Don't Like Seeing all Homeworlds at Start

from GalCiv2 Forums
I don't like the fact that all of the locations of the homeworlds of the enemy civs are shown on the mini-map from the get go. It seems to kind of take some of the mystery out of exploring your surroundings, as you generally know whom you'll be likely to encounter first.
12,538 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Why not just turn off the faction ownership display? There's an icon for that, to the right of the minimap. You might have to turn it off, then save the current game, and start a new one for it to kick in at the game start.

I like having that display option while I'm still learning the game (from scratch... never played GalCiv 1). I can hit Ctrl-N at the start of the game, until I make sure I have at least a little breathing room to get started. When I get better, I'll play with it turned off.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I appreciate your reply, and what you proposed does seem to be the only solution for now. But what I'd like to see implemented in the future either by an official update or a third party mod is an option to where the sector ownership of areas beyond those explored is invisible on the mini-map.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I agree... if you feel it is a challange to play without knowing their starting locations, just switch it off on the minimap. But I for one would sure not appreciate being forced to miss it.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes, that would be nice; a third mode where you only see the faction colors for areas you've explored, or have sensor coverage. Sensor coverage would be more realistic, since the ownership might change over time, after the initial exploration. You could also have it kick in, even without sensor coverage, if you reach a high enough level of espionage with the faction.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The problem with just turning the sensor display off is that the AI still knows where every civ starts out because it can "see" the same info we can. It really should simply be information that we don't know.

Also, starting a new game from the main menu always defaults to the influence display being on, which means you have to turn it off after you begin and Ctrl-N (not a big deal, but annoying when my first start has a few great bonus tiles that I have to leave behind).
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Isn't the back story to the game that the humans had invented the hyperdrive and shared its tech with everyone through the existing stargates? Given the existence of the stargates you would then know where the other civs are. Then again, other back story elements are turned off during sandbox games, maybe there could be an option to turn this one off as well.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Also, starting a new game from the main menu always defaults to the influence display being on


The minimap display defaults to whatever it was set to during your last game. If you turn it off before you finish your previous game, it'll be off when you start your new one.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
This should be fixed (I can't believe it was intentional). I've had to restart games because I had it on when I made a new game.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes, I would like to be able to see influence borders without actually seeing all the homeworlds from the start!

It's the equivilent of seeing all the starting cities of civilizations in Civilizations series of games, and thats no fun at all... It elminates the exciting exploration and contact of said civilizations.