Playability of Twilight of the Arnor beta

from GalCiv2 Forums
I understand that this game is in its beta stage at the moment, but how playable is TotA? I read posts left and right about bugs, crashes to desktop, and erratic behavior. I bought Galciv II Gold edition along with TotA back in October and haven't really played them much. I'm thinking about actually enjoying my investment and get past the learning curve, but from what I've read, TotA is a much better, albeit different, experience than DA.

So should I wait it out until launch day to play TotA? Or can I at least have an enjoyable experience with the beta without encountering too many stumbling blocks along the way?
3,426 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, if you're anything like me (and how would we ever really know that?) I would play DA until you're comfortable with the game and the mechanics. I couldn't imagine trying to learn and enjoy a game when something didn't go as expected, not knowing if it was from a bug or if thats how it was intended to be. And along that same course, playing DA and anticipating TotA just makes it that much better when I do play it, hopefully with slightly LESS bugs.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd say jump in and start playing. That's just my 2c though from someone who's played since Beta 1 of TA though lol.

Worse case, if TA is too buggy at that point in time, you can still choose to play DA since they are side-by-side.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The Beta is what it is, a beta.

For the most part, I've found it to be really stable, but there's still things wrong with it, that change from release to release. I think it's possible for you to have an enjoyable time with the beta (I've been enjoying the hell out of it,) but you have to keep in mind that it lacks some of the 'polish' that you'd see in a retail game. If it crashes on you, just play DA ;)

In a nutshell, what Loupdinour said.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
TA is very stable and most bugs are minor things. It's still lacking some balancing and the AI ist still work in progress. But none of that should keep you from playing if you're curious.
If you haven't play DL and DA yet, you might try that first to get a feeling for basic game mechanics.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Agreed. It is stable. Game is definitly worth getting/playing.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Plus it's always cool to report a bug no one else has found yet because of something unique to your computer or play style. The programmers can't possibly have every combination of hardware -- have fun helping out and you'll still get the Finished when it's ready.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Agree with Loupdinour and others, it's actually quite fun to be involved as the game evolve. There are those terrible moments when you realise that, for example, that Hyperion starbase module you just installed contains more armour than god, but not a single weapon; but these are countered by the equally satisfying times that the Torians (the TORIANS) give you a decent run for your money, or the first time you see a Carinoids battleship, or your beloved but much maligned Arceans get a special constructor module (cheers guys!)
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
There are those terrible moments when you realise that, for example, that Hyperion starbase module you just installed contains more armour than god, but not a single weapon
End of quote
I've complained about that so many times that I think the devs are leaving that issue until last just to spite me. And deservedly so! ;)

But I really, really want to be able to start a war early in the game and watch endless fleets destroy themselves attacking a decoy starbase with ungodly high attack and defense. In fact, a weapons module of similar power as the Singularity Armor would give the Thalans a passive military capability that would make surviving the early game much much easier.