Another Initial Thoughts Post

from GalCiv4 Forums

First, thank you devs (Brad) for the opportunity.

I've started 3 games, played to only about turn 25 just to get the feel for the new format. Will play a longer game this weekend.

For Tech Support: Having Protected Folders turned on in Win 10 Security will prevent the game from launching until the game is whitelisted. The security feature prevents the creation of a user folder, if I read the popup message correctly.

The Epic site shows 2 versions of the game: GalCiv4 and GalCiv4 Test. Which one should we be using? I downloaded both and used GalCiv4.

I like the ability to customize my starting race.

Starting the game multiple times, I noticed that it remembered my galaxy settings but not my race customization settings. Possible I did something wrong, but would like the game to remember them, with a "reset to default" option.

The new UI took a little getting used to, but not too bad. By the third start I understood where (almost) everything was and how it related to past versions of the game. I do miss being able to watch my universal approval change as I raise or lower taxes. It also took me a bit to find my Control Points, and at one point I collapsed the highlighted item UI in the lower left corner and couldn't figure out how to get it back.

In my final play through (only about 25 turns), I selected a large map and went with the default races. Three races started in systems adjacent to mine. One even colonized the outer planet in my solar system before I could. I hope this is a function of Alpha. I like a little room between my starting star system and the AIs.

I have to say, I really like the characters and leaders. Wasn't sure at first I would, but it grew on me quickly. I would like some feedback in the UI showing the change a leader brings, particularly ministers and diplomats.

Old complaint: On the diplomatic screen, when I offer a trade (i.e. tech), I would like the game to tell me how many credits I have to add to make the trade instead of having to figure that out myself. It takes time, multiplied by all the races I've met, and it's not fun. I had the same complaint in GC3.

Early on, I didn't understand the relationship between population and food. My people starved until I colonized a world with 14 food. However, the 14 listed for the planet only added 4 food to my civilization total (from -2 to 2). I didn't have time to figure out why but I'm assuming improvements are needed to increase it.

Balance: There are more things early game that a shipyard needs to build now, but fewer shipyards than in past games (I would have one shipyard in every star system in GC3). Haven't played deep enough into a game to see how this impacts early game.

I do like being able to buy a colony ship with Control Points. Wish the reset timer was shorter. I also like Control Points for money early game and hope there are ways to reduce crime later in the game.

The new tech system is fine. I would still like the option to see all techs so I can plan better which ones I want when they become available.

Bug: On my initial survey ship, I selected auto-survey and it did auto-explore instead.

Thanks again. Will have more to say after playing a longer game.

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Reply #1 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

The two versions are live and test. If you feel brave go on the test branch for the most buggy builds. However, when you come here or on discord about feedback please make sure you know which version you are on and cite it so we don't get all confused.

I've noted the survey ship bug and your request for credit-trade precognition.

Reply #2 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Playing new game on Test version v0.40.

(Typing these as I play. Will add comments as I go.)

Main page UI:

I really like the Notification icons upper left, being able to click on them and go directly to the relevant UI. Great improvement from GC3. Suggestion: In keeping with the idea, please move the research icon there instead of the lower right (like it was in GC3). That way, all the “to-do” tasks are in one place.

Possible to add “hot click” to money, control, and food icons upper left? Meaning, if I click on the money icon, it takes me to the Economy UI.

Add civilization morale after food icon in same bar? That way I can see how that changes when adjusting the tax rate.

Possible to add turn number to date upper right corner? Yes, I see the turn number pop up when I hover over the date, but I like to see turn number at a glance.

 

On the Leaders UI: Ministers:

Color scheme: Exploration is red but Diligence is purple. Tech is blue, which matches intelligence. Colonization is green, which matches Social. Suggestion, match color of Minister primary trait to trait color.

Disregard my previous comment about UI feedback for ministers: Saw the bonus at the bottom of the leader card this time.

With a leader in the Unassigned Leaders box, it wasn’t immediately obvious to me (I’m dense, I know) that I had to drag a leader from the Minister row to the box to unassign. I tried several times just dragging to the bottom of the screen, which doesn’t work.

Overall, I’m liking the leader card concept more and more.

 

Planet UI:

Bug: In Turn 8, double-clicked on Earth and the Left Panel was off the screen (only edge visible) to the left. This was not the case in earlier turns. Same after closing the screen and hitting Manage button on lower left on main UI. Cannot select a new project from panel, but could select an upgrade on Elerium by clicking on it. Turn 10: problem persists. Saved, quit game, loaded save, problem gone.

Just noticed the Orders in the left panel. Really like this feature.

Ship AI:

I notice this uses the same pathing AI as GC3. Is this only visual without impact on the game? I would prefer a “straight” path to destination, if possible.

 

Mining:

Nice that a single Asteroid Miner mines an entire group of asteroids instead of just one hex.

 

Game Mechanics:

Having a real hard time managing food and population early game. Food goes negative very fast. Just got Planetology tech so building my first agricultural improvement. Only 1 planet outside my starting star system discovered so far that has some food resources.

Took me a bit (did I mention I'm dense?) but finally figured out the relationship between planet terrain and what districts I can build there.

I'm getting a feel for the sector mechanic as I explore. Question: Will the number of races at game setup be across the entire galaxy, or only in one sector? Will we be able to choose # of races per sector? For my current game, I chose huge map and 8 AI players. Have met 2 of them by turn 33.

Ashes of the Singularity II