Dano13

Join Date 03/2003

New SOTS Demo

For all the 4X gamers out there who might be interested there is a brand new demo for Sword of The Stars available at

http://www.gamershell.com/news_51426.html

http://files.filefront.com/Sword+of+the+Stars+Collectors+Edition+Demo/;10374949;/fileinfo.html

This is one of my favourite Turn Based Space Strategy games right beside Gal Civ 2. Its kind of like "Rome Total War-In Space" except this AI actually fights back. Oh yeah, and unlike Rome Total War you can play the full game with multiplayer.

Here are a couple of You Tube videos that let you see what the battles are like (obviously the resolution sucks on You Tube). If you like what you see you should really try the demo. If you like the game, finding it is tricky (the publisher is very small because Kerberos wanted to retain their IP). You will either need to order it from Amazon or buy and download it from Gamer's Gate. I recommend Gamer's Gate over Direct2Drive since the latter wrap it in some sort of DRM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MSIJ3cGY8U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5ASOMbzXXo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNDi3jumJ1o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPI-_91haCw&feature=related

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Isn't SOTS also on totalgaming.net?

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Interesting.

Out of curiosity, why is there a new demo out anyway? Was there something wrong with the original demo?

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Never mind. Saw the answer here.

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pndrev: Hmmmm ... maybe. I know it would fit right in.

Also, I don't know how well documented the demo is - but here is a wiki that I find helpful: http://sots.rorschach.net/

The game is amazingly deep. Weapons have a number of factors that they are defined on such as damage, speed, rate of fire, accuracy, range, richochettes, counters, planetary damage, firing arcs, weapon size etc. There is also subtle coolness effects too such as being able to acquire new tech from enemy salvage, or researching AI and having a chance of a galactic wide Sky-net type revolt (it becomes a new, and very powerful faction). In the expansion you can create pirate fleets and raid shipping lanes for cash and fun (even against allies since the ships are unmarked). The Diplomacy is not as robust as in Gal Civ though - although you CAN coordinate fleets with your allies "Strike Alpha Centauri in 5 turns!", and then double (or even triple, quadruple etc) team your foes.

Obviously the game is not to everyone's taste - but I think the reason it is not as commonly well known is that the publisher is just not that good at getting the game on store shelves (at least in North America). I hope they do better with the Collector's Edition

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I just looked it up, SotS and BoB are both on totalgaming. I used Gamersgate before (for the classic Jagged Alliance), but given the choice I'd rather order it via TG.net - keeps all my download games in Impulse rather than having to use several managers.

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Philocthetes

Join Date 10/2003

+153

Question: can you turn over that tactical stuff to the computer? I liked being able to manage the tactical fights in MoO2, but I also really liked being able to delegate when I was sure a battle was horribly one-sided in my favor.

What I'd like even more is a truly modern compromise for this context that let me make a moderatly complex set of initial commands for a battle and then accept the fact that, in the end, the rear echelon can only watch a given firefight and hope for the best.

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Obviously the game is not to everyone's taste - but I think the reason it is not as commonly well known is that the publisher is just not that good at getting the game on store shelves (at least in North America). I hope they do better with the Collector's Edition

Another reason is because the game is very hardcore and has a savage fanbase. Here in sins, a new person comes and ask if sins is similar to Homeworld (or someother game), and many good people here take the time to explain what the game is to that new person. In SOTS forums, that new person asks the same question, and he get flamed and trolled till he leave. Anyone remember the add fighters discussions in those forums?

But it is a very good 4X game, onpar with galciv2. (i own them both

). Although, the time limit on the single player battles in SOTS really sucks imo. Having to fight two or more turns to destroy an enemy fleet just because of the time limit while i could have done it in one turn.

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Gabal, does Born of Blood introduce ground combat at all? Or is blowing away enemy planets still your only option?

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I tried the original demo of SOTS, and it does have an autoresolve option for combat, but I had some problems where the autoresolve would preform badly in battles I should have won easily. But if you're planning to delegate the combat, SOTS probably isn't the game for you. It's really all about researching, designing, and commanding your ships. The economy and diplomacy are very simple.

What I'd like even more is a truly modern compromise for this context that let me make a moderatly complex set of initial commands for a battle and then accept the fact that, in the end, the rear echelon can only watch a given firefight and hope for the best.

Dominions 3 is a great game that does this almost exactly (in a fantasy setting). Lost Empires does it in Sci-Fi, but isn't so good.

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Two thumbs up for SOTS. I avoided it for a long time, but I tried out the new demo and promptly bought it. Let's hope TG.net will release the 1.5 patch as soon as it's out.

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Philocthetes

Join Date 10/2003

+153

Dominions 3 is a great game that does this almost exactly (in a fantasy setting).

Thanks, nullspace. Given the long wait we have for NotMoM2 and what so many folks around here are saying about Dominions 3, I think I might be on the trail of my birthday present for this year.

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Dominions 3 also just got the new 3.17 patch - adding another three nations and various other improvements.

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Just an FYI ... my tiny little EBGames in Toronto who's PC section is smaller than a shoebox actually had a copy. I was shocked! Anyway - there you go

Dano

PS - I never played Dominions but I remember Age of Wonders 2 - Shadow Magic gave me warm, tingly feelings.

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Answers -

1) I have delegated many, MANY battles at the autoresolve option does a competent job if you have a very good advantage. If its at all dicey I wouldn't use it. On the other hand you could fight a battle, go into the tactical string and put ships on auto, and only intervene when necessary.

2) There is no ground combat. You kill the population off from orbit and take all their juicy infrastructure ...

3) Isn't there an option on the opening screen to make tactical battles unlimited in time? I haven't used this cause I remember when MOO3 (Shudder) had 20 minute length tactical battles. That SOUNDS cool on paper, but then you put an armada against a single ship that wants to hide for those 20 minutes - not fun.

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Yes there is a option to make the tactical battles longer, and for those thinking about getting sots, try to get the collector's edition. Though it might be hard to find.

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