Well, I'm going to wait a little while, see what the regulars say about the balance, wait for the complaints and then decide But not wait too long either. Until then I'm sticking to SP.

The game takes a REALLY long time to finish. For me, the standard 2v2 (vs. AI of course) takes between 4 and 5 hours. Maybe I move too slow, but I can't imagine a game running under an hour. Thats a really long time to be playing online, and if somebody has to leave midway through, it sorta ruins it

there should be like a "turbo" mode, where everything exept research and income happens at 6x normal speed, this should help with gamelength issues, (income and ship construction should be at 4x normal rate for micro/macromanagment issues)(combat at 4x also) because alot of the frustrating slowness of the game comes from waiting for ships to move, jump, and arive. if less time is spent on waiting for ships to reach their destinations, the the game will be alot more engaging, and multiplayer will involve alot more skill(skill that can be learnt in singleplayer, making the transition to online easier) and be ALOT MORE FUN

Well, I'm actually for extra speed options, but in my case I want slower speeds for certain things like tech in sp games. I hate maxing my stuff out on a large map before I've even conquered half of it.. I'd like to play a game where I could set it where it's highly unlikely I'd get 3/4 of all of it done, so that the choices mean more.

Sure put in a faster setting for the ADD guys (not saying I don't get the time issue.. but there are smaller maps for that along with the settings) but I think you are all forgetting that since this is real time, the more you speed the game up the more likely you'll have sync/update/performance issues from a programmers perspective. That's a fair bit of data being pushed through the pipes in larger games y'know.

Almost immediately after I started playing it in online multiplayer I realized that I would no longer enjoy playing it in single player. For me the choice is to either play Sins in online multiplayer or play something else (probably in online multiplayer).

It doesn't take an hour to play a 50 planet map even for an expert like me

Seems like the folks who wrote this slow as a pig forum software wrote Sins

Seriously, their should be some type of maps (that Stardock creates) specifically designed for fast games.

i.e. (obvously converted to whatever race you choose)

Start with like 15k credits, a chunk of metal and crystal, maybe 8 total planets, all with 4 asteroids for the map.
You start with a fully upgraded home world, 2 military and 2 Civic Research Units. 1 Repair bay, 1 Gauss

2 Free Cap ship purchases, fully crewed, Maybe start at level 3

2 Free Kodiaks

1 Colonizer

4 Missles, 2 scouts and 4 Lights

Perhaps add a feature on this map only where planet bombardment, is 2x normal IF all of a players assets in the gravwell are gone.

Rather than try to speed up the game, wouldn't it be better to cut out part of the game? I already find it very busy to manage a medium size map, speeding it up would just make it impossible to manage. Have everyone start out with a fully developed terran, an ice and fire, a desert, and two asteroids that are partially developed. Then give everyone a modest fleet like 16 skirmishers, 10 LRMs, 6 gardas, 2 siege frigates, and two free capital ships. Give everyone some basic research up to say the basic techs of up to four labs, a few in logistics, and let everyone go out. You've probably effectively cut out say 40+ minutes of the game and people will still be able to manage the game.

Also, I concur. This board is as slow as molasses.

Going uphill.

In January.

With crutches.

So basically what you are saying is a few things: That the reason games go slow is because a individual doesn't know how to play, a individual doesn't know how to be effective with units and everything will be solved if the player learns how to play like you. That way the game will no longer last more than 2 hours. This is absurd, but its great for you to believe that everyone should suddenly morph in to little Astax's to remedy the problem.

One thing that you must first come to realize is not everyone is going to put in the amount of dedication you have to learn the game mechanics inside and out. There are many different levels of gamers and what this thread is about is trying to show IC how they are cutting off a mass majority of players because of how the game is in its current state. I don't even see why people who are against the idea make posts about it, in fact it makes no sense to make a post about it at all. Since the idea in itself doesn't effect your gameplay. Everyone wants it as a option, so the way you play remains but it opens the door for other people to enjoy the game as well.

Ever read any reviews about this game? The amount it takes to complete a game is almost always mentioned as a con. That's no surprise. But I can see how you say a game COULD last no less than 2 hours. But for the individual who doesn't have the time to play like you do, this will never be the case. Keep making posts telling casual players how wrong they are and how the only way to fix the problem is learning how to play like a expert. I'm sure that helps in increasing the online population.

Bah no edit ...it doesnt totally describe grindstone ...but its getting there. Yea I see what u mean. a bit crazy tho

I think the reason why everyone finishes the game at differant time is because some people like me enjoy colonizing every planet, researching everything, having a huge fleet and gaining an ally or two, then we go on the attack. The only other time I attack is if I want a planet that they 'stole' from me, . I spend 5-10 hours over 4 or 5 sittings to finish one game but I enjoy it. Other people like to rush and colonize maybe 10% of the map then send their fleets at the enemies without to much research and kick everyones asses which is like what I do in AOE3. I play at fastest settings and they are to slow so I wish ironclad and stardock would at a turbo/extreme setting in 1.06/1.1 to increase the speed of games and that way people like me can still get the most out of the game we payed for. It will also help other people who play aggressively and quickly to go even faster and play more games.

you are right!
but since RA is pure pwnage and every no/low skilled vasari uses it the online games take just way too long ..
especially when you are winning against a vasari they just have their RA running and fortify to the max every planet... so u have to clear every planet and move to the next.. where a fully new fleet and full defenses await you..

time flies if you are having fun yes but even in a winning game against a RA vasari its just taking too long..
but u can't leave .. u can't give such a lame player get the satisfaction of winning by attrition