Influence at work
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Look closely at the mini-map. Sector control is based on influence. Influence "bleeds" beyond the sectors you actually have star systems in.
I have lost about 3 star systems due to defections in this game and gained about a half dozen thanks to building trade stations (star bases with cultural modules added).
Now, when the AI starts building star bases, things will get interesting.
From a gameplay point of view, this makes a huge difference in the fun factor. Those lulls when no one is attacking one another provides the opportunity to try other strategies (such as trying to win via cultural victory).
I invested heavily in diplomatic technologies so that I could get the various civilizations to battle one another. I inherited pieces of dying civilizations as they surrended. I've actually not invaded a single planet the entire game.
Ultimately, I'm probably doomed as I can't get the Arceans to like me due to my miniscule size and they're finishing gobbling up the Drengin. My starbases have helped a lot but it's probably a lost cause. But still very fun.
We hope to add some special events that will stir things up. Imagine a galactic revolution occurring where a new civlization is added taking proprtional pieces of the different civilizations? Or other such things to keep things from getting to a long end game grind.
I'm still hopeful in this game that if I can keep supplying the Drengin with ships to fight off the Arceans that I can build star bases to culturally dominate them.
Look closely at the mini-map. Sector control is based on influence. Influence "bleeds" beyond the sectors you actually have star systems in.
I have lost about 3 star systems due to defections in this game and gained about a half dozen thanks to building trade stations (star bases with cultural modules added).
Now, when the AI starts building star bases, things will get interesting.
From a gameplay point of view, this makes a huge difference in the fun factor. Those lulls when no one is attacking one another provides the opportunity to try other strategies (such as trying to win via cultural victory).
I invested heavily in diplomatic technologies so that I could get the various civilizations to battle one another. I inherited pieces of dying civilizations as they surrended. I've actually not invaded a single planet the entire game.
Ultimately, I'm probably doomed as I can't get the Arceans to like me due to my miniscule size and they're finishing gobbling up the Drengin. My starbases have helped a lot but it's probably a lost cause. But still very fun.
We hope to add some special events that will stir things up. Imagine a galactic revolution occurring where a new civlization is added taking proprtional pieces of the different civilizations? Or other such things to keep things from getting to a long end game grind.
I'm still hopeful in this game that if I can keep supplying the Drengin with ships to fight off the Arceans that I can build star bases to culturally dominate them.
