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 4)

PopeBarley

on Mar 31, 2008

hi thanks this pack is gonna be awesome when its finished

just to note - the tech trees and improvements in my game arent necessarily civilization specific. Ive got the drengin building Precursor Temples

just wondering, do you intend on improving the graphics of the other original improvements e.g. research centre, stock market etc. because they look sort of inferior compared to the new stuff

Audiafox

on Mar 31, 2008

Do you think that each race will get its own Ethics technology, like the Thalans, by the final release?

Bellack

on Mar 31, 2008

So are we going to be able to create custom ships for our custom races with the ship editor that I see (but not implamented yet) in the Editors section of the game.
And if so will thes ships only show up for that race.

Bellack

on Mar 31, 2008

I also noticed that the Colony module says it holds 500m colonist but it really only holds 250m colonist. Now it would be nice if it actully held 500 but what ever it does hold please fix the description.
Thanks.

Oh and the troop transport pods do hold what the description says they hold.

Chipwich

on Apr 01, 2008

Have the Drath/Altarian tech trees been finalized yet? i remember htere still being holes in beta 5.

Wyndstar

on Apr 01, 2008

+ NEW: Tournament, Altaria Resists

+ NEW: Tournament, Arcea’s Last Stand

+ NEW: Tournament, Drengin Gambit

This is great.

Are you going to have somewhere where you list the scores for each Tournament Scenario? It seems like all of them are currently getting mixed on the High Scores section, and the scenarios are all not equal in the scores you can get out of them.

It would be nice to see a just "Rock and a Hard Place" and just a "Drengin Gambit" etc. score ranking... so you know how you did/are doing for each tournament.

Love the new stuff,
~ Wyndstar

CariElf

on Apr 01, 2008

just wondering, do you intend on improving the graphics of the other original improvements e.g. research centre, stock market etc. because they look sort of inferior compared to the new stuff

I believe Scott was planning on it.

So are we going to be able to create custom ships for our custom races with the ship editor that I see (but not implamented yet) in the Editors section of the game. And if so will thes ships only show up for that race.

The ship editor is to create ship components. You could create a ship component that requires a race specific tech and then add that to your ship.

CariElf

on Apr 01, 2008

Are you going to have somewhere where you list the scores for each Tournament Scenario? It seems like all of them are currently getting mixed on the High Scores section, and the scenarios are all not equal in the scores you can get out of them.

The way the code is set up is that it will try to pull records for just the selected tournament. If it can't find any, then it just pulls the top scores so that there is still something in the list.

Wyndstar

on Apr 01, 2008

The way the code is set up is that it will try to pull records for just the selected tournament. If it can't find any, then it just pulls the top scores so that there is still something in the list.

Well, there seem to be problems for me in both areas.

First, in game. From the beta there are now 4 different tournaments I can select. If I select Rock and a Hard Place for instance and choose to play, in the lower left section of the screen I do get 10 "scores". At the top of the list are my two metaverse characters, then the rest of the list is populated with people who scored between 7000 and 7500 (the bottom 8?). I know there are people who scored in the 20,000 and 30,000 range on that scenario, and they don't show up.

IF in game it is supposed to display a "top 10" for each tournament, sadly that is not working.

And a picture may help:

Second, the website. On the website under "Metaverse" and "High Scores" to the far right is now a list of top metaverse scores for the tournament. This list appears to add the top scores from the different tournament games together to set where someone is at in the list. This list IS searchable by Map, but does not seem to be updating the new tournaments when you search by them. i.e. I can get a list for Rock and a Hard Place, but while my SCORE for a game with Arcea's Last Stand is included in the total for "High Scores", the game itself doesn't appear at all when I filter for Arcea's Last Stand.

Just trying to help. If I can provide more information or am being unclear, just tell me what you need.

~ Wyndstar

di55ec7ion

on Apr 03, 2008

I just couldnt stand waiting longer and bought TA yesterday to see what its about. As far as i can conclude the expansion will be fully worth its money, there are a lot of great improvements to the game.

My own personal wishlist for the game contains only some minor improvements:

-the option to animate parts is a great idea, i would like to have blinking lights as well

-a thing i would like to have had in DA would be the automation of loading troop transports - in a gigantic (or now immense) galaxy it can be quite a lot of work to fill all Transports before sending them to a rally point. I could set up planets as recruitment centers, but i am lazy and sometimes you just need transporters fast. It would be great if transporters could automatically fly to planets and only go to the rally point when they are full.

- the new invasion screen looks fine, but the battle sounds are quite annoying, some cooler sounds would be nice. And - will there be more invasion videos? I would like to see a bit more action on the screen (the sounds should be a bit more snychronized with the video to get a better atmosphere i think).

-just a matter of taste maybe, but i think the term "jihad of krynn" is weird. Maybe you americans are using the term colloquially for any form of fanatism, but actually it is a definite term for a part of human muslim culture. Putting it into a futuristic game for a nonexistent alien species creates a similar sensation like giving the Yor the "Christian Crusade" technology...

And i do have some questions regarding gameplay -

what exactly happens to the unique technologies you trade - do you really get the bonuses associated or just another "trade good" that is useless to you as well as to those you trade it with ^^

Will there be tournaments based on the campaign? In other words, will i be able to play the normal campaign and compare my game with others in MV?

rls669

on Apr 03, 2008

No need to get overly pedantic. Whatever the specific application to Islam, the literal meaning of the word is "holy war" or "holy struggle" and it's being used appropriately here. Just as "crusade" has common usage and need not refer specifically to historical events involving Christianity. If you want to nitpick about it, I suggest starting with Frank Herbert.

Loupdinour

on Apr 03, 2008

-what exactly happens to the unique technologies you trade - do you really get the bonuses associated or just another "trade good" that is useless to you as well as to those you trade it with ^^

Yes you do get the bonuses as well as the ability to build anything that tech itself unlocks. You don't however gain the ability to learn the tech further on in the original tree, those will need to be stolen/purchased like the one you just got.

Bellack

on Apr 03, 2008

Hello,Without doubt I'll be ordering TA. However, one of the features that interests me the most is "AI designed ships." I don't enjoy designing my own ships and this addition will increase my enjoyment of GC 2 greatly.Any beta feedback on "AI designed ships?"Thank you!

I tried it and it's ok but I don't use it. I like to design my own ships. Infact that is the best part of the game IMO.

Keilworth

on Apr 03, 2008

To the good man with the Yor icon,

Jihad means a religious 'inner struggle' with one's beliefs that was only used to describe Holy War by Saladin to raise support for his reconquest of the Crusader states. If that's wrong, by all means correct me (I'm jewish myself \m/

\m/).

And it woulnd't be all that silly to give the yor a crusade tech. Abbadon the Dispoiler's had...what, thirteen Black Crusades now (Warhammer 40k)?

Regardless, I'm off topic. I've noticed that on 'challenging' difficulty, I seem to be the ONLY race not building exclusively missile weapons...anyone else noticed that?

rls669

on Apr 04, 2008

I've noticed recently that the AI seem more inclined to all build the same type of weapons.

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