Need help deciding which stardock game to get

I'm kind of new to the Stardock universe of games, but have decided to take the plunge and get one. I really enjoyed Homeworld: Cataclysm, and I've always been a fan of space-based games (I REALLY liked Star Control). I enjoyed Homeworld: Cataclysm more than the other Homeworld games (1 and 2), mostly because of it's cool tech and the ability to do more than just tank-rush the enemy to win.

I enjoy creating things, which is leaning me towards getting the whole GalCiv II pack (since you can build your own ships as I understand it), but I have never actually played one of these turn-based strategy games before. I'm worried I may not be able to get into it because of that (I simply don't know). So I start looking at Sins of a Solar empire, but I'm worried that it's going to turn out like Homeworld 2 where it's mostly just tank-rush tactics and very little variation between games (unforunately, I can't quite tell from the demo how it'll pan out with the full version).

Any advice is appreciated!

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Zydor

Join Date 03/2006

+38

If you lean towards building things (I am that way too), go for GC2. If your mindset Leans towards shoot em up, go for Sins. There are substantial elements of both in either game, dont be mislead by the analogy, but its a practical crude rule of thumb.

I once swore, many moons ago, that I would never touch "another damn RTS" ever again. I loathed them. Stardock and Ironclad got a reluctant convert to the Sins concepts from me, with the engaging TBS/RTS mix. I still prefer pure TBS to Sins, but they achieved a marvel and got me playing Sins. That was so unlikely, I still cant quite believe they did it - I was so violently against RTS at one point.

You said you prefer building etc - and implied a preference for the thinking game more than anything, and from your post it sounds like your more into thinking than shoot em up. There are 'thinking' elements in both thats for sure, but on balance from what you said, I'd go for GC2.

Regards
Zy

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Well, I do have Sin of a Solar Empire. Though, I am not the biggest fan of the game. I find that the game can take too long for my tastes (the game was designed to have some maps play for a month or more in multiplayer). You're not going to be able to beat a small map in half an hour like you could do in starcraft. However, I do return to play it from time to time.

I prefer GalCiv 2 (I play the latest version). This game doesn't involve a whole lot of tactics, but rather strategies. You don't have to worry about needing your main fleet attack from this direction, and a sneak attack coming from another (thats beyond your control in the game). You instead need to worry about the whole war, instead of a hand full of ships in a small corner of the universe.

Anyways, the AI in GalCiv 2 is quite good. It can play well on equal terms against a human player. Generally, if you screw something up, it can strike and finish the war. I'm not saying you are garenteed to lose, just its really hard to turn things around when you do.

If you need a turn based game to understand what the whole genere is like, GalCiv 2 is the one to go with.

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I actually just found the GalCiv2 Gold demo and tried it out....

WOW! That was fun! My son and I both screamed when the demo time ran out too... a VERY good sign.

I'm gonna go buy the GalCiv2 bundle online I think. I also tried the Sins demo, but it felt too tank-rushy to me.

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Zydor

Join Date 03/2006

+38

I actually just found the GalCiv2 Gold demo and tried it out....

WOW! That was fun! My son and I both screamed when the demo time ran out too... a VERY good sign.

Yet another human being consigned to a life of dingy light bulbs and flickering screens as the Galactic inferno penetrates the vacant staring bloodshot eyes of the latest fanatic gibbering "just-one-more-turn" at the mercy of the latest incarnation of GC2 - Twighlight of the Arnor.... devorce lawyers cant seem to wrap their head what a gold mine this game is for their profession

And thats before the addiction sets in - and trust me it will - resulting in a Terminal goodbye to the Real World for a few years

(Get the value pack of all three, GC2, DA & TA - you are going to be addicted, so you might as well get the lot to feed it ! )

Go download Impulse - Stardocks new Digital Platform, released today, then download the whole lot via Impulse. Installing via Impulse is a breeze, as always the Stardock guys have done a great job with it.

Regards
Zy

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If you don't mind spending a little extra money you should buy the Twilight of the Arnor pack. It is really great. I can't imagine playing Gal Civ without it.

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