Should I buy this game?

Greets,

You won't have much of a problem Firstly, I only play offline too, and while there is no campaign (yet) all the varying options, teams, speeds, resources mixed with random maps and scenario style maps make the sandbox fun to play.

Don't worry about it being a clickfest. It isn't if you don't want it to be. Not only are there speed options, with slow being sleepy speed for me (and I very much dislike clickfests) but you can pause if you really want to, issue orders and then unpause. The empire tree makes everything accessable too. No frantic scrolling and clicking non stop required.

Your thoughts about a fun game seem strangely familiar Short answer; yep, based on what you've said, grab it.

I understand your preference : it is close to mine.

I got my gaming education with the fantasy TBS series Heroes of Might & Magic, Age of Wonders, Disciples.

Like you, I am wary of fast-paced, RTS click-fests.

Despite that, I recommend that you get SINS, because it has a lot of pre-game customization options which allow you to tailor the game according to your tastes.

For example, in the wake of the very recent 1.03 update, there are more detailed options to slow-down the pace of the game ... making it closer to a TBS management pace, if so desired.

If you do get SINS, update it immediately to 1.03 ... and experiment with its visual options : enabling « Bloom Effects » and Anti-Aliasing, for example, can cause lower framerates when lots of spaceships are engaged in battle, on weaker machines.

Sorceresss did you just say Disciples!? That's sealed it for me, Stardock can have my money now, I submit.

If you can only afford, due to time or money, one new game, get GalCiv2:TA; the final is due out this month. If you can afford two games, get that and Sins.

I wasn't sure how I'd like Sins, since I didn't care for previous RTS' I'd played, but I got it on the strength of the quality work that StarDock does.

I play off-line due to scheduling issues, and am having a blast with Sins. Just set the game speed to "Slow", and make use of the Pause key, and you won't have to worry about a clickfest.

caveat: 1)i only play this online. 2)I've played way more different titles of board games than i have computer games.

i love 4X play, and i got SOASE for the chance to get that experience online. i was put off RTS as a kid as i was terrible at Total Annihilation and froze when ever i saw unidentifiable swarm flocking my way. Analysis paralysis.

which is why i love 4X, when i make that inevitable click that reveals a swarm of shh coming my way, i can tweak everything in preparation to deal with it.

SOASE gives me this time as well. a bit too much time sometimes, to be honest, but in the single player you can fast forward. and there's actually plenty to fiddle with in the mean time. (tip: scout!)

in regards to research, diplomacy, economy, culture:

research: enough to keep you happy and be manageable in real-time, though no where near a typical 4X.

diplomacy: basic. but i think it is in any game and never bother. that is why i play online, so i can do all that properly.

economy: works for me, some people can game it a bit at the moment, but i don't believe the AI does, so again you should be fine.

culture: haven't really used it, takes an age to spread and longer to actually flip a planet, but again you can fast forward.

if you want another rich in depth 4X, this ain't it. if you want to do what you really do in a 4X and under the pressure of time and only become manic when your jumping around fighting several battles in 5 different solar systems (there's a beautiful mechanic that means that's the only time it approaches the mania of a typical RTS) then this should push your happy button.

hope that helps and to one day see you across the stars online

MrL

p.s. feel free to ask if you have any specific questions on the game

I would say just buy it anyway...

Its one of the best if not the best RTS game out there and as turn-base fan you might get swinged over to this side

Good thing is that it isnt fast paced RTS and you will have plenty of time for thinking untill of course you get spam rushed - then you will feel sick - but hey its only MP and you can still play SP if you wish...

After all there is so little decent PC game developers and publishers these days that anyone should really support IC / SD just for a sake of it

just to echo ColdSteelRain:

if you are looking for another rich in depth pure 4X game, galciv2: twiglight of the arnor would defiantly be the way to go.

I think your view of RTS is -really- skewed. There's a fair bit more strategy in most RTSes than you're willing to admit.



That said, SoSE is on a very large scale and has an interface that minimizes micromanagement. There is some, you will need to adapt to it, but I think most TBS gamers would like SoSE.

I totally agree with you Demonic Spoon and it most likely is MY fault that I don't have the quick thinking skills to employ the strategy. It doesn't help change the fact that I just don't enjoy being forced to do everything that fast, and it does often seem to me like selecting all of my units and clicking attack on enemy units one by one so fire is focussed just beats any other strategy in the RTSes I've played.

I play GC2, Civ4, and Master of Orion 1, and 2 (NOT 3). I also play Homeworld, HW2, Dawn of War, and Sup Com (when puter doesnt hiccup). Sins has something for everyone. Even if you never played RTS, or TBS before you will enjoy Sins for what it is. It is FUN. That is whats important.

It's far more an RTS game than a 4X game, if you're not an RTS fan I'd avoid it. If you want to make sure, wait a couple of weeks for the demo and give that a try. Gal Civ 2 in real time it's not, more like a really slow hybrid of Homeworld (sans story) and Supreme Commander. I wish I'd waited for the demo myself.

On the other hand, I can't recommend Gal Civ 2 and its expansions enough as a deep, thoroughly enjoyable 4X TBS game that is entirely focussed on the multiplayer experience (it has the best AI I've ever seen in a game of its type). I suspect it'd be a much better match for you than Sins.

Hey guys,

I have to say I wish I'd waited a little while for you guys who told me to get Galactic Civilizations 2 instead. I was all caught up in the hype and bought it after very little encouragement. I can honestly say I'm disappointed with the game so far, I just can't get into it. The lack of campaign mode hurts a LOT more than I was expecting, combat feels bland and lacking in strategy; strength in numbers and nothing else works.

This could all be because I don't get the game yet, and I intend to play it more to try and get into it, but it certainly hasn't clicked with me like it has with all the reviewers who suggested this was something along the lines of "game of the year so far". Could anyone suggest a game setup that really shows off all the good points of Sins so that I can stop feeling like I flushed my £23 down the toilet?

Incidentally, I tried the demo of Galactic Civilizations 2 and DAMN, that's an amazing game.

Cheers,
Breegle

Hi Breegle,

as i've said i've only played online. but where this game really takes of is on the large multi-star maps.

on the smaller maps it's about moving you SHIPS around a planet to win the combat. usually it's the majority of both your fleets, so if you win well you win the game. this is when it plays alot like a typical RTS.

on the larger maps it become about moving you FLEETS around the stars. once your empire is up to speed you'll hardly ever zoom in to micro a battle, it becomes more about your fleets composition and you managing to get them where they need to be. lots of room for strategy

simply the game shines on it's scale. galciv is a great game but what i found lacking is once i've built my fleet up and the get into combat, i just get to sit and watch while it plays out. and graphically it's not worth it. SOASE let's me do the same thing, has far superior graphics AND let's me take part.

so, try a larger map and give your self time to learn the UI (this again really shines once you're dealing with multiple stars)

MrL

I do not like RTS games very much, but this Sins is an exception. It has alot to mess with like technology tress, putting bounty on another player and so on. I recomend to try it even if your not a RTS buff.

If I would have to say which is better, GC2 or Sins, I would probably go with GC2, but thats just because Iam more of a turn based game fan.

edit:

The Sins UI is really powerfull and allows you to easily control large groups/planets. If sins did not have such good UI, it would be a medicore game at best, luckily for us the UI really shines. Just wanted to add that