I reloaded the turn and reinvaded, I mostly got the same tech with the invasion, and that was not dependent from what planet I invaded. But in the next turn I quite often got some other tech. And the probability for obtaining the tech had decreased, so after about 8th invasion I practically got nothing at all, despite AI HAD techs I di

Hi! [quote]what kind of advantage would the AI have [/quote] 500%+ bonus to everything, or purely free stuff. [quote]and why it would not be enjoyable?[/quote] Let me describe you my experience. Long ago I've been playing Civ-2, where I've been struggling to build an important wonder, but Vikings beated me to that in just 6 or so turns. I reloaded, tried building faster, using Caravans from other cities..., all to no avail. Then I turned on cheating mode just to observe Viki

Hi! [quote]Why is social and military production treated differently?[/quote] That question should be aimed at the developers. [quote]if you have sliders for military set to 50%, but a planet isn't building a ship, you still have to pay for military production on that planet?[/quote] Nope for a long time. If planet doesn't produce a ship, you don't pay for that. But if a planet is producing a ship, you always pay the FULL military production output. E.g. cost to finish a shi

Hi! [quote]Left-over social spending wasted?[/quote] From DL ver. 1.x and all versions of DA that's no more true. Player pays only costs of a building (minus 50% of bonus production), excess is returned to treasury. But for military production (ships) the excess IS wasted (player still pays for it). BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]I just put 100% production and kept them just barely at or a little above 70% happiness for a long time and kept keeping it at 70% until I was exhausted of funds.[/quote] Why 70%? AFAIK pop growth didn't change for TA. So there's no difference in pop growth if approval is 74% or 41%. At 41%+ you just make significantly more money off them. [quote]What are the morale/population growth breakpoints?[/quote] * 100% approval doubles growth on a planet, * 99%-75% ap

Hi! [quote]Anyone here play 'Stars!'?[/quote] I stil play. The community at [link="http://starsautohost.org/sahforum/"]Stars! Autohost[/link] isn't large (about 1000 players) but the old ones are returning, and new ones still knock pretty regularly. If you want to test your wits against LIVE opponents, you're most welcome! BTW with usuall 3 turns per week a medium-sized game still last several months to finish. Huge packed games you've described we don't play anymore. <br/

Hi! Aww, sorry for typos. I'm not able to correct previous post. BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]I built a star base on earth[/quote] Ummm, what game you're asking for? It couln'r be GC, because in it no SB can be build over a planet. If it is GC-2, then you need to click the rightmost button on the lower edge or the game screen to get to the shipyard. For further info check wiki: [link="https://www.galciv.wikia.com/wiki/Gameplay#Constructing_ships"]Gameplay: Constructing ships[/link]. BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]are there any threads out there, discussing the formulas used in galciv?[/quote] You may find usefull wiki pages: [link="https://www.galciv.wikia.com/wiki/Research"]research[/link] and [link="https://www.galciv.wikia.com/wiki/Military_production"]production[/link]. Most pages there are quite valid for DL and DA. BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]I always fall behind in Technology.[/quote] On maso+ difficulty that's normal. For lover difficulties I suggest you to set sliders so, that you always spend about 50% of money for research (spending always at 100%, sliders at 1%/49%/50%), and to build on each planet at least 1/4 of labs. And OFC allow tech trading, push your diplomacy ability high, and go on tech shopping among AIs. Just never sell diplo tech, ground combat tech and wartech you exclusively own. BR, I

Hi! My submission for round 8. Took me awhile to finish this one. In first attempt I've missed cultural victory by about 6 weeks. In second I didn't wait for the "ultimate" warship to kick AIs' butts, but rather went with only level-3 point-defenses and advanced miniaturization. When game neared to decisive weeks, I simply spammed about 8 inluence starbases to push korx's influence back. 've again counted weeks wrong, but this time I was too cautious. Pitty, I could "milk" scores for 4 more

Hi! [quote]how and when does it become not initial and high maintenance?[/quote] It remains the same through the whole game. You need to "cover" it's maintenance with taxes from your pop. IIRC with taxes at 49% and econ ability ~50% one B pop on a planet will pay all the maintenance. BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]A 25% general economic increase over your whole empire is pretty good, but so is a 20% morale boost and not having to worry about spies. Hmm...heh, seriously, no idea which would be better. If the CEC works for you, especially at 4k+ bc per spy, then perhaps it is the better choice.[/quote] Depends on how high your morale ability is. If it is so high you already have taxes over 70% and still good overall growth, then Stock Markets are better. Also, if one has

Hi! [quote]So what happens to the ((base-spent)^1.1)*6) when (base-spent) is negative[/quote] If you'd read the Rush-buy bug/exploit in DA 1.80g thread, you wouldn't need to ask. BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]What happens when I put a tech capital on a tech tile?[/quote] Save game, put it there, check the research output. Load game, put there a lab, compare the research output to the previous one. Just 100 seconds of work, and you'll now for your whole life. Damn you all "Greeks"! BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]Separate prices for build vs upgrade?[/quote] This issue has already been covered. Check [link="https://forums.galciv2.com/301696"]Rush-buy bug/exploit in DA 1.80g[/link] thread. To prevent further "loss" of that info I've updated the wiki: [link="https://www.galciv.wikia.com/wiki/Planetary_improvements"]Planetary improvements[/link]. BR, Iztok

Hi! [quote]With the basic colonisation tech, you still have a 50% penalty.[/quote] Please note only the output of [B]FACTORIES[/B] is penalized. Everything else (research, growth, taxes...) works as usual. BR, Iztok