Distant Worlds : To be or Not to be

[PanzersEast]

It is to be....

I installed the game and also added the Graphic enhancement mod and the Distant Worlds Extended which adds more races.  If you watch some LPs on YouTube you will notice that all the games play differently either by the person or parameters they have setup and the way they play.  This is a very flexible system.

Just random thoughts:

The options for setup are astounding and you can customize a game in just about any way you see fit.  I really like the race specific win conditions and I decided to play as the humans but play them like the Federation where I do not interfere with other races once their zones are setup, however I extend as I can and it makes it difficult if you do not have strategic resources....  I also decided to allow myself to trade tech, however I cannot sell tech to other races.

I really like the zones of influence/control so it sets up neutral zones between you and other races so no over stepping you.  I have noticed that trade sanctions can really handicap you, especially on the strategic resources and there are races that are just hostile to you no matter what you do.

I setup 1 fleet as the 1st Anti-Pirate Fleet and another as the 1st Defense Fleet to patrol and guard the home world.  I am wanting to tech up some before I start branching out, however I would like to have forward military instillations with a small fleet and with long ran scanners.


Still feeling my way through, but so far very happy with my purchase and looking forward to the new expansion.  With the setup options, races, victory conditions, automation options, mods, and house rules you can create just about any game you can think of.  I know no game is perfect, but this one allows you to customize to your playing mod.


PE

[Martok]

Glad you're enjoying it so far!  May you have many hours of fun ahead of you.  :) 


If you don't mind some unsolicited advice, I recommend building a couple extra Constructor ships early on.  Doing so allows you to get more mining bases built sooner, which really helps with resources (both luxury and strategic).  Also remember that gasses like caslon & hydrogen are needed to fuel your ships, and materials such as steel & carbon fiber (I think?) are essential for ship construction. 

I installed the game and also added the Graphic enhancement mod and the Distant Worlds Extended which adds more races. 

Oddly enough, I still haven't gotten around to playing with any of the mods yet.  Are the two you mentioned easy to install?  (I'm an idiot when it comes to adding mods, so this is an important question for me!) 

[PanzersEast]

Glad you're enjoying it so far!  May you have many hours of fun ahead of you.  :) 


If you don't mind some unsolicited advice, I recommend building  a couple extra Constructor ships early on.  Doing so allows you to get more mining bases built sooner, which really helps with resources (both luxury and strategic).  Remember that gasses like caslon & hydrogen are needed to fuel fuel your ships, and materials such as steel & carbon fiber (I think?) are essential for ship construction. 

Oddly enough, I still haven't gotten around to playing with any of the mods yet.  Are the two you mentioned easy to install?  (I'm an idiot when it comes to adding mods, so this is an important question for me!)

Thanks for the advice, I can use all I can get!  ;)  That helps as it is pretty intense finding and securing strategic resources and knowing which ones to go after first.  I assume they do deplete after a time at these locations?  Interesting setting is the Colonization Range setting


The mods are very easy to install....

Graphic Enhancement Install
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3211317
1. Backup original "Distant Worlds\images" folder
2. Extract archive and overwrite original files in Distant Worlds\images


Distant Worlds Extended
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3141149
This mod requires Distant World Legends patched to the latest version.
1. Extract the contents of this .zip file to your Distant Worlds Customization directory.
    (Usually: C:\Matrix Games\Distant Worlds\Customization\ )
2. Then when you start the game select Change Theme from the main menu and select Distant Worlds Extended.


PE

[OJsDad]

To add to what Martok just said, I also build extra scouts at the beginning, this helps with exploration.  I also take the timet to build one of each research lab at my home world right away.  This seems to give me a leg up on research.

[Martok]

Thanks for the advice, I can use all I can get!  ;)  That helps as it is pretty intense finding and securing strategic resources and knowing which ones to go after first.  I assume they do deplete after a time at these locations?

Actually, resources are infinite (as in most 4x games).  Some folks have criticized this -- it's often commented that resources can be just a little too abundant, especially later in the game -- and I suspect we may see a major readjustment/re-balancing of them in Shadows.  For now, however, there's no bottom, so you can mine to your heart's content.  ;) 

If you're wondering, a resource's percentage value is an indication of how "pure" it is on that particular planet/moon/nebula/asteroid.  Its main effect is in how efficient mining extractors (from both bases & ships) are in obtaining that particular resource from that particular source.  So the higher the number, the better. 


Speaking of percentage values:  Only colonize planets & moons that have 50% quality or higher -- if you colonize any of lower quality, they'll never make any money for you.  Fortunately, low-quality planets/moons are turned off by default on your Expansion Planner, so there's generally little chance of you accidentally colonizing a "poor" world, but I wanted to mention it just in case you're wondering why that juicy-looking Desert planet doesn't show up as a colonization location for you! 

Interesting setting is the Colonization Range setting

Yeah, I like that one.  I use it all the time, as I don't wish to establish a colony that's way beyond my ability to support/protect it (no matter how tempting it may be). 

The mods are very easy to install....

Graphic Enhancement Install
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3211317
1. Backup original "Distant Worlds\images" folder
2. Extract archive and overwrite original files in Distant Worlds\images


Distant Worlds Extended
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3141149
This mod requires Distant World Legends patched to the latest version.
1. Extract the contents of this .zip file to your Distant Worlds Customization directory.
    (Usually: C:\Matrix Games\Distant Worlds\Customization\ )
2. Then when you start the game select Change Theme from the main menu and select Distant Worlds Extended.


PE

Thanks PanzersEast!  Downloading now. 

To add to what Martok just said, I also build extra scouts at the beginning, this helps with exploration. 

Thanks OJsDad.  I meant to mention this too, but I forgot. 

Yeah, I'll generally build an extra 5-10 exploration vessels at the beginning (along with the aforementioned 2-3 extra constructor ships).  The number of extra explorers I build depends on several factors, such as if I'm in a star-rich portion of the galaxy, and/or I suspect I'll have lots of nearby neighbors (who may try to claim stuff if they find it before I do). 

Having a few "spare" scouts is also handy for dispatching to those mysterious locations some lost data-core suggests I investigate (which is usually worthwhile).  ;) 

I also take the timet to build one of each research lab at my home world right away.  This seems to give me a leg up on research.

No kidding?  Huh, hadn't thought of that.  Will have to try it next time I play! 

[JasonPratt]

This is why DL has been rightly compared to Dominions 3.

Except far far moreso.  8)

[PanzersEast]

This is why DL has been rightly compared to Dominions 3.

Except far far moreso.  8)

Dominions 3.... in my bin!

Had to scale back the space monsters, pain in the arse.  And the bloody pirates..... they are both useful and useless!

So far, I have to say I was hesitant on the price but thus far it has been well worth it.  It is funny how disputes pop up when you are going for the same resources and you are faced with a decision... do I push it or back off.  It leaves you with some interesting decisions and those you have to weigh carefully or those you are forced into for the sheer survival of your species.  I like how simply just invading everything can be suicide or enslaving etc...  it is not just war you have to worry about, but also the trade embargos against you.


PE

[Yskonyn]

Yeah DW really nails the 'living galaxy' feeling. :)
Glad you like it so much, PE!

[Martok]

Glad you're still having a good time with it, PE!  Given the game's price (especially with both expansions), one is definitely taking a chance when buying it, so I'm very happy it's thus far proven to be a good purchase for you. 


Yeah, the question of how much to push for a certain resource can often be a pleasantly vexing one.  It all depends on so many different factors, and the situation is different almost every time.  With more common resources, I'm a bit more likely to back off, but it really depends on the circumstances. 

Had to scale back the space monsters, pain in the arse.  And the bloody pirates..... they are both useful and useless!

Yeah, I usually play with both on either the "low" or "normal" setting.  Setting them to "none" makes my surroundings feel a little too empty, and setting it higher tends to make things just a bit too...lively for my tastes.  ;) 

[panzerde]

Yeah DW really nails the 'living galaxy' feeling. :)
Glad you like it so much, PE!

I really struggle with other 4X titles now; they all seem so empty compared to DW.

The other great thing about DW is just how flexible it is in setting up different scenarios.  Where most other 4X games just start you out at the "here's your home world, start building and climbing the tech tree," DW really allows you to create interesting starting conditions and play out a story. 

Right now I've running a sandbox game in a normal sized, irregular galaxy (really meant to simulate a small portion of a larger galaxy) with just four races.  All the races except mine start as mature and at tech level three; I'm a step down from that.  The idea is that I'm playing a human colony group that recently established itself in this area of the galaxy.  After a small build-up, the humans encounter one of the two hive mind insectile races in the area, thus kicking off the "Hive-Human War."  What's great is that I can start this scenario in a way that everyone already has advanced ship types like carriers and other decent tech.  The game plays out a lot more like a war game then than your traditional 4x grind. 

Add DW's great automation in, and it starts to get tough to even think about playing other 4X games.

[JasonPratt]

This is why DL has been rightly compared to Dominions 3.

Except far far moreso.  8)

Dominions 3.... in my bin!

Grogheads has a slow (5-day turnaround) Dom3 game being worked up here, if you're interested.

[Yskonyn]

Good man, Jason!!
Yeah PE, jump in!

[PanzersEast]

I'm still a newb and going through the tutorial of Dominions 3... I would get crushed, but I am still interested in jumping in one.

I am playing the Humans - Narg Council and have a escalating situation.  The Kantreem Dominion borders my zone and we have been competing for space.  They have since sanctioned a trade embargo on me.  I recently opened up free trade with the Enton Nation and then we entered into a defense pack together.  I also border them.  I am currently last in military and the Enton Nation is 3rd with the Kantreem Dominion being the big boy on the block.

Shortly after the trade embargo I asked the Entons to impose a trade embargo on the Kantreem and they agreed.  I then ordered my RedStar Fleet (main battle fleet) to blockade a new found system to the north of us which I felt the Kantreem should not have colonized.  It appears things are desenegrating fast between us as they are now furious with us but have since offered to end the Embargo if I gave up one of my mining stations.... I said no.

We have to wait and see from here, but things do not look good, they colonized system to the north of us and then the south was the last straw for me.



 

[Martok]

Yeah, you're definitely in an interesting situation there.  Don't let the Kantreem give you any crap, though! 

[PanzersEast]

Yeah, you're definitely in an interesting situation there.  Don't let the Kantreem give you any crap, though!

The 1st Narg - Kantreem war....

The Kantreem colonized a world in my system (to the West) and refused to order their military ships out of my space (although their diplomate agreed to) I ordered an invasion of their newly settled colony and the colony directly to my north. I next ordered my Anti Pirate fleet to attack the ships they refused to remove from my territory and ordered the 1st Imperial Fleet to escort the invasion of the new colony to the west.

Once the enemy ships were destroyed and the colony in the west was secured, the Kantreem declared war and sent a large fleet to recapture the colony lost.  A large battle ensued where several of their troop carrier were destroyed, as well as some of my and their DD.  I had one Cruiser damaged, but I repulsed their attack.

Mean while, I had the 2nd Imperial Fleet escort a new landing fleet to capture the colony to the North (The Blockaded colony).  We took this one with ease and destroyed 2 of their frigates in the process.  Since then we have negotiated peace, however they continue to antagonize me, hence the 1st war title.

I still am lagging behind in military size, however I just designed a Torpedo Cruiser and started construction on defense stations at the newly colonized planets as they are on the front lines.  The colony to the north gives me the most concern as we have positioned for that area because of the fuel resources.  The 2nd war may be preemptive from me this time.