Bob McDob said:
As much as I like the GalCiv series, it just doesn't seem like a good match for a mod to me. Space Empires, with its wormholes, system arrangement and tactical combat, would make a far more satisfying game.
O.k. then make a Modd for Conquest Frontie Wars. I would truly support it.
Well if you are honest there is maybe NO Space-Strategy Game (Turn based or Real Time) who supports all "features" that benefits Wing Commander. Well except Conquest Frontier Wars. But who wonders? It's a Chris Roberts Game (or Chris&Erin Roberts game).
First lot of Modds for Space-Strategy games that failed or just been canceled for any other reasons
Then we have Nexus for example:
Nexus looks good, but there is no Space-Conquest mode.
Star Wars Empire at War:
Could be something, but you can only battle in Planet Orbit O.k. sometimes in Asteroid fields, depending on the Map, but no batlles in the "Free Space" between the Planets.
Then you must limit the Game to 2 Races.
Then you have to figure out the way for the also Important ground Battles, to let them look Wing Commander-Style. I Think pretty difficult, because Wing Commander is more about Space battles.
Beside the Hover-Tanks, that we know from the games and the Kilrathi "Mauler-Tank" from the Cartoon, we don't know much about Ground-Units in Wing Commander.
And also this games supports no Jump Points. There are Routes from planet to planet, but I don't consider them "Jump points".
It would be more like in Conquest Frontier Wares where you can protect your Jump Points with Ion Cannons (...ready to rumble!
) or Mine Fields.
Hell, as I mentinoed CFW would have been the perfect Strategy game for a Wing Commander Modd, but we can do nothing about it.
No doubt, Petroglyph has created a very nice game with EAW, but I doubt a Wing Commander Modd would suit it.
Well, I talk to long here, just I like to say that every Space-Strategy Game has something that you will miss, because it's different from Wing Commander.
So why I like to chose Galactic Zivilizations 2?
It's about the Atmosphere and the possibilities because of it's features.
About Atmosphere:
In time of peace it's about exploring the Galaxy,
that: "Let's see what's out there"-thing and making progresses in economy and technology.
The Terran Conefedaration Improved itself (or Herself?) before the Kilrathi War, during the Kilrathi War and after it.
Same with the Kilrathi,... well the Cats maybe not after the War,... difficult with that big hole in the Homeplanet
(Sorry about that joke!
)
And in times of war you may have that kind of "dark" and "desperade" atmosphere that Wing Commander 1 liked to give you, about Situation in the Kilrathi War. Not about the game of course!!!
Bacause the Terrans are about to lose and get slauhtered by the Kilrathi.
But still there can be that one Ship that could make the difference between winning or losing. (Tiger's Claw, Concordia,...)
As I know from different player-experiences there is a good chance to have such situations (also depends of the game level and the players skill, of course
)
Sometimes it went out good and they turned the tides and sometimes they lost anyway.
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NOTE: So gevatter Lars gave me a point to think about. It's about working the Modd arround the Tech-Tree or the Tech Tree arround the Modd.
The Problems could be that you end up in Mass-Production because it's more important to have lot of ships then a few good equiped ones.
So a feeling like having 1-2 "Tiger's Claws" who are going to win your battle in Vega Sector will not exist, becaue you will have to build maybe 30 or 50 of them.
Other Problem to avoid is that there is no "Overmighty Ship" that can win the whole War alone.
So solution can be: That you can build every Ship right at beginning and the differences are about upgrading them. Or some Ship Classes are not available at the beginning or a mix of that.
Maybe there is an experinced Modder out there who knows about such problems and can help me to find an solution.
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Now I may talk about the possibilities or the "features":
1. Diplomacy and Races:
So maybe you like to have some "minor Races" into your Modd, like the Mopoks from Wing Commander 1? ...Anyone who remembers them?
No, just joking,...
But you could include some "lower-teched" Races.
Or you like to have the Border Worlds as self-standing faction in the game, allied with the Terran Confederation? No problem! You have it if you like!
Like to have the Firekkans in the Game? No Problem!
2. Transports and Escorts:
Remember of Transport Escorts in Wing Commander?
In GalCiv2 they can also be important. If I am not wrong there are "economy Transports" and not only "militarastic" ones.
So remember Missions like escorting a Drayman with Medicine-Cargo?
The Planet is screwed if you lose that transport!
So you can replay similar situations in GalCiv2. Maybe not THAT critical but with a certain importants.
In GalCiv2 you can build Freighters which you can send on a trade route. If the enemy destroyes them you may have financial Problems. So if you was in need of money and the freighters solved that problem, you may have a problem losing them like losing a Drayman with Medicine on board.
3. Starbases and Space Stations:
In GalCiv2 you also are able to build Starbases/Spacestations. And there are no "fixed" building points for them. You can build them wherever you want. And they can be as Important as in Wing Commander. Like for the Kilrathi the Starbase at Venice or K'Tithrak Mang.
Or for the Terrans the Navy Headquarters or Perry Naval-Base.
And where you start Wing Commander 2? Right, at a Space Station!
4. "Wing Commander like" Battles:
I know some of you like huge battles where lot of Ships are fireing against each other.
But be honest: "How many of such battles do you know from the Wing Commander games?"
It's more about some smaller, but good skilled and managed Fleets or Ships against each other, or a Fighter-Squadron against some CapShips.
So in GalCiv2 it helps you often more having kind of a "Taskforce" like "Concordia Battlegroup" instead of sending 1/2 or 3/4 of a "cheap" fleet, even if it would outnumber the "Concordia Battlegroup".
Depending on the Equipment you gave them (defense and weapons), of course.
O.k. nothing may stop you to send 3 or more "Concordia Battlegroups" (if you can afford them), but my example should make my point clear. (I hope)
4. Possibility to Replay whole Wing Commander Story
Imagine: You start as the Terrans, the Space is pretty unexplored and you send a Ship like the TCS Liason to explore Space and now you have first contact with the Kilrathi Empire.
(of course not THAT big surprise, you know you play the Modd, so it is certain that you meet with the Cats soon or later
)
So what will happen this time? Would the Liason be destroyed (again)?. Does the Terran Ship open Fire this time? Will they meet in peace?
Or the Claw (or a Ship wit the same value for you) succseed at K'Tithrak Mang?
Or you play the Kilrathi and try to predent to be VERY kind, peacefull and nice (purrrr
) ...till you have prepared you fleet and you eat the humans a live!!!!
Because of all that Exploring, diplomacy, and Fleetcombinations (and building) you can replay certain Situations of Wing Commander in a more proper way.
4. Politics
Remember the "Great Assembly" in Wing Commander 4? There is also something like that in GalCiv2 (was already in the first Version). There are different political parties. And also you, as the leader of you Race belong to one. If your party wins the elections you get bonuses, if not you may have a harder time leading your Race into a prosper future,... or war
.
I know politics are not a big part in Wing Commander. But if we take a look at Wing Commander 4 we also know it's not unimportant. (You all know the Ending(s) of WC4 I think)
So that are some Important Points, I think.
Of course there are some flaws. Like the "Jump Points". A bigger one is maybe, the missing Carrier- Class. But I hope there is a way to "fix" that.
So for me it's not only important what I can do in the game, also what Atmosphere gives the game to me?
And Wing Commander, especially Part 1 gave me a special one that I can hardly describe. It's one only really few games give to me. Those are games I will remember for my life.
And one reason I liked Wing Commander that much is the Story one big factor for that Atmosphere, no doubt.
So a Game with huge Battle may be fun, but if you could build a story arround it, it would make even more fun and drag you more into the game.
So I may start to sound like a "GalCiv2-Fanboy" to you. But the reason why I am so pro for this game comens from a complete other direction:
As many of you I am waiting since a long time for a good Wing Commander Strategy-Game. Real Time or Turn Based, doesn't matter.
When "Armada" was released I bought it and couldn't wait to go home and play it.
And then,... I heard me saying words I NEVER thought I would ever say them:
"It's a Wing Commander game, but I DON'T like it!!!"
Sorry to all "Wing Commander Armada" - Fans but that's the truth!
I Think Armada is the only Wing Commander game I don't like.
The Strategypart and the possibilities have simply been too poor for me in this game.
Then EA closed Origin and I thought my wish of a good Wing Commander Strategy Game was burried for ever. Since I took notice of people who are creating Wing Commander Modds for different Games.
Well, my last real big hope was Conquest Frontier Wars,... well,... you know.
But thanks to the WCSaga-team here, I know you guys tried it! So thanks again!
And with "GalCiv2" I finally hope to find the solution. It provides Story and Features, in my eyes.
"GalCiv1" had already a bit of that "Atmosphere" I talk about, but didn't really reach the goal. But as "GalCiv2" Is much more improved, I think it could do it.
So at least I must say, I will try to Work on the Modd as good as I can. Only I have NO experience at modding games!.
Anyway, would be a great help If someone provides me with 3dModels and Textures. Ships should be from Wing Commander 1 or 2.
So"sorry" for the long post, but it was pmportant for me to show you WHY I think this is the right game to Modd and to make people more interested in modding this game. (an maybe to help
)