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The Galactic Civilizations Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document.
By Mark Anderson
Some editing by Brad Wardell (just an itty bitty tiny little bit).
(actually, if there is something that sounds real authoritative and
deals with some of the intricacies of OS/2 and GalCiv, it's Brad's
fau... handiwork.)
This document can be freely distributed.
Please Feel free to contribute to this document!
My internet address is: wombats@nmrfam.wisc.edu
Send all your wishlists, cheats, questions, etc. to me!
This document is broken into the following areas:
(1) The Game
1.1 Description
1.2 Hardware Requirements
(2) Frequently Asked Questions (Strategies and other hot tips)
2.1 The John Martz Strategy
2.2 The Brad Wardell Stategy (Draginol)
2.3 List of Various Stategy Hints
(3) Cheats
(4) How the AI is done
(5) Data and Numbers (incomplete)
5.1 Technology Tree
5.2 Projects
5.3 Galactic Achievements
5.3.1 The Achievements and Projects
5.3.2 Strategies Associated with the Above
(rather empty right now)
5.4 Technology and Ships
(6) Wishlist
(7) Where can I get GC?
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THE GAME
Chapter 1.1
GalCiv is an interstellar strategy game that puts humanity in the
position of getting a fresh start with chance to re-direct the
path of humanity for good, evil or shades thereof. The premise
of the game has an interstellar colony ship from Earth jumping to
some other galaxy via a freak wormhole. This forms the core of
humanity. The new galaxy is already inhabited by one to five
(player selectable) other space-faring races. The
"personalities" of the races can be determined randomly or they
can be chosen by the player, but the range of variation is less
if this is done. The human player (the actual "alien" in this
setting) directs the research paths of humanity, the planetary
construction and the ship building endeavors of the planets.
More importantly, various "events" occur that require the player
to make distinct choices between good, evil or neutral. These
choices can affect planetary production or budget levels, but
they also affect how the various alien races interact with the
human player. The game is allows the player to win by either the
classic, total conquest mode or a more cooperative mode of
allying with all of the factions of the galaxy.
One of the greatest appeals that the game has over other strategy
games is that the multi-threaded, multi-tasking architecture of
OS2 permits the use of real (whatever that means :) AI. In play
terms, it means that your opponents actually use better strategy
at the harder play levels, rather than relying on various
"cheats" to give them enough advantages to make the game a
challenge. The level of "smartness" is adjustable for each race
in the game and varies from "brain-dead" to "incredible" in 6
steps. The smartness levels less than "genius" are actually
handicapped. Brad Wardell's discussion of this feature is
detailed below.
The game features economic and population growth models that take
into account the level of taxation and the level of happiness of
the people. The level of happiness is related to the level of
social amenities on the planet as well as the degree of freedom
that is availible within the type of government. The game
designers admit to being influenced by "supply side" economics,
so your strategies in the game should take this into account.
The more democratic forms of government (Star Democracy and Star
Federation) have a senate that has elections every decade. Your
level of popularity determines your level of support in the
senate. The senate has the power to reject declarations of war
_or_ changes of governmental form. They actually vote on these
decisions and are not a rubber stamp for or against your
decisions.
Hardware Requirements
Chapter 1.2
SDS recommends at least a .... (i will look this up), about 14 MB
hard disk free (plus the swap space requirement of about 20 MB, but
remember that this is a SYSTEM swap space, not just for GalCiv), 8 MB
of RAM and all the speed you can get. (not that you need the speed
to run GalCiv, it's just that it's more interesting to drive a Lotus
than a Yugo.) This is, more or less, the full installation with
.avi files and sound.
*****************************************************************
************ STRATEGIES and OTHER HOT TIPS **********************
*****************************************************************
Chapter 2
How do I ????
The on-line help files actually make some of this faq a bit
redundant. Most of the button, menus, windows, etc. appear to
be nicely arranged in a hypertext file. Since this is an OS/2
program, help is just another window you can consult during the
the game. Play with it, it's informative. This is not to say
that the help is complete. It is missing some of the "Data
and Numbers" stuff I've outlined below, and has two large sections
wherein it explains that something goes in this spot.
{this was the original on-line docs, there is a new release of
the help docs that i've not seen, i believe, so this may have
changed}
How do I find the best planets?
Scouts seem to be the best way of locating any planets of
worth. Sometimes, if the geometry of the situation is
right, you might be able to predict where another race's
colony ship is headed and beat them to the spot.
John Martz suggests using 2 scouts to block another race from
colonizing a choice planet before you do. This strategy works
until impulse when you need 3 scouts. There are seldom any
planets left to colonize once you get Warp Drive.
Other than this, send your scouts out on an ever increasing
spiral and send out the colonists. The scout can be sent on
a diagonal sweep through a quadrant to pick up >50% of the
area in one pass or send it on a U-shaped course to pick
up 100%. The path of the "U" can be adjusted to have the
scout adjacent to the next target quadrant when it finishes.
Two scouts could be used to map a quadrant in one pass.
OK, I've found a planet, how do I colonize it?
First, build a colony ship, then plot a course for near the
system. Upon getting to the system, move the colony ship onto
the system/star marker. The planet window pops up and then you
can pick which planet to colonize. It used to be that if you
had chosen autopilot and marked the actual system as the
destination, it would automatically colonize the "best" planet.
This may be what you wanted, but I would use a colony ship
to rename my planets so I had to plot the final move manually.
A minor warning here: don't use autopilot to land directly on
a star system, especially if you're trying to boost the
population of that system. Land _near_ the system. Sure, you
might lose some of your movement, but that is better than
colonizing what you don't want to or putting a ship in orbit
around the wrong planet.
How does the economic system function?
There are four factors that affect the economy directly.
1) the tax-n-spend icon [$]: This icon gives you access to two
sliders that control the taxation rate and the spending rate.
Each represents the percentage of the availible that you are
tapping into, be it taxable income or spending capacity. Set
the % at 100 for taxes and you're taking all of the peoples'
money. They will not like this. Set the % at 100 for
spending, and you are spending at your maximum ability to
spend. If you take in more money than you spend, it builds up
in a treasury. Aside from overt taxation, your government
sponsors inter-galactic traders that give you a cut. This
helps fund your ambitious goals of ....inter-species alliance
or galactic conquest. It should be noted that Dean Iverson first
proposed a model similar to this one to Brad and company.
Continuing effors on the part of Steve Lamb, one of the beta
testers, helped convince SDS to implement this model in the game.
This is a compliment to Dean and Steve since the previous one was
a bit...less flexible.
2) the allocation icon [three horizontal sliders]: This icon
gives you access to three slider that control the % of your
spending that is going into military projects (star ships,
including colony ships and freighters), social projects
(entertainment centers, antimatter plants) and research
(technology advancement).
3) the planets [planets]: Each planet can handle building one
project or one ship at a time. If no planets are actually
building something, then you are not actually spending any
money and any reserve goes into your treasury.
4) the individual planets on the view window have local resource
allocation buttons. The four types of buttons are social projects
(the cornucopia), military projects (the open-end wrench),
research (the OS/2 terminal), and morale (the microphone). By
default, the morale icon is chosen whenever the another icon
becomes available (this may change in a future release). These
buttons are the best control one could have over the spending
of your galactic funds. An important note: the microphone
is "free", but the others require extra funds to support. Also,
the planet's morale is reduced most by choosing the military
or social allocations, and less reduced for chosing research.
How do I allocate my funds?
Funding is divided between ships (military), research and
social spending (planetary construction). In the early game,
I've tried pumping out the colony ships as fast as possible
with a 60/30/10 split on resources, plus setting my spending
level at 80% and keeping taxes at 28%. Observations: it's not
a sure-fire plan. I seem to spend too much time playing
"catch-up". I need to catch-up in research, social spending
and despite the high spending on colony ships, planets. I'm
now trying a more even split. Any comments on this would be
appreciated.
A more successful approach that I have been using lately was
suggested by John Martz. Set the the resource sliders to a
25/50/25 split. This game is driven by technology. He with
the best tech wins, or at least has a good shot at winning.
Getting to Impulse as fast as you can is paramount. Now, pump
out the colony ships and use you're hopefully superior movement
rate to compensate for your lack of omniscience. On the
technology front, shoot for Universal Translator and then
Galactic Trade. (as a note, John has said he's been trying
a 20/58/22 split and it seems to work just fine, if not
better.)
How often do these "Allocation Buttons" pop up?
Aside from a statement like, "when you have enough people", it
is related to the type of government and the absolute size of
the population. When the population is low, you get one icon
per 200k people when your government is imperial, per 150k when
a star democracy, and per 100k when a star federation. It is
not quite linear however. There is some sort of fudge factor
since I had 3 icons pop up for a 278k planet under a star
democracy, but 4 for a 611k planet. Also, when the population
gets into the millions, it takes millions to get another icon.
One day, someone with a lot of patience and some wonderful
attention span should generate the table.
How do I increase the population of my planets?
Make happy people. Happy people do happy things, and one of
those things is to increase the planet's population. One main
influence is taxation. If the tax rate is too high, then the
population does not grow, and in fact, even decreases. It is
not so much that you're taxing your people to death but that
instead of staying in your little settlement, they've joined
the Inter-stellar Posse Commitas. A planet is a very big
place, and a few hundred thousand, spread out, would be real
hard to find. However, be careful about lowering the tax rate
since the population gets even more unhappy about raising
taxes once they've been lowered than if you had kept them the
same.
Taxation aside, another method is to increase the moral of the
people through various social programs. Planetary programs
have primarily three functions: increase moral, increase
production or other. Most programs have mixed benefits but
some target one aspect in particular. Example: Entertainment
Networks. They do not help research or starship attacks, but
your people are much happier.
If your people are unhappy living where they are, ship them
somewhere else; off to war, for example. I've been known to
stick them in orbit, waiting for the next war. Reducing the
population of a planet is one way to make the remaining people
happy. It's best not to speculate why.
Reduce pollution. Polluted planets are unhappy planets.
Although Earth First! would not be a good name for unhappy
people in this situation, the projects your planets are
building may have to be put on hold to prevent widespread
revolt. Consider building pollution abatement projects.
Consider changing your resource allocations.
And lastly, reform your government. The increased freedoms of
the Star Democracy and the Star Federation can generate
happier people. However, if you already have low morale (40%
or less), going to these forms of government may actually
foster widespread revolt. While I've not tested it
personally, I am under the impression that Imperial
Governments do not suffer revolts. Or, at least, it has
to get a _whole_ lot worse than under the other two forms.
A GENERAL NOTE!!!!
DON'T FORGET THE RESOURCE ALLOCATION BUTTONS!!!
The details window of the planet can let you fine tune the
amount of resources you spend on various aspects of your
planet. (Either hit the [Details] from the View section
which is either by hitting [View] on the system window or
by a double-click LMB or use the RMB from the systems window.
You can vary the allocations between social projects
(the cornucopia), military projects (the open-end wrench),
research (the OS/2 terminal), and morale (the microphone).
Consider allocating resources at the local level instead of
doing it galactically with the sliders. (thanks, John)
I REALLY CAN'T EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH!!!!!
I used to have a tougher time facing the more challenging
opponents (I was getting creamed!), but with more diligent
monitoring of the local resources, it has been a very different
story. The Allocation Resource Buttons can make or break a
campaign!
How do I reduce pollution?
Basically, you have two choices. Either don't spend as much
money on military and social (i.e.-putting more in research)
or build pollution abatement projects. If the planet in question
has Resource Allocation buttons assigned to military and social
projects, switch them to research or morale.
Which research path should I select?
The beginning is easy. Take General Cold Fusion, followed by
Impulse Drive, then Universal Translator and Galactic Trade.
Start your trading empire since money is the key!!!!! Then,
pick up Galactic Diplomacy and race for Warp Drive (via
Antimatter) and Shields (via Deflectors). Then, grab
Battle Tech I. Above all, trade, trade, trade. Tech and
goods. However, don't trade Battle Tech unless it's with
an ally! John Martz first articulated this strategy in
several of his posts to comp.sys.os2.games. Of course, there
are lots of ways to play the game, this is one that works for
many.
What's the best way to conduct a war?
Aggressively! Given the design of the game, being the
attacker is _the_ bonus. What I mean by this, is that you
should _attack_ incoming, enemy vessels, rather than letting
them attack your systems and using the planetary defense bonus
as your protection. Cover your home systems with one
(maybe 2) ships and have a fleet nearby to attack incoming,
enemy vessels. It can also be handy to leave one planet
unguarded to act as a trap for enemy transports. Some of the
personalities in the AI do not see ships sitting in space as a
vicious threat, which they are. They only occasionally
attack them. Beware of Draginol. This military commander
was tweaked to counter this strategy and makes extensive use
of stealth cruisers.
How do I make friends and influence enemies?
Trade. Other routes of influence are the "secretly declare
war" option and the "destablize" option under the GIA.
How do I select the best trade routes?
Rich planet to rich planet, I think. I must admit to not
being very quantitative on this one, but that is what I think
I've been seeing. Do note, that as your planets improve,
you will need to send out new freighters to take advantage
of your increased planet wealth. New technology begets new
products for trade that in turn require new trade routes to
be established.
How do I bargain with those dirtba.... the customers?
hmmm????
In general, there are three basic characteristics for the race
with whom you are attempting to bargain. The first is their
"greed" level. I guess this affects how quickly they are
satisfied with a deal. The second characteristic is how
ethical they are. I suspect this governs whether the initial
bid will be reasonable or not. The last racial trait is
guillibility, which is easily tied to how tough it is to just
plain bargain with them. As a note, your fifth bid is your
last bid. If that bid is not accepted, you have lost the
deal.
One bidding method
First bid--bid as high as slider permits.
Second bid--only slightly lower than your previous bid. Often,
the AI will settle for a bid much higher than its
original bid.
Third bid--slightly higher than the AI's bid (the AI's third bid).
This bid is a more "realistic" bid in the "mind" of the
AI, and it will usually take it. Warning: occasionally,
the AI will break off trade at this point and start a
trade war.
Fourth bid--match the AI's bid (the fourth bid). If they don't like
your offer after this round, they will almost certainly
start a trade war. If their last offer isn't to your
satisfaction, DON'T BID--break of negotiations.
The above is from John Martz.
My experience with this is not so hot. Probably because it
conflicts with my normal bidding system of matching increases/
decreases, which seems to get me into a few trading wars now
and then.
More on bidding and trading
The trade system is something that really doesn't fit with the
"strategic" nature of the game but is fun (at least, a majority
of the play testers thought so) and gives a bit of a break from
the general flow of conflict in space. In the bidding process,
you can end up with one of three results.
1) you make the deal, the preferred outcome. However, the
deal you make will affect how the AI deals with you in the future.
If you were an easy sell, that is what they will expect later.
2) you start a trade war. This result is one designed to add
some cost and risk to the bartering. Sure, it's a bit unrealistic,
but since this is only a hand-wavy trading system, this is probably
one of the best compromises available for adding some tension to the
negotiations. One advantage to a trade war is that it does hurt
the both you and your victi... prospective customer. I've not
tried this as a war strategy (seems mildly self-destructive, to
say the least) but it does seem to make the more recalcitrant
trading partners a bit more pliable in future negotiations.
3) you break off. This has the effect of preventing you from
trading with that system for some period of time, it does save you
from a trade war and it saves your freighter for some other deal,
but it doesn't seem to influence the other race's bargaining pattern.
Again, the penalty is a method to encourage you to -deal- with
your trading partner. It may not be realistic, but then again,
this arbitrary idea that you would just pack up and try a whole
new planet just because you couldn't turn a high enough margin fails
to take into account the cost of the ship, the crew, the loans...etc.
Which planets should be doing what construction?
Obvious suggestions: always opt to increase production on a
planet, but other than that, chose military projects for the
frontier planets and social/research projects for the interior
planets. Beyond this, any planet I've colonized has built
"Soil Enhancement" followed by "Schools" and then
Entertainment Network". All three are cheap to build. Schools
have no maintenance cost so that is why I include them. The
choice of the Entertainment Network may be dubious. It is
expensive to maintain.
John Martz suggested Schools then Soil Enhancement. Since
a solid research program can be the key to this game, I concur
with this strategy, unless your tax rate is too high. If the
the tax rate is high (40%+) then the morale of the inhabitants
may be too low. Schools do not add enough morale, but a Soil
Enhancement project may.
Aside from a Battlestar, are there really any better ships than a
starfighter?
Yes, there are. From reading the net posts, the most
commonly used ships for offense are Battle Hammers, Interceptors,
and Battle Ships. Interceptors, with their superlative speed,
are good for scouting out what, if any, enemy ships are
approaching the area. Use the interceptor as a lure to drag
the enemy ships away from the vulnerable system. Interceptors
are just good enough to try and whomp the occasional
transport. However, they will often take damage from these
attacks, so caution is advised. Battle Hammers are
a poor man's battle ship. Yes, they can take out a Battle
Ship now and then. But, they will often take damage from such
an encounter. The AI will usually not attack a ship at full
strength but seldom lets a wounded foe escape. The Battle
Ship (and its off-spring) is the queen of the battle field.
Keep one or more handy near the home worlds for defense and
send the rest out on conquest. Watch the damage they
accumulate. If one takes too much, send it home for repairs.
They cost too much to try and rebuild from scratch. In
addition, Battle Cruisers are a good ship when you can't build
Battle Hammers. They are cheaper than Battle Axes, with a better
defense and higher speed.
For defense, the Defender, in orbit, is a good ship. If you
opt to be a good player (or you manage to trade for it), the
Corvette is an excellent ship on defense. In orbit, it can
take the occasional Battle Ship. This is definitely worth it!
As for the other ships, one of the most important is the
transport. Although I have yet to use this strategy, it would
seem that building some transports on a planet when it's not
doing any other projects is a good idea. You can blast the
opposing star fleet to radioactive debris but you've done
nothing unless you can invade! Note that all ships in orbit
are considered to be defending that planet/system so that you
can lose those ships if that system is attacked.
And for completeness, the colony ship is, of course, without
peer for being important! Next, try the freighter. Without
enough revenue from trade, your dreams of empire will most
likely come to naught. I would suggest holding a few
freighters in reserve for the inevitable lose of a trade or
two during a conflict.
OK, I built my silly transport, how does it work?
First, load up the transport with enough troops. A transport
can hold up to 500 legions. When clicking the LMB on a
transport in orbit, one of the options is to [add troops].
Note that troops come from you planets population. Next,
Ground combat! Take the transport to the enemy system and
move it onto the system marker. If there wasn't a shield
attached to the lower right corner of the system marker, then
the Ground Combat window pops up. The window is divided between
you and your opponent, each showing the number of troops involved
and a flashing pair numbers that represent some sort bonus
factors. When the moment is opportune (i.e.- you have a higher
bonus than the enemy), click the LMB in the window or hit the
[enter] key. The bonus range is influenced by your technology
advantage over your opponent. It also reflects the fact that
you control the space over your opponent's planet. The actual
casualty ratio reflects the ratio of the combat bonuses and
how well the planet was defened by projects such as the Military
Academy, Ground Defense, etc.
(as a note, some people are finding that a fully-laden transport
appears to be a fairly potent attack vessel. don't count on
this. this was a problem in one of the rounds of the beta, and
it was generally believed to have been fixed. it will doubtless
get "fixed" again soon. Supposedly, any ship with a 0 attack
should lose a combat if it attacks.)
What about the other ships?
(this is also a request for experience)
the destroyer looks interesting. faster than a battle cruiser,
but not as defensible, slower than an interceptor but better
armed...is it worth it? i'm trying them out and we'll see....
stealth cruiser...zippo for defense, but packs a whollop and
is fairly cheap. plus, the enemy CAN'T track them! good for
sneaking around and whompin' the back country or ambushing that
marauding battleship. they appear to be worth their cost.
I'm getting some crazy swapper growth. What did you guys do? Can't
you write a simple video game? Where's my lawyer???
Swapper growth was one of the most trying problems we had
with GalCiv. Because there are few large scale games (at the time
of GalCiv, there are no others that we know of), many of OS/2's more
obscure API calls were not well tested. As a result, tiny leaks in
OS/2 never got caught. Lucky for us, GalCiv uses those calls a lot
and those tiny leaks add up. There are, however, some solutions to
the problem (if you are getting it).
#1 Make sure you have GalCiv v1.01c or later. It works
around most of OS/2's leaks.
#2 MOST IMPORTANT: Set your swapper file size to default
to at least 8 megabytes. This can be done by going to
the config.sys and changing the second number in the
swapper path statment to 8092. We do not know why
this works but in my experience, this completely
eliminates swapper growth. I theorize that once your
swapper starts to grow in OS/2 (particularly OS/2 3.0)
it will just grow and grow and grow. By the way, this
advice applies to every OS/2 app, not just GalCiv.
#3 If you are still getting growth, try turning off the
sound and making sure Fastload (Windows) isn't activated.
#4 If none of the above work, contact IBM or SDS or AIMS.
I haven't bought GalCiv yet. What other games is it like?
It is most like Civilization with respect to the fact that you are trying
to create a civilization. It is like Empire in terms of how you work
you strategy. Each ship is its own unit. It also combines some elements of
Masters of Orion since you can win the game by forming a united galaxy
and diplomacy is a much more important aspect of the game than in
Civilization or Empire.
I really like GalCiv but I miss the feature in Masters of Orion where I
could design my own ships. Is there any way to make GalCiv more like
Masters of Orion?
On January 1, 1995, SDS will be releasing Shipyards for GalCiv which
will be an add on that lets you do just that. When Shipyards is
installed, a new button will appear on the icon bar that will let you
create new ships. Your opponents will also be able to build their own
ships. You can even choose how your ship will look like. One added
feature is that you can "steal" ship designs from your opponents.
Is it easier to win by being good or evil? Where's the payoff for being
a good guy?
Being a nice guy has never meant that you get rewarded. It works
like this though, good guys are treated better by other nice
civilizations. Being a bad guy offers a lot of short term benefits
but good civilizations will likely come after you while other evil
civilizations won't lift a finger to help you. There are about a
dozen technologies available only to good guys (there are also about
10 technologies only available to evil players too).
I've been hearing a lot about GalCiv but where I live there are no stores
that carry OS/2 software. How can I get GalCiv?
The best thing you can do is to try to get your store to carry it.
However, if that doesn't work, you can order it from numerous sources
including SDS. SDS's number is (313)782-2248 (FAX: 313-782-9868). All
you need is a credit card (or you can order it COD). They'll need your
name, address, city, zip, credit card number and expiration date. A
distributor called Micro Central will be the place to tell stores that
they can get it from.
I don't have OS/2, just Windows 3.1. Will there be a Windows 3.1 version
of GalCiv?
No.
How do I repair my ships?
Take them home. A ship can only be repaired by placing it in
orbit about its home-WORLD, not system, nor any other planet
in that system.
What does it mean that this game has a configurable set-up?
For me, it means that I can move the quadrant map to the left
hand side of the screen, move the button bar to the middle and
over-draw the graphs and button bar with my star map. If I
need the other two, I use the RMB to pop them up.
Who the hell is this John Martz guy??? Some GalCiv god-wannaby
or what?
Actually, John's just someone that was willing to engage in
a few rounds of e-mail discussions of strategy and tactics
for GalCiv. Since he's said the most to me about strategy
and such, he appears here quite frequently. If you want to
have your name in here (i could remove it too, if it's here
and you don't want it.) just give me some faq stuff. Besides,
this way I can't be blamed for anything other than typos and
such 8).
What is the "Dynamic Mapping" option that I find?
Simply enough, "dynamic mapping" means that your star map
only grows in size as you explore more area of the map. This
can be very handy in a large or huge galaxy when the initial
star map would then be a more managable size while you're
trying to explore it. This also works to your psychological
disadvantage (if you don't use quadrant #s) as you might not
have a good idea as to your position in the galaxy and where
you will probably find your nearest neighbors.
However, it does have the disadvantage of making it awkward
to send a ship to someplace that you have yet to explore since
since you can't just click on the star map for that far away
quadrant and then just use "autopilot" to send your ship there.
How do I end an alliance with another race?
There are two ways to do this. Both involve using the GIA
options. The obvious way is to talk with your ally and then
tell them that "you're not doing your part". This will end
the alliance. If you choose to destabilize your ally, then
they will tell you that they have discovered this and that
if you don't stop, they will consider this a provocation for
war. Whether you stop or not is irrelevant because the
alliance has ended.
How does one STEAL technology? I am spying like crazy, when do I get
to steal tech?"
Once you have stolen enough data from the civilization to have
all 6 info categories filled, you will begin to randomly steal
technology from time to time. The reasoning is that before your
spies can rip off tech, they have to know everything there is
to know about the civilization to blend in enough to steal
ultra-high-tech stuff.
2.1 Strategies - John Martz
(maybe i can get john to write it up or send me the formal
write-up that he gave sds. It should be noted that most of
this strategy is outlined in the hints above.)
2.2 Brad Wardell (this is included with minimal editing at
this point)
There are a lot of ways to do well in GalCiv and
even more ways of doing poorly. I read John Martz's strategy
which is a very good one for doing well at the game but there
are some things you should know. The SDS/AI v1.01 which is the
AI included in the retail version does have the AI personalities
at a disadvantage so that usrs wouldn't get trounced by it
too bad. Judging by the volume of posts talking about the AI
and their reviews of it, I think it safe to say that most people
are finding it very challenging. But like any game, the longer
you play, the better you get and weaknesses found. As the
FAQ of GalCiv mentions, there are a couple of things we didn't
let any of the personalities in the 1.01 AI do. Such things
include:
o Buying ships via purchase now
o Changing their planetary resources
o Resource penalities (not only does the AI play by the same rules but
it doesn't even get as many resources as you do until the Genius Level)
And a number of other minor traits. In v1.02 of the AI which is in
gcfix02 and the soon to be released via BBS/FTP gcfix03 (aka GalCiv v1.02)
has the new SDS/AI v1.02 in which we allowed ONE of the 6 personalities
to be able to do the above 3 things. The results are almost alarming.
We only let them do those things on "Smart" or above so that new users
aren't discouraged by being creamed by the AI over and over.
As mentioned in AIMS product literature, once users have gotten good
enough to beat the game on the most difficult level, SDS (Stardock Systems)
will enhance the AI further.
The number of strategies of winning the game are too many to count. Let
me tell you the way I play the game.
I usually play in a Medium sized galaxy and set the players to all being
"Smart". I don't race for technology or even planets so much. I choose
Cold Fusion and then Impulse Drive to get my ships faster. I try to pick
very very nice planets or stars which have a lot of decent planets.
Once I colonize, I immediately go for Univeral Translator and then
Galactic Trade. I then begin a great trading empire with all of the
players. You can have 10 trade routes max and I give 2 very profitable
ones to each player. I should point out that you will probably want to
continually update your trade routes because as the planets grow, your
deals with the local star system merchants will be more profitable. At
first, deals of $20 will have to be acceptable. But once everyone has
gone to a democratic form of governmetn and populations for star systems
explode, you will want to start killing off trade routes and go back and
re-negotiate your trade route. Deals of $150 to $200 per route are not
uncommon. If you do 2 of those with each player, that's a good $300 to
$400 per player. However, I usually, at this point, don't evently divide
it (only early in the game). I choose the most powerful military powers
to trade with since you usually have 2 power houses and the other 3 are
relatively weak, that comes out to being nearly $1000 with each of the
two power houses. This puts you in a situation where they cannot
economically afford to go to war with you and the AI knows that. Keep
your fleet relatively powerful and have Battle Hammers or Battle Ships
patrolling your quadrants space so that if someone should be unwise
enough to go war with you, you can help take out their forces.
During this time, I'm getting about $2000 from trade (assumingI'm not
at war). I pump that money into espionage. ONce you learn the 6
categories of a particular empire, you will begin to steal technology.
It comes in spurts. Don't be surprised if you pick up a good 3 to 5
technologies in a single turn when you hit the spying jackpot! This
way, I don't have to spend tons of money on Research but can put it into
social programs and keeping a decent miltary which I can fund with the
$2000 in trade I get.
Another important point is that I play as a NEUTRAL player. This is
important because if you are a goody-goody, the bad guys will come after
you no matter what since they know that good guys will go after evil
guys. Moreover, if you play as an evil civilization, the good guys will
come after you even if they know they'll get blown to bits because it's
well "the right thing to do". Playing as a neutral allows me to stay
out of the wars and watch the empires trash each other. I can take sides
and put money into destabilizing. Since the tough empires trade so much
with me, I can get away with destabilizing for a long time and watch their
empires fall apart due to rebellion in which I quickly send in the
troops to capitalize on their loss.
THIS IS IMPORTANT!
It is a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTT easier to conquer a star system
controlled by rebels/pirates because they are disorganized. If I were
simply to go to war with one of the other empires, I would take massive
casualties. Anyone who's played the game long enough knows that when
star systems have populations of 4 million people, it's a major undertaking
to invade them. But a population of 4 million in a rebel star system
where the defenses are scattered and in disarray, I can take them over
with less than 2 million troops easily.
In contrast to John Martz's strategy, I believe that MONEY is the key
to winning GalCiv, NOT technology.
WARTIME BEHAVIOR:
The different AI's rely on commerce to different degrees.
Denethor is the trading nut of the pack and will finaance wars by
trading with friendly empires during war time. Make sure that you
destroy his freighters if you are at war with him. It's a lot worse
to have a few freighters get by then a few battle axes.
CONTROL THE QUADRANTS
If you are in a quadrant with lots of other empires in them,
make it your #1 priority to control that quadrant so that you can
get the benefits of controlling a quadrant (tourism). Build wahtever
improvements, achievements, super projects, whatever to get your
population high enough in that quadrant to control it. Make sure
you have a chance at doing so before you do that since you don't
want to fail and send more money to an enemy.
In Conclusion:
There are lots of strategies in GalCiv that will let you
be successful. I choose CF, Impulse, Univeral Trans, Trade, Dip.,
Star Democracy, Photons, Inst. comm, Federation and then go for more
weapons. I trade as much as I can and in TWO stages. I wipe out
my early trade routes once the stars have reached critical mass so
that I can estabilish very profitable NEW trade routes with empires
that are more powerful than I am militarily. Once I do this, I can
effectively control them (depending on the difficulty level) via
economic pressuring. Let the others wipe each other out and deplete
their resources and then turn on the destabilizing with civilizations
that displease me and take over rebellious planets with minimal
casualties and no warfare involved.
I'd be interested to hear other strategies. With 6 different
AI personalities and the options available in the game itself, I
imagine there are a LOT of different ways of being good at the game.
Brad
2.3 List of Various Strategy Hints
----from Will Herrera
I have found one particular strategy that
works very well in preventing invasion in most cases when money is
available (and I keep a thosand or more in reserve:
1. Post sentry ships in EACH quadrant you control and in every
quadrant between and adjacent to the ones you control. Use fast ships
with good attack; you can partially ignore defense capability in the
sentry ships, although the Phoenix and other high-level attack ships
tend to be too expensive and too under-defended to just sit on sentry
duty when one or two Interceptors or a Battle Hammer can often do the
job. Use Interceptors first, then Battle Hammers, then Avatars, etc.
These ships are your early warning system, since they tell you when
ships come through and let you take out passing enemy vessels before
they reach your plantets. In many games, you can _always_ prevent
invasion of your planets in this way; destroy enemy transports before
they reach a defenseless world.
2. Post Defenders (two or more) on each world. If these are taken out
by enemy vessels, immediately buy new ones. Usually the AI will send
troops in a wave AFTER the star is defenseless. By then, you have a new
Defender, and your sentry ships will have remove much of the invaders
(expect some ship casualties if the enemy has better ships than you
do).
And a tactical note:
3. If a planet is beyond hope, abandon it just before it is
succesfully invaded. No technology will be stolen by the enemy, and if
it is a planet with few remaining resources it may sit ignored by the
enemy AI and can be re-colonized later (is this a bug?)
---- from John Altstadt
Here are some additional strategies that people can try out while waging
war:
1) Surround the stars of defenceless enemy systems to prevent anybody
from poaching while you are bringing in troop transports for the ground
war. Of course, you will want to poach on the conquests of other races.
2) The Mongolian Hordes: (I found a couple of bugs in the last beta
doing this.) This works best in a huge galaxy any you must start your
civilization on an edge or corner. Build enough ships that you can make
a wall around each star system at least one layer deep + spares. Expand
the walls until they meet and you eventually have a wall that runs from
one edge of the galaxy to the other. Slowly sweep across the galaxy,
taking over any star systems that you come across. Transports will be
able to move around in the cleared area with no fear of being attacked.
Note that this is _very_ costly in the early stages due to high ship
maintenance costs vs. the low number of planets under your control.
I am amazed at how well you can simulate classic infantry manuvers with
GalCiv. This could be a good primitive (as in historical) war games
tool if you could get two large fleets of battle stars up against one
another.
*****************************************************************
************ CHEATS and OTHER BLACK HOLES ***********************
*****************************************************************
Chapter 3
There are at least two little "holes" in the game for
unscrupulous players to exploit. Or frustrated players....
Or those days you just wanna trash the galaxy and you don't care
how you do it....Or....
1) "REAL" Warp Drive
If you move your ship out the corner of a border quadrant at
the border, your ship will appear in the next quadrant in the
same square you attempted to "leave". This is obviously a way of
moving REAL FAST (done in a Dave Barry voice).
2) Population Growth via "Shore Leave"
If you remove all the troops from a transport, leave and then
return that ship to its homeworld, it will instantly gain another
20,000 troops (20 legions). Repeat as needed. As a note, this
is also a bug. In the bug state, your transport full of legions
gets "repaired" to the 20 level. (this may not be true in the
GA, i need to check this out more closely)
3) Prescience
You can always save the game after it starts and then map out
the universe. It would probably be easiest to do a and then annotate the print-out. Then, restart.
Since the AI doesn't cheat, you can be a true prophet and
know exactly what is going to happen.
4) Lease to own
If you suddenly find that you need a big ship, buy it in parts.
Start with a cheap ship, buy it, and then just incrementally
increase the cost of the ship to a different design, buy it, etc.
This will work out to be much cheaper than paying for the full
cost in one fell swoop.
*****************************************************************
*****************************************************************
The following is courtesy Brad Wardell of Stardock Systems, Designer
of GalCiv. Brad hides at 22wardel@cs.wmich.edu. I did some editing.
The AI:
The AI is split into two modules: SDSAI.DLL which is a general
artificial intelligence engine that we'll be using in other
products and GCAI.DLL which is specific to GalCiv.
The key thing to remember about the AI in GalCiv is that it does
not make a distinction between you and the computer players. It
uses the same code as the human players does for moving ships,
building projects, etc. It plays by the same rules except for a
couple of important differences:
#1 The Computer players are NOT currently allowed to purchase
ships. We felt that it would make the game too difficult if the
computer players were allowed to (like you can) just use their
treasury and buy a ship every turn. If people are able to beat
the AI regularly on the higher levels then we may reconsider this
but for now, this human advantage is in the GA.
#2 Human players cannot send the AI nasty messages like the AI
can to you. This is obviously for entertainment value. Human
players also can't ask for help from friendly players in the form
of "give us ships". This may be added in a v1.1 or something.
#3 The computer players start out with a planet whereas you start
out in a space ship. This is for plot reasons. Unlike the
betas, in the GA you will have the possibility of having type 16
planets in your starting quadrant (in the betas, you only got
class 12 planets guaranteed).
#4 The Aliens already know what color all the stars are in surrounding
quadrants.. This is a huge advantage since yellow stars almost always have
a nice planet in them. This was put in for plot reasons (beta 1 testers
complained that it didnt' make any sense for the AI not to have mapped
out most of the galaxy (afterall, we earthlings have in our native galaxy
over the milenium).
Other than that, the AI follows the same rules. If you find that
the AI is doing something you deem unfair, email me with a bug
report because that is what it would be, a bug. The AI doesn't
distinguish between you and other players for among other things,
the possibility of adding modem/network play in later versions
(should the game do well in the market).
GC/AI:
The GCAI is what we could call the politicians. IT
decides when to go to war, how to talk to you, how to approach
you in dealing with things. It takes into account when dealing
other playres (including you):
Their good/evil alignment.
Their relative military strength.
Trade agreements and how nice things went.
Their aggression level.
Their cooperation level
Their ethical level
Their greed level
Their insanity level* (the computer looks only at its
own. It doesn't know the other
players' insanity level)
(all of these they look at their own level and the other
players).
* note, the AI may not KNOW all of these about a player,
they go with what information they have available.
All of the above information is available to the human
player either directly or from spying. In fact, none of the
above things require you to even spy on them, since you can find
this information in the GIA window and under the
espionage/military window under the GIA.
Good guys tend to bond with other good guys. They don't worry
about how tough or powerful the other good guy is (in general).
Keep in mind, only REALLY good guys will totally neglect your
military or trade with them when deciding to be nice to you or
someone else. There are 20 shades of Good.....EVIL (You can
select 5 differenet level of Good or evil for them but if you let
it randomly choose, it will have a finer granularity).
Really bad guys will look a bit more favorably on other really,
really bad guys but they don't tend to bond as well as good guys
do. Bad guys may not declare war on each other but they will
also not ally together quite as often. Still though, the end
result can be a game with Good vs. Evil if you select extremists.
The down-right neutrals (shade 10 out of 20) only care about
trade. You want a Ferengi-type race, choose a neutral. The
EXACT neutral type has extra logic to make it a fence sitter.
There's, of course, a lot more detail in this but I don't want to
spoil the game too much !
SDS/AI:
The GCAI are the politicians, the SDSAI are the generals.
The GA version of GalCiv has 5 different release level
Personalities or Advisors. You can imagine each personality
being a separately programmed entity. They share some common
code for things such as dodging obstacles and finding undefended
star systems that they know of, but most of what they do is
unique. This is important because if people say, "The AI was
dumb, it chased my scout all over the place while I trashed the
rest of them, heh heh", they really should say "Advisor N is
dumb, they did ..." because the others may not (and do not) do
things the same way.. Some Personalities go for having a large
trading fleet, others will play vulture and will quit colonizing
quickly and then build trasnports (gee, I bet none of you guys
did something as low as that, eh?).
The Advisors Code names can be found by looking in the
Espionage Window under "Military".
The names are:
Sauronir
Denethor
Draginol
Mascrinthus
Calor
Not all of the personalities will use Terror Stars, for
example, because of their destructive value. People who die as a
result of being killed on a transport (when you destroy a
transport) or on a planet due to a terror star are now counted as
part of the overall casaulty list. So if you get Terror Stars (or
the AI uses them), you'll know how many troops (in legions: 1
legion = 1k troops) have been destroyed.
End submission by Mr. Wardell
****************************************************************
***************** WHERE IS/ARE THE xxxx? *********************
****************************************************************
- autopilot on/off?
Under the floppy disk icon is the setup button. This button
pops up that function and other useful functions such as sound,
avi, etc.
- background process control?
Under the floppy disk icon is the setup button. This button
pops up that function and other useful functions such as sound,
avi, etc.
- place to reform my government?
Under the icon up from the floppy disk icon is the reform gov't
button. It's the "Reports" icon that looks like a sheet of
paper.
- reports of how I am doing?
There are four types of "how am I doing" information. All of
this information resides under the "Reports Icon" (the sheet of
paper). The first option is the "Top Five Planets" listing. One
should strive at all times to keep this free of alien riff-raff.
A second option is the "Demographics" listing. This is a screen
of statistics such as % of galactic population, absolute and %
production values, etc. A third option is the button that
compares humanity to all of the other races in the game. It's a
relative scoring that shows how much you're pumping into R&D
relative to your competitors. The fourth option is the score
button which also gives you a good/neutral/bad ranking.
- listing of my ships?
The icon with the Earth over a triangle is the fleet icon.
From here, you can click on a ship and then either pull up the
ship display window (if it's in orbit) or it will plop you into
the quadrant that the ship occuppies and highlight that ship.
- place to find out how much damage my ship has taken?
There are 3 ways to find this out. One, use the RMB to pull up
the ship control menu. Two, look at the strength number at the
bottom of the screen. Three, look at how many black smudges are
smeared across the ship menu at the bottom of the screen. The
more smudges, the worse off the ship is.
- that planet that was preparing to rebel?
Click on that planet in the GNN window when it appears. You
will then be flipped over to the planet menu to deal with the
problem. For getting to a planet in a more general way, use the
icon with the planets on it to pull up an alphabetical listing of
all of your planets.
- the listing of all of the trade routes I have?
Click on GIA and then you will find a small button at the
bottom of the window. Once in this menu, you can prune away
trade routes that you don't want.
*****************************************************************
TECHNOLOGY TREE (or "Can I get Artificial Life if I can't Phase
properly?")
*****************************************************************
Chapter 5.1
**** under construction ****
**** please bear with us ***
Nano-Electronics
-> Nano-Frequencies -> Brainwave Mapping
-> Instant -> Cure for Depression
Communications
-> Star Federation
-> Nano-Metal Composition -> High Density Metals (destroyer)
-> Tri-Strontium Alloys
-> Large Scale Building
(battle hammer)
Brainwave Mapping
Large Scale Building
-> Terra Computers
-> Advanced AI's
-> Hyper-Computers
-> Interspecies Philosophy
General Cold Fusion (small fighter)
-> Impulse (transport)
-> Anti-matter
-> Warp Drive
-> Hyperspace
-> Hyperwarp (if a good race)
Phasor (interceptor)
-> Turbo-phasor (battlecruiser)
-> Advanced Phasor (if a good race) (corvette)
-> Mega-phasor
-> Antimatter Weapons
Photon Weapons (star fighter)
-> Sensors (battle ax)
Organic Manipulation
-> Genetic Mapping
-> Transporters
Universal Translator
-> Galactic Trade (freighter)
-> Galactic Diplomacy
-> Alliances
-> Star Democracy
and there's more...
BIG NOTE! missing the evil technologies! there are lots of
them, such as Galactic Collusion, Distruptors, Master Race,
Thought Control, Clever Chip, and more!
*****************************************************************
PROJECTS - (or "Gee, we need 0-G porta-potties.
What does it do and how do we do it?)
*****************************************************************
Chapter 5.2
The following is an alphabetized listing of the various projects
that can be built on a planet if the technology is available.
The project names were, in some cases, abbreviated to near
obscurity. I was attempting to get enough room on the right-hand
side to put in the technology necessary to achieve the project.
They didn't fit, so I duplicated the list and used full names.
The various abbreviations for effects (first list) are as
follows: TI = Trade Increase; Mor = Morale; Ship A = Ship
Attack; Ship D = Ship Defense; Gnd Def = Ground
Defense; Res = Research; Env = Anti-pollution Effect;
Maint = Maintenance; Cost = Cost in bc.
It should be noted that since I usually play the good-guy role, the
projects here include many of the projects that only "nice guys" can
get to such as Advanced Hospitals. In GalCiv, what technologies
are available to you depends on whether you are good or evil. In a
future round of the faq, I'll either list them separately, or mark
them as good and integrate the evil techs into the list.
Production Ship Gnd
Project Name | TI Mor| A D |Def|Res|Env|Maint|Cost|
--------------|-----------------|---|---|---|-----|----|
Adv Hospital | 15 05 10 | -- --|-- | 05| | 4 | 900|
Adv Mil Trn | 15 -- 10 | 35 --|60 | --| | 0 |1100|
Adv Poll Ctrl | 30 10 20 | -- --|-- | 01| 10| 3 |1500|
Antimtr Plant | 83 33 50 | 02 --|-- | 02| | 4 |1000|
Cont Environ | 30 30 -- | -- --|-- | --| | 0 |2000|
Currency Sys | 25 15 10 | -- 01|-- | 01| | 3 | 500|
Defense Sys | 06 01 05 | 10 15|45 | 01| | 5 |1100|
Entertain Net | 37 02 35 | -- --|-- | --| | 4 | 100|
Environ Ctrl | 05 -- 05 | -- --|-- | --| 3| 2 | 500|
Fusion PP | 35 25 10 | 10 --|-- | 05| | 3 | 500|
Gal Curr Exc | 72 20 52 | -- --|-- | --| | 5 |1000|
Gal Ent Ntwk | 35 -- 35 | -- --|-- | --| | 4 | 500|
Gal Info Net | 22 10 12 | -- --|-- | 30| | 4 |1000|
Gnd Defense | 04 -- 04 | 03 03|50 | --| | 3 | 200|
Hydroponics | 30 10 20 | -- --|-- | 10| | 3 |1100|
Im Poll Ctrl | 15 05 10 | -- --|-- | --| 5| 5 |1000|
Info Net | 10 02 08 | -- --|-- | 10| | 2 | 100|
Int Security | 06 01 05 | 02 08|-- | --| | 1 | 300|
Mil Academy | 10 -- 10 | 15 05|50 | --| | 2 | 380|
Mutat Ctrl | 40 10 30 | 01 01|-- | 02| | 1 | 900|
Multimedia | 20 05 15 | -- --|-- | --| | 4 | 800|
Phasing PP | 40 20 20 | -- --|-- | 20| | 10 |1000|
Planet Poll | 10 -- 10 | -- --|-- | --| 3| 1 | 500|
Schools | 06 02 04 | -- --|-- | 15| | 0 | 50|
Soil Enhan | 32 02 30 | -- --|-- | --| | 2 | 50|
Treat Ctr | 17 05 12 | -- --|-- | --| | 3 | 600|
University | 10 05 05 | 02 --|-- | 20| | 2 | 200|
Virt R Ctr | 60 10 50 | -- --|-- | --| | 5 | 900|
Evil Projects - I have yet fully to map out evilness.
Collusion Mgm | 20 20 -- | -- --|-- | --| | oops| 600|
Comp Surveill | 21 01 20 | -- --|-- | 02| | 6 |1200|
Elite Gnd For | -- -- -- | 05 05|55 | --| | 5 |grrr|
Secret Police | 25 -- 25 | -- --|30 | --| | 5 | 700|
Advanced Hospitals - Viral Elimination [good]
Advanced Military Training - Terror Star
Advanced Pollution Control - Planetary Destruction
Antimatter Plant - Antimatter Weapons
Computer Surveillance - Advanced Surveillance (via Terra Computers) [evil]
Collusion Management - Galactic Collusion [evil]
Controlled Environment - Replication
Currency System - Star Democracy
Defense System - Planetary Defense
Elite Ground Forces - Master Race (via Genetic Mapping) [evil]
Entertainment Network - (given)
Environmental Controls - Nano Electronics
Fusion Power Plant - General Cold Fusion
Galactic Currency Exchange - 4D Phasing
Galactic Entertainment Network - Star Democracy
Galactic Info Net - Terra Computers
Ground Defense - (given)
Hydroponics - Organic Manipulation
Improved Pollution Control - Planetary Destruction
Info Net - Terra Computers
Internal Security - Sensors
Military Academy - Shields
Mutation Control - Evolution Control
Multimedia Center - 1D Phasing
Phasing Power Plant - 3D Phasing
Planetary Pollution Control - Artificial Planets
Secret Police - Thought Police (via Brainwave Mapping) [evil]
Schools - (given)
Soil Enhancement - (given)
Treatment Center - Advanced Pain Treatment
University - (given)
Virtual Reality Center - 3D Phasing
This was contributed by Dave Chaloux (chaloux@mandolin).
There has been talk by various people around here of developing planets
in different ways. For example you might develop some planets to concentrate
on research. Using the info in the FAQ, I created the following table that
tries to show how much benefit you get from the various improvements per
100bc spent. You will note that there are a few key improvements that are
MUCH better than average. Note that research is the sum of research benefits +
production. This may not be the right formula as I maybe should have
multiplied. I really can't tell without seeing the code which is right.
Either way, it wouldn't affect the order given very much. I could add in
evil improvements if I had the data for it. This should help you decide
what to build first.
===============================================================================
Production:
Soil Enhance 64.0
Entertain Net 37.0
Schools 12.0
Info Net 10.0
Antimtr Plant 8.3
Gal Curr Exc 7.2
Fusion PP 7.0
Gal Ent Ntwk 7.0
Virt R Cntr 6.667
Currency Sys 5.0
University 5.0
Mutat Ctrl 4.444
Phasing PP 4.0
Treat Cntr 2.833
Hydroponics 2.727
Mil Academy 2.632
Multimedia 2.5
Gal Info Net 2.2
Adv Poll Ctrl 2.0
Gnd Defence 2.0
Int Security 2.0
Planet Poll 2.0
Adv Hospitals 1.666
Cont Enviro 1.5
Im Poll Cont 1.5
Adv Mil Trn 1.364
Environ Ctrl 1.0
Defence Sys 0.545
Trade:
Fusion PP 5.0
Soil Enhance 4.0
Schools 4.0
Antimtr Plant 3.333
Currency Sys 3.0
University 2.5
Entertain Net 2.0
Info Net 2.0
Gal Curr Exc 2.0
Phasing PP 2.0
Cont Environ 1.5
Virt R Cntr 1.111
Mutat Ctrl 1.111
Gal Info Net 1.0
Hydroponics 0.909
Treat Cntr 0.833
Adv Poll Ctrl 0.666
Multimedia 0.625
Adv Hospitals 0.555
Im Poll Ctrl 0.5
Int Security 0.333
Defence Sys 0.091
Morale:
Soil Enhance 60.0
Entertain Net 35.0
Schools 8.0
Info Net 8.0
Gal Ent Ntwk 7.0
Virt R Cntr 5.556
Gal Curr Exc 5.2
Antimtr Plant 5.0
Mutat Ctrl 3.333
Mil Academy 2.632
University 2.5
Fusion PP 2.0
Currency Sys 2.0
Phasing PP 2.0
Treat Cntr 2.0
Gnd Defence 2.0
Planet Poll 2.0
Multimedia 1.875
Hydroponics 1.818
Int Security 1.667
Adv Poll Ctrl 1.333
Gal Info Net 1.2
Adv Hospitals 1.111
Environ Ctrl 1.0
Im Poll Ctrl 1.0
Adv Mil Trn 0.909
Defence Sys 0.455
Research:
Soil Enhance 64.0
Schools 42.0
Entertain Net 35.0
Info Net 20.0
University 15.0
Antimtr Plant 8.5
Fusion PP 8.0
Gal Curr Exc 7.2
Gal Ent Ntwk 7.0
Virt R Cntr 6.667
Phasing PP 6.0
Currency Sys 5.2
Gal Info Net 5.2
Mutat Ctrl 4.667
Hydroponics 3.636
Treat Cntr 2.833
Mil Academy 2.632
Multimedia 2.5
Adv Hospitals 2.222
Adv Poll Ctrl 2.067
Gnd Defence 2.0
Int Security 2.0
Planet Poll 2.0
Cont Environ 1.5
Im Poll Ctrl 1.5
Adv Mil Trn 1.364
Environ Ctrl 1.0
Defence Sys 0.636
*****************************************************************
GALACTIC ACHIEVEMENTS (or "Inter-stellar Merit Badges Made
Easy!!)
*****************************************************************
Chapter 5.3.1
A general note on these descriptions: they do _not_ include any
definitive strategy hints. The "worth it" and "what if my
neighbors build one" notes are quick and dirty hints but should
not be used to make a real stratigic plan. The game is probably
too new for any suggestions on _the_ best achievements or _the_
ones to avoid or restart, etc. Occasionally, I did say something
to that effect, but that was only if you absolutely had to have
that achievement to make your game.
Cloaking Device - need: Cloaking
cost: 2000 bc
expiration date: NONE!
bonus: 30% ship attack, 1% defense
worth it????: yes, plus the big bonus of all ships
that are built are now equiped with
cloaking tech so they can't be tracked!
what if my neighbors
build one?: don't worry, every one has secrets.
Controlled Wormhole - need: Spatial Rifts
cost: 1400 bc
expiration date: ...forgot...
bonus: +50% trade! and 10% research
worth it????: maybe...depends upon if you're racing
for the tech that ends its useful
life.
what if my neighbors
build one?: I don't know.
Crystalai - need: Advanced AI's
cost: 4000 bc
expiration date: none
bonus: adds +1 to all inhabitated planet class
worth it????: it's a LONG project! But it is
worth the increased population growth.
what if my neighbors
build one?: anyone can improve their homes through
their local Planets-R-Us dealer!
Dinosaur Park Wonder: Replication
cost: 2000 bc
expiration date: Artificial Planets
bonus: +50% production
worth it????: if you're racing for Artificial
Planets, then this is not the project
for you.
what if my neighbors
build one?: sorry, only one per galaxy. Copyright.
Deep Thought - need: Terra Computers
cost: 2200 bc
expiration date: Omni Computers
bonus: +40% research for _ALL_ planets.
worth it????: Definitely one of the Wonders for which
to strive. The 40% research boost is
wonderful. (what? me? pun? nyah.)
what if my neighbors
build one?: The galaxy can only have one Deep
Thought.
Eyes of the Universe: Sensors
cost: 1000 bc
expiration date: none
bonus: none
worth it????: in a huge universe, probably so,
especially if you push straight for
it and gain its use for colonization.
Otherwise, it's of limited use
what if my neighbors
build one?: you're blind.
Galactic Stock Exchange: Star Democracy
cost: 920 bc
expiration date: NONE!
bonus: +50% trade
worth it????: Without a doubt! The only drawback
is the pollution it can create on a
very productive planet. Poor baby.
what if my neighbors
build one?: too late. you lose. start over.
HyperSpace Project- need: Hyperspace
cost: 1000 bc
expiration date: none
bonus: none
worth it????: if you're at war, the +2 move can be
a real nice advantage. If you're foes
have it, you are at a real
disadvantage, so you'd better get
building!
what if my neighbors
build one?: read the above carefully.
Life Creation - need: Artificial Life
cost: 2600 bc
expiration date: oops!
bonus: +25% morale, +30% research
worth it????: the morale and research bonuses are
nice. The project is a bit expensive
but if you want to stay ahead...?
what if my neighbors
build one?: don't know that one either.
Nano Robot Wonder- need: Nano Electronics
cost: 500 bc
expiration date: Terra Computers
bonus: none
worth it????: sure, why not? not much more expensive
than a fusion plant and gives more
output. But, if you're after those
info nets in a big hurry, don't bother.
what if my neighbors
build one?: no problem, build your own!
Peace for a time- need: Interspecies Philosophy
cost: ????
expiration date: ????
bonus: ????
worth it????: no clue. I've never had a chance to
build this project. Wild speculation?
It can only be built by alien races.
That would be cool....in a way.
what if my neighbors
build one?: You're assuming you can.
Trison Ring - need: Large Scale Building (I'll say!)
cost: 1200 bc
expiration date: none! ha, ha, ha, ha
bonus: +40% trade, +1% defense, +10% research
worth it????: YES! Just like the Galactic Stock
Exchange, build it!
what if my neighbors
build one?: too late.
Tur-Ahn Training- need: Planetary Defense
cost: 1100 bc
expiration date: Replication
bonus: +40% attack, defense, +100% ground def.
worth it????: if you are at war, want to go to war,
or fear being at war, don't hesitate.
what if my neighbors
build one?: hope they are your friends.
Utopia Colony - need: Utopia
cost: 6000 bc (ouch!)
expiration date: there is one.... I think.
bonus: +20% trade and morale
+5% attack, defense and ground def.
+20% research.
worth it????: it gives a lot of bonuses. It costs
a lot! It comes very late in the game.
More experience is definitely needed.
what if my neighbors
build one?: I hope everyone can have a utopia!
There will be other evil Wonders (Super Projects/
Galactic Achievements) you can build too but those are not
mapped out.
5.3.2 Strategic Planning with Super Projects
I want to get some more discussion as to the virtues and
deficits of the various projects. The easiest is Tur-Ahn
Training, but what of the others? (Help me, Mr. Wizard!)
A couple of quick suggestions:
If there is an Achievement that you REALLY want to build, but
don't have the tech for yet, start one that you can build
and then switch to the project you want. One warning, DON"T
FORGET ABOUT IT! Nothing worse than accidently building what
you didn't want and then having someone else scoop you!
Don't be too concerned about building the generic Achievements.
You can always pick up the generic ones when you feel you really
need them, but once a unique one has been built.... Tur-Ahn
Training, the Trison Ring and the Galactic Stock Exchange come
to mind.
*********************************************************************
TECHNOLOGY AND SHIPS (or "something clever goes here")
*********************************************************************
Chapter 5.4
(currently COSTS are prone to errors, i'm doing it from memory)
(mainly trying to rough it out)
Name | A D S V M Cost | Technology
________________|_____________________|___________________________
Avatar | 20 20 11 3 20 800 | Avatar Tech
Battle Axe | 8 2 6 1 2 180 | Sensors
Battle Cruiser | 5 3 8 2 2 150 | Turbo Phasors
Battle Hammer | 9 3 12 2 2 220 | Large Scale Building
Battle Ship | 12 6 20 2 10 600 | Battle Tech I
Battlestar | 50 50 100?| Near Omniscience
Colony Ship + | 0 2 50 1 0 35 | {given}
Corvette | 3 6 6 2 3 100 | Advanced Phasors [good]
Defender | 2 4 5 1 1 50 | Galactic Diplomacy
Destroyer | 5 2 5 3 4 135 | High Density Metals
Dreadnaught | 14 7 20 2 12 650 | Battle Tech II
Excaliber | 30 20 60 20 12 | Excaliber Tech
Freightor ++ | 0 1 10 1 2 80 | Galactic Trade
Interceptor | 3 3 5 5 2 55 | Phasors
Paladin | 16 10 40 3 18 700 | Ranger Tech (?)
Phasing Dread **| 10 1 12 2 4 130 | 4D (?) Phasing
Phoenix | 12 1 5 | Disruptors [evil]
Ranger | 15 10 30 3 14 700 | Ranger Technology
Scout | 0 0 0 5 1 18 | {given}
Sensor Bouy | 0 0 0 1 0 10 | {given}
Small Fighter | 1 1 1 1 0 25 | General Cold Fusion
Star Fighter | 3 1 6 3 1 30 | Photon Torpedos
Stealth Cruiser*| 9 1 4 2 3 100 | Cloaking
Terror Star *** | 10 10 20 0 250 12k?| Terror Star
Transport +++ | 0 1 20 1 1 60 | Impulse Drive
A - attack factor. A ship with a 0 attack should not win a conflict
if it is the aggressor.
D - defense factor. A non-zero defense means that a ship could
survive an attack and the attacker could be destroyed when
attacking.
S - strength. More or less, how big, massive, strong, etc. the ship
is. Note that colony ships and transports have a variable strength
to reflect their varying size. In combat, a high strength can
sometimes "overcome" a superior A and D.
V - velocity. Because I already used S for strength. Base speed to
which improvements in movement technology are added. Note, you
don't have to rebuild the ship to get the improved speed. The new
designs are faxed to the ship and implemented immediately.
M - maintenance. How much it costs to keep that ship functional.
Maintenance costs are not optional. The only way not to pay the
money is to decommission the ship.
Cost - What it costs to build it in the first place.
Technology - What you have to know to build that type of ship.
* Stealth Cruiser - This ship "cloaks". Basically, this means that
it cannot be tracked once it is spotted.
** Phasing Dread - Same as Stealth Cruiser, I believe. I really
need to check on this one.
*** Terror Star - Terror Stars are unique among the combat ships
in that they _eat_ star systems. Great for that
wiping out that pesky outpost that is not worth
gaining control of but is a nuisance none-the-less.
Also good for really cutting into the enemy's
capabilities in a big way. Note, Terror Stars
are very vulnerable to attack and make lousy
ship-ship attackers. Use them to simplify the
star map, not whomp an incoming star fleet.
+ Colony Ship - Base strength is 50. This represents not only the
size of the ship, but the number of colonists on-board.
More colonists can be added if a larger starting
population for the colony is desired. Note that
each time you build a colony ship, it requires
20k colonists from the home planet. The additional
30k are a freeby (busy, busy).
++ Freighter - Nothing fancy, this is just the ship you must have to
set up a trade route. It contains "goods" and once
you establish a trade route, the ship is no longer
under your control. Loss of the trade route for any
reason does not make the ship reappear.
+++ Transport - Base strength is 20. This represents not only the
size of the ship, but the number of soldiers on-board.
More soldiers can be added if a larger starting
population for the colony is desired. Note that
initial 20k soldiers are "free", they don't subtract
from the colony's population.
*****************************************************************
********************* Future Wishes *****************************
*****************************************************************
Chapter 6.0
(as a general note, if someone thinks some of these ideas are
bogus (especially mine, since i only sorta thought about
them), feed back would be nice!!!!!)
Player Options (those changes affecting the player only)
- let the player ask for aid from the other races (net)
- the windows for fleet display and the planet display should be
sortable on any of the columns in the display. (i.e.- ship name,
planet name, production, location, ship class, etc.) (net)
- let the player choose the military advisors of the alien races.
Go for the ultimate punishment of chosing the nasty AI for all
the opponent races (or the opposite). (John Martz. The
masochist! (ok, he's says he's not a masochist, just wants the
challenge.))
- the naming of the star ships should allow for the place of
origin to be displayed _without_ having to pop-up a window. This
is vital information! (John Martz)
- or, put a "Return to Base" button in the ship display window.
(John Martz) (THIS IS IN PLACE NOW!!!!!!)
- there should be an increased number of options availible for
the player under the GIA button. These should include, but not
be limited to, requests by the player for aid; requests for
territory and/or money as a settlement for stopping a war (this
should include lump sum and "leases"); mutual treaties (ie - in a
2-on-1 war, you _and_ your ally would negotiate an end to the
fighting); "giving" technology to another race; foreign aid to
another race; treaties such as non-aggression pacts, warship size
limitations, planetary colonization agreements, etc.; and any
other options we can imagine! (net)
- there needs to be notification given when a new planetary resource
icon becomes available. Maybe this could show up on the Planetary
Resource window? (Greg Stewart)
Alien Options (those changes affecting the other races only)
- each race should have its own grammer. It should not
necessarily be tied to any given race all the time. (me)
- more races for opponents with pretty pictures. Obviously, this
is a CD-ROM option given all the various resolutions that this
game supports. Maybe have the format for the pictures and their
number known, so that anyone can edit a race. (me)
Both (ah, obvious)
- multi-ship movement such as escort, fleet movement, and have
this reflect in the combat in some way. A fleet of ten
starfighters should be more of a force than ten individual
starfighters. Escorting ships should be attacked first, or maybe
even get first attack? (net)
- projects should have variable affects on the different planet
classes, possibly at different times in the planet's history.
Examples: Entertainment Networks should be more effective on poor
planets than better planets. As the pollution level increases,
the effectiveness of an Entertainment Network should get better,
but not enough to offset the pollution losses. (me)
- mining outposts, or resource allocation outposts should be
availible as either projects or military ventures. These should
be used to exploit other systems that don't have "habitable"
planets. They should increase production without pollution but
should create more unhappiness at the home system. (net)
- espionage should give the alien trade route table as one of the
possible outcomes. From here, the player could use "destabilize"
money to indirectly disrupt trade (a steady decline in income or
maybe an abrupt ending of the route) or assign ships to play pirate
on one or more trade routes. Conversely, a player should be able
to pull ships off the "line" to guard trade routes, either directly
or maybe in a "Q"-ship role. (me)
Game Characteristics (changes that affect game play and
environment more than any particular race characteristics.)
- reduce the amount of "vacuum-effects". What I mean by a
vacuum-effect is the Trison Ring description. In this
description, it claims that the three planets were consumed in
making the Ring. If this is a real effect, then the Trison Ring
should only be built in systems that have three or more planets
of the type that can be used to build the Ring and the system
display should remove those planets once the Ring is complete.
In the best of all possible worlds, the system display should
include a separate graphic for a Trison Ring.
- the rebel planets need more personality. It should be possible
to negotiate with the rebels. Possible results would be trade,
non-aggression, chance to join the player's government. (net)
- related to the rebel planet personality is the idea that if
enough planets go into rebellion in a particular race, than those
planets can form a new, independent government with its own
personality with a possible minor shift in the race personality.
(me)
- GIA espionage information needs to be expanded. The current
information, while interesting, is not all that useful. If the
above treaty suggestions are added, then better intelligence is
necessary to check those treaties.
Examples of needed additions would be production/project/
population read-outs on individual planets; number of ships in
the fleet and a listing of types of ships with maybe the addition
of rough estimates of numbers (%s +/- 10?); estimates of planetary
defense fleets; etc. It should be possible to target a given
planet to discover specific information about that planet.
It would also be good to tie the reports of racial standing with
the other other races to only those races of which you have
intelligence data. (net)
- wars should have more effect on the population than just a draw
on the economy. There are two main paths this idea takes, one
for democracies and one for totalitarian governments. However, in
both governments, the longer the war, the stronger the needs and
desires for peace. First, the democracy: if the democracy is at
war with a neutral or good race, then the rising tide to stop the
war should be much stronger. Only evil governments should be the
targets of sustained conflicts, and then only if the race has
engaged in genocide should there exist strong enough support for
a really sustained and nasty war to the bitter end. This assumes
the democracy is winning. If it is losing, then the population
should have some sort of siege mentality and be able to "tough it
out".
If the government is totalitarian, then the population's will
is much more ignorable, but there should be some chance for the
creation of "rebels". Recall that a planet in rebellion does not
necessarily mean that the population of that planet has had a
change of heart. It most likely means that the local government
has declared its independence from the central authority for its
own needs. (me)
- to stay on the topic of war, I find it a bit disconcerting that
it is so painless to go to war with a former ally. Maybe it's just
my altruistic viewpoint. Consider that after making an alliance,
fighting other races for decades (if not a century or so!), you just
tell them, "You're not doing you're part" and then the alliance ends
and you go about declaring war on them and then trashing them (that
was the goal of that, wasn't it?). Somehow, this seems akin to me of
the US deciding to invade Canada or Great Britain in this day and age.
Even ignoring the general moral/support hit the government would take
for this action, the economic devastation alone would raise a hue and
cry that would sink the leader attempting such a plan. Remember,
such an action would most likely come from someone playing the "good"
path of the game. I think that there should be some mechanism to
make alliance breaking reflect more the _type_ of government the
person is attempting to play. (me, obviously)
- not all technologies are equally good for all races. Again,
this follows the idea that good and evil races have different
needs. For a good race, the building of Collusion Management
should have a negative effect on citizen happiness. The same
should be true for evil race but for different technologies. The
Info Net is one example of a technology that should increase the
chance that a planet goes into rebellion if the race is evil
since this Net would allow the local cronies to be more able to
band together, ignore the far-off central government and exploit
the local resources. (me)
- there need to be some technologies that are present for the
"neutral" races that would benefit their particular needs. (net)
- there need to be more options for government types. Suggestions
would be the space equivalent of a merchantile government
(obviously one for a neutral race), a socialist variation (happiness
as the democracy but resource allocations as the dictator?). (net)
(attributions: if the item was plucked off of the net and I
cannot recall the source, I appended "net" to it. Otherwise,
the suggestion will have one or more names associated with it.
Why all the bother? I believe in giving credit where credit
is due. This game was programmed by real people (Brad, too) and
has had lots of input from us, the beta group and the growing
list of new admirers (everybody just loves this game, right?!).
I think this tradition should continue! I would also like to point
out that all of the (me) attributions are due mainly to A LACK OF
INPUT....that's not too subtle, is it?)
(it is getting better, though:)
******************************************************************
******************************************************************
***** Places to buy Galactic Civilizations *****
******************************************************************
******************************************************************
7.0
QUESTION: WHAT IS "GALCIV" AND WHERE CAN I GET IT?
ANSWER:
You can get GalCiv (Galactic Civilizations) from a number of sources.
This handy document will help you find a place to get it. This list
is by no means complete and more places will or are carrying it
than this list mentions. Timur Tabi is compiling a list of
sources which this list borrows from.
DESCRIPTION:
Galactic Civilizations is an OS/2 strategy game written
from the ground up to take advantage of OS/2. It allows you to
colonize or conquer an entire galaxy filled with alien civilizations
that are controlled by an advanced artificial intelligence engine
that plays by the same rules you do (unlike most strategy games).
Galactic Civilizations
Price: $59.95 for 1 unit. $54.95 for 3 or more.
Shipping: $5 in USA, $10 outside USA
Package Includes:
GalCiv box
Install Guide
Hypertext Manual Disk
4 HD 3.5 inch floppy disks with Galactic Civilizations game.
Requires:
System running OS/2 2.x or 3.0 (Warp)
Mouse, VGA or better
Recommended:
Sound Card
486DX processor or higher
SVGA
Sources for GalCiv:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Stardock Systems Inc.
PROS:
Gets revenue to the developers of game quickly which allows them
to get started on more OS/2 games. Offers same day or next day
shipping when units are in stock. Ships outside USA.
CONS:
Not a retail chain. Stores are looking to see how well GalCiv sells
at retail.
ORDER FORM:
Name: __________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________
City/Zip/Country _____________________________
Daytime Phone:__________________________________
Payment Type [VISA] [Mastercard] [COD] [CHECK]
Credit Card Number (if applicable) ___________________
EXP _________
Stardock Systems Inc.
13405 Addison
Gibraltar MI 48173
PHONE: (313)/782-2248
FAX: (313)/782-9868
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Indeliable Blue
PROS:
Is quick to fulfill orders. Great OS/2 supporter, experienced with
dealing with OS/2 software. Ships outside USA.
CONS:
Same as above.
CompUSA: (Special Order Only In Most Cases)
PROS:
Ordering from them allows them to see that their is demand for
OS/2 games and makes it more likely that they will stock it.
CONS:
Length of time between order and arrival unknown.
Egghead: (Some places have heard of it, others haven't)
PROS:
Same as above
CONS:
May not have heard of GalCiv at all which makes it difficult
to get it.
Software Etc.
PROS:
Same as Above
CONS:
None so far.
By Mark Anderson
Some editing by Brad Wardell (just an itty bitty tiny little bit).
(actually, if there is something that sounds real authoritative and
deals with some of the intricacies of OS/2 and GalCiv, it's Brad's
fau... handiwork.)
This document can be freely distributed.
Please Feel free to contribute to this document!
My internet address is: wombats@nmrfam.wisc.edu
Send all your wishlists, cheats, questions, etc. to me!
This document is broken into the following areas:
(1) The Game
1.1 Description
1.2 Hardware Requirements
(2) Frequently Asked Questions (Strategies and other hot tips)
2.1 The John Martz Strategy
2.2 The Brad Wardell Stategy (Draginol)
2.3 List of Various Stategy Hints
(3) Cheats
(4) How the AI is done
(5) Data and Numbers (incomplete)
5.1 Technology Tree
5.2 Projects
5.3 Galactic Achievements
5.3.1 The Achievements and Projects
5.3.2 Strategies Associated with the Above
(rather empty right now)
5.4 Technology and Ships
(6) Wishlist
(7) Where can I get GC?
****************************************************************
THE GAME
Chapter 1.1
GalCiv is an interstellar strategy game that puts humanity in the
position of getting a fresh start with chance to re-direct the
path of humanity for good, evil or shades thereof. The premise
of the game has an interstellar colony ship from Earth jumping to
some other galaxy via a freak wormhole. This forms the core of
humanity. The new galaxy is already inhabited by one to five
(player selectable) other space-faring races. The
"personalities" of the races can be determined randomly or they
can be chosen by the player, but the range of variation is less
if this is done. The human player (the actual "alien" in this
setting) directs the research paths of humanity, the planetary
construction and the ship building endeavors of the planets.
More importantly, various "events" occur that require the player
to make distinct choices between good, evil or neutral. These
choices can affect planetary production or budget levels, but
they also affect how the various alien races interact with the
human player. The game is allows the player to win by either the
classic, total conquest mode or a more cooperative mode of
allying with all of the factions of the galaxy.
One of the greatest appeals that the game has over other strategy
games is that the multi-threaded, multi-tasking architecture of
OS2 permits the use of real (whatever that means :) AI. In play
terms, it means that your opponents actually use better strategy
at the harder play levels, rather than relying on various
"cheats" to give them enough advantages to make the game a
challenge. The level of "smartness" is adjustable for each race
in the game and varies from "brain-dead" to "incredible" in 6
steps. The smartness levels less than "genius" are actually
handicapped. Brad Wardell's discussion of this feature is
detailed below.
The game features economic and population growth models that take
into account the level of taxation and the level of happiness of
the people. The level of happiness is related to the level of
social amenities on the planet as well as the degree of freedom
that is availible within the type of government. The game
designers admit to being influenced by "supply side" economics,
so your strategies in the game should take this into account.
The more democratic forms of government (Star Democracy and Star
Federation) have a senate that has elections every decade. Your
level of popularity determines your level of support in the
senate. The senate has the power to reject declarations of war
_or_ changes of governmental form. They actually vote on these
decisions and are not a rubber stamp for or against your
decisions.
Hardware Requirements
Chapter 1.2
SDS recommends at least a .... (i will look this up), about 14 MB
hard disk free (plus the swap space requirement of about 20 MB, but
remember that this is a SYSTEM swap space, not just for GalCiv), 8 MB
of RAM and all the speed you can get. (not that you need the speed
to run GalCiv, it's just that it's more interesting to drive a Lotus
than a Yugo.) This is, more or less, the full installation with
.avi files and sound.
*****************************************************************
************ STRATEGIES and OTHER HOT TIPS **********************
*****************************************************************
Chapter 2
How do I ????
The on-line help files actually make some of this faq a bit
redundant. Most of the button, menus, windows, etc. appear to
be nicely arranged in a hypertext file. Since this is an OS/2
program, help is just another window you can consult during the
the game. Play with it, it's informative. This is not to say
that the help is complete. It is missing some of the "Data
and Numbers" stuff I've outlined below, and has two large sections
wherein it explains that something goes in this spot.
{this was the original on-line docs, there is a new release of
the help docs that i've not seen, i believe, so this may have
changed}
How do I find the best planets?
Scouts seem to be the best way of locating any planets of
worth. Sometimes, if the geometry of the situation is
right, you might be able to predict where another race's
colony ship is headed and beat them to the spot.
John Martz suggests using 2 scouts to block another race from
colonizing a choice planet before you do. This strategy works
until impulse when you need 3 scouts. There are seldom any
planets left to colonize once you get Warp Drive.
Other than this, send your scouts out on an ever increasing
spiral and send out the colonists. The scout can be sent on
a diagonal sweep through a quadrant to pick up >50% of the
area in one pass or send it on a U-shaped course to pick
up 100%. The path of the "U" can be adjusted to have the
scout adjacent to the next target quadrant when it finishes.
Two scouts could be used to map a quadrant in one pass.
OK, I've found a planet, how do I colonize it?
First, build a colony ship, then plot a course for near the
system. Upon getting to the system, move the colony ship onto
the system/star marker. The planet window pops up and then you
can pick which planet to colonize. It used to be that if you
had chosen autopilot and marked the actual system as the
destination, it would automatically colonize the "best" planet.
This may be what you wanted, but I would use a colony ship
to rename my planets so I had to plot the final move manually.
A minor warning here: don't use autopilot to land directly on
a star system, especially if you're trying to boost the
population of that system. Land _near_ the system. Sure, you
might lose some of your movement, but that is better than
colonizing what you don't want to or putting a ship in orbit
around the wrong planet.
How does the economic system function?
There are four factors that affect the economy directly.
1) the tax-n-spend icon [$]: This icon gives you access to two
sliders that control the taxation rate and the spending rate.
Each represents the percentage of the availible that you are
tapping into, be it taxable income or spending capacity. Set
the % at 100 for taxes and you're taking all of the peoples'
money. They will not like this. Set the % at 100 for
spending, and you are spending at your maximum ability to
spend. If you take in more money than you spend, it builds up
in a treasury. Aside from overt taxation, your government
sponsors inter-galactic traders that give you a cut. This
helps fund your ambitious goals of ....inter-species alliance
or galactic conquest. It should be noted that Dean Iverson first
proposed a model similar to this one to Brad and company.
Continuing effors on the part of Steve Lamb, one of the beta
testers, helped convince SDS to implement this model in the game.
This is a compliment to Dean and Steve since the previous one was
a bit...less flexible.
2) the allocation icon [three horizontal sliders]: This icon
gives you access to three slider that control the % of your
spending that is going into military projects (star ships,
including colony ships and freighters), social projects
(entertainment centers, antimatter plants) and research
(technology advancement).
3) the planets [planets]: Each planet can handle building one
project or one ship at a time. If no planets are actually
building something, then you are not actually spending any
money and any reserve goes into your treasury.
4) the individual planets on the view window have local resource
allocation buttons. The four types of buttons are social projects
(the cornucopia), military projects (the open-end wrench),
research (the OS/2 terminal), and morale (the microphone). By
default, the morale icon is chosen whenever the another icon
becomes available (this may change in a future release). These
buttons are the best control one could have over the spending
of your galactic funds. An important note: the microphone
is "free", but the others require extra funds to support. Also,
the planet's morale is reduced most by choosing the military
or social allocations, and less reduced for chosing research.
How do I allocate my funds?
Funding is divided between ships (military), research and
social spending (planetary construction). In the early game,
I've tried pumping out the colony ships as fast as possible
with a 60/30/10 split on resources, plus setting my spending
level at 80% and keeping taxes at 28%. Observations: it's not
a sure-fire plan. I seem to spend too much time playing
"catch-up". I need to catch-up in research, social spending
and despite the high spending on colony ships, planets. I'm
now trying a more even split. Any comments on this would be
appreciated.
A more successful approach that I have been using lately was
suggested by John Martz. Set the the resource sliders to a
25/50/25 split. This game is driven by technology. He with
the best tech wins, or at least has a good shot at winning.
Getting to Impulse as fast as you can is paramount. Now, pump
out the colony ships and use you're hopefully superior movement
rate to compensate for your lack of omniscience. On the
technology front, shoot for Universal Translator and then
Galactic Trade. (as a note, John has said he's been trying
a 20/58/22 split and it seems to work just fine, if not
better.)
How often do these "Allocation Buttons" pop up?
Aside from a statement like, "when you have enough people", it
is related to the type of government and the absolute size of
the population. When the population is low, you get one icon
per 200k people when your government is imperial, per 150k when
a star democracy, and per 100k when a star federation. It is
not quite linear however. There is some sort of fudge factor
since I had 3 icons pop up for a 278k planet under a star
democracy, but 4 for a 611k planet. Also, when the population
gets into the millions, it takes millions to get another icon.
One day, someone with a lot of patience and some wonderful
attention span should generate the table.
How do I increase the population of my planets?
Make happy people. Happy people do happy things, and one of
those things is to increase the planet's population. One main
influence is taxation. If the tax rate is too high, then the
population does not grow, and in fact, even decreases. It is
not so much that you're taxing your people to death but that
instead of staying in your little settlement, they've joined
the Inter-stellar Posse Commitas. A planet is a very big
place, and a few hundred thousand, spread out, would be real
hard to find. However, be careful about lowering the tax rate
since the population gets even more unhappy about raising
taxes once they've been lowered than if you had kept them the
same.
Taxation aside, another method is to increase the moral of the
people through various social programs. Planetary programs
have primarily three functions: increase moral, increase
production or other. Most programs have mixed benefits but
some target one aspect in particular. Example: Entertainment
Networks. They do not help research or starship attacks, but
your people are much happier.
If your people are unhappy living where they are, ship them
somewhere else; off to war, for example. I've been known to
stick them in orbit, waiting for the next war. Reducing the
population of a planet is one way to make the remaining people
happy. It's best not to speculate why.
Reduce pollution. Polluted planets are unhappy planets.
Although Earth First! would not be a good name for unhappy
people in this situation, the projects your planets are
building may have to be put on hold to prevent widespread
revolt. Consider building pollution abatement projects.
Consider changing your resource allocations.
And lastly, reform your government. The increased freedoms of
the Star Democracy and the Star Federation can generate
happier people. However, if you already have low morale (40%
or less), going to these forms of government may actually
foster widespread revolt. While I've not tested it
personally, I am under the impression that Imperial
Governments do not suffer revolts. Or, at least, it has
to get a _whole_ lot worse than under the other two forms.
A GENERAL NOTE!!!!
DON'T FORGET THE RESOURCE ALLOCATION BUTTONS!!!
The details window of the planet can let you fine tune the
amount of resources you spend on various aspects of your
planet. (Either hit the [Details] from the View section
which is either by hitting [View] on the system window or
by a double-click LMB or use the RMB from the systems window.
You can vary the allocations between social projects
(the cornucopia), military projects (the open-end wrench),
research (the OS/2 terminal), and morale (the microphone).
Consider allocating resources at the local level instead of
doing it galactically with the sliders. (thanks, John)
I REALLY CAN'T EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH!!!!!
I used to have a tougher time facing the more challenging
opponents (I was getting creamed!), but with more diligent
monitoring of the local resources, it has been a very different
story. The Allocation Resource Buttons can make or break a
campaign!
How do I reduce pollution?
Basically, you have two choices. Either don't spend as much
money on military and social (i.e.-putting more in research)
or build pollution abatement projects. If the planet in question
has Resource Allocation buttons assigned to military and social
projects, switch them to research or morale.
Which research path should I select?
The beginning is easy. Take General Cold Fusion, followed by
Impulse Drive, then Universal Translator and Galactic Trade.
Start your trading empire since money is the key!!!!! Then,
pick up Galactic Diplomacy and race for Warp Drive (via
Antimatter) and Shields (via Deflectors). Then, grab
Battle Tech I. Above all, trade, trade, trade. Tech and
goods. However, don't trade Battle Tech unless it's with
an ally! John Martz first articulated this strategy in
several of his posts to comp.sys.os2.games. Of course, there
are lots of ways to play the game, this is one that works for
many.
What's the best way to conduct a war?
Aggressively! Given the design of the game, being the
attacker is _the_ bonus. What I mean by this, is that you
should _attack_ incoming, enemy vessels, rather than letting
them attack your systems and using the planetary defense bonus
as your protection. Cover your home systems with one
(maybe 2) ships and have a fleet nearby to attack incoming,
enemy vessels. It can also be handy to leave one planet
unguarded to act as a trap for enemy transports. Some of the
personalities in the AI do not see ships sitting in space as a
vicious threat, which they are. They only occasionally
attack them. Beware of Draginol. This military commander
was tweaked to counter this strategy and makes extensive use
of stealth cruisers.
How do I make friends and influence enemies?
Trade. Other routes of influence are the "secretly declare
war" option and the "destablize" option under the GIA.
How do I select the best trade routes?
Rich planet to rich planet, I think. I must admit to not
being very quantitative on this one, but that is what I think
I've been seeing. Do note, that as your planets improve,
you will need to send out new freighters to take advantage
of your increased planet wealth. New technology begets new
products for trade that in turn require new trade routes to
be established.
How do I bargain with those dirtba.... the customers?
hmmm????
In general, there are three basic characteristics for the race
with whom you are attempting to bargain. The first is their
"greed" level. I guess this affects how quickly they are
satisfied with a deal. The second characteristic is how
ethical they are. I suspect this governs whether the initial
bid will be reasonable or not. The last racial trait is
guillibility, which is easily tied to how tough it is to just
plain bargain with them. As a note, your fifth bid is your
last bid. If that bid is not accepted, you have lost the
deal.
One bidding method
First bid--bid as high as slider permits.
Second bid--only slightly lower than your previous bid. Often,
the AI will settle for a bid much higher than its
original bid.
Third bid--slightly higher than the AI's bid (the AI's third bid).
This bid is a more "realistic" bid in the "mind" of the
AI, and it will usually take it. Warning: occasionally,
the AI will break off trade at this point and start a
trade war.
Fourth bid--match the AI's bid (the fourth bid). If they don't like
your offer after this round, they will almost certainly
start a trade war. If their last offer isn't to your
satisfaction, DON'T BID--break of negotiations.
The above is from John Martz.
My experience with this is not so hot. Probably because it
conflicts with my normal bidding system of matching increases/
decreases, which seems to get me into a few trading wars now
and then.
More on bidding and trading
The trade system is something that really doesn't fit with the
"strategic" nature of the game but is fun (at least, a majority
of the play testers thought so) and gives a bit of a break from
the general flow of conflict in space. In the bidding process,
you can end up with one of three results.
1) you make the deal, the preferred outcome. However, the
deal you make will affect how the AI deals with you in the future.
If you were an easy sell, that is what they will expect later.
2) you start a trade war. This result is one designed to add
some cost and risk to the bartering. Sure, it's a bit unrealistic,
but since this is only a hand-wavy trading system, this is probably
one of the best compromises available for adding some tension to the
negotiations. One advantage to a trade war is that it does hurt
the both you and your victi... prospective customer. I've not
tried this as a war strategy (seems mildly self-destructive, to
say the least) but it does seem to make the more recalcitrant
trading partners a bit more pliable in future negotiations.
3) you break off. This has the effect of preventing you from
trading with that system for some period of time, it does save you
from a trade war and it saves your freighter for some other deal,
but it doesn't seem to influence the other race's bargaining pattern.
Again, the penalty is a method to encourage you to -deal- with
your trading partner. It may not be realistic, but then again,
this arbitrary idea that you would just pack up and try a whole
new planet just because you couldn't turn a high enough margin fails
to take into account the cost of the ship, the crew, the loans...etc.
Which planets should be doing what construction?
Obvious suggestions: always opt to increase production on a
planet, but other than that, chose military projects for the
frontier planets and social/research projects for the interior
planets. Beyond this, any planet I've colonized has built
"Soil Enhancement" followed by "Schools" and then
Entertainment Network". All three are cheap to build. Schools
have no maintenance cost so that is why I include them. The
choice of the Entertainment Network may be dubious. It is
expensive to maintain.
John Martz suggested Schools then Soil Enhancement. Since
a solid research program can be the key to this game, I concur
with this strategy, unless your tax rate is too high. If the
the tax rate is high (40%+) then the morale of the inhabitants
may be too low. Schools do not add enough morale, but a Soil
Enhancement project may.
Aside from a Battlestar, are there really any better ships than a
starfighter?
Yes, there are. From reading the net posts, the most
commonly used ships for offense are Battle Hammers, Interceptors,
and Battle Ships. Interceptors, with their superlative speed,
are good for scouting out what, if any, enemy ships are
approaching the area. Use the interceptor as a lure to drag
the enemy ships away from the vulnerable system. Interceptors
are just good enough to try and whomp the occasional
transport. However, they will often take damage from these
attacks, so caution is advised. Battle Hammers are
a poor man's battle ship. Yes, they can take out a Battle
Ship now and then. But, they will often take damage from such
an encounter. The AI will usually not attack a ship at full
strength but seldom lets a wounded foe escape. The Battle
Ship (and its off-spring) is the queen of the battle field.
Keep one or more handy near the home worlds for defense and
send the rest out on conquest. Watch the damage they
accumulate. If one takes too much, send it home for repairs.
They cost too much to try and rebuild from scratch. In
addition, Battle Cruisers are a good ship when you can't build
Battle Hammers. They are cheaper than Battle Axes, with a better
defense and higher speed.
For defense, the Defender, in orbit, is a good ship. If you
opt to be a good player (or you manage to trade for it), the
Corvette is an excellent ship on defense. In orbit, it can
take the occasional Battle Ship. This is definitely worth it!
As for the other ships, one of the most important is the
transport. Although I have yet to use this strategy, it would
seem that building some transports on a planet when it's not
doing any other projects is a good idea. You can blast the
opposing star fleet to radioactive debris but you've done
nothing unless you can invade! Note that all ships in orbit
are considered to be defending that planet/system so that you
can lose those ships if that system is attacked.
And for completeness, the colony ship is, of course, without
peer for being important! Next, try the freighter. Without
enough revenue from trade, your dreams of empire will most
likely come to naught. I would suggest holding a few
freighters in reserve for the inevitable lose of a trade or
two during a conflict.
OK, I built my silly transport, how does it work?
First, load up the transport with enough troops. A transport
can hold up to 500 legions. When clicking the LMB on a
transport in orbit, one of the options is to [add troops].
Note that troops come from you planets population. Next,
Ground combat! Take the transport to the enemy system and
move it onto the system marker. If there wasn't a shield
attached to the lower right corner of the system marker, then
the Ground Combat window pops up. The window is divided between
you and your opponent, each showing the number of troops involved
and a flashing pair numbers that represent some sort bonus
factors. When the moment is opportune (i.e.- you have a higher
bonus than the enemy), click the LMB in the window or hit the
[enter] key. The bonus range is influenced by your technology
advantage over your opponent. It also reflects the fact that
you control the space over your opponent's planet. The actual
casualty ratio reflects the ratio of the combat bonuses and
how well the planet was defened by projects such as the Military
Academy, Ground Defense, etc.
(as a note, some people are finding that a fully-laden transport
appears to be a fairly potent attack vessel. don't count on
this. this was a problem in one of the rounds of the beta, and
it was generally believed to have been fixed. it will doubtless
get "fixed" again soon. Supposedly, any ship with a 0 attack
should lose a combat if it attacks.)
What about the other ships?
(this is also a request for experience)
the destroyer looks interesting. faster than a battle cruiser,
but not as defensible, slower than an interceptor but better
armed...is it worth it? i'm trying them out and we'll see....
stealth cruiser...zippo for defense, but packs a whollop and
is fairly cheap. plus, the enemy CAN'T track them! good for
sneaking around and whompin' the back country or ambushing that
marauding battleship. they appear to be worth their cost.
I'm getting some crazy swapper growth. What did you guys do? Can't
you write a simple video game? Where's my lawyer???
Swapper growth was one of the most trying problems we had
with GalCiv. Because there are few large scale games (at the time
of GalCiv, there are no others that we know of), many of OS/2's more
obscure API calls were not well tested. As a result, tiny leaks in
OS/2 never got caught. Lucky for us, GalCiv uses those calls a lot
and those tiny leaks add up. There are, however, some solutions to
the problem (if you are getting it).
#1 Make sure you have GalCiv v1.01c or later. It works
around most of OS/2's leaks.
#2 MOST IMPORTANT: Set your swapper file size to default
to at least 8 megabytes. This can be done by going to
the config.sys and changing the second number in the
swapper path statment to 8092. We do not know why
this works but in my experience, this completely
eliminates swapper growth. I theorize that once your
swapper starts to grow in OS/2 (particularly OS/2 3.0)
it will just grow and grow and grow. By the way, this
advice applies to every OS/2 app, not just GalCiv.
#3 If you are still getting growth, try turning off the
sound and making sure Fastload (Windows) isn't activated.
#4 If none of the above work, contact IBM or SDS or AIMS.
I haven't bought GalCiv yet. What other games is it like?
It is most like Civilization with respect to the fact that you are trying
to create a civilization. It is like Empire in terms of how you work
you strategy. Each ship is its own unit. It also combines some elements of
Masters of Orion since you can win the game by forming a united galaxy
and diplomacy is a much more important aspect of the game than in
Civilization or Empire.
I really like GalCiv but I miss the feature in Masters of Orion where I
could design my own ships. Is there any way to make GalCiv more like
Masters of Orion?
On January 1, 1995, SDS will be releasing Shipyards for GalCiv which
will be an add on that lets you do just that. When Shipyards is
installed, a new button will appear on the icon bar that will let you
create new ships. Your opponents will also be able to build their own
ships. You can even choose how your ship will look like. One added
feature is that you can "steal" ship designs from your opponents.
Is it easier to win by being good or evil? Where's the payoff for being
a good guy?
Being a nice guy has never meant that you get rewarded. It works
like this though, good guys are treated better by other nice
civilizations. Being a bad guy offers a lot of short term benefits
but good civilizations will likely come after you while other evil
civilizations won't lift a finger to help you. There are about a
dozen technologies available only to good guys (there are also about
10 technologies only available to evil players too).
I've been hearing a lot about GalCiv but where I live there are no stores
that carry OS/2 software. How can I get GalCiv?
The best thing you can do is to try to get your store to carry it.
However, if that doesn't work, you can order it from numerous sources
including SDS. SDS's number is (313)782-2248 (FAX: 313-782-9868). All
you need is a credit card (or you can order it COD). They'll need your
name, address, city, zip, credit card number and expiration date. A
distributor called Micro Central will be the place to tell stores that
they can get it from.
I don't have OS/2, just Windows 3.1. Will there be a Windows 3.1 version
of GalCiv?
No.
How do I repair my ships?
Take them home. A ship can only be repaired by placing it in
orbit about its home-WORLD, not system, nor any other planet
in that system.
What does it mean that this game has a configurable set-up?
For me, it means that I can move the quadrant map to the left
hand side of the screen, move the button bar to the middle and
over-draw the graphs and button bar with my star map. If I
need the other two, I use the RMB to pop them up.
Who the hell is this John Martz guy??? Some GalCiv god-wannaby
or what?
Actually, John's just someone that was willing to engage in
a few rounds of e-mail discussions of strategy and tactics
for GalCiv. Since he's said the most to me about strategy
and such, he appears here quite frequently. If you want to
have your name in here (i could remove it too, if it's here
and you don't want it.) just give me some faq stuff. Besides,
this way I can't be blamed for anything other than typos and
such 8).
What is the "Dynamic Mapping" option that I find?
Simply enough, "dynamic mapping" means that your star map
only grows in size as you explore more area of the map. This
can be very handy in a large or huge galaxy when the initial
star map would then be a more managable size while you're
trying to explore it. This also works to your psychological
disadvantage (if you don't use quadrant #s) as you might not
have a good idea as to your position in the galaxy and where
you will probably find your nearest neighbors.
However, it does have the disadvantage of making it awkward
to send a ship to someplace that you have yet to explore since
since you can't just click on the star map for that far away
quadrant and then just use "autopilot" to send your ship there.
How do I end an alliance with another race?
There are two ways to do this. Both involve using the GIA
options. The obvious way is to talk with your ally and then
tell them that "you're not doing your part". This will end
the alliance. If you choose to destabilize your ally, then
they will tell you that they have discovered this and that
if you don't stop, they will consider this a provocation for
war. Whether you stop or not is irrelevant because the
alliance has ended.
How does one STEAL technology? I am spying like crazy, when do I get
to steal tech?"
Once you have stolen enough data from the civilization to have
all 6 info categories filled, you will begin to randomly steal
technology from time to time. The reasoning is that before your
spies can rip off tech, they have to know everything there is
to know about the civilization to blend in enough to steal
ultra-high-tech stuff.
2.1 Strategies - John Martz
(maybe i can get john to write it up or send me the formal
write-up that he gave sds. It should be noted that most of
this strategy is outlined in the hints above.)
2.2 Brad Wardell (this is included with minimal editing at
this point)
There are a lot of ways to do well in GalCiv and
even more ways of doing poorly. I read John Martz's strategy
which is a very good one for doing well at the game but there
are some things you should know. The SDS/AI v1.01 which is the
AI included in the retail version does have the AI personalities
at a disadvantage so that usrs wouldn't get trounced by it
too bad. Judging by the volume of posts talking about the AI
and their reviews of it, I think it safe to say that most people
are finding it very challenging. But like any game, the longer
you play, the better you get and weaknesses found. As the
FAQ of GalCiv mentions, there are a couple of things we didn't
let any of the personalities in the 1.01 AI do. Such things
include:
o Buying ships via purchase now
o Changing their planetary resources
o Resource penalities (not only does the AI play by the same rules but
it doesn't even get as many resources as you do until the Genius Level)
And a number of other minor traits. In v1.02 of the AI which is in
gcfix02 and the soon to be released via BBS/FTP gcfix03 (aka GalCiv v1.02)
has the new SDS/AI v1.02 in which we allowed ONE of the 6 personalities
to be able to do the above 3 things. The results are almost alarming.
We only let them do those things on "Smart" or above so that new users
aren't discouraged by being creamed by the AI over and over.
As mentioned in AIMS product literature, once users have gotten good
enough to beat the game on the most difficult level, SDS (Stardock Systems)
will enhance the AI further.
The number of strategies of winning the game are too many to count. Let
me tell you the way I play the game.
I usually play in a Medium sized galaxy and set the players to all being
"Smart". I don't race for technology or even planets so much. I choose
Cold Fusion and then Impulse Drive to get my ships faster. I try to pick
very very nice planets or stars which have a lot of decent planets.
Once I colonize, I immediately go for Univeral Translator and then
Galactic Trade. I then begin a great trading empire with all of the
players. You can have 10 trade routes max and I give 2 very profitable
ones to each player. I should point out that you will probably want to
continually update your trade routes because as the planets grow, your
deals with the local star system merchants will be more profitable. At
first, deals of $20 will have to be acceptable. But once everyone has
gone to a democratic form of governmetn and populations for star systems
explode, you will want to start killing off trade routes and go back and
re-negotiate your trade route. Deals of $150 to $200 per route are not
uncommon. If you do 2 of those with each player, that's a good $300 to
$400 per player. However, I usually, at this point, don't evently divide
it (only early in the game). I choose the most powerful military powers
to trade with since you usually have 2 power houses and the other 3 are
relatively weak, that comes out to being nearly $1000 with each of the
two power houses. This puts you in a situation where they cannot
economically afford to go to war with you and the AI knows that. Keep
your fleet relatively powerful and have Battle Hammers or Battle Ships
patrolling your quadrants space so that if someone should be unwise
enough to go war with you, you can help take out their forces.
During this time, I'm getting about $2000 from trade (assumingI'm not
at war). I pump that money into espionage. ONce you learn the 6
categories of a particular empire, you will begin to steal technology.
It comes in spurts. Don't be surprised if you pick up a good 3 to 5
technologies in a single turn when you hit the spying jackpot! This
way, I don't have to spend tons of money on Research but can put it into
social programs and keeping a decent miltary which I can fund with the
$2000 in trade I get.
Another important point is that I play as a NEUTRAL player. This is
important because if you are a goody-goody, the bad guys will come after
you no matter what since they know that good guys will go after evil
guys. Moreover, if you play as an evil civilization, the good guys will
come after you even if they know they'll get blown to bits because it's
well "the right thing to do". Playing as a neutral allows me to stay
out of the wars and watch the empires trash each other. I can take sides
and put money into destabilizing. Since the tough empires trade so much
with me, I can get away with destabilizing for a long time and watch their
empires fall apart due to rebellion in which I quickly send in the
troops to capitalize on their loss.
THIS IS IMPORTANT!
It is a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTT easier to conquer a star system
controlled by rebels/pirates because they are disorganized. If I were
simply to go to war with one of the other empires, I would take massive
casualties. Anyone who's played the game long enough knows that when
star systems have populations of 4 million people, it's a major undertaking
to invade them. But a population of 4 million in a rebel star system
where the defenses are scattered and in disarray, I can take them over
with less than 2 million troops easily.
In contrast to John Martz's strategy, I believe that MONEY is the key
to winning GalCiv, NOT technology.
WARTIME BEHAVIOR:
The different AI's rely on commerce to different degrees.
Denethor is the trading nut of the pack and will finaance wars by
trading with friendly empires during war time. Make sure that you
destroy his freighters if you are at war with him. It's a lot worse
to have a few freighters get by then a few battle axes.
CONTROL THE QUADRANTS
If you are in a quadrant with lots of other empires in them,
make it your #1 priority to control that quadrant so that you can
get the benefits of controlling a quadrant (tourism). Build wahtever
improvements, achievements, super projects, whatever to get your
population high enough in that quadrant to control it. Make sure
you have a chance at doing so before you do that since you don't
want to fail and send more money to an enemy.
In Conclusion:
There are lots of strategies in GalCiv that will let you
be successful. I choose CF, Impulse, Univeral Trans, Trade, Dip.,
Star Democracy, Photons, Inst. comm, Federation and then go for more
weapons. I trade as much as I can and in TWO stages. I wipe out
my early trade routes once the stars have reached critical mass so
that I can estabilish very profitable NEW trade routes with empires
that are more powerful than I am militarily. Once I do this, I can
effectively control them (depending on the difficulty level) via
economic pressuring. Let the others wipe each other out and deplete
their resources and then turn on the destabilizing with civilizations
that displease me and take over rebellious planets with minimal
casualties and no warfare involved.
I'd be interested to hear other strategies. With 6 different
AI personalities and the options available in the game itself, I
imagine there are a LOT of different ways of being good at the game.
Brad
2.3 List of Various Strategy Hints
----from Will Herrera
I have found one particular strategy that
works very well in preventing invasion in most cases when money is
available (and I keep a thosand or more in reserve:
1. Post sentry ships in EACH quadrant you control and in every
quadrant between and adjacent to the ones you control. Use fast ships
with good attack; you can partially ignore defense capability in the
sentry ships, although the Phoenix and other high-level attack ships
tend to be too expensive and too under-defended to just sit on sentry
duty when one or two Interceptors or a Battle Hammer can often do the
job. Use Interceptors first, then Battle Hammers, then Avatars, etc.
These ships are your early warning system, since they tell you when
ships come through and let you take out passing enemy vessels before
they reach your plantets. In many games, you can _always_ prevent
invasion of your planets in this way; destroy enemy transports before
they reach a defenseless world.
2. Post Defenders (two or more) on each world. If these are taken out
by enemy vessels, immediately buy new ones. Usually the AI will send
troops in a wave AFTER the star is defenseless. By then, you have a new
Defender, and your sentry ships will have remove much of the invaders
(expect some ship casualties if the enemy has better ships than you
do).
And a tactical note:
3. If a planet is beyond hope, abandon it just before it is
succesfully invaded. No technology will be stolen by the enemy, and if
it is a planet with few remaining resources it may sit ignored by the
enemy AI and can be re-colonized later (is this a bug?)
---- from John Altstadt
Here are some additional strategies that people can try out while waging
war:
1) Surround the stars of defenceless enemy systems to prevent anybody
from poaching while you are bringing in troop transports for the ground
war. Of course, you will want to poach on the conquests of other races.
2) The Mongolian Hordes: (I found a couple of bugs in the last beta
doing this.) This works best in a huge galaxy any you must start your
civilization on an edge or corner. Build enough ships that you can make
a wall around each star system at least one layer deep + spares. Expand
the walls until they meet and you eventually have a wall that runs from
one edge of the galaxy to the other. Slowly sweep across the galaxy,
taking over any star systems that you come across. Transports will be
able to move around in the cleared area with no fear of being attacked.
Note that this is _very_ costly in the early stages due to high ship
maintenance costs vs. the low number of planets under your control.
I am amazed at how well you can simulate classic infantry manuvers with
GalCiv. This could be a good primitive (as in historical) war games
tool if you could get two large fleets of battle stars up against one
another.
*****************************************************************
************ CHEATS and OTHER BLACK HOLES ***********************
*****************************************************************
Chapter 3
There are at least two little "holes" in the game for
unscrupulous players to exploit. Or frustrated players....
Or those days you just wanna trash the galaxy and you don't care
how you do it....Or....
1) "REAL" Warp Drive
If you move your ship out the corner of a border quadrant at
the border, your ship will appear in the next quadrant in the
same square you attempted to "leave". This is obviously a way of
moving REAL FAST (done in a Dave Barry voice).
2) Population Growth via "Shore Leave"
If you remove all the troops from a transport, leave and then
return that ship to its homeworld, it will instantly gain another
20,000 troops (20 legions). Repeat as needed. As a note, this
is also a bug. In the bug state, your transport full of legions
gets "repaired" to the 20 level. (this may not be true in the
GA, i need to check this out more closely)
3) Prescience
You can always save the game after it starts and then map out
the universe. It would probably be easiest to do a and then annotate the print-out. Then, restart.
Since the AI doesn't cheat, you can be a true prophet and
know exactly what is going to happen.
4) Lease to own
If you suddenly find that you need a big ship, buy it in parts.
Start with a cheap ship, buy it, and then just incrementally
increase the cost of the ship to a different design, buy it, etc.
This will work out to be much cheaper than paying for the full
cost in one fell swoop.
*****************************************************************
*****************************************************************
The following is courtesy Brad Wardell of Stardock Systems, Designer
of GalCiv. Brad hides at 22wardel@cs.wmich.edu. I did some editing.
The AI:
The AI is split into two modules: SDSAI.DLL which is a general
artificial intelligence engine that we'll be using in other
products and GCAI.DLL which is specific to GalCiv.
The key thing to remember about the AI in GalCiv is that it does
not make a distinction between you and the computer players. It
uses the same code as the human players does for moving ships,
building projects, etc. It plays by the same rules except for a
couple of important differences:
#1 The Computer players are NOT currently allowed to purchase
ships. We felt that it would make the game too difficult if the
computer players were allowed to (like you can) just use their
treasury and buy a ship every turn. If people are able to beat
the AI regularly on the higher levels then we may reconsider this
but for now, this human advantage is in the GA.
#2 Human players cannot send the AI nasty messages like the AI
can to you. This is obviously for entertainment value. Human
players also can't ask for help from friendly players in the form
of "give us ships". This may be added in a v1.1 or something.
#3 The computer players start out with a planet whereas you start
out in a space ship. This is for plot reasons. Unlike the
betas, in the GA you will have the possibility of having type 16
planets in your starting quadrant (in the betas, you only got
class 12 planets guaranteed).
#4 The Aliens already know what color all the stars are in surrounding
quadrants.. This is a huge advantage since yellow stars almost always have
a nice planet in them. This was put in for plot reasons (beta 1 testers
complained that it didnt' make any sense for the AI not to have mapped
out most of the galaxy (afterall, we earthlings have in our native galaxy
over the milenium).
Other than that, the AI follows the same rules. If you find that
the AI is doing something you deem unfair, email me with a bug
report because that is what it would be, a bug. The AI doesn't
distinguish between you and other players for among other things,
the possibility of adding modem/network play in later versions
(should the game do well in the market).
GC/AI:
The GCAI is what we could call the politicians. IT
decides when to go to war, how to talk to you, how to approach
you in dealing with things. It takes into account when dealing
other playres (including you):
Their good/evil alignment.
Their relative military strength.
Trade agreements and how nice things went.
Their aggression level.
Their cooperation level
Their ethical level
Their greed level
Their insanity level* (the computer looks only at its
own. It doesn't know the other
players' insanity level)
(all of these they look at their own level and the other
players).
* note, the AI may not KNOW all of these about a player,
they go with what information they have available.
All of the above information is available to the human
player either directly or from spying. In fact, none of the
above things require you to even spy on them, since you can find
this information in the GIA window and under the
espionage/military window under the GIA.
Good guys tend to bond with other good guys. They don't worry
about how tough or powerful the other good guy is (in general).
Keep in mind, only REALLY good guys will totally neglect your
military or trade with them when deciding to be nice to you or
someone else. There are 20 shades of Good.....EVIL (You can
select 5 differenet level of Good or evil for them but if you let
it randomly choose, it will have a finer granularity).
Really bad guys will look a bit more favorably on other really,
really bad guys but they don't tend to bond as well as good guys
do. Bad guys may not declare war on each other but they will
also not ally together quite as often. Still though, the end
result can be a game with Good vs. Evil if you select extremists.
The down-right neutrals (shade 10 out of 20) only care about
trade. You want a Ferengi-type race, choose a neutral. The
EXACT neutral type has extra logic to make it a fence sitter.
There's, of course, a lot more detail in this but I don't want to
spoil the game too much !
SDS/AI:
The GCAI are the politicians, the SDSAI are the generals.
The GA version of GalCiv has 5 different release level
Personalities or Advisors. You can imagine each personality
being a separately programmed entity. They share some common
code for things such as dodging obstacles and finding undefended
star systems that they know of, but most of what they do is
unique. This is important because if people say, "The AI was
dumb, it chased my scout all over the place while I trashed the
rest of them, heh heh", they really should say "Advisor N is
dumb, they did ..." because the others may not (and do not) do
things the same way.. Some Personalities go for having a large
trading fleet, others will play vulture and will quit colonizing
quickly and then build trasnports (gee, I bet none of you guys
did something as low as that, eh?).
The Advisors Code names can be found by looking in the
Espionage Window under "Military".
The names are:
Sauronir
Denethor
Draginol
Mascrinthus
Calor
Not all of the personalities will use Terror Stars, for
example, because of their destructive value. People who die as a
result of being killed on a transport (when you destroy a
transport) or on a planet due to a terror star are now counted as
part of the overall casaulty list. So if you get Terror Stars (or
the AI uses them), you'll know how many troops (in legions: 1
legion = 1k troops) have been destroyed.
End submission by Mr. Wardell
****************************************************************
***************** WHERE IS/ARE THE xxxx? *********************
****************************************************************
- autopilot on/off?
Under the floppy disk icon is the setup button. This button
pops up that function and other useful functions such as sound,
avi, etc.
- background process control?
Under the floppy disk icon is the setup button. This button
pops up that function and other useful functions such as sound,
avi, etc.
- place to reform my government?
Under the icon up from the floppy disk icon is the reform gov't
button. It's the "Reports" icon that looks like a sheet of
paper.
- reports of how I am doing?
There are four types of "how am I doing" information. All of
this information resides under the "Reports Icon" (the sheet of
paper). The first option is the "Top Five Planets" listing. One
should strive at all times to keep this free of alien riff-raff.
A second option is the "Demographics" listing. This is a screen
of statistics such as % of galactic population, absolute and %
production values, etc. A third option is the button that
compares humanity to all of the other races in the game. It's a
relative scoring that shows how much you're pumping into R&D
relative to your competitors. The fourth option is the score
button which also gives you a good/neutral/bad ranking.
- listing of my ships?
The icon with the Earth over a triangle is the fleet icon.
From here, you can click on a ship and then either pull up the
ship display window (if it's in orbit) or it will plop you into
the quadrant that the ship occuppies and highlight that ship.
- place to find out how much damage my ship has taken?
There are 3 ways to find this out. One, use the RMB to pull up
the ship control menu. Two, look at the strength number at the
bottom of the screen. Three, look at how many black smudges are
smeared across the ship menu at the bottom of the screen. The
more smudges, the worse off the ship is.
- that planet that was preparing to rebel?
Click on that planet in the GNN window when it appears. You
will then be flipped over to the planet menu to deal with the
problem. For getting to a planet in a more general way, use the
icon with the planets on it to pull up an alphabetical listing of
all of your planets.
- the listing of all of the trade routes I have?
Click on GIA and then you will find a small button at the
bottom of the window. Once in this menu, you can prune away
trade routes that you don't want.
*****************************************************************
TECHNOLOGY TREE (or "Can I get Artificial Life if I can't Phase
properly?")
*****************************************************************
Chapter 5.1
**** under construction ****
**** please bear with us ***
Nano-Electronics
-> Nano-Frequencies -> Brainwave Mapping
-> Instant -> Cure for Depression
Communications
-> Star Federation
-> Nano-Metal Composition -> High Density Metals (destroyer)
-> Tri-Strontium Alloys
-> Large Scale Building
(battle hammer)
Brainwave Mapping
Large Scale Building
-> Terra Computers
-> Advanced AI's
-> Hyper-Computers
-> Interspecies Philosophy
General Cold Fusion (small fighter)
-> Impulse (transport)
-> Anti-matter
-> Warp Drive
-> Hyperspace
-> Hyperwarp (if a good race)
Phasor (interceptor)
-> Turbo-phasor (battlecruiser)
-> Advanced Phasor (if a good race) (corvette)
-> Mega-phasor
-> Antimatter Weapons
Photon Weapons (star fighter)
-> Sensors (battle ax)
Organic Manipulation
-> Genetic Mapping
-> Transporters
Universal Translator
-> Galactic Trade (freighter)
-> Galactic Diplomacy
-> Alliances
-> Star Democracy
and there's more...
BIG NOTE! missing the evil technologies! there are lots of
them, such as Galactic Collusion, Distruptors, Master Race,
Thought Control, Clever Chip, and more!
*****************************************************************
PROJECTS - (or "Gee, we need 0-G porta-potties.
What does it do and how do we do it?)
*****************************************************************
Chapter 5.2
The following is an alphabetized listing of the various projects
that can be built on a planet if the technology is available.
The project names were, in some cases, abbreviated to near
obscurity. I was attempting to get enough room on the right-hand
side to put in the technology necessary to achieve the project.
They didn't fit, so I duplicated the list and used full names.
The various abbreviations for effects (first list) are as
follows: TI = Trade Increase; Mor = Morale; Ship A = Ship
Attack; Ship D = Ship Defense; Gnd Def = Ground
Defense; Res = Research; Env = Anti-pollution Effect;
Maint = Maintenance; Cost = Cost in bc.
It should be noted that since I usually play the good-guy role, the
projects here include many of the projects that only "nice guys" can
get to such as Advanced Hospitals. In GalCiv, what technologies
are available to you depends on whether you are good or evil. In a
future round of the faq, I'll either list them separately, or mark
them as good and integrate the evil techs into the list.
Production Ship Gnd
Project Name | TI Mor| A D |Def|Res|Env|Maint|Cost|
--------------|-----------------|---|---|---|-----|----|
Adv Hospital | 15 05 10 | -- --|-- | 05| | 4 | 900|
Adv Mil Trn | 15 -- 10 | 35 --|60 | --| | 0 |1100|
Adv Poll Ctrl | 30 10 20 | -- --|-- | 01| 10| 3 |1500|
Antimtr Plant | 83 33 50 | 02 --|-- | 02| | 4 |1000|
Cont Environ | 30 30 -- | -- --|-- | --| | 0 |2000|
Currency Sys | 25 15 10 | -- 01|-- | 01| | 3 | 500|
Defense Sys | 06 01 05 | 10 15|45 | 01| | 5 |1100|
Entertain Net | 37 02 35 | -- --|-- | --| | 4 | 100|
Environ Ctrl | 05 -- 05 | -- --|-- | --| 3| 2 | 500|
Fusion PP | 35 25 10 | 10 --|-- | 05| | 3 | 500|
Gal Curr Exc | 72 20 52 | -- --|-- | --| | 5 |1000|
Gal Ent Ntwk | 35 -- 35 | -- --|-- | --| | 4 | 500|
Gal Info Net | 22 10 12 | -- --|-- | 30| | 4 |1000|
Gnd Defense | 04 -- 04 | 03 03|50 | --| | 3 | 200|
Hydroponics | 30 10 20 | -- --|-- | 10| | 3 |1100|
Im Poll Ctrl | 15 05 10 | -- --|-- | --| 5| 5 |1000|
Info Net | 10 02 08 | -- --|-- | 10| | 2 | 100|
Int Security | 06 01 05 | 02 08|-- | --| | 1 | 300|
Mil Academy | 10 -- 10 | 15 05|50 | --| | 2 | 380|
Mutat Ctrl | 40 10 30 | 01 01|-- | 02| | 1 | 900|
Multimedia | 20 05 15 | -- --|-- | --| | 4 | 800|
Phasing PP | 40 20 20 | -- --|-- | 20| | 10 |1000|
Planet Poll | 10 -- 10 | -- --|-- | --| 3| 1 | 500|
Schools | 06 02 04 | -- --|-- | 15| | 0 | 50|
Soil Enhan | 32 02 30 | -- --|-- | --| | 2 | 50|
Treat Ctr | 17 05 12 | -- --|-- | --| | 3 | 600|
University | 10 05 05 | 02 --|-- | 20| | 2 | 200|
Virt R Ctr | 60 10 50 | -- --|-- | --| | 5 | 900|
Evil Projects - I have yet fully to map out evilness.
Collusion Mgm | 20 20 -- | -- --|-- | --| | oops| 600|
Comp Surveill | 21 01 20 | -- --|-- | 02| | 6 |1200|
Elite Gnd For | -- -- -- | 05 05|55 | --| | 5 |grrr|
Secret Police | 25 -- 25 | -- --|30 | --| | 5 | 700|
Advanced Hospitals - Viral Elimination [good]
Advanced Military Training - Terror Star
Advanced Pollution Control - Planetary Destruction
Antimatter Plant - Antimatter Weapons
Computer Surveillance - Advanced Surveillance (via Terra Computers) [evil]
Collusion Management - Galactic Collusion [evil]
Controlled Environment - Replication
Currency System - Star Democracy
Defense System - Planetary Defense
Elite Ground Forces - Master Race (via Genetic Mapping) [evil]
Entertainment Network - (given)
Environmental Controls - Nano Electronics
Fusion Power Plant - General Cold Fusion
Galactic Currency Exchange - 4D Phasing
Galactic Entertainment Network - Star Democracy
Galactic Info Net - Terra Computers
Ground Defense - (given)
Hydroponics - Organic Manipulation
Improved Pollution Control - Planetary Destruction
Info Net - Terra Computers
Internal Security - Sensors
Military Academy - Shields
Mutation Control - Evolution Control
Multimedia Center - 1D Phasing
Phasing Power Plant - 3D Phasing
Planetary Pollution Control - Artificial Planets
Secret Police - Thought Police (via Brainwave Mapping) [evil]
Schools - (given)
Soil Enhancement - (given)
Treatment Center - Advanced Pain Treatment
University - (given)
Virtual Reality Center - 3D Phasing
This was contributed by Dave Chaloux (chaloux@mandolin).
There has been talk by various people around here of developing planets
in different ways. For example you might develop some planets to concentrate
on research. Using the info in the FAQ, I created the following table that
tries to show how much benefit you get from the various improvements per
100bc spent. You will note that there are a few key improvements that are
MUCH better than average. Note that research is the sum of research benefits +
production. This may not be the right formula as I maybe should have
multiplied. I really can't tell without seeing the code which is right.
Either way, it wouldn't affect the order given very much. I could add in
evil improvements if I had the data for it. This should help you decide
what to build first.
===============================================================================
Production:
Soil Enhance 64.0
Entertain Net 37.0
Schools 12.0
Info Net 10.0
Antimtr Plant 8.3
Gal Curr Exc 7.2
Fusion PP 7.0
Gal Ent Ntwk 7.0
Virt R Cntr 6.667
Currency Sys 5.0
University 5.0
Mutat Ctrl 4.444
Phasing PP 4.0
Treat Cntr 2.833
Hydroponics 2.727
Mil Academy 2.632
Multimedia 2.5
Gal Info Net 2.2
Adv Poll Ctrl 2.0
Gnd Defence 2.0
Int Security 2.0
Planet Poll 2.0
Adv Hospitals 1.666
Cont Enviro 1.5
Im Poll Cont 1.5
Adv Mil Trn 1.364
Environ Ctrl 1.0
Defence Sys 0.545
Trade:
Fusion PP 5.0
Soil Enhance 4.0
Schools 4.0
Antimtr Plant 3.333
Currency Sys 3.0
University 2.5
Entertain Net 2.0
Info Net 2.0
Gal Curr Exc 2.0
Phasing PP 2.0
Cont Environ 1.5
Virt R Cntr 1.111
Mutat Ctrl 1.111
Gal Info Net 1.0
Hydroponics 0.909
Treat Cntr 0.833
Adv Poll Ctrl 0.666
Multimedia 0.625
Adv Hospitals 0.555
Im Poll Ctrl 0.5
Int Security 0.333
Defence Sys 0.091
Morale:
Soil Enhance 60.0
Entertain Net 35.0
Schools 8.0
Info Net 8.0
Gal Ent Ntwk 7.0
Virt R Cntr 5.556
Gal Curr Exc 5.2
Antimtr Plant 5.0
Mutat Ctrl 3.333
Mil Academy 2.632
University 2.5
Fusion PP 2.0
Currency Sys 2.0
Phasing PP 2.0
Treat Cntr 2.0
Gnd Defence 2.0
Planet Poll 2.0
Multimedia 1.875
Hydroponics 1.818
Int Security 1.667
Adv Poll Ctrl 1.333
Gal Info Net 1.2
Adv Hospitals 1.111
Environ Ctrl 1.0
Im Poll Ctrl 1.0
Adv Mil Trn 0.909
Defence Sys 0.455
Research:
Soil Enhance 64.0
Schools 42.0
Entertain Net 35.0
Info Net 20.0
University 15.0
Antimtr Plant 8.5
Fusion PP 8.0
Gal Curr Exc 7.2
Gal Ent Ntwk 7.0
Virt R Cntr 6.667
Phasing PP 6.0
Currency Sys 5.2
Gal Info Net 5.2
Mutat Ctrl 4.667
Hydroponics 3.636
Treat Cntr 2.833
Mil Academy 2.632
Multimedia 2.5
Adv Hospitals 2.222
Adv Poll Ctrl 2.067
Gnd Defence 2.0
Int Security 2.0
Planet Poll 2.0
Cont Environ 1.5
Im Poll Ctrl 1.5
Adv Mil Trn 1.364
Environ Ctrl 1.0
Defence Sys 0.636
*****************************************************************
GALACTIC ACHIEVEMENTS (or "Inter-stellar Merit Badges Made
Easy!!)
*****************************************************************
Chapter 5.3.1
A general note on these descriptions: they do _not_ include any
definitive strategy hints. The "worth it" and "what if my
neighbors build one" notes are quick and dirty hints but should
not be used to make a real stratigic plan. The game is probably
too new for any suggestions on _the_ best achievements or _the_
ones to avoid or restart, etc. Occasionally, I did say something
to that effect, but that was only if you absolutely had to have
that achievement to make your game.
Cloaking Device - need: Cloaking
cost: 2000 bc
expiration date: NONE!
bonus: 30% ship attack, 1% defense
worth it????: yes, plus the big bonus of all ships
that are built are now equiped with
cloaking tech so they can't be tracked!
what if my neighbors
build one?: don't worry, every one has secrets.
Controlled Wormhole - need: Spatial Rifts
cost: 1400 bc
expiration date: ...forgot...
bonus: +50% trade! and 10% research
worth it????: maybe...depends upon if you're racing
for the tech that ends its useful
life.
what if my neighbors
build one?: I don't know.
Crystalai - need: Advanced AI's
cost: 4000 bc
expiration date: none
bonus: adds +1 to all inhabitated planet class
worth it????: it's a LONG project! But it is
worth the increased population growth.
what if my neighbors
build one?: anyone can improve their homes through
their local Planets-R-Us dealer!
Dinosaur Park Wonder: Replication
cost: 2000 bc
expiration date: Artificial Planets
bonus: +50% production
worth it????: if you're racing for Artificial
Planets, then this is not the project
for you.
what if my neighbors
build one?: sorry, only one per galaxy. Copyright.
Deep Thought - need: Terra Computers
cost: 2200 bc
expiration date: Omni Computers
bonus: +40% research for _ALL_ planets.
worth it????: Definitely one of the Wonders for which
to strive. The 40% research boost is
wonderful. (what? me? pun? nyah.)
what if my neighbors
build one?: The galaxy can only have one Deep
Thought.
Eyes of the Universe: Sensors
cost: 1000 bc
expiration date: none
bonus: none
worth it????: in a huge universe, probably so,
especially if you push straight for
it and gain its use for colonization.
Otherwise, it's of limited use
what if my neighbors
build one?: you're blind.
Galactic Stock Exchange: Star Democracy
cost: 920 bc
expiration date: NONE!
bonus: +50% trade
worth it????: Without a doubt! The only drawback
is the pollution it can create on a
very productive planet. Poor baby.
what if my neighbors
build one?: too late. you lose. start over.
HyperSpace Project- need: Hyperspace
cost: 1000 bc
expiration date: none
bonus: none
worth it????: if you're at war, the +2 move can be
a real nice advantage. If you're foes
have it, you are at a real
disadvantage, so you'd better get
building!
what if my neighbors
build one?: read the above carefully.
Life Creation - need: Artificial Life
cost: 2600 bc
expiration date: oops!
bonus: +25% morale, +30% research
worth it????: the morale and research bonuses are
nice. The project is a bit expensive
but if you want to stay ahead...?
what if my neighbors
build one?: don't know that one either.
Nano Robot Wonder- need: Nano Electronics
cost: 500 bc
expiration date: Terra Computers
bonus: none
worth it????: sure, why not? not much more expensive
than a fusion plant and gives more
output. But, if you're after those
info nets in a big hurry, don't bother.
what if my neighbors
build one?: no problem, build your own!
Peace for a time- need: Interspecies Philosophy
cost: ????
expiration date: ????
bonus: ????
worth it????: no clue. I've never had a chance to
build this project. Wild speculation?
It can only be built by alien races.
That would be cool....in a way.
what if my neighbors
build one?: You're assuming you can.
Trison Ring - need: Large Scale Building (I'll say!)
cost: 1200 bc
expiration date: none! ha, ha, ha, ha
bonus: +40% trade, +1% defense, +10% research
worth it????: YES! Just like the Galactic Stock
Exchange, build it!
what if my neighbors
build one?: too late.
Tur-Ahn Training- need: Planetary Defense
cost: 1100 bc
expiration date: Replication
bonus: +40% attack, defense, +100% ground def.
worth it????: if you are at war, want to go to war,
or fear being at war, don't hesitate.
what if my neighbors
build one?: hope they are your friends.
Utopia Colony - need: Utopia
cost: 6000 bc (ouch!)
expiration date: there is one.... I think.
bonus: +20% trade and morale
+5% attack, defense and ground def.
+20% research.
worth it????: it gives a lot of bonuses. It costs
a lot! It comes very late in the game.
More experience is definitely needed.
what if my neighbors
build one?: I hope everyone can have a utopia!
There will be other evil Wonders (Super Projects/
Galactic Achievements) you can build too but those are not
mapped out.
5.3.2 Strategic Planning with Super Projects
I want to get some more discussion as to the virtues and
deficits of the various projects. The easiest is Tur-Ahn
Training, but what of the others? (Help me, Mr. Wizard!)
A couple of quick suggestions:
If there is an Achievement that you REALLY want to build, but
don't have the tech for yet, start one that you can build
and then switch to the project you want. One warning, DON"T
FORGET ABOUT IT! Nothing worse than accidently building what
you didn't want and then having someone else scoop you!
Don't be too concerned about building the generic Achievements.
You can always pick up the generic ones when you feel you really
need them, but once a unique one has been built.... Tur-Ahn
Training, the Trison Ring and the Galactic Stock Exchange come
to mind.
*********************************************************************
TECHNOLOGY AND SHIPS (or "something clever goes here")
*********************************************************************
Chapter 5.4
(currently COSTS are prone to errors, i'm doing it from memory)
(mainly trying to rough it out)
Name | A D S V M Cost | Technology
________________|_____________________|___________________________
Avatar | 20 20 11 3 20 800 | Avatar Tech
Battle Axe | 8 2 6 1 2 180 | Sensors
Battle Cruiser | 5 3 8 2 2 150 | Turbo Phasors
Battle Hammer | 9 3 12 2 2 220 | Large Scale Building
Battle Ship | 12 6 20 2 10 600 | Battle Tech I
Battlestar | 50 50 100?| Near Omniscience
Colony Ship + | 0 2 50 1 0 35 | {given}
Corvette | 3 6 6 2 3 100 | Advanced Phasors [good]
Defender | 2 4 5 1 1 50 | Galactic Diplomacy
Destroyer | 5 2 5 3 4 135 | High Density Metals
Dreadnaught | 14 7 20 2 12 650 | Battle Tech II
Excaliber | 30 20 60 20 12 | Excaliber Tech
Freightor ++ | 0 1 10 1 2 80 | Galactic Trade
Interceptor | 3 3 5 5 2 55 | Phasors
Paladin | 16 10 40 3 18 700 | Ranger Tech (?)
Phasing Dread **| 10 1 12 2 4 130 | 4D (?) Phasing
Phoenix | 12 1 5 | Disruptors [evil]
Ranger | 15 10 30 3 14 700 | Ranger Technology
Scout | 0 0 0 5 1 18 | {given}
Sensor Bouy | 0 0 0 1 0 10 | {given}
Small Fighter | 1 1 1 1 0 25 | General Cold Fusion
Star Fighter | 3 1 6 3 1 30 | Photon Torpedos
Stealth Cruiser*| 9 1 4 2 3 100 | Cloaking
Terror Star *** | 10 10 20 0 250 12k?| Terror Star
Transport +++ | 0 1 20 1 1 60 | Impulse Drive
A - attack factor. A ship with a 0 attack should not win a conflict
if it is the aggressor.
D - defense factor. A non-zero defense means that a ship could
survive an attack and the attacker could be destroyed when
attacking.
S - strength. More or less, how big, massive, strong, etc. the ship
is. Note that colony ships and transports have a variable strength
to reflect their varying size. In combat, a high strength can
sometimes "overcome" a superior A and D.
V - velocity. Because I already used S for strength. Base speed to
which improvements in movement technology are added. Note, you
don't have to rebuild the ship to get the improved speed. The new
designs are faxed to the ship and implemented immediately.
M - maintenance. How much it costs to keep that ship functional.
Maintenance costs are not optional. The only way not to pay the
money is to decommission the ship.
Cost - What it costs to build it in the first place.
Technology - What you have to know to build that type of ship.
* Stealth Cruiser - This ship "cloaks". Basically, this means that
it cannot be tracked once it is spotted.
** Phasing Dread - Same as Stealth Cruiser, I believe. I really
need to check on this one.
*** Terror Star - Terror Stars are unique among the combat ships
in that they _eat_ star systems. Great for that
wiping out that pesky outpost that is not worth
gaining control of but is a nuisance none-the-less.
Also good for really cutting into the enemy's
capabilities in a big way. Note, Terror Stars
are very vulnerable to attack and make lousy
ship-ship attackers. Use them to simplify the
star map, not whomp an incoming star fleet.
+ Colony Ship - Base strength is 50. This represents not only the
size of the ship, but the number of colonists on-board.
More colonists can be added if a larger starting
population for the colony is desired. Note that
each time you build a colony ship, it requires
20k colonists from the home planet. The additional
30k are a freeby (busy, busy).
++ Freighter - Nothing fancy, this is just the ship you must have to
set up a trade route. It contains "goods" and once
you establish a trade route, the ship is no longer
under your control. Loss of the trade route for any
reason does not make the ship reappear.
+++ Transport - Base strength is 20. This represents not only the
size of the ship, but the number of soldiers on-board.
More soldiers can be added if a larger starting
population for the colony is desired. Note that
initial 20k soldiers are "free", they don't subtract
from the colony's population.
*****************************************************************
********************* Future Wishes *****************************
*****************************************************************
Chapter 6.0
(as a general note, if someone thinks some of these ideas are
bogus (especially mine, since i only sorta thought about
them), feed back would be nice!!!!!)
Player Options (those changes affecting the player only)
- let the player ask for aid from the other races (net)
- the windows for fleet display and the planet display should be
sortable on any of the columns in the display. (i.e.- ship name,
planet name, production, location, ship class, etc.) (net)
- let the player choose the military advisors of the alien races.
Go for the ultimate punishment of chosing the nasty AI for all
the opponent races (or the opposite). (John Martz. The
masochist! (ok, he's says he's not a masochist, just wants the
challenge.))
- the naming of the star ships should allow for the place of
origin to be displayed _without_ having to pop-up a window. This
is vital information! (John Martz)
- or, put a "Return to Base" button in the ship display window.
(John Martz) (THIS IS IN PLACE NOW!!!!!!)
- there should be an increased number of options availible for
the player under the GIA button. These should include, but not
be limited to, requests by the player for aid; requests for
territory and/or money as a settlement for stopping a war (this
should include lump sum and "leases"); mutual treaties (ie - in a
2-on-1 war, you _and_ your ally would negotiate an end to the
fighting); "giving" technology to another race; foreign aid to
another race; treaties such as non-aggression pacts, warship size
limitations, planetary colonization agreements, etc.; and any
other options we can imagine! (net)
- there needs to be notification given when a new planetary resource
icon becomes available. Maybe this could show up on the Planetary
Resource window? (Greg Stewart)
Alien Options (those changes affecting the other races only)
- each race should have its own grammer. It should not
necessarily be tied to any given race all the time. (me)
- more races for opponents with pretty pictures. Obviously, this
is a CD-ROM option given all the various resolutions that this
game supports. Maybe have the format for the pictures and their
number known, so that anyone can edit a race. (me)
Both (ah, obvious)
- multi-ship movement such as escort, fleet movement, and have
this reflect in the combat in some way. A fleet of ten
starfighters should be more of a force than ten individual
starfighters. Escorting ships should be attacked first, or maybe
even get first attack? (net)
- projects should have variable affects on the different planet
classes, possibly at different times in the planet's history.
Examples: Entertainment Networks should be more effective on poor
planets than better planets. As the pollution level increases,
the effectiveness of an Entertainment Network should get better,
but not enough to offset the pollution losses. (me)
- mining outposts, or resource allocation outposts should be
availible as either projects or military ventures. These should
be used to exploit other systems that don't have "habitable"
planets. They should increase production without pollution but
should create more unhappiness at the home system. (net)
- espionage should give the alien trade route table as one of the
possible outcomes. From here, the player could use "destabilize"
money to indirectly disrupt trade (a steady decline in income or
maybe an abrupt ending of the route) or assign ships to play pirate
on one or more trade routes. Conversely, a player should be able
to pull ships off the "line" to guard trade routes, either directly
or maybe in a "Q"-ship role. (me)
Game Characteristics (changes that affect game play and
environment more than any particular race characteristics.)
- reduce the amount of "vacuum-effects". What I mean by a
vacuum-effect is the Trison Ring description. In this
description, it claims that the three planets were consumed in
making the Ring. If this is a real effect, then the Trison Ring
should only be built in systems that have three or more planets
of the type that can be used to build the Ring and the system
display should remove those planets once the Ring is complete.
In the best of all possible worlds, the system display should
include a separate graphic for a Trison Ring.
- the rebel planets need more personality. It should be possible
to negotiate with the rebels. Possible results would be trade,
non-aggression, chance to join the player's government. (net)
- related to the rebel planet personality is the idea that if
enough planets go into rebellion in a particular race, than those
planets can form a new, independent government with its own
personality with a possible minor shift in the race personality.
(me)
- GIA espionage information needs to be expanded. The current
information, while interesting, is not all that useful. If the
above treaty suggestions are added, then better intelligence is
necessary to check those treaties.
Examples of needed additions would be production/project/
population read-outs on individual planets; number of ships in
the fleet and a listing of types of ships with maybe the addition
of rough estimates of numbers (%s +/- 10?); estimates of planetary
defense fleets; etc. It should be possible to target a given
planet to discover specific information about that planet.
It would also be good to tie the reports of racial standing with
the other other races to only those races of which you have
intelligence data. (net)
- wars should have more effect on the population than just a draw
on the economy. There are two main paths this idea takes, one
for democracies and one for totalitarian governments. However, in
both governments, the longer the war, the stronger the needs and
desires for peace. First, the democracy: if the democracy is at
war with a neutral or good race, then the rising tide to stop the
war should be much stronger. Only evil governments should be the
targets of sustained conflicts, and then only if the race has
engaged in genocide should there exist strong enough support for
a really sustained and nasty war to the bitter end. This assumes
the democracy is winning. If it is losing, then the population
should have some sort of siege mentality and be able to "tough it
out".
If the government is totalitarian, then the population's will
is much more ignorable, but there should be some chance for the
creation of "rebels". Recall that a planet in rebellion does not
necessarily mean that the population of that planet has had a
change of heart. It most likely means that the local government
has declared its independence from the central authority for its
own needs. (me)
- to stay on the topic of war, I find it a bit disconcerting that
it is so painless to go to war with a former ally. Maybe it's just
my altruistic viewpoint. Consider that after making an alliance,
fighting other races for decades (if not a century or so!), you just
tell them, "You're not doing you're part" and then the alliance ends
and you go about declaring war on them and then trashing them (that
was the goal of that, wasn't it?). Somehow, this seems akin to me of
the US deciding to invade Canada or Great Britain in this day and age.
Even ignoring the general moral/support hit the government would take
for this action, the economic devastation alone would raise a hue and
cry that would sink the leader attempting such a plan. Remember,
such an action would most likely come from someone playing the "good"
path of the game. I think that there should be some mechanism to
make alliance breaking reflect more the _type_ of government the
person is attempting to play. (me, obviously)
- not all technologies are equally good for all races. Again,
this follows the idea that good and evil races have different
needs. For a good race, the building of Collusion Management
should have a negative effect on citizen happiness. The same
should be true for evil race but for different technologies. The
Info Net is one example of a technology that should increase the
chance that a planet goes into rebellion if the race is evil
since this Net would allow the local cronies to be more able to
band together, ignore the far-off central government and exploit
the local resources. (me)
- there need to be some technologies that are present for the
"neutral" races that would benefit their particular needs. (net)
- there need to be more options for government types. Suggestions
would be the space equivalent of a merchantile government
(obviously one for a neutral race), a socialist variation (happiness
as the democracy but resource allocations as the dictator?). (net)
(attributions: if the item was plucked off of the net and I
cannot recall the source, I appended "net" to it. Otherwise,
the suggestion will have one or more names associated with it.
Why all the bother? I believe in giving credit where credit
is due. This game was programmed by real people (Brad, too) and
has had lots of input from us, the beta group and the growing
list of new admirers (everybody just loves this game, right?!).
I think this tradition should continue! I would also like to point
out that all of the (me) attributions are due mainly to A LACK OF
INPUT....that's not too subtle, is it?)
(it is getting better, though:)
******************************************************************
******************************************************************
***** Places to buy Galactic Civilizations *****
******************************************************************
******************************************************************
7.0
QUESTION: WHAT IS "GALCIV" AND WHERE CAN I GET IT?
ANSWER:
You can get GalCiv (Galactic Civilizations) from a number of sources.
This handy document will help you find a place to get it. This list
is by no means complete and more places will or are carrying it
than this list mentions. Timur Tabi is compiling a list of
sources which this list borrows from.
DESCRIPTION:
Galactic Civilizations is an OS/2 strategy game written
from the ground up to take advantage of OS/2. It allows you to
colonize or conquer an entire galaxy filled with alien civilizations
that are controlled by an advanced artificial intelligence engine
that plays by the same rules you do (unlike most strategy games).
Galactic Civilizations
Price: $59.95 for 1 unit. $54.95 for 3 or more.
Shipping: $5 in USA, $10 outside USA
Package Includes:
GalCiv box
Install Guide
Hypertext Manual Disk
4 HD 3.5 inch floppy disks with Galactic Civilizations game.
Requires:
System running OS/2 2.x or 3.0 (Warp)
Mouse, VGA or better
Recommended:
Sound Card
486DX processor or higher
SVGA
Sources for GalCiv:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Stardock Systems Inc.
PROS:
Gets revenue to the developers of game quickly which allows them
to get started on more OS/2 games. Offers same day or next day
shipping when units are in stock. Ships outside USA.
CONS:
Not a retail chain. Stores are looking to see how well GalCiv sells
at retail.
ORDER FORM:
Name: __________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________
City/Zip/Country _____________________________
Daytime Phone:__________________________________
Payment Type [VISA] [Mastercard] [COD] [CHECK]
Credit Card Number (if applicable) ___________________
EXP _________
Stardock Systems Inc.
13405 Addison
Gibraltar MI 48173
PHONE: (313)/782-2248
FAX: (313)/782-9868
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Indeliable Blue
PROS:
Is quick to fulfill orders. Great OS/2 supporter, experienced with
dealing with OS/2 software. Ships outside USA.
CONS:
Same as above.
CompUSA: (Special Order Only In Most Cases)
PROS:
Ordering from them allows them to see that their is demand for
OS/2 games and makes it more likely that they will stock it.
CONS:
Length of time between order and arrival unknown.
Egghead: (Some places have heard of it, others haven't)
PROS:
Same as above
CONS:
May not have heard of GalCiv at all which makes it difficult
to get it.
Software Etc.
PROS:
Same as Above
CONS:
None so far.