Dev Stream (Friday, February 6th) at 3pm EST, Noon Pacific

Can Paul take another pass at ship defense values?

I really think if we double the values that the fights would last a bit longer and Carriers would be toned down in power. Also make it so fighters have NO defenses and only attack would really make them a bit better balanced...Thoughts?

How about making Strategic resources FAR MORE VALUABLE for Defensive stats? Allowing Durantium armor to double or triple its value? I would go OUT OF MY WAY to mine them at the beginning of game!

Will there be a map editor 

and will it be awesome?

The immense map is great but it also introduces new problems. What worked for small maps doesn't work for large ones.

Couple concerns:

1. When are you planning to introduce shipyard/planet governs?

2. Also in the shipyard "repeat" or "repeat loop" button would be fantastic! Its ok to micromanage 60 shipyards, but when you get over 100+ its such a hard work. Kinda frustrating when shipyard runs out of build orders you have to shut it down by hand. Cant it do that by itself? And when its shut down i have to manually restart each one of them.

3. Its becoming a nuisance to send constructors to every one of the star base just to keep it up to date when another tech is unlocked. Cant you guys do something about that? Like some auto feature on actual constructor to fly to the nearest starbase to dock with it. I have like 200+ bases out there, I've long lost track which are required to upgrade and which are not.

4. Kinda polish thing- When you instruct your ships to upgrade they all stack to 1  hexogal(if close enough) and that makes moving them harder(sim city stack of doom) and after that they have lost orders what they were doing. Not fun if you have 50 explorers 30 scouts after upgrades asking what to do now- they should remember last auto action taken before the upgrade.

Dont get me wrong- this is doable on small maps and medium ones but on huge, especially immense- it takes a LOT of your time just to micro-manage everything. I know you guys dont want auto everything and thats fine by me but we need some AI helpers to loosen the load on user.

Larsenex,

You mean something like this?

This is not a mock-up! An actual mod, fully functional in the game.

Map to Print feature.

With the addition of larger maps I want to keep track of all that is going on other then writting it all down descriptivly.

I would like to be able to save the map then choose to print the whole map or a region. On the print options I would like to zoom in or out so the map covers a 1,2 or 4 page picture so I can print it our and cover it with plexiglass and write notes on it.

Questions in the forums over  the last few weeks... 

Multiplayer

Some questions in this post Multiplayer Insight  Have you ever thought about having a multi-player dev stream over the course of several weeks with different non-stardock players?

1. Will multi-player get another look at an run through before release?
2. Lobby isn't generating all information on the games, could there be more information added to the lobby to tell people about the game type?
3. Could you add additional information in the diplomacy for multi-player games such as chat in trading screens?
4. Suggestion make it easier to see it's your turn when not on the main screen.
5. Sniperyeti Question: In multiplayer games, is there a way we could get an option to 'broadcast' our battle viewer to other players so they can watch it too?
6. CoffeeholicCielo In online multiplayer in the future or post release will we be able to show off our custom races by playing with our friends in the multiplayer 4 player game as well as show off our custom ships designs to them in war with the battle viewer by fighting their fleets?

1. When will the tech tree speed be added to the map screen or has this been scrapped?
2. A while back I had suggested using resources as a requirement or need for additional terraforming options.  Paul said he liked the suggestion but haven't seen or heard anything on if this may happen?  Thoughts?
3. Bamdorf In GC2 (Still a great game) there is now a community update working (nearly finished, I think) on  getting the AI to use their tech trees and build out their colonies properly in Twilight of the Arnor.   What testing is being planned to check this in GC3?
4. Bamdorf When I am building a ship if I wish to micromanage the use of credits, I have to switch back and forth between the planet screen and the shipyard to see if I am getting the ship in the right number of turns.   Is there someway this could be made less cumbersome?
5. jiraesch Whats in store for the political parties & government system? And for the politics/ideology in general?
6. jiraesch Will there be occupations, rebellions, uprisings etc.?
7. Werewindlefr  There have been mentions by Frogboy and the Stardock people that GC3 would have a more complex combat system, possibly with some pre-combat decisions. So the question is legitimate : what will be there? How will it work? 
8. ayork1  Why does the new tech screen only use half of the actual display?
9. mbrash5  Can we at least have the option to design our starter ships at game creation?
10. Rhonin_the_wizard  How will fleet formations work? Will we be able to select the formation type before the battle?
11. Rhonin_the_wizard  Will you modify terraforming before release? I think it could do with some improvements.
12. Larsenex  Is there a minimum memory needed to play on Immense sized maps?
13. Stanley Tarrant  How will the planatary invasion viewer work?
14. CoffeeholicCielo  Is there a possibility in the future that we could have a choose beam color/missile exhaust color option.
15. CoffeeholicCielo  In the battle viewer, when mass driver shells and missiles make contact with ships I don't see any impact/explosive reaction. Will this be implemented in the future?
16. androshalforc  Is there any chance of complete destruction 2 ships with 1 hp left ship one fires missiles at ship two, ship two fires lasers kills ship one, missiles hit ship two and it blows up. no winner.
17. peregrine23  Up until this version upgrading from basic factory (cost 30) to xeno factory (cost 45) cost 15; now it costs 45. Is this a feature or a bug?
18. Rhonin_the_wizard Will civilization specific techs be tradable in the next beta version?
19. charon2112 Will we eventually see a galaxy map button showing all races starting positions if I want, like in GC2?  And how about the graphs, timelines and charts?
20. Along with the previous question will ctrl+n be enabled in the game similar to Galactic Civilizations II where it would generate a new map versus exiting the game and starting new?
21. At this time can we get a general update on what is in the game and what is being left out for future DLC's, Expansions, or left out all together.  See below for examples...
• Customized home worlds for customized races
• 100 player games
• Interstellar Rifts (although talked about a little last week on didn't know for sure)
• Slow tech tree option for start of game.  (see the first question above)
• Special designed galaxies.
• And I'm sure many others.

1. Yor question:  In Galactic Civilizations II Twilight of Arnor the Yor had a dampening effect in their ZOA where the top speed of ships would be reduced.  Is this going to continue in Galactic Civilizations III?
2. Altarian question:  Why does it seam the Altarians don't get as many terraforming options as other races...
3. 5myosin  Altarian question:  What could conceivably be on the Altarian planet that has such OP influence at such distance? And why didn't they take over the intervening tiles first?
4. peregrine23 Yor & Drengin question: The Yor and Drengin science and manufacturing buildings are significantly worse than the base equivalents used by the Terrans, Alterians, and Iridium (10%/20%/30%/40%/50% vs. 25%/30%/40%/55%/75%). Is this on purpose?
5. peregrine23 Yor & Drengin question: Are the Drengin and Yor research and manufacturing buildings supposed to be much worse than the standard versions? If so, why?
6. peregrine23 Thalan & Krynn question: Can we get any word on the major characteristics of the final 2 factions or the traits planned for the current ones?
7. CoffeeholicCielo  Arcean question:  Is there a chance that the Arcean Empire will return as DLC or with an Expansion?
8. What miner races are in the game?

Answered Questions...

Multi-player Questions

1. When playing the game where the same main race is being played by multiple players such as human Altarians and AI Altarians, maybe have the race colors be shifted slightly automatically so they don't appear on the mini map as the same race color?  Answered, in Dev Stream January 9th
2. Could you add more players to multi-player games please even if only AI?  Although by games release I would love to have a long game going on with 6-8 people where we get together daily/weekly for several hours to continue our game for however long it lasts.  Answered: in Dev Stream January 9th

General game play questions.

1. Will the UP selections be increased.  In a normal game with UP on frequent by turn 100-150 you have had a chance to vote on almost all of them if not all.  Answered: Dev Stream January 9th
2. What do the purple tile bonus icons indicate?  When playing the Altarians they don't seem to match up with any specific building types like the others do.  For instance "Orange" tile icons indicate it's a manufacturing bonus of some sort, "Dark Blue" indicates research bonus, "Yellow" indicates economic bonus, "Light blue" indicates either influence or morale, and "Red" indicates military/defense.  Answer by peregrine23 "Tourism" in previous forum post.
   
3. Larsenex When can we expect to see the next size up in Map sizes?  Answered Dev Stream January 9th
   
4. Larsenex When will we get more coherent and aggressive AI?  Answered Dev Stream January 9th
5. RobTzu Production and research not carrying over.  It's micro hell.  Where is this on the priority list? Answered Dev Stream January 9th
6. peregrine23 Is there any chance we will see an in-game blueprint editor? Answered Dev Stream January 9
   
7. Natasin The only question I care about is whether we can have a diplomatic option to have closed borders. Answered Dev Stream January 9th 
8. implodinggoat  Will the ships from the ship design contest and the honorable mentions be available for download in the Steam workshop at some point?  Answered in Dev Stream chat by Island Dog January 9th
9. kestlstw  Will starbases get a pass?  Specifically I would love to get rid of constructor spam, are there any plans to have another look at how starbases are built and work?  Answered in Dev Stream January 16th.
10. Larsenex When is the approximate month for (release of) the combat viewer?  Answered with the release of Beta 4 January 22nd
11. Bamdorf When might we see ship commanders in GC3 and will they gain experience?  Answer Seilore "They have stated in the past dev streams this would be in a future expansion or DLC."
12. Darken24  Will we be able to see if a civ has the venerable trait before we attack their homeworld?  Answered Dev Stream January 23rd
13. Why do the abundant game settings seem to be a lot lower than Galactic Civilizations II?  Is the game not able to handle the size you are attempting to achieve?
• Possible bug put more information on Galaxy settings.  Abundant habitable planets seem to be bad/broken in 0.61, I've selected this option in several games the first 18 stars I came across only 5 had habitable planets one of which had 2.  To me abundant habitable planets should be 1 on almost all stars with several with 2, 3 or 4?  Am I incorrect?  (Answered with posts on possible bugs)
• This appears to be an issue where it's set to something else for one game you exit to menu and go back in change to abundant and start new game it doesn't apply correctly to the next game. 
14. When putting a ship in the shipyard to build, say 5 colony ships so that way one doesn't have to keep going back to select a new ship every time a ship is built, and one gets a new model because of technology being researched, why doesn't the shipyard auto change these ships to the newest make?  This would be a pain to have to go in and change the list every time a new make becomes available.  (Answered in Dev Stream January 30th)
15. Bamdorf What is the plan for the ship designations (supply, escort...etc).  (Answered in Dev Stream January 30th)
16. DivineWrath  Does the AI ship designer design ships that use the carrier module? When I got around to trying it, I couldn't see any designed ships that appeared to use them. I had to design my own ship before I could test them.  (Answered in Dev Stream January 30th)
17. androshalforc  Will there be an avoid option for ship roles?   example   try to kill the support ships but stay out of range from assault ships. essentially try and flank the main melee happening in the middle of the map.  (Answered Dev Stream January 30th)
18. When will the final races be joining the game, originally the Krynn was set to be joining the game in Beta 4?  (Answered Dev Stream January 30th)

TheCW, that is what I am looking for but also for all the other defenses as well, Anitmatter for Point defense stuff, and Elerium for Shield improvement. 

Mods would be fine, however I need some guidance on how to install or change values, (where and how)

Larsenex,

OK, when i have a bit of time i will make a posting about it.

I agree that resources should be much more rare and much more valuable, wars should be fought over them.  As it is now, durantium and elerium are everywhere.

Posted this question last time but I think I was too late.

Can we get an option to 'broadcast' or 'share' our battle viewer with other players in multiplayer games?

When I'm playing co-op vs ai with friends we need to be able to see each other's pretty space battles, otherwise the other players have to just sit there and wait.

Updated with replay.

I've also seen the bug where stars that aren't really there appear on the map.  I think it may be related to starting a new game with an active game going because I've been restarting repeatedly to get a better homeworld and every now and then the ghost stars start appearing and I noticed the same thing happened in the vid after he started a new game.  In my experience they only appeared in areas where I had cleared the fog of war by exploring there normally as opposed to using a cheat, also once the bug shows up it will persist on any map you load until you close the game.

On a side note, I really like the transparent fog.

I love that some beams now pulse like star wars blasters, I hope you keep a mix of these and traditional long beams though.  Overall the effects are looking much cooler.