Galactic Appeal on Community Projects to all Galcivers

I'd like to help, but I'm a dunce when it comes to HTML and not much better when it comes to playing the game.

Still, if there's anything in particular I can do let me know.

I'll help, i tend to wander the board at fair intervals. Why not email me?
[email protected]

Rob, I've read your post in the GROSS thread. I certainly am one who can appreciate subterfuge but let's keep these community projects out of the empiring, can we?

I would be disappointed if someone goes ahead and sabotages these projects just because of empiring.

All I have to say it that it's a great idea Ray. One worth working on. I myself have little more to give then support. And I would love to see Stardock give it their full blessing.

If ya need anything I might be able to get, let a brother know.

I would send an email to the admins at The Orion Sector which is branching off to include GalCiv in their coverage. they are actively seeking to expand the site and i think would be happy to help in whatever way they can. They've got more bandwidth and webspace than you can shake a stick at so resources are not a problem. they've even got the framework for an online strategy guide, but right now it's tailored for MOO3. i'm sure it could be easily adapted to GalCiv. worth a shot. ask for either in their contact page or on their forums.

http://www.orionsector.com/

Thanks for that, Alakh.

I'm not hoping for any official blessing really from Stardock besides some guidance perhaps on what would be helpful to them. Likewise, I hope Galcivers would not have any misconceptions that there would be any rewards coming their way other than the satisfaction of participation.

I am working on a compiled bugs/design issues/suggestions list from the modders' perspective. I will submit it to whomever is in charge of project #1 when the list is done.

These will be just my thoughts, I don't presume to speak for the entire modding community. Any other modders that want to jump in, please do.

~SDC~

Raychua, I was totally kidding. That's why I put JK (just kidding) at the end of my message. How about if I work on #3 and start collecting strategies. The main problem I see is that every new version requires different strategy. I can see a 'strategy guide' evolve *if* the version nerfing ever settles down. What do you all think??

LV is right on the money. The Orion Sector is actively seeking to add to our GalCiv section. If you would like us to host any of your fan projects, email me at [email protected] robhunt [at] orionsector [dot] com.

We are also planning a modding guide and a strategy guide for the near future. If you want to contribute to either of those, drop me a line.

Oh we would probably also be interested in pursuing #1 and #3 if I can obtain the code to a previous project that could be easily adapted to these uses...
[Message Edited]

You got me there, Rob.

Thanks for the offer on #3, will chalk you in. Wouldn't advise you to start though unless you really have some time on your hands. Let's see if we can get more folks in before we kick-off a project.

I should already have one other person who would help, if he's registered here he didn't mention it to me though. We had planned to start version 0.1 by just compiling all the posts we can find here of strategies that we have tested and know work...

[Message Edited]

Format got really screwed, trying again.

Robert, I think your post was addressed to me, thanks for your help. Here is what I had in mind as far as the project goes. It has to be a bit more than just collecting a bunch of tips because this will be very chaotic and confusing. I was thinking of a 'guide' to the game that has sections talking about the different aspects. Then we can collect posts and stick them where they belong within the guide, but leaving room for editing for continuity purposes. I'd like to first just write what's within my own head since I've seen alot of posts on strategy.

Also, i plan to be in charge of editing this but i am not a fan of 1 chief 100 Indians, so anyone who wants to help or has ideas, let me know or stick them here. You can email or post in this forum unless we find another venue. Really, i don't intend for this to be my labor alone, so just let us all know if you have ideas or can help.

These are the topics that the guide should have, I think. The idea is that we can stick strategies or discussions into one or more of these topics and have some sort of rationale document at the end (and not a loose bunch of tips).

1. Introduction to the game
2. Methods to win
3. Detailed strategies
a. Military & Starships
b. Economy & Resources
c. Diplomacy & Trade
d. Culture
4. Dealing with the Aliens
5. Good or Evil

First post of the 'strategy guide' for lack of better name.

The Unofficial GalCiv Strategy Guide

Topics

1. Introduction to the game
2. Methods to win
3. Detailed strategies
a. Military & Starships
b. Economy & Resources
c. Diplomacy & Trade
d. Culture
4. Dealing with the Aliens
5. Good or Evil



Topic 5 – Good versus Evil

5.1 Introduction
In Galciv you can have different levels of morality depending on how you play the game. These are the things that affect this morality: Decisions during random events (Good/Neutral/Evil), attacking other AIs ( I think), demanding tribute (I think). Morality is visible from the game in the Stats window (more detail). Each of these above actions affect your Morality which is a scale from 0 (demonic) to 100 (saintly).

The benefits of Good, Neutral, or Evil are well established. In general Good players enjoy better diplomatic relations and better trade, while Evil players enjoy immediate bonuses from Random Events and better soldiering. “I usually play evil if I am going to be a war machine, and good if I am going to win via other methods.” (FleeBitFox)

5.2 Which to choose?

Each have their advantages and disadvantages. According to Frogboy, stats show that the average Good game outscored the average Evil game, at least of those that have been submitted to the metaverse. (Popup Target)

5.3 Summary of Benefits

5.3.1 Good:
Pro: Easier diplomatic relations with Good races (Alterians, Torians), Good Techs (Speed, production, trade bonuses)
Con: Penalities from Random Events

Good players will have less problems keeping good diplomatic relationships with Alterian and Torians, while enjoying a stronger economy. However, they will not be able to choose any of the good Random Event messages such as improved planet quality or production.

Good techs:

Xeno Trade Pursuasion
Alignment > 65
Gives: Trade Routes + 1

Cure for Depression
Alignment > 70
Gives: Morale +10

Hyperwarp
Alignment > 70
Gives: Speed +10

The Better Way
Alignment > 90
Gives: Trade +10, Trade Center

The Trade Center is something like +15 manufacture +15 influence +15 morale +15 economy +15 research zero maintenance. So from that standpoint its huge. (forceinfinity)

Benevolence
Alignment > 70
Gives: Trade Routes + 1

Hyper Trade
Alignment > 80
Gives: Trade Routes + 1, Trade Monument (Wonder, +20 Trade)

Galactic Pacifism
Alignment > 90
Gives: Diplomacy +10, Influence +10


5.3.2 Neutral:

Pro: No or little diplomatic penalties from Good or Evil races
Con: No benefit from Random Events, no useful techs

Neutral players are, well, neutral. They avoid for the most part making rash decisions which may affect their diplomatic relations with Good or Evil races. Probably the least popular of the three choices.

5.3.3 Evil:


Pro: Immediate benefits from Random Events, better (?) relations with Evil races, Evil Techs
Cons: Diplomatic penalty with Good Races, penalized by some UP issues, can be attacked by Fundamentalists

Evil players probably have the most difficult time of the three, while reaping the rewards of being…so evil. In the early game this can make a huge difference in that some planets could end up with vastly increased planet quality, or increased production. In the late game, Evil players are challenged because the Alterians & Torians inevitably form an alliance and are usually quite hostile towards the Evil player. Additionally, UP issues may strongly affect the outcome of a Evil players game. For example, one UP issue only allows Evil races 1 trade route total. Lastly, a common Random Event is the Fundamentalists, where planets secede from evil empires and form an empire of their own, dedicated to wiping out evil!

Evil Techs

Thought Police
Alignment < 30
Gives: Secret Police (Social Improvement, Morale +5, Culture Resist +15, Cost 100 Maint 2)

Xeno Intimidation
Alignment < 35
Gives: Trade Routes + 1

Smuggling
Alignment < 30
Gives: Trade Routes + 1

The Dark Side
Alignment < 10
Gives: Life Force Power (Wonder, Economics +25), Diplomacy +10

Master Race
Alignment < 30
Gives: Soldiering +10, Military Production +10

Xeno Brain Washing
Alignment < 10
Gives: Trade Routes + 1, Re-education Center (Social, +5 Economy, +40 Culture Resist, Cost 1000, Maint 5)

Mind Terror Weapons
Alignment < 30
Gives: Soldiering +10

Advanced Slavery
Alignment <25
Gives: Production +10, Artificial Slaves (Social, +15 Social Production, Cost 300 Maint 0 )

HyperSoldiers
Alignment < 45
Gives: Soldiering +10

Galactic Domination Philosophy
Alignment < 10
Gives: Nothing (?)

5.4 Advanced Morality

When to ‘change’ alignment? It often may be well advised to wait to become ultimate evil or good depending on your game. For example, if you get the dreaded UP event “1 trade route for evil races”, you may want to move back to neutral to gain access to your trade routes. Also, if you are surrounded by good or evil races, you may want to match alignment, until your empire is strong enough to take your neighbors on. (PontiusBrainPilot). Also you can change from good to evil, gaining access to both alignment tech paths, starting good and ending evil, or visa versa. (Staffa) “IMHO (FWIW) the larger the map (and hence the longer the game), the greater benefit to be had from playing Good... I rank Good as MUCH easier at huge/gigantic, and evil as easier on tiny/small (where individual planet benefits are relatively more important)” (Ralegh)

Another overlooked aspect of morality is that you can steal/trade techs from the opposite alignment. For example, Evil players can trade for the Better Way, or take it in invasion, or via espionage.

What is not so obvious is that morality really affects the ‘fun’ factor of the game by allowing the player to role play Good or Evil emporers. For example, fun evil things to do are:

- Backstab your allies by placing invasion fleets at their home world;
- Extort money from lesser races; attacking an AI, demanding peace and several enticements (money, tech, etc), wait a turn or so, then attack again and repeat (Although, with the latest versions of GalCiv, this doesn’t work nearly as well as it used to, the AI will eventually refuse to give in to your demands);
- Invade an AI, then use core detonators or Terror Stars to reduce them to slag
- Using colony ships to dump your population.

Curiously these things don’t influence your morality score at all.

Additionally some Metaverse Empires are themed for a specific morality, i.e. the G.R.O.S.S. empire, which has mostly evil members. Thus, the theme of morality can go well beyond your alignment/morality score and influence your role-playing ability.

Ray & Rob.

We were thinking about a format similar (though obviously not identical) to the CoW for #1 and the OSG for #3. These can be found at the following links. Would you two care to take a look and tell me what you think?

Citadel of Words:
http://www2.onyx.nu/pb/cow/

MOO3 Online Strategy Guide:
http://www.orionsector.com/sg/

Robert your idea for #3 isn't bad, but I am not sure people will use it. Consider that alot of people already have submitted stuff to this forum and are probably not willing to post to an additional forum for the same purpose. Also I found any clear idea of structure lacking, and no evidence of a 'compilation' which was stated in the moo3 page.

I *do* like the idea of a user created guide, but i think what people really cry for (in their hearts, where people can't hear) is an organized guide that they can actually flip through and find stuff, like a book. Often times when confronted with a database I am not even sure what to put for search text. I think alot of the stuff that would make up such a guide is already posted, just waiting to be dug out and put in context, which is, as I understand it, our job.

Feel free to try this and see if it works. If it does, we can then use the user submissions to create some sort of document. If it doesn't, we can still use this forum (which is not the best medium for our task, but mostly all we have).

I think instead of a guide with search text, a simple fat html file would be better - people who just want to read can do that, and people looking for a specific topic should be able to click on it and hyper-scroll down.

I might be able to help with this, but I'll have to see what's happening with uni and work first.

Nice overview on good vs evil Rob

a database can be "dumped" though, so i think it might be good for two reasons: you can search it and compile it into a "fat HTML file" (or whatever other file type you can imagine) pretty easy i'd imagine

To all Galcivers interested in the community projects,

I have decided to withdraw Project #2 from this list to better focus our support. This decision was reached based on the indications of support thus far.

I would also appreciate it if you could log in your interest by 16 July so that the planning process can begin.

Thanks again for all your support.

I'll help with any actual web pages you need put together, though I have considerably more confidence in my ability to put together a page that works than a page that looks good

I've also picked up a good bit of "strategy" while playing the game, but that's mostly listening to other people's strategies and hacking them into my playing style. Either way I'll help with #3 to the extent that I can.

Sounds like a great project you guys are under taking Stardock should check you out. My website CDG would be happy to donate forum and file space for your endeavors. We have plenty of bandwidth and space for whatever plans you guys have. I am sure you have seen our link elsewhere. We would make a Empire Forum for you if you like as well. This is what our website is all about. Catering to gamers to help them with their projects. http://www.cdgroup.org is our main front page. This is the http://www.cdgroup.org/forums/tbs/gc/ Galciv forums we have set up. Be a pleasure helping you guys out. E-mail site owner at [email protected], myself co-owner [email protected]

Hope to hear back from you on this.
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Yeah I agree with you here. I'm still in planning stages, just throwing out ideas. The owner of the code in question suggested I flop my ideas, use the CoW style for for the strategy section, and just compile the suggestions manually, perhaps a subsection of our forums or something.

I don't want to say too much more until I'm sure what the code for CoW can do, but if I understand it right reposting may not be a concern. I'm still open to other suggestions in the meantime.

Ray,
it would be better to move discussion on Project 2 (strategies) to the strategy forum as this is where people currently go (or should go0 to ask those strategy questions, to pass their knowledge, or just to search for previous suggestions. A strategy section will also be greatly affected by future upgrades and updates. You would have to set a version for the strategies to be good for.

Paul.

Desert Fox, sounds good. Should we move our discussion to your site? I find it painful to dig through the forum topics to this one.

Keith, could you edit my good/evil post and repost it or put in on a web page or something? I know the formatting needs work but am not sure what this forum will and won't handle.

Thanks for everyones help, looks good so far. I'll work on another topic today and submit it.

Rob