Dano13

Natural Abilities???? in Dark Avatar GalCiv2 Forums

When you are customizing your opponents, I know what a Super ability is, but what exactly is a natural ability? Dano

Reply to Dark Avatar Account Issue in Dark Avatar GalCiv2 Forums

Never mind ... I figured it out. If you go to tools->register products, and scroll to Dark Avatar it shows the serial number. Then I just clicked register, and now instead of the purchase button I have an install button. Hope this helps someone else. Dano

Dark Avatar Account Issue in Dark Avatar GalCiv2 Forums

Hi All, So I pre-ordered Dark Avatar on the 15th to make sure that I got in on the beta. I have an order number to confirm that I purchased this (thank the gods I wrote it down). Anyway ... now what do I do? I have received no email, and when I fire up stardock, although I see dark avatar there, all I see is a Purchase button beside it. When I click the purchase button it doesn't recognize that I already purchased it. What should I do? Thanks Dan

Reply to Rebalancing costs for Dark Avatar in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

If capital ships are much more expensive to create (as they should be - losing one should HURT), and capital ships are not as good against a group of fighters (since there is so much wastage in shots), then I confess - why build capital ships? Dano

Reply to PC game types in Game Talk GalCiv2 Forums

Deus Ex was a sci-fi RPG (which makes it kinds rare to start with). It was kind of FPS, but the twitch factor was very minimal, kind of like the way the original System Shock was (I know I am dating myself here). The thing that captivated me with the game was the story - great stuff. The sequel wasn't a BAD game, but it was heavily 'consolized', and the skills development system bastardized. The story was only mediocre, compared to that of the original.

Reply to Anyone here read any Iain M Banks Sci Fi? in Off-Topic GalCiv2 Forums

I have a boss who is a big Banks fan. Apparently he heard an interview where he can somehow crank out these books in 6 weeks (an almost supernatural feat considering how imaginative and captivating they are). Then he spends the rest of the year partying and regenerating his creative juices - Anyway, that is what I heard. Not sure if its true. Dano PS - One of my favourite fleet/empire books is the strangely titled "In Death Ground", (Its a Sun Tzu quote) by Dav

Reply to Race skills in Dark Avatar in Dark Avatar GalCiv2 Forums

The problem with applying Diplomacy penalties is that it also applies to how easily you can be cheated by trades. So making a race hated by applying a diplomacy penalty ALSO makes them easily cheated, which is an unintended effect. Dano

Reply to Race skills in Dark Avatar in Dark Avatar GalCiv2 Forums

I have been thinking about easily created super abilities, but I can't think it would be easy to do, since the AI would have to know how to handle these new user created abilities. What about this idea - In order to prevent user created opponents to be Super Ability Race 1, Super Ability Race 2 etc, what if there was an option to FORGO a super ability? Doing this would give you a truck load of extra points for ability points and/or starting tech. Because you would get so many points,

Reply to Race skills in Dark Avatar in Dark Avatar GalCiv2 Forums

Mmmmmmmmm ... sounds REALLY juicy! So if I understand this correctly, you can set a Super Ability for a race as WELL as the normal choice perks (Research +10, Diplomacy +10 etc). Is this correct? Not that I am not grateful for this super-awesome ability, but how difficult would it be to mod NEW super abilities? The only reason I ask is because it would make custom races Really, REALLY unique rather than "Similar to the Drath, but with economic bonuses", since the new super ab

Reply to Conspiracy and game reviews in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

I have been on the SOTS forums a lot. I didn't find the Devs to be mean and nasty at all. Basically you got what you gave. I have seen TONS of posts that constructively criticized the game and the Devs answered with either a) Why they did what they did, or b) Said it was an interesting idea. On the other hand if you went on and ranted about how the game was crap, and how the devs didn't know what they were doing etc, etc - then yeah - you got it with both barrels from the devs - an

Reply to Dark Avatar screenshot of the days.. in Dark Avatar GalCiv2 Forums

Can we had penalties as well as bonuses? For example ... make a race excellent at building, but crap at research? Or give a race lots of advanced tech, but make them universally reviled? Dano

Reply to The complexities of marketing, publishing, and distributing in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

I would be more than happy with an open beta and a longer time period for development. I thought you guys were being Masochistic in doing all those high quality patches AND an expansion before xmas. I think the quality of the patches and games so far is a combination of two factors 1) Your commitment to qualtiy 2) Your receptiveness to user ideas. Since this approach has served you so well, why not stick with it and go with another open beta? I really can't think of any mo

Reply to Would people want Mega events? in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

Minor Alexander - A Minor race gets a brilliant leader. After a boost of tech and cash they start expanding like a major race

Reply to Would people want Mega events? in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

Oh ... one more The weakest race finds some source of fabulous wealth. They get a big boost to their money, their economy, AND a portion of all races warships mutiny and join that empire.

Reply to Would people want Mega events? in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

Hey this is Fun! Here are some more ideas 1) A super computer virus runs through the galaxy and wrecks economic and happiness destruction that is proportional to every civilization's power and economy. 2) The Chess Game - Two super beings, one good the other evil take control of two weaker civilizations (one good the other evil). Those civs are given a truck load of tech and money and declare war on each other. Relations of those races to others are STRONGLY dicta

Reply to Would people want Mega events? in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

How about a super powerful invasion fleet of either good or evil beings. They have only a certain number of uber ships ... BUT ... the least powerful good or evil race ally with them, riding on their coat tails to achieve galactic power once again. Dano

Reply to Would people want Mega events? in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

I love the idea ... even if it costs me the game. I am playing to be a character in a story and if that story involves a dreaded wumpus invasion that blows me away, so be-it. Though you would definitely want to make this optional, and I think that you would also want to include the frequency of said mega-events within that option. Dano

Reply to Custom Races in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

I am REALLY looking forward to these custom enemies ... If I could make a suggestion, please make a "Despised" trait worth so many bonus points. It would cause all other races to suffer a penalty with that race, and have that race suffer a penalty to all others. I was thinking of making a very advanced but hated race that everyone would have to gang up on. I thought I could just slap down a diplomatic penalty, but that wouldn't really have the same effect. They could still think the

Reply to What races will you create in DA? in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Or I might make the harvesters with a crippled diplomacy score, but with all the techs required to colonize all of the planet types. Dano

What races will you create in DA? in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

So what kind of races do you think you will make with Dark Avatar? I am hoping that you can create a race with heavy penalties balanced by heavy bonuses to re-create some of the MOO races eg. Awesome Production, Horrible Research -> Klackons Awesome Espionage, Horrible Diplomacy -> Darlocks etc. I am also hoping that you can grant free techs to races. That way I can make the Antarians with some pretty nifty tech, and a terrible Population Growth rate,

Reply to Enhanced Combat Viewer? in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Anyone?

Enhanced Combat Viewer? in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

I read somewhere that Dark Avatar will also feature an enhanced combat viewer. Could a developer tell me what will be enhanced about it? Thanks Dano

Aliance Notifications, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Hi there, I was playing a fascinating game this weekend (even though I got stomped) and I realized what the game desperately needs. Like Declarations of War and Peace Treaties we NEED notifications whenever an alliance takes place or is broken. You definitely have egg on your face when you declare war on one race and suddenly find yourself at war with the rest of the universe. I know what you are thinking - 'Just check the Treaties Screen when you are about to declare war

Reply to Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar Announced! in GalCiv II News GalCiv2 Forums

Sheesh ... don't you guys ever sleep? 1) Will people that pre-order be able to beta-test the expansion? 2) As it is, when customizing your race you can't take penalties to get more points to spend on other things. Sure it leads to exploitation, but I would like to see penalties available to apply to custom races - so I can make a race of braniacs that rock on research but are sub-par on soldiering and production. Dano

Reply to Design your own enemies in GalCiv Journals GalCiv2 Forums

I agree with Brad's idea about a billion percent ... though I would also like to create full blown separate races that could be chosen as an AI Opponent - i.e. not just randomizing/tweaking the stock races but also possibly choosing other races I may have designed - Klackons, Zerg, whatever. Thus it would also be nice to link a pic and name to this race, as well as adding whatever bonuses would be specific to that race (Better Soldiers, Production bonus etc, etc), as well as an alignment and St