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Sword of the Stars II: Lords of Winter |OT| Embrace Your Strategic Place In Space

oneils

oneils

Member
Looks like a cool game. Sword of the Stars 1 was on sale on Steam. I kind of regret not getting it.

One thing I was wondering is if this game is more of a space battle game or empire building game. Anyone know of a good review that explores this?


edit: Just saw this wikipedia quote in the OP

4X games are a genre of strategy video game in which players control an empire and "explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate." The term was first coined by Alan Emrich in his September 1993 preview of Master of Orion for Computer Gaming World. Since then, others have adopted the term to describe games of similar scope and design.

4X games are noted for their deep, complex gameplay. Emphasis is placed upon economic and technological development, as well as a range of non-military routes to supremacy. Games can take a long time to complete since the amount of micromanagement needed to sustain an empire scales as the empire grows...

(wikipedia)
Click to expand...
 
C

Carcetti

Member
For me SotS was always about space combat, with the empire building just prepping for it and getting resources for those sweet ships. It has so many elements that I want in a space combat game and almost never get, like good missile combat and real physics for ship movement. I love how you can knock an enemy off course with those bigger mass drivers for example.

The empire building in the first one is pretty superficial though. It's better at doing something like recreating the feeling of those good ole space battles in Babylon 5 for example.
 
L

Lafiel

と呼ぶがよい
This looks like totally my thing. Probably won't be able to pick it up until the christmas sale, but I'm glad this OT has informed me of it's quality.:)
 
A

Alex Connolly

Member
Carcetti said:
For me SotS was always about space combat, with the empire building just prepping for it and getting resources for those sweet ships. It has so many elements that I want in a space combat game and almost never get, like good missile combat and real physics for ship movement. I love how you can knock an enemy off course with those bigger mass drivers for example.

The empire building in the first one is pretty superficial though. It's better at doing something like recreating the feeling of those good ole space battles in Babylon 5 for example.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd say it really evokes B5 or some of the bigger events in Star Trek. Star Trek especially for the UI colour palette.
 
A

Alex Connolly

Member
Not as yet...it's always been off-cam and generally just a developer showcasing scale and shields via getting a friendly to control-fire at a fleet-mate.

Hopefully soon. I tell you what, it was actually kinda hard to find screens that aren't only showcasing ships in the tactical battles. I require starmaps and empire menus!

Oh, I did find this on Angry Joe's youtube channel...lots of nice ship combat footage, but it's not from the actual tactical interface. We make do.
 
A

Alex Connolly

Member
ksimm said:
Thanks, just got the complete pack for £3.74 :)

It's a no brainer to try the first one for that price before considering the sequel.
Click to expand...

Let us know your thoughts once you sink a little time into it.

Since it comes out tomorrow, there's only one day left to take advantage of the preorder that gets you (fairly superficial but will satisfy a geek) the Liir & Morrigi Race Packs:

Liir & Morrigi Race Pack

Sword of the Stars II has one of the richest universes in science fiction strategy games, and with this pre-order pack you get a package of materials designed and composed specifically for two of the game's unique alien races: the aquatic and inquisitive Liir, whose fierce rebellion against the Suul'ka surely invites reprisal from that ancient race; and the avian Morrigi, longtime travelers in the highways of space and fierce enemies in battle. For each of these races you will get new avatars, a new combat music track, alternate voices and skins, and new badges for the warships. This pack helps bring more of the Sword of the Stars universe to life.
Click to expand...

There's already a gigaton of content, so this is just cream for getting in early.
 
A

Alex Connolly

Member
A little bit of porn pulled off the SotS FB page:

Uino4.jpg


LOOK AT THOSE READOUTS...those TOGGLES! It's getting Nexus-level.

In space, nobody can hear you fap.
 
I

Isomac

Member
Pylon_Trooper said:
A little bit of porn pulled off the SotS FB page:

LOOK AT THOSE READOUTS...those TOGGLES! It's getting Nexus-level.

In space, nobody can hear you fap.
Click to expand...

Hahah, yeah it's looking so good!

UI is definitely much better looking than in the first game. I am going to loose some battles just because I am zooming in to see all those details!
 
D

dionysus

Yaldog
Steam says the game unlocks at 10 AM PST. I don't want to wait that long. I ordered through gamersgate so hopefully it will allow downloads earlier than that.

And that screenshot looks awesome. I always found the battle ui to be pretty shitty in the first game.
 
S

Sinatar

Official GAF Bottom Feeder
This looks cool but the first game was... well not good. I tried to like the original, I really did, but it has the stupidest interface ever crafted.

Hopefully there is a demo of this.
 
A

Alex Connolly

Member
NOOOOO! So, yeah, it'll be available in about 8 or so hours. In about 5 hours, I sadly leave for a weekend away. This was not part of my plan! So, I expect all sorts of reports upon my return. I want tales of fleet action and system conquests. The works.

I hope there's no tales of stability woes, so fingers crossed.
 
L

Lostconfused

Member
First reaction after 5 minutes of play time. Ahhhhh what's going on?! The controls are all different, the menus don't work the exactly same way. Ahhhh!
 
K

KPJZKC

Member
Argh, curses for not being able to buy games on GMG in dollars! It's like $45 when bought in euros, what a fail :(
 
E

Ebris

Member
After wondering why the hell I couldn't get past the main menu, I checked the SOTS2 forums. It seems Paradox/Kerberos herp'd when they should have derp'd: they released a 7 month old BETA to the Steam Servers. More can be found in this thread - Clicky

No idea if we're supposed to re-download or if there will be a patch. They better hurry, because I want me some 4x space strategy porn! HNNNNNNNGH.
 
L

Lostconfused

Member
Ebris said:
After wondering why the hell I couldn't get past the main menu, I checked the SOTS2 forums. It seems Paradox/Kerberos herp'd when it should have derp'd: they released a 7 month old BETA to the Steam Servers. More can be found in this thread - Clicky
Click to expand...
Holy shit no way. But that would explain a lot.
 
D

dionysus

Yaldog
If you download from gamersgate it is very frustrating. Apparently it downloads a backup that you have to restore in steam. Otherwise when you enter the cd key in steam it starts all over again downloading.

Still haven't been able to open the game yet. I love release day on PC for strategy games!

Edit. I can hear the menu screen music but can't see anything!
 
F

Fusion Pizza

Member
After playing Sins of a Solar Empire to death I've decided to try this series out. More in depth post later!


Very Very Very Beta-ey feel to this. Not gonna bother with it until it gets a patch.
 
T

Twinduct

Member
Well holy shit. I though this was just another expansion for the base game.
That release trailer ... fuck me I need to buy this ... has the whole beta/ final build thing been sorted?
 
K

KPJZKC

Member
Version on Steam is still the beta it seems - and not even a nice beta, a horrible nasty one. Come on Kerberos :p
 
U

Unicorn

Member
Winterblink said:
Saw this the other day, Angry Joe doing an interview about the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGd8bozLJDM

Yeah it's Angry Joe but... he seems to love the genre, and goddamn the game's got an awesome UI.




Oh god not this again.
Click to expand...
Just saw this video and I'm highly interested, coming from Twilight Imperium board game.

Sadly, we'll have to wait for SofS3 for pds and ground combat. haha.

Sad that the release is so buggy. This is a game that deserves some glory, from the looks of it. Can't wait to play it, once the proper version is available.
 
K

KPJZKC

Member
I'm looking forward to playing the release build when it comes out...but at the same time I have to wonder...HOW exactly do they consider there to be a "completely new" playable faction?

Clarification

Races are

Human, Tarkas, Hiver, Morrigan, Liir+Rebel Zuul (uses liir ships, zuul battlethingies (the old destroyers)), and Zuul+Suul'Ku (which is basically Zuul but with the ability to summon some Suul'ka (superships) in what I imagine to be late game.)

This has left me a little disappointed :(
 
K

KPJZKC

Member
Patch downloaded, installed. Version number has changed, as have a handful things (the options button in the main menu is now grayed out, whereas previously you could see the options, but they were all blank). However, almost all the previous issues remain, many people can't get the game to start, slow menu movement, stability issues. (I had perfect sound before, and with this patch it now stutters - so, great)

I can't say I ever had much faith in Kerberos, thanks to their notorious treatment of forum members and (christ) Fort Zombie, and even though I loved SotS, I can't help but wonder if there even IS a "Release Build" or is this just scrambling for time?

Thanks Kerberos for making me a cynical bastard :(
 
G

gatti-man

Member
KPJZKC said:
Patch downloaded, installed. Version number has changed, as have a handful things (the options button in the main menu is now grayed out, whereas previously you could see the options, but they were all blank). However, almost all the previous issues remain, many people can't get the game to start, slow menu movement, stability issues. (I had perfect sound before, and with this patch it now stutters - so, great)

I can't say I ever had much faith in Kerberos, thanks to their notorious treatment of forum members and (christ) Fort Zombie, and even though I loved SotS, I can't help but wonder if there even IS a "Release Build" or is this just scrambling for time?

Thanks Kerberos for making me a cynical bastard :(
Click to expand...
Wow thanks for your frank impressions. Will stay away until the issues are fixed.
 
C

CiSTM

Banned
I want to play this so much, but not enough money at the moment ;(
Then again there are two expansion packs in the future so I migh as well wait for the first one before buying this. Oh and great OP.
 
A

Alex Connolly

Member
Oh dear. What a shemozzle. Well, its back to Star Ruler until this gets sorted out. Sorry to read such woe...but if folks are looking for something meaty in the absence of SotS2 stability, then check out the awesome efforts of Star Ruler (it's amazing these days) and Distant Worlds.
 
S

Sullen

Member
I'm a big fan of sots 1, and it was an excellent game, but they really botched the release of this one, big time. It's sad. I'll put more time into it a few months from now when it is patched.
 
Z

zoku88

Member
KPJZKC said:
Patch downloaded, installed. Version number has changed, as have a handful things (the options button in the main menu is now grayed out, whereas previously you could see the options, but they were all blank). However, almost all the previous issues remain, many people can't get the game to start, slow menu movement, stability issues. (I had perfect sound before, and with this patch it now stutters - so, great)

I can't say I ever had much faith in Kerberos, thanks to their notorious treatment of forum members and (christ) Fort Zombie, and even though I loved SotS, I can't help but wonder if there even IS a "Release Build" or is this just scrambling for time?

Thanks Kerberos for making me a cynical bastard :(
Click to expand...
I also agree with these impressions. still doesn't feel like a release build.
 
C

Carcetti

Member
Impressions from playing last night (Steam is still loading the 'new' version which I hear isn't much better)

- New UI is flashier but slower than in SoTS

- Lots of weird interface bugs (options not showing), game seems to have trouble on my 1920x1080 reso.

- I have some sound stuttering issues

- Game is lot more complex but there's no proper explanation of anything, I have no idea what some ship parts do for example and I feel like I don't know what I'm actually doing. And I played the shit out of SoTS.

- Ship building is actually very impressive now, but it's also a lot slower due to having to twiddle a lot with individual turrets etc.

- Tactical turns are in whole solar systems now which makes for some epic long combat and the minimum turn length is 3 min with default on 5.

- The new race Suul'ka is actually improved Zuul with endgame Suul'ka ships while rest of the Zuul went with Liir to make their own hippy rat&dolphin faction

- The main attraction, ship graphics, are great and ships look great in combat. They also have nice roll and turn maneuvers now as well.

All in all, the unfinished state of this much-expected pc strategy game release brings to mind another similar one: Elemental: War of Magic. I keep expecting Brad Wardell to pop up with an apology letter.

ut if folks are looking for something meaty in the absence of SotS2 stability, then check out the awesome efforts of Star Ruler (it's amazing these days) and Distant Worlds.
Click to expand...

I find this ironic since Star Ruler was even worse when it was released. It was so bad I felt like throwing the disc outta the window but unfortunately I got it as digital download from Impulse back in the day. If I ever figure out the terrible shipbuilding menus of Star Ruler I might try it properly again.
 
A

Alex Connolly

Member
Absolutely agree on Star Ruler upon launch, but it's been spit-shined and smartly tweaked since those dark days. Definitely A game I'd recommend to Sins fans looking for a similar experience with much greater scope. Still indie, but the devs have worked hard to bring it up to speed. You should give it another crack, if you get a chance.

I think the ship design process, whilst overwhelming at times, is terrific.
 
C

Carcetti

Member
Last time I tried it Star Ruler it was a bit updated but my problem was the bland ship graphics. All those identical purple tubes orbiting each other wildly don't satisfy my need for epic space combat. That's why I prefer Sins, though the scale of Star Ruler is attractive.
 
D

Donos

Member
Carcetti said:
Impressions from playing last night (Steam is still loading the 'new' version which I hear isn't much better)
Click to expand...

thanks for impressions. played tons of hours out of SotS. Will keep an eye on it. But now that i'm not a student anymore i fear that SotS2 would eat my sparetime alive if i dive into it. Sins of solar empire was a dissapointment for me. hated the mini ships. Love the combat phase of SotS. when you realize that the enemy has researched new lasers. RETREAT !
 
D

Dennis

Banned
Very interested in this but I am not sure I have the patience for an imcomplete version.

Maybe it is best to wait for some patches and then buy when it goes on sale some time.

Harsh but time is precious.
 
A

Alex Connolly

Member
Carcetti said:
Last time I tried it Star Ruler it was a bit updated but my problem was the bland ship graphics. All those identical purple tubes orbiting each other wildly don't satisfy my need for epic space combat. That's why I prefer Sins, though the scale of Star Ruler is attractive.
Click to expand...

Yep, I can completely understand that perspective. Sins certainly brings the graphical goods to the table and can make Star Ruler look like Space Empires going up against Crysis. They've improved the textures and done a little to improve models as far as I can tell, but it's really the grand strategic end of the spectrum, whereas Sins feels very operational-level.

We really should put together a GAF 4X space empire strategy thread. A lot of vets could discuss the classics, the almost-there titles, compare and contrast, bemoan MoO3, whilst newbies could get a feel for the genre and see if it's their bag or not.
 
C

Carcetti

Member
Sounds like an excellent idea! There's so many space 4x games that it'd be good to have a single thread explaining how they differ.

Also, if someone made an explantion on how to design and upgrade Star Ruler ships properly, I wouldn't mind either.
 
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