Galactic Civilizations: The Prancing Pony (Fellowship of the Ring Empire Thread)

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Do you still think GalCiv 1 is fun even with GalCiv II out?

758 votes

1- Yes

2- No

The Prancing Pony (Fellowship of the Ring Empire Thread)

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#1475 by Citizen musicfan55 - 6/6/2004 1:52:32 PM

Well, we can always discuss movies.

I saw "Space Mutiny" on Mystery Science Theater 3000. It is on DVD but apparently was a TV show a few years ago. It was really funny if you like to laugh at bad sci-fi movies and wise-cracking androids and humans. So, that means I liked it.

.

OK, time to finish my game and put a few points on the board. Later.

[Message Edited]

#1476 by Citizen Matthew Downie - 6/6/2004 3:15:31 PM

I have bad RSI at the moment so I'm trying to cut down on the gaming.
Seen (on TV) - Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
Technically very impressive, featuring the best hair-physics in any computer animated movie. Fairly dull plot though.
In my opinion, they should have made it more like one of the games:

Cloud, a guy with an enormous sword, walks on. From nowhere, a bunch of guys with axes attack him. He leaps at one of them, swinging his sword, and smashes the edge of his blade into this victim's face. Then Cloud leaps backwards to where he was standing previously. There is no blood; instead, a number floats up from the guy's head so you know how badly hurt he was.
Cloud stands still for almost a minute while each of his three opponents in turn strike him about the body and neck with their axes.
Repeat for seventy hours, interspersed with loading screens, very slow summoning spells, aimless wanderings through pretty landscapes, and occasional bits of plot.
Roll credits.

#1477 by Veteran vincible - 6/6/2004 5:30:18 PM

I hate to sound like an old geezer, but the FF series went into a serious decline when the graphics improved (everything past 7). Too much focus on prettiness as opposed to storytelling and character.

Or possibly I just grew up and realized that RPGs are all the same.

#1478 by Veteran Gerakken - 6/6/2004 5:32:35 PM

Cloud stands still for almost a minute while each of his three opponents in turn strike him about the body and neck with their axes.

But you can't call yourself a good guy if you don't give the bad guys a second chance! (Or third swing, for that matter.) Hee hee.

But I agree with the elf a bit. It gets to be too much about the fighting, and any attempts (in the games) to relay a story end up in non-interactive cut scenes that seem to do a better job boring the viewer rather than making things more interesting. What's needed is a more interactive plot (we are talking about a video game here) where the story is carried more by game choices and less by set events. But not true open ended play. Not in a RPG. That can kill a role playing game faster than anything. There has to be flexibility in the plot, a lot of roads to follow, but not an open prairie with nothing in all directions.

#1479 by Veteran vincible - 6/6/2004 5:35:05 PM

I saw "Space Mutiny" on Mystery Science Theater 3000. It is on DVD but apparently was a TV show a few years ago. It was really funny if you like to laugh at bad sci-fi movies and wise-cracking androids and humans.

I think my favorite MST3K was "the Creeping Terror." The least terrifying monster ever, where all the "victims" had to practically crawl into its mouth in order to be killed. Practically no dialog, and a nonsensical plot. A truly dreadful movie, perfect for MST.

#1480 by Citizen Matthew Downie - 6/6/2004 6:02:01 PM

I've played FF VI (decent gameplay, story that might have been more immersive if the characters hadn't all looked like dolls with giant heads), FF VII (mostly aimless trekking about and totally unchallenging random battles, but with enough 'Wow!' bits to keep me going, even to the point of defeating the optional Diamond and Ruby Weapons which had one million hit points each) and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (my favourite in many ways - all those silly spells I never bothered using in FFVII had strategic value here).

I do prefer the idea of a story-based game where I have some influence over the story, and the decisions I make matter. Can't think of many cases where this is done well. The Baldur's Gate games, to some extent... Probably Deus Ex 2, though I haven't tried it...

#1481 by Veteran vincible - 6/6/2004 6:50:57 PM

FFVI was easily my favorite. I played it when I was pretty young... (seventh grade, maybe?), so the graphics were cutting edge and I didn't mind the repetitive bits so much. I still think it had the best characters and story of the series. And it moved quickly, unlike the later ones where every time you summoned a monster you'd have to sit through ten minutes of fancy graphics while the monster flew from Jupiter to Earth and tossed asteroids at your opponent from high earth orbit, doing moderate damage to them and no damage to anything else in the area.

I just got nostalgic and bought MOO2 (I lost my old copy ages ago). Silicoids beware!

#1482 by Veteran Samurai Ben - 6/7/2004 1:41:37 AM

I just got nostalgic and bought MOO2 (I lost my old copy ages ago). Silicoids beware!

Oh, yeah!

Actually, I had this thought around April of last year - MOO2 was on sale at Amazon for about five bucks. Because I didn't see much point in matching my entire basket's total in shipping costs, I picked up GalCiv as well, mostly on a whim. Interesting how these things work out.

I saw "Space Mutiny" on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

I think my favorite MST3K was "the Creeping Terror."

Definitely "Manos - The Hand of Fate." The film was sooooo bad that they actually started running out of joke material in the MST3K version. Fun to watch, in a masochistic sort of way. In comparison, the plot for the "Spock's Brain" episode of Classic Trek is Emmy material.
[Message Edited]

#1483 by Citizen Matthew Downie - 6/7/2004 5:03:26 AM

I just got nostalgic and bought MOO2 (I lost my old copy ages ago).

I got rid of my copy on purpose, so I didn't start playing it again.

Silicoids beware!

It was the Sakkra I liked picking on. They could live underground or underwater, so if you captured one of their planets you could stick a Sakkra population unit on each of your worlds and it would practically double your maximum population.

#1484 by Citizen musicfan55 - 6/8/2004 6:07:36 PM

The FotR is hanging in there at fifth place.

And, I am happy to be the first FotR member to hit one million points in the metaverse.

#1485 by Citizen Weyrleader - 6/8/2004 6:09:27 PM

And, I am happy to be the first FotR member to hit one million points in the metaverse

Congrats richbayer

A million points is nothing to sneeze at

#1486 by Citizen Matthew Downie - 6/9/2004 4:08:27 AM

Yes, congratulations!

Keep this up and you might even make it into the top ten!

Or maybe not. Where did all these GalCiv addicts come from? I remember when people were astonished at Ray's phenomenal output and scoring, when in fact he was only playing one game every three days or so. Now, even the tenth highest scoring player plays four or five games a day.

In my last game, I attempted to play a medium abundant maso game without bribing or tech trading, following a debate on the succession game thread about what was a suitable challenge. I got completely slaughtered, of course.

#1487 by Citizen damoose - 6/9/2004 6:34:55 AM

ricbayer,

Grats!

Drop by as a sna.. er for snack in celebration. LUNCH!

#1488 by Citizen Matthew Downie - 6/10/2004 11:08:44 AM

You know, the scoring system in this game is way off... For example, a Rare game scores about the same as an Abundant game, takes half as long, and is actually a lot easier. Playing Maso Medium Abundant is a real challenge. Maybe I should try it with an influence bonus next time.

#1489 by Citizen musicfan55 - 6/10/2004 5:25:24 PM

Thanks for the kind words. Maybe if others quit playing, I just may make it to the top ten again. What we called "cranking" has become the norm for the top players. Ray was in first because he consistently played Maso on various size maps but he did not routinely do multiple games per day. Maso was a BIG deal back then. I think EBZeroMatrix did cranking first but at beginer level, then came Cotal (FreeTibet) who took cranking to maso level. Then came the rest of us maso players and newer versions (especially 1.49) that make cranking much easier. Plus, some of us play much more than others.

Back to habitability, I prefer managing up to 7 or 8 planets. Any more and it gets a bid tedious for me. I used to play abundant smaller maps but now play rare larger maps. Both are fun. I use the habitability to keep the number of planets that need to be managed relatively constant (3 to 7 is best for me).

Rare is easier to manage compared to abundant on a same size map because you have less planets to adjust. The computer also knows where the yellow stars are so "rare" may give a more "even" start to the human. Of course, control-N and control-U can neutralize some computer advantages. I agree that habitability does not seem to change score. Big deal. That would make the scoring even more complicated than it already is.

.
[Message Edited]

#1490 by Veteran Gerakken - 6/10/2004 11:34:58 PM

Rare is easier to manage, I agree, but give me common or abundant any day for my nefarious purposes. When engaging in a mass culture war sans party palaces (or very few of them), a critical mass of planets is crucial. Grabbing all those spare PQ 13 and 14's that litter a larger map on abundant more than gives the raw influence edge that the influence resources, buildings, wonders, and a handful of techs all amplify to eventually start the flipping later on, even against an incredible foe unless they are hiding out pretty far away (like 3 sectors out). If that be the case, then a little war to take the system(s) in one sector to get a toehold will start the flipping as the pressure mounts.

Sure, this takes time to build up and running a larger empire slows things down a bit, but I got time. And it is not like I am after the quickest way to turn a 60K crank. I'll settle for a 20-25K culture win, at least that is what seems to be the current rate for a crip game with one or two incredible opponents.

By the way, grats on the one million points. Way to go, ric!

#1491 by Citizen Matthew Downie - 6/11/2004 5:59:24 AM

My point was that in a crowded maso abundant game, you are in constant danger of being flipped before you have the chance to build any wonders or capture any resources. My standard tactics don't work any more. I can win maso rare games with my eyes closed. (Not literally; it would be quite hard to tell what's going on.) I suppose if I set my initial influence bonus much higher, I could probably have survived. I was trying for an abundant war victory, so I set War Party and +2 speed, but my planets started flipping before I could research any half-decent technology.

#1492 by Citizen Matthew Downie - 6/11/2004 6:00:33 AM

then came Cotal (FreeTibet) who took cranking to maso level

Gratz on overtaking her, by the way!

#1493 by Citizen musicfan55 - 6/11/2004 1:02:55 PM

Thanks for the congratulations. In my last large maso, the Terrans had only two planets, which made it hard to establish a serious economy. It also makes the game longer in game years.

One thing about 1.49 is that establishing trade routes is a high priority so when I swap the minors for trade tech, I then shift everything to freighters until I get six or seven. The Alexians are no longer generous on 1.49. As in all strategies, a sound economy is a must.

#1494 by Citizen Weyrleader - 6/11/2004 1:13:49 PM

I then shift everything to freighters until I get six or seven

I usually trade for the early freighters, and often for all that I need before the game is over. The game is usally over before I need 10 trade routes. A good tech will often get one, and sometime two, freighters. If not try one freigher and 300-400 bc. I can sometimes buy them outright for 500-800 bc, depending on my diplomacy at the time.

What is nice about buying them is they are usually situation just off a planet that you want to send a freighter to anyway, sometime clear across the galaxy. It would take forever to send one there.
[Message Edited]

#1495 by Citizen musicfan55 - 6/12/2004 12:01:41 PM

Weyrleader, this is a good plan but I am talking about EARLY building of freighters. This is when I am losing money (maybe already in the red) and have no source of income. I also have nothing to trade at that time except maybe communication theory and universal translator and a "theory" tech or two. Last game, I had just finished building colony ships and a couple of turns later built freighters trading a couple of "theory" techs to get trade tech. Either way works but wihtout the cash-cow Alexians in 1.49, it is good to get those trade routes going ASAP.
[Message Edited]

#1496 by Citizen musicfan55 - 6/12/2004 12:04:20 PM

Oh yes, just saw the Diretor's Cut of Das Boot (an extra hour added). It is absolutely stunning. What a great flick. Make sure to start the movie date early because it is about 3 1/2 hours long now.

#1497 by Citizen Weyrleader - 6/12/2004 7:40:33 PM

it is good to get those trade routes going ASAP.

Rickbayer, I agree, although I have often waited until I am back in the black from trade routes established by the AI counter balance my own spending.

#1498 by Citizen musicfan55 - 6/13/2004 11:20:18 PM

Whatever works best for you Weyrleader. You obviously know what you are doing.

#1499 by Citizen musicfan55 - 6/16/2004 12:19:17 PM

Saw a good flick last night. It is an early (1956) Stanley Kubrick film called "The Killing" starring Sterling Hayden (who was General Jack Ripper in Dr. Strangelove). Recommended as a classic black & white film noir with homage to Hitchcock.

Hey Matthew, how is the repetitive stress injury doing? Wearing a splint on the wrist at bedtime can help some. Hope you are back at the keyboard soon. Good luck.

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