Initiating New Players: Writing a Basic FAQ

from GalCiv3 Forums

Hey, awesome GalCiv Community! 

I'm working on a GalCiv FAQ for new players and I'd like your help!

In an effort to reduce the barrier to entry of the 4X genre (which, to some, is a very intimidating style of game), I have started to compile a Game FAQ document. My hope is that, by focusing on questions or easy basic starting strategies, it will make starting a game of GalCiv easier for a player who isn't already initiated into the genre.

That said, here's where you guys come in. Many of you have logged hundreds of hours in one or more of the GalCiv games over the years and are very experienced players. While I'm sure it's hard for you to remember all the way back to when you were a n00b, I'd like you to consider what kinds of questions you had when starting to play 4X games, or what part of them you may not have understood. Share those questions and light strategies here.

For those of you who maybe haven't logged quite as much time as the more experienced players, now's your chance to get some questions answered! If there are things you still don't know or understand, what are they? Where's your struggle? If anyone can help, it's this community right here.

Please know that I will be reading your questions and answers (plus inserting some of my own) and want to engage with everyone on this as much as I can. I have read many of your detailed, sprawling strategies, and they are completely awesome -- but, in this context, I am looking for something simpler and easier to digest for someone who doesn't know what they're doing. Like me. ;)

I look forward to reading what you have to say! In advance, thanks!


~Kristy 


28,885 views 5 replies
Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

The two basic things I see are

TMI (too much information) - How to use the AI and ques.

Basic mechanics - How to move ships and use each screen.

A third thing could be to know your ideology and tech tree.

 

Object Desktop - Get all of our enhancement utilities in one suite
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

hi kristy

If you write it i think it will be great based on your prior work

 

* explain the wheel and corrosion

* pros/cons of using the individual planetary wheel

* Specialized planets vs balance

* suggest initial tech priorities

* economy and how it work - importance of food (Pop)

* how to get $ up and running. BC generation seems to be a big stumbling block for new players based on the forums

* battle mechanics

* Initial planet build priorities

 

Good luck

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I think a lot of beginning FAQ's could be answered by having a very detailed tutorial options when starting the game such as follows...  Now from a developer standpoint this can become a very time consuming process but, may help players get those answers that they feel are too basic to ask but, can't figure out and get frustrated and leave the game.

Put in a tutorial menu into the game. (this would be different from the full tutorial already in place, just short 1-5 minute blocks that just answer these specific questions)

How to create custom faction?

  • New game starts automatically
    • highlights create custom faction and disables all other buttons, maybe even a text box popping up, even with voice over telling player what to do.
    • Then walks the player through each step one by one with similar options all the way.

How to invade/capture another players planet/world?

  • Game starts already in progress with a perfect opportunity to take over a planet within a few tiles of your shipyard/planet.
    • Again start by having player select their shipyard and build a troop transport.
    • Walk them through the process of sending ship to the other players planet and take it over.

How to construct a star base?

  • One could create sub categories in this one for Economic/Military/Cultural/Resource/Mining.
  • Once again game starts already in progress (preferably one which would be suitable for all of the above star bases, that way one could continue right into each option.)
    • Have the player select their shipyard and build constructor.
    • Walk them through selecting a good/perfect place for each star base type or even help the player choose by...
      • Give them 3 or 4 options of tiles to build (with highlighting tiles) and ask them to choose which they feel would be a good location for star base, then if the player chooses poorly than maybe have a text and voice layover explaining to them why this may not be the best location for the star base.
      • When they make a wise choice than once again open the text and voice layover explaining to them why this was a good choice.

Well I think this get's the general idea across, which one could expand on of course.  FAQ's are nice, however, most only give a basic idea of the answer but, don't always give the player everything they are looking for.  

Another option one could do is along with specific FAQ's answer the basic question and then include a link(s) either to the wiki relating to the specific question or related topics.  Also include in there quick links to other related FAQ's that may help answer other questions or where in the existing tutorial this can be found or if a more detailed based group of small tutorials are created than add which flow answers these questions.

Anyways those are my ideas on what may help newer players.

One could always expand on this for intermediate/experienced players to help fill gaps as well.

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Really good ideas Seilore but i doubt SD would spend the time ($) to do it. And truth be told i guess i would rather see them spend it on core came play.

But i do thing youe ideas would be a big help for new players

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