Newbie Question: Recommended faction count for each Galaxy Size?

from GalCiv3 Forums

Sorry for the real newbie question, since I figure it might already have been answered, but I couldn't find it.

Since I can create my own custom factions and also download them from the web, I can have quite a bunch of them. Yet some of the galaxy sizes might challenge even what I understand is the upper limit of 128. So my question is, has someone posted with a recommended number of factions for each galaxy size, a suggested ratio that (for instance) allows for early uninhibited expansion yet keeps the map from being so large that factions may take darn near forever to meet?

Thanks for any help folks can give!

18,905 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I have no recommendations for faction count. It is definitely preference but if you do find a faction count for a specific map size that you like then Bamdorf made a table for hex count in the different galaxy sizes so you could scale appropriately for the different sizes to produce the same faction count per hex density. His post is here https://forums.galciv3.com/463642/page/1/#3538947

I checked and they have changed the radius of the Large and Huge sizes since then so here would be the new entries for those

Large 72  15769

Huge 95  27361

Just divide the hex count of your desired size to play by the hex count of the one you found the faction count to be preferable then multiply that answer by the number of factions you used in the preferred.

Hopefully this is semi-helpful to you.

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I wouldn't just go on the galaxy size for the number of A.I. you should use. The higher the A.i settings you use IMO the less A.i. you should have as the game gets unstable in my experience when you have loads of godlike A.i. on the map.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

2,4,6,8,12,18,24,36,48

works for me.

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting 18Zulukiller, reply 2

I wouldn't just go on the galaxy size for the number of A.I. you should use. The higher the A.i settings you use IMO the less A.i. you should have as the game gets unstable in my experience when you have loads of godlike A.i. on the map.

?? What do you mean?  I am currently playing a game with 80 (approx) AI on an insane map.  The game has been very stable, hasn't crashed at all.  Now about 500 turns into the game I'm down to about half that as factions have been killed off.  However, the game has been fun and I see no justification for your comment.  If you are having issues I would recommend you create a support ticket.

On the original posters question, this is what I'd recommend.

For a full map of factions. 

8 - tiny

15 - small

25 - medium

40 - large

50 - huge

65 - gigantic

75 - immense

90 - excessive

100 - insane

For an empty map for you to explore.

2 - tiny

3 - small

4 - medium

5 - large

6 - huge

7 - gigantic

8 - immense

9 - excessive

10 - insane

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

It's pretty much a question of how big you want the average empire to be. 10 worlds is a general favourite, since over this LEP begins to break down, research and wealth become too easy and micromanagement becomes a chore. That means that the biggest (vanilla) galaxy ideally has around 60 players on it.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thanks for all the replies! I ended up going with the Insane map size and 53 rival factions (I used the 45 faction mod listed on the mod wiki page). I've played a couple of hours and so far no issues, and it takes about five seconds to process all the AI turns.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Yeah, I came from the Supreme Commander universe of games so 8 or 9 opponents on an insane map works for me.  But the downside to this is that by the time you run into other civilizations, they may be big enough to kick your ass!  LOL.

Putting 100 opponents might be fun, I haven't tried it yet.  I see a lot of jockying for territory in that scenario... but having just a few opponents makes for EPIC wars with hundreds of ships on each side.  I played a 250 turn slug fest last night and sent all of my base construction to the front lines while setting up a perimeter of starbases and guard ships on my western flank to make sure the iconians did try and sneak any ships along my undefended border.  They kept refusing to end the war until I invaded 4 of their planets and destroyed 1/3 of their star fleet and passed them on the power graph. 

I was too nice though!  I should have just invaded their space and blasted them back to the stone age.

Next time...