Is Sword of the Stars playable now?

[unmerged(607863)]

Exactly, it's an unconvenient abstraction, which prevents the classic colonisation tactic.

So a standard survey fleet has enough supplies for survey. Why can't I add a coloniser to this fleet and get straight to colonising after surveying?

I do think that how they did survey and colonization is pretty good. You would not send Colonizer ships with humans on them on every fleet out there to check out planets. What if you just find barren rock crap worlds or gas giants? You would have just sent your people on a long jorney only to return.

I do like to explore first and then think which systems to actually take.


For the game being playable.

YES Definately!

It still lacks alot in the feedback department but its alot of fun to play now. I tried it a year ago and was simply fed up but stuck with it since SotS1 wasnt perfect at start either. Now a year after I really like the game. It got a good strategic and tactical depth and the new LOA are amazing (a bit strange and clunky which I hope will be remedied later)

 

[D Inqu]

I do think that how they did survey and colonization is pretty good. You would not send Colonizer ships with humans on them on every fleet out there to check out planets. What if you just find barren rock crap worlds or gas giants? You would have just sent your people on a long jorney only to return.

I do like to explore first and then think which systems to actually take.

Ermm... Classic sci-fi?

Exactly that: fleets of ships (or a great mothership) going into the great unknown, and colonising something once they find it. Just about every 4X lets you do that. The survey then colonise is very inefficient, even with the preservation of colonisers.

 

[unmerged(201662)]

Ermm... Classic sci-fi?

Exactly that: fleets of ships (or a great mothership) going into the great unknown, and colonising something once they find it. Just about every 4X lets you do that. The survey then colonise is very inefficient, even with the preservation of colonisers.

Ah, so in order to be good SotS 2 should follow every other 4x out there, I see. If that were the attitude of gamers and designers, we'd still be playing pong like games. Yes, yes, we shouldn't explore different ways of doing things and try out new things, that's bad, very bad. NOT. If SotS 2 is to radical a change for you, you can always play SoTS Prime, or any other 4X game out there. No one is forcing you to play SotS 2.

 

[billt568]

So should I buy this with the expansion? Is the expansion basically a relaunch with Paradox's newly found god tier QA and feature control attached?

 

[unmerged(201662)]

You can only get the game with the expansion, the original is no longer available for purchase. Even if you somehow were able to get the original, as soon as you installed it, it would upgrade to EE.

 

[Scout1]

So should I buy this with the expansion? Is the expansion basically a relaunch with Paradox's newly found god tier QA and feature control attached?

I would say No.

I had high hopes for this game. I played SotS1, I loved it. Well, 2 came out. We all know how that went.

So we waited. And we waited. And now it's "release" level.

Uhm - except it still has tons of problems. And they put out this new expansion with a new race... and it's terrible as SotS2 on release.

 

[Nasarog]

Damn it,now I'll have to wait another half year.

 

[unmerged(15561)]

I would say No.

I had high hopes for this game. I played SotS1, I loved it. Well, 2 came out. We all know how that went.

So we waited. And we waited. And now it's "release" level.

Uhm - except it still has tons of problems. And they put out this new expansion with a new race... and it's terrible as SotS2 on release.

Well thats just one opinion.


Not "everyone" is getting these issues. True there are some, though the developers are patching as and when people find and report them.

 

[Kohlrabi]

I wouldn't value the opinion highly of a person who

a) doesn't own the game (or who can't figure out how to register)

and

b) can't tell the difference of the state of the game at the SotS 2 launch, and the SotS 2:EE launch.

Sorry, Scout1. If you had bothered to actually try an unpirated, patched version of the game before "reviewing" it, you would have noticed how much the
game has improved during the last year.

 

[Scout1]

Well thats just one opinion. Not "everyone" is getting these issues. True there are some, though they are patching as and when people find and report them.

Uhm... did I say everyone? No. I did not. Could you please not quote something that I clearly did not say?

I wouldn't value the opinion highly of a person who

a) doesn't own the game (or who can't figure out how to register)

and

b) can't tell the difference of the state of the game at the SotS 2 launch, and the SotS 2:EE launch.

Sorry, Scout1. If you had bothered to actually try an unpirated, patched version of the game before "reviewing" it, you would have noticed how much the
game has improved during the last year.

Hi. Look to the left.


That's my SotS2 copy registered. Thanks for going off on a tangent because I didn't have any reason to register (no mods). I played release. I played after release. I played this week, and I played today. The game has improved in the sense that it crashes a lot less. It still crashes. It's still not a very fun game. I stand by my opinion.

 

[unmerged(15561)]

Uhm... did I say everyone? No. I did not. Could you please not quote something that I clearly did not say?

While I quoted your post, that was for the first part of my post.

The 2nd part was a statement to emphasis the point. Ive made it a little clearer now. Hope thats better for you.

 

[Scout1]

While I quoted your post, that was for the first part of my post.

The 2nd part was a statement to emphasis the point. Ive made it a little clearer now. Hope thats better for you.

Okay although then I find the inclusion of "everyone" meaningless and detracting.


Yes, the game is being patched. In fact, it was being patched on release. It has been being patched for a while.



It will remain being patched for a long, long while, I imagine. I still don't think he should buy the game. The game has issues and... yes, maybe they will be resolved. Maybe. In the future. At this time, it's not worth it. I personally would've ordered a refund in that first week if they hadn't started spanking out updates. I still might, if I can. This game isn't at an acceptable level of playability. It might be at "release" state, as the devs have stated, but their idea of a release in the first place was horrible.

 

[unmerged(201662)]

This game isn't at an acceptable level of playability.

You're wrong, simple as that.

You are entitled to your opinion, but you are still wrong.



Having an opinion doesn't make you or your opinion right.

Some games won't please everyone, some games won't be what you enjoy. Normal people move on and get over it. I bet for example that you've moved on from tic tac toe, most do and I bet it's because you just don't enjoy it anymore (if ever) The person who invented it back in 1 BC during roman times I'm sure had a rotten release but no one is holding it agaisnt him now. I'm sure during the time, lots said how easy it was and how transparent it was and how it could have been so much better doing xxx

Stop living in the past, a year is a long time to hold on to something and wave in everyones face (posting here where others can see, is the everyone I mean, just incase you confuse that everyone with what 2Coats posted).

The game like ALL games will have issues if you look hard enough, and for some (like ALL games) may not be their cup of tea or work well on their systems for a myrid of reasons.

I think he should get the game, especially if he is a lover of 4X titles and loves trying new and different things. See my opinion, doesn't make me right, but at least I'm not spouting wrong things to make me seem more right then I am.

Btw, I find your inclusion of "we" meaningless and detracting in your post that 2coats quoted. Again, my opinion. Take or or leave it, but I'm entitled to post it in this forum just as you seem to feel yours is. Speak just for yourself please, not for the rest of "us".

 

[Marconius]

Well, I'm playing my first game (as Hiver) in almost a year and it seems to be working decently so far. Sure, the UI is a bit obtuse, the game doesn't explain itself very well, the encyclopedia could use some work and the game is pretty darn slow, plus I'm sure there are bugs, but... well, it's very much playable and it's fun! I've yet to run into any game-breakers and judging by the amount of LP videos on YouTube, I'm guessing the game is in a pretty decent state at this point.

So yeah, I'd check it out. Besides, it's €20 and constantly updated, even if you don't like it that much now, it'll get even better, so it's not like you're throwing out a huge load of money.

 

[Scout1]

You're wrong, simple as that.

You are entitled to your opinion, but you are still wrong.



Having an opinion doesn't make you or your opinion right.

Some games won't please everyone, some games won't be what you enjoy. Normal people move on and get over it. I bet for example that you've moved on from tic tac toe, most do and I bet it's because you just don't enjoy it anymore (if ever) The person who invented it back in 1 BC during roman times I'm sure had a rotten release but no one is holding it agaisnt him now. I'm sure during the time, lots said how easy it was and how transparent it was and how it could have been so much better doing xxx

Stop living in the past, a year is a long time to hold on to something and wave in everyones face (posting here where others can see, is the everyone I mean, just incase you confuse that everyone with what 2Coats posted).

The game like ALL games will have issues if you look hard enough, and for some (like ALL games) may not be their cup of tea or work well on their systems for a myrid of reasons.

I think he should get the game, especially if he is a lover of 4X titles and loves trying new and different things. See my opinion, doesn't make me right, but at least I'm not spouting wrong things to make me seem more right then I am.

Btw, I find your inclusion of "we" meaningless and detracting in your post that 2coats quoted. Again, my opinion. Take or or leave it, but I'm entitled to post it in this forum just as you seem to feel yours is. Speak just for yourself please, not for the rest of "us".

Uh okay.

You're wrong, then. Objectively wrong, apparently, if you want to describe it that way.


There is a myriad of crashing issues. Races do not play logically, even by the rules defined in-game. The encyclopedia is not completed. Documentation is lacking, missing completely, or unhelpful where it exists. The UI is terrible, which makes any sort of playing difficult, tedious, and frustrating. Basic game concepts from SotS1 - by all means a successful game - were ignored and discarded.

I like 4X. I liked SotS1. I liked MOO3, and galciv2, and occasionally a space empires, too. This game isn't much of a game. It's difficult to navigate. It's difficult to do anything. There is noticeable performance issues including UI and turn lag that makes 'playing' unfun. I can do slow-paced, I can fast-paced. I can do twitch shooters and Victoria 2 economic twiddling. But the combat doesn't flow, and the numbers don't produce. There is no aspect of this game that I enjoy. I tried, oh I certainly did. I cheated, I changed start options, and I tried MP too, despite myself.

But it's always the little things. Techs that didn't work. Statistics you couldn't find. No ability to change starting systems. Crash on startup that resets all my settings. The inability to access menus in battle. Hotkeys that were obscure and unlisted except in said menus. Splitting fleets a dozen times just to move as Loa, and having to click a few dozen times to do it.




I don't need to linger on the past, as you claim. The game, as it is today, is not fun. It's not playable. It's not Sword of the Stars. In my opinion, of course. Ya happy?

 

[unmerged(201662)]

Yep, I disagree, I think you are wrong and that the game as it is today is great fun, is playale and IS Sword of the Stars (dah, the develpers of the game who made it so, think so.LOL) My opinion along with a bit of actual fact.

 

[D Inqu]

Yep, I disagree, I think you are wrong and that the game as it is today is great fun, is playale and IS Sword of the Stars (dah, the develpers of the game who made it so, think so.LOL) My opinion along with a bit of actual fact.

TBH, I have to at least partially agree with Scout1.

The game even now is very unclear. Almost any action involves lots of unnecessary clicking. Some of the new mechanics are quite odd and don't work well.

Going back a good 6 years, here, why I loved SotS 1 since I played the original 40 star system demo.
1. Generated 3D galaxies of all shapes and sizes (no idea why the sequel ditched the galaxy generator)
2. Simple UI - 1 click build, 1 click send fleet, etc (yeah... today's update finally made the UI less laggy, but it's still as poorly though out as before)
3. Very dynamic. A small 1vs1 galaxy could be done as quick 1-2h game in SP, a little more in multiplayer, and still involve large exciting battles (the sequel, I am barely getting out of the early game in 2h, due to slower pace, more upkeep for everything, station micromanagement, fleet/admiral micromanagement general lags at end turn...)
4. Ship sizes from the small destroyers to the mighty DNs (despite the addition of LV, nothing changed in the sequel as destroyers were removed and even police cutters and ordinary freighters with their puny size are now CRs and cost to upkeep as CRs)

 

[unmerged(15561)]

TBH, I have to at least partially agree with Scout1.

The game even now is very unclear. Almost any action involves lots of unnecessary clicking. Some of the new mechanics are quite odd and don't work well.

Going back a good 6 years, here, why I loved SotS 1 since I played the original 40 star system demo.
1. Generated 3D galaxies of all shapes and sizes (no idea why the sequel ditched the galaxy generator)
2. Simple UI - 1 click build, 1 click send fleet, etc (yeah... today's update finally made the UI less laggy, but it's still as poorly though out as before)
3. Very dynamic. A small 1vs1 galaxy could be done as quick 1-2h game in SP, a little more in multiplayer, and still involve large exciting battles (the sequel, I am barely getting out of the early game in 2h, due to slower pace, more upkeep for everything, station micromanagement, fleet/admiral micromanagement general lags at end turn...)
4. Ship sizes from the small destroyers to the mighty DNs (despite the addition of LV, nothing changed in the sequel as destroyers were removed and even police cutters and ordinary freighters with their puny size are now CRs and cost to upkeep as CRs)

I cant really speak about SotS2 EE since I havent played it in a few months, but with any game series the longer it goes on the likelihood that a sequel will be somewhat different - rings true. It can be many things: personnel within developers may change, scope change, community requirements... Whatever it is, I do tend to find the way some games used to play change alot for me - over time.

Probably the best example is Hearts of Iron... I played the original for over 1000 hrs. It was new, it was fresh. No means perfect, but it was a real guilty pleasure.
With HoI, I lost alot of fun playing thing through. I love the depth of the gameplay and lots of the additions, but its gone from being something that I could pick up and play, to something that I have to really dedicate time to, to get through a game.

What Im saying is that game development goes on as much of a journey and other things in life.

I absolutely loved SotS Prime and to some extent SotS2. Enough to overlook its faults. So in my experience players can love games that arent some quasi-independent idea of perfection, but are fun to play.

 

[KK20]

the are some almost game breaking "bugs/features/missing" bits. Try having a hiver attack an already gated system. The fleets have spare gates with them and plenty of supply. Hell they also have colonisers as its a big LV fleet. Now watch them trudge back 40LY after a SUCCESSFUL mission because the gate in the system got killed. Oh and no mission reassignment.

As a hiver dont bother surveying, just gate then survey (unless you like long travel times). Missions need to "terminate" at the destination for at least 1 turn so you can queue up missions (gate, survery cololonise) etc. I am still to figure out how I can rank my worlds by productivity, planets, sizes, climate etc.

SOTS2 still needs a lot of work to be completely playable. I only play it because I really WANT to like it. TBH it just infuriates me sometimes because SOTS1 already had the functionality perfect.

 

[Seboss]

The problem I had with SotS2 and Kerberos for some time is that for every two steps the game makes forward, it takes one backward because Kerberos is always trying to add new stuff to the game, without taking quite the time necessary to really stabilize and optimize the game engine, or solve UI/UX shortcomings once and for all. Heck, when the game was basically unplayable because of instability and whole chunks of the UI missing, they added psionics and independents races and whatnot.
While their heart is in the right place and most Kerberos fans expect SotS2 to go far beyond SotS 1, the way Kerberos operated with SotS2 doesn't make much sense to me. In any case, as the end user I would have preferred that Kerberos restrained from adding new stuff to an already wobbly foundation. I didn't make any friends in Kerberos with this, but as of today I stand by it.

About the UI, well I don't know about the many issues of balance, race design and what have you, because I haven't played the game all that much because of the UI to be honest. I still think it's the less enjoyable UI I've used in a long time (second to Skyrim maybe but the modders did a fantastic job there), and the 'mission' system is still something I have to fight against to achieve anything in the game. I think I understand what problems Kerberos wanted to solve, and they wanted to change the perspective the player has on their empire compared to other 4X, but the classic approach (SotS1) just clicks better with me. There were many improvements lately, but the 'best' improvements are the ones that allow the player to skip some screens entirely (defense and stations placement anyone?), I think that's a clear indicator something has gone wrong with the UI design at some point.