Someone convince me that Galciv3 isn't like Galciv2

I'm not convinced you've watched the streams. On at least a few occassions they have talked about espionage. They have ideas that add an order of complexity to espionage beyond that in GC2. These ideas are too much for them to do by release, but we should look forward to them in a DLC or expansion.

As for your "illusion", I actually agree, for the most part. While you can effectively win by non-military expansion (influence), this game is really won through expansion alone. He with the most planets usually wins. Some of the other win conditions (tech, ascension, etc.) are more like stalemate breakers. I haven't played enough other turn-based-strategy games to know if there are other ways. Aside from some cool additions like multiplayer, hex tiles, tradeable resources, and steps up in diplomacy, combat, and invasion complexity, GC3 is similar to GC2. That's by design. 

actually i think it might be based somewhat on map size not by design but by results

smaller maps will most likely result in military/conquest victory's

midrange maps will probobly be won by eithar conquest or influence

while larger maps will most likely be won by alliance or tech victorys

Civ 2 was like civ 1; civ 3 was like ...etc.

If galciv3 was not like galciv2, well, then I am not interested.  I am sorry, but it is a silly question.  What's the right question?  Does it do it better?   

Sure looks like it to me, which is saying something, because gc2 is still a good game to play and is still being modded. Paul said today he expects to be working on gc3 for the next 5 years.  Wow.

And it will still be 'like' gc2.  A good thing.

Just my 2  cents.

@androshalforc. -- great point.

I agree with Bandorf, plus the OP mentioned two fantasy games that he might as well play. If he sees no difference in a fantasy game and a scifi game, we are missing some common ground for a conversation on this subject.

As for who wins what androshalforc's point is well taken, but many factors go into winning a game. A small map with up to 3 opponents was quite winnable by influence in GCII. If they haven't nerfed influence to the point victory is unattainable, I expect it will be the same in GCIII. 

The devs have not avoided the question of espionage and have been clear about it for almost a year now.  Espionage will not be in the base game.  It will be added in an expansion, likely coupled with Fleet/ship commanders.  They have stated this numerous times and have answered questions on espionage in just about every other stream they have done.  To suggest that they are avoiding it or trying to hide from the question is just not true.

I can't say I was a big fan of espionage in GC2.  I definitely wouldn't place it anywhere near the heart of GalCiv.  I'd probably put it near the little toe.  While I don't miss it I am interested to see what they do with it and if they can turn it into something enjoyable.

Actually I never had a militaristic victory in GalCiv 2. I won all my games as influence victories, because that is the way I wanted to win. I captured more systems by influence and buying them than I did by invasion.

The kind of victory you want to achieve determines the game you play. There is no best way to win, there is only the most fun way to win.

I couldn't agree more. Most of my wins were also influence. I enjoyed the fight if somebody picked one and I don't recall ever losing a war. Probably sued for peace a few times.

I sometimes get the feeling that a few players resent the fact that influence victory is part of the game.

The OP made a point that GC III was too much like GC II.

That was the point from the outset. The game was going to be the next incarnation of the series itself, but more of everything. It will have larger maps, better graphix but the 'feel' of the game will still be Galactic Civilizations.

As the others have state, Espionage will not be in the game at release. This was made clear and will be 'bigger and better' later on in an expansion.

Thankfully, I don't need to tell you that GC3 is not radically different from GC2.  It is so far a great successor.  I suggest you find another game to play and complain about.  By the content and tone of your post, this is not going to be the game for you.

I also think the OP misunderstands the entire category of 4x games

eXplore
eXpand

eXploit

eXterminate

.... sorta says it right in the game type.

Actually all of your points comfort me a little, I'll still try the game, maybe only after the espionage expansion though. I guess I only saw the streams that didn't mention espionage. But again, in order to win with influence you have to expand, and to expand you have to have ship combat. I am sure if you play the largest map possible, the odds are going to be against you as the AI will make sure to pick a civilization and eliminate the others so that when you actually meet them, your going to be facing impossible odds. IF you start in your corner of the map, its going to be a race for expansion, there is no time for diplomacy and alliance, hopefully those are getting an overhaul too.

No you don't trade for planets, obtain planets via culture flip.  I've won many a game in Galactic Civilizations II without declaring war the whole game.  If war was declared on me I would attack that player until he would peacefully give me all his planets but, that didn't always happen...

Always play the largest maps at the slowest pace in Galactic Civilizations II or III, the AI rarely is sooooo over powered that one race that they are playing with dominates from the beginning.

In Galactic Civilizations II I preferred the corner of the map, that way if an attack did come it was only coming from 2 sides instead of all 4.  In Galactic Civilizations III, this isn't as important to me, however, I always use diplomatic options, mainly trading for tech.

Differences in Galactic Civilizations III...

• Larger Maps (already mentioned)
• More Players (less stock major races in base game more coming in expansions dlc's)
• Adjacency bonus's
• Trade Resources
• Trade Minerals
• Trade Minerals add to ship components
• Pirate Bases
• Multiplayer

My experience has been different. I have often avoided wars by having the strongest military. The AI doesn't want to fight you if you are better than they are.

You do have to expand on big maps, either by conquest or colony rush. You can't huddle in a corner and build factories and labs on 10-12 planets. They have changed the influence dynamic in this build, so I'll have to see how that goes. In previous iterations, if you played your cards well, you could eventually expand your ZOC to over 75% and win with influence. I assume this will still be true, but harder.

The pirates they have added are a new wild card in the game. They are great fun, but they force you to expand your military force earlier than I am used to and this has a major effect on overall strategy.

The mining resources are going to be huge in GCIII. Just like real life, if you dominate galactic resources you will dominate the galaxy.