Twilight Beta 6a

Published on March 27, 2008 By CariElf In GalCiv Journals

Well, we had some problems initially getting the right files up on the server but we seem to have worked those out so we're going to go ahead and publish the beta. If you can't see the latest update, try restarting SDC to see if it updates. Then go to tools->Internet settings and change to US-1. Refresh XML Data and then Check for Application Updates.

Most of the AI changes were made to the Drengin AI, which is also used by the Korath and the Yor.

I put in some code to try and fix the bug where save games from before beta 6 wouldn't load, but it doesn't work for all save games.

Also, the editors no longer require the microsoft DLLs.

+ NEW: Added a new menu item to the Map Editor called "Selected Object". It has two sub-items: "Edit...", and "Delete". The "Edit..." sub-item pops up the dialog to tweak the selected object's properties (name, size, etc..). The "Delete" sub-item deletes the selected object. If there is no selected object, these menu items are disabled.

+ NEW: Tech tree expanded to support starbase industrialization so that races without factory techs can still build up resources and have meaningful economic starbases.

+ NEW: Tournament, Altaria Resists

+ NEW: Tournament, Arcea’s Last Stand

+ NEW: Tournament, Drengin Gambit

+ FIXED: Bug where galaxy wasn't reading in modded tech trees from the correct folder

+ FIXED: Bug where save games created prior to Beta 6 would crash when loading. Beta 6 save games should still load.

+ FIXED: The text on the tech tree screen will now size itself so that the font will be the largest size possible while making the longest tech name fit into the box

+ FIXED: The Invasion screen now stretches and displays the map correctly at different resolutions

+ FIXED: In map editor, when loading a map, planets set to be owned by Altarians, Korath, or Krynn would have either the wrong race logo (old altarian), or no logo at all (Korath, Krynn). The problem was that their .png's actually reside in the DarkAvatar/gfx/Race/ folder rather than the Dreadlords one, (like all the rest of the races). A quick modification to the code fixes the issue.

+ FIXED: Crash in maps caused by error saving display name

+ FIXED: Found and fixed NULL-pointer crash within CGCMap::RemoveAsteroid(..)

+ FIXED: Crashes caused by cached graphic data that was not cleared after an ALT-TAB.

+ FIXED: Bug where the time to finish a social project was sometimes wrong

+ FIXED: I think that I have fixed the bug where the AI sometimes tries to trade a blank tech

+ FIXED: Bug where the AI wouldn't trade anything for Enhanced Miniaturiztation

+ FIXED: Bug where Any starbase modules were being called ascension starbase modules

+ FIXED: Added code to detect loop back in path being calculated. Still need to figure out what caused the loop back.

+ TWEAK: Added Cheat key for trying to get the AI to trade with you, CTRL+Shift+L

+ TWEAK: Drengin AI is substantially smarter about what they build on planets

+ TWEAK: Drengin AI better about getting larger hulled ships earlier

+ TWEAK: Drengin AI better at scouting for planets

+ TWEAK: Stellar Forge now a super project rather than galactic achievement.

+ TWEAK: Drengin AI and derivatives care more about influence before colonizing a planet.

+ TWEAK: Arceans now get Lite Constructor Modules which are much cheaper than the standard constructor module.

+ TWEAK: Research costs adjusted.

+ TWEAK: AI tweaks to planetary improvement files

Comments (Page 2)

Kyronea

on Mar 28, 2008

Does this beta mean it will finally be released soon? I've been somewhat anxious to play it.

CharlesLentz

on Mar 28, 2008

Does this beta mean it will finally be released soon?

This beta means it's still in beta.

arrasonline

on Mar 28, 2008

CariElf,

I get invisible ships from the pre-made Construtors and Freighters. I usually only play with Terran ships, so I cannot confirm this with other races. This happens whether or not I play Terrans or custom race.

Usually, the game starts off fine, but about a good 30-70 turns into the game, the constructors and freighters begin to disappear.

I will try to be more mindful of when it happens.

Arras

Harborne

on Mar 28, 2008

Cool been waiting for the tournaments

Zenicetus

on Mar 28, 2008

CariElf,I get invisible ships from the pre-made Construtors and Freighters. I usually only play with Terran ships, so I cannot confirm this with other races. This happens whether or not I play Terrans or custom race.Usually, the game starts off fine, but about a good 30-70 turns into the game, the constructors and freighters begin to disappear.

I'm getting that too in this latest beta, but I've noticed it since many betas back. It only happens for me with constructors and freighters, mostly constructors. They show as a black/empty square in the summary window of "new stuff made" at the start of a turn, and the ship itself is invisible on launch until I zoom out to icon level, and zoom back in. You might not notice if you always play the game fully zoomed-out on the galaxy map. Maybe that's why more people aren't reporting it?

Or maybe it's only happening with some video cards. FWIW, I'm using a GeForce 8800 GTS at 1600x1200 screen res.

Jasamcarl

on Mar 28, 2008

I know it's late in the game for suggestions, but I would just like to throw out my support for diplomatic relations suffering as % of planets a player controls increases, along with equal diplomatic bonuses for all other players, and maybe an additional diplomatic bonus for civs fighting the dominant civ. I.e., smaller civs should (IMO) group together and oppose a runaway civs.

This isn't necessarily about increasing difficulty, as it will atleast to some degree benefit players who suffer in the early game. Rather, its about smoothing out difficulty so that the late game doesn't become an easy romp.

Of course, such a system would make early game alliances more powerful than they already are, so some nerfing would have to happen on that front (another call for heavy diplo and morale penalties for breaking an alliance!), but I just thought I would put it out there again.

JustinSane4

on Mar 28, 2008

Thank you very much.

I'm thrilled that we have new tournaments, but do you have any idea when Twilight will be Metaverse compatible? I know many players (myself included) are very much looking forward to that!

Vinraith

on Mar 28, 2008

They've said that, at this point, TA is on feature lock. The better thing would be to encourage them to make another expansion, focussed on diplomatic issues and the UP. Frogboy and Cari have said that it's probably not financially viable, though. Maybe if we all promised to buy it twice?

Frogboy

on Mar 29, 2008

Actually I really like his suggestion. I'll see what I can do.

This is the first beta with significant AI changes since Dark Avatar. Hopefully you're already starting to notice improvmeents (mostly Drengin AI).

Stormkeep

on Mar 29, 2008

Actually I really like his suggestion. I'll see what I can do.
This is the first beta with significant AI changes since Dark Avatar. Hopefully you're already starting to notice improvmeents (mostly Drengin AI).

In the game I'm currently playing the Drengin haven't seemed to show up at all. They are doing really poorly (and in last place in all categories). But, you indicate that the Yor and Korath are using the Drengin AI and those two races are kicking butt^2.

It is late mid-game in terms of where the game is at, and it looks like the Drengin are starting to up their game finaly. If they can hold out against the Yor long enough they might turn things around yet.

I've been doing espionage since turn one and have espionage at advanced against all six of my opponents and have to admit the Korath especially have been really intense in how they are playing. (I've been staying on good diplomatic turns with them while building military assets which I give to their opponents, which are currently the Krynn and Thalan, just to try to keep them in check...it has been quite expensive.)

Stormkeep

on Mar 29, 2008

I'd buy it 3 times even.

I am a huge fan of turn based strategy games, and these days most strategy games completely dumb down the play experience just to make multiplayer more intense or viable with the result being the gameplay itself comes off as pretty shallow (at least to me). I appreciate Galciv in that it chooses not to make this trade off.

DivineWrath

on Mar 29, 2008

I know it's late in the game for suggestions... and maybe an additional diplomatic bonus for civs fighting the dominant civ. I.e., smaller civs should (IMO) group together and oppose a runaway civs.

Actually I really like his suggestion. I'll see what I can do.

Well, if you are going to adjust the AI to be able to team up against a super strong AI, you might wish to consider programing the AIs to offer techs to their 'comrades in arms' that they would consider useful to them. I tend to trade weapon techs that are of a different type than what my opponent AI is using for defense. In fact, if I can, I try to make sure that all 3 types are being used to make sure that my opponent(s) so that they can't defend themselves well.

Another thing to consider is, if a faction is able to hold their own against a super strong one, maybe the other factions should consider joining the war in their aid. In the past, I've traded shots with one opponent until I've gained the power to cripple them. When I have worn them down, the other AIs then join in to try capitalize on my hard work. Where were you guys when your help could of been useful?

One of the things that the AIs should do is to ask, or try to trade for techs to make themselves more combat capable. For instance, they might ask that you offer advanced weapons technologies so that they could prepare to fight.

Lord KiRon

on Mar 29, 2008

All the time invisible ships !
-------------
We're not getting any here. Are the invisible ships ones that you designed, AI designed, core ships, or some combination thereof?

Core ships, mainly constructors and colony , right from the starting of the game (my 2nd constructor build by "buy" option in one turn was that way).

Also my race was missing from the beginning the "Hyperdrive technology" so I could not build the ships at all.
Actually it was more strange, I developed the one before it (remember it's custom race so I selected technologies) and "hyperdrive" did not appeared in research list.
But then I was able to start researching it by double clicking on it in research tree - very strange ...

Sky

on Mar 29, 2008

Yay! love this game! When are you gonna open a rehabilitation clinic so I can feel better about my addiction to it?

CariElf

on Mar 29, 2008

Thank you very much. I'm thrilled that we have new tournaments, but do you have any idea when Twilight will be Metaverse compatible? I know many players (myself included) are very much looking forward to that!

Possibly after Brad expands his AI changes to the other AI modules.

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