Extreme Colonization in DA

from GalCiv2 Forums
Ok, so this is nice big new addition to GalCiv and overall I like it a lot. It slows down the colony rush and encourages you to build a more well balaced civ from the start. If you don't invest in any colonization tech, you'll be out colonized. Invest in too much, and you'll fall behind in other areas. There is just a bit too much randomness to it right now. I did a lot of Ctrl+U and Ctrl+N trying to get a feel for how map generation changed as I tweaked settings. It seemed to be a complete krap shoot when it came to determining which worlds required extreme colonization tech, and where they were located.

That said, I have some suggestions.

1.) Galaxy setup screen should have a selector for the percent of habitable planets that require extreme colonization tech (Rare, Uncommon, Abundant, etc..) just like the other features. So on the one side you could have a galaxy where the technology is rarely needed (more DL like.) On the other end, there are very few "Earth like" planets in the galaxy. The cost of the tech would scale accordingly, so in a game where extreme colonization is rarely needed, reduce the cost. On the flip side, you would raise the cost when most of galaxy requires some form of extreme colonization, as each new type of colonization tech would open up large parts of the galaxy to you.

2.) The quality of the planets should be better tied to the tech required to colonize it. It seems rather silly to fly into a new system to find this Class 19 "Earth like" world sitting next to a Class 4 Aquatic world. Unless I have no other choice, why would I spend months researching the tech to colonize it? Those Class 26 planets you find around purple stars should ALWAYS require a colonization tech.

3.) Super Adaptors should simply have the research time for their first two colonization techs reduced to 1 week. That way they can pick the techs that best suit the current game. Being able to colonize Barren worlds isn't much good to me if the nearest one is half way across the galaxy.

Thoughts, opinions, comments?
13,494 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I agree on points 1 and 3. Super Adapters are underpowered.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
To continue the colonisation theme...

I think the AI not being able to colonise PQ1 planets is a big unfair advantage to us players. These planets can be colonised at a players discrection and always become amazing planets ranging from a potential PQ16 or PQ19.

Id like to see ethier the AI colonise these planets or for PQ1 planets to not exist or their there potential reduced eg PQ7 or PQ4 potential.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
AI's don't colonize PQ1's? I hadn't noticed, but yeah an investment in the lower PQ planets seems to pay off huge in DA.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I don't have DA yet, but I very much agree on all three counts, especially the first!
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I like the PQ1's. I think it's reasonable for the AI to colonize PQ1's but it depends on his cash flow at the time and the money in the bank, and have that threshold number vary depending on the personality & ethics of the AI. Obviously a neutral AI should colonize a PQ1 post-Xeno-Ethics under any circumstances. Others should colonize it depending on how much short-term impact to their economy it will make, with more aggressive colonizers willing to take a bigger hit to get it.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top


I think the AI not being able to colonise PQ1 planets is a big unfair advantage to us players. These planets can be colonised at a players discrection and always become amazing planets ranging from a potential PQ16 or PQ19.


What do you mean? Have things changed that much in DA?
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top


What do you mean? Have things changed that much in DA?


The really low PQ planets tend to have three or more tiles for each terraforming tech. Hence that PQ1 planet has a tendency to turn into a PQ 13 fairly easily (especially if you have orbital terraformer).

Also, I think that it might be neat if you didn't know what the PQ for planets that you cannot colonize was. On the map it would be a PQ 0 with the red dot next to it to let you know that may change.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
PQ1 planets always turn into PQ16 or PQ19 in my experience. They are amazing planets that the AI curerently can NEVER colonise.

Good players will often switch to the overpowered alignment neutral early and research up to habitat if not terraforming for the free tiles. It's a huge advantage. A good player knowing the AI's can't colonise these planets will also leave these great planets to last and grab the normal planets that the AI's can colonise first.

A player having such a big advantage in the most important phase of the game is not a good thing.

Oh one of the above posters may be confused between PQ1 and PQzero planets they are not the same.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
1) Definitely should be a slider to select how common these planets are.

2) Random atmospheres would only be subject to the materials in that solar system as it forms so - unless there are some exclusionary factors, total randomness is "in." Look at our solar system, Sol.

3) Not sure on this one.

AI doesn't like low Planet Quality that turns into higher? Sounds like a future AI update.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What no more finding PQ 36 planets. I just took one from those genocidal bastards the Iconia's.

John W
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
An option to control how many extreme colonization type planets occur might be nice, but I don't think it's that big a deal. The different types of planets is simply nice to have (more MOO2-like is usually a good thing). You can always bump up the overall number of planets with other settings.

I'm not so sure the adapter type races should get to pick their techs - that sorta takes out the randomness (ie, you never know if you'll be next to ANY good worlds, so it's not much different). I wouldn't mind seeing the adapters get BOTH halves of the environment techs they get. Only getting 50% out of the environments they're supposedly adapted to seems kinda weak.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well I learned one new thing reading responses. I wasn't aware the super low PQ planets had that much potential. Is it only PQ1, or any low PQ that requires an extreme colonization tech? If the AI isn't snagging these planets, it sounds like an easy fix. I was ignoring them based on prior experience in DL.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well I learned one new thing reading responses. I wasn't aware the super low PQ planets had that much potential.


PQ1's are best PQ2+3 are great too but can be colonised by the AI. Only downside with these planets is time to terraform if for some reason u dont go neutral and they don't have bonuses on there tiles.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hi!
Extreme Colonization in DA

For those you didn't know (I for sure didn't, and am pretty regular here): planets with extreme habitats, marked with "yelow" and "red" icon have penalized ONLY MILITARY AND SOCIAL PRODUCTION! The rest: money, food, research, pop growth and morale are always at 100% !

BR, Iztok
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
what makes you think the AI CANT colonize PQ1 planets? I've never noticed one way or the other, but even if you've never seen it happen, it doesnt mean it's impossible. Is there a rule you're aware of that states this to a certainty?
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
what makes you think the AI CANT colonize PQ1 planets? I've never noticed one way or the other, but even if you've never seen it happen, it doesnt mean it's impossible. Is there a rule you're aware of that states this to a certainty?


I've played about 20 DA games never seen them do it and would be willing to bet a few quid that they can't. Stardock people are probabably the only ones who truly now though but i'm 99% sure they can't.
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
1.) I completely agree with needing a slider to set how much extreme colonization will be needed. I’m an astrophysics student at UCIrvine and Earth type planets are going to be insanely rare. I know this is a game, but still in my opinion almost every planet should need some sort of research to colonize. heck even mars is a barren waist land. but still colonizeable with some good thoughtful technology Given this is a game, and some like having worlds, after all a colony ship is a good piece of technology... so I vote we get to choose our own poison, and ill set mine to all the way to extream!
2.) Again I agree. A larger planet is going to mean more gravity. So in my opinion all those HUGE planets should be high grav planets. You shouldn’t get something great like that for free. This is a strategy game after all.
3.) Super Adaptor... Mehh... I’m fifty fifty on this one. I like the idea. This last game I played I was a super adaptor, and it really only helped me get on class 8 planet. And I missed several other amazing radioactive ones and a volcanic one cause the dragen were right next to me and went crazy. But that is part of the game. I think either give them the choice for what kind of planet they want or give them something else, cause right now in my opinion they are kinda underpowered.


And as for the PQ 1 planets... I really like the concept. Make the AI value it like has been said already. HOWEVER also give us a few PQ 1, 2, 3 planets that ever go anywere… that way it’s a gamble to take them
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
2.) Again I agree. A larger planet is going to mean more gravity. So in my opinion all those HUGE planets should be high grav planets. You shouldn’t get something great like that for free. This is a strategy game after all.


Now you know better than that, as a fellow physicist. Volume is immaterial, mass is what matters. Those larger planets could always be comprised of some lower density materials, after all. Granted having a planet that scale with a low enough density to have Earth-like gravity is... odd, but this is science fiction after all.
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I know, just trying to give some physical justification for making it harder to get those BIG planets. then again if we made ALL supper PQ planets heavy grav planets then the heavy grav tech has to be made extreamly expensive to counter the extream value it would present.
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Iztok,

That is VERY good to know! So there is less penalty for invading a world you don't have the colonization tech for. Just let it sit there and build population until you research the appropriate tech.

------------------------------

In my games since posting this, I have found bumping up the number of habitable planets was a good compromise. In my current game, it looks like I got abundant (I have everything set to random.) There were a decent number of good planets available that didn't require extreme colonization for me to start my empire. After that, I had a choice. Research one or more of the colonization techs and extend my colony rush, or consolidate, build my infrastructure, and military.

I chose the later, as did my Krynn and Thalan neighbors. The Torians on the other hand have very little military, but they researched Radioactive and Toxic worlds, so they have nearly twice the number of worlds as me. I have tech trading off, so it will be interesting to see if they can survive when I start invading their worlds tomorrow night...
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The AI will most definitely colonize planets within your influence zone. Not only that, but letting him do it is a good strategy.