Thank-you and noob questions

from Stardock Forums
Let me start by saying thank-you to the developers and publishers of Galactic Civilizations. I first heard about this game from my brother. He told me he read about this new turn-based strategy game in one of the many Pc magazines he reads and thought hey, this is right up your alley, and he was right. What impresses me most, I think is the support offered by the design and publishing teams. I think I sat with my jaw open for twenty minutes when I first came to the website and saw that the lead designer was not only posting, but posting current and legitimate information, and what's this? A beta of the expansion pack being offered to the community for play testing, wait...the expansion will be free? What else? Almost complete modability? No, it's not over yet, you mean this company actually listens to the community and offers support and not lip service? Congratulations to all, you have won me over as a customer.
So, with all the gushing out of the way, I do have a question. Actually, I feel like a moron for asking it. Other boards I've been on have a tendency to put down new players or don't have the patience to answer questions, I've thoroughly scanned these boards and I am impressed with the way this community works together. Because of this, this may be the first time I become actively involved in a community. People just don't seem to underestand that the only stupid question is the one that is never asked. Anyway, enough blubbering. On the save game screen, there are a number of options that you can turn on or off. Most are sef-explanatory however, there are a few that have me a bit confused. They are: Auto Turn, Auto Build (is this one for what's queued?), Gov. Overides Projects, and Active Gov. Ignores GNN. I think (stress think) I have a handle on them but I would just like some confirmation. Are these explanations located anywhere and I'm just missing them? Can I download them anywhere?
One other thing on the technical side, When I pop the CD in the drive, the start up screen appears, yet when I ask to start GalCiv, it doesn't, the window disappears and I then have to start the game from the start/programs menu. (Yes, I've re-installed, uninstalled, tried it with/without the patch etc.) Is this something that should happen?

Thank-you for your time and I look forward to talking to you all

PrimusPilus
2,333 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Welcome to the forum, PrimusPilus. :)

Yeah, we are a friendly bunch and no question is too stupid.

The answers you wanted can actually be found in the updated user manual which can be downloaded from the Downloads page. There is another fan-based strategy guide which is very good. Here's the link http://www.galciv.com/forum.asp?BID=GF&id=74810#76382

I reproduce the points below.

As for the technical question, I'm afraid I'm not the right person. But why are you loading the CD? The game doesn't require the CD to run.


Auto Turn
ON – With this option turned on, your turn will automatically end when all of your de-orbited ships have moved.
OFF – With this option turned off, your turn will not end until you click the Turn button.

Auto Build
ON – With this option turned on, your military queue will continue to build another ship of the same
type once the current project is finished. OFF – With this option turned off, your military queue will
be emptied once the current project has been completed.

Draw Grid
ON – With this option turned on, the sectors on the main map screen are divided into parsecs by
lighter blue lines.
OFF – With this option turned off, the only lines visible on the main map screen are the ones
marking the sector boundries.

End Turn Skips Moves Left
ON – With this option turned on, the turn will end even if you have units with movement points left
that haven’t been skipped (space bar).
OFF – With this option turned off, the turn will not end until all ships have used all their movement points or have been skipped (space bar).

Galactic News
ON – With this option turned on, Galactic News reports appear in a popup windows.
OFF – With this
option turned off, you will not see the popup windows.

Follow Autopilot Ships
ON – With this option turned on, the view will automatically focus on, and follow the movements of, your ships on autopilot.
OFF – With this option turned off, the view will not follow the movements of your ships
on autopilot.

Follow Alien Ships
ON – With this option turned on, the view will automatically focus on, and follow the movement of,
alien skips in sensor range.
OFF – With this option turned off, the view will not follow the movement of alien ships in your sensor range.

Show Ship Damage
ON – With this option turned on, your ship will show electricity sparkling over the ship when it has
sustained damage.
OFF – With this option turned off, the appearance of your ship will not change when it has sustained damage.

Show Human Ship Battles
ON – With this option turned on, the view will automatically focus on any battles that involve human
ships, starbases or planets.
OFF – With this option turned off, the view will not focus on the battles involving human ships, starbases or planets.

Show AI Ship Battles
ON – With this option turned on, the view will automatically focus on any battles that involve any AI
ships, starbases or planets.
OFF – With this option turned off, the view will not focus on the battles involving only AI ships, starbases or planets.

Explosions
ON – With this option turned on, ships and starbases will explode when they are destroyed.
OFF – With this option turned off, ships and starbases will simply disappear when they are destroyed.

Active Gov. Ignores GNN
ON – With this option turned on, the active governor ignores the Galactic News reports. (not sure if
this is right…)
OFF – With this option turned off, the active governor will react to the Galactic News reports. (not sure if this is right…)

Show Anomaly Pop-ups
ON – With this option turned on, you will see a popup with information on the effects of any anomalies
that are surveyed.
OFF – With this option turned off, you will not see any information on the effects of
anomalies as they are surveyed.

Animate Ship Data Win
ON – With this option turned on, the ship data window will be animated.
OFF – With this option turned off, the ship data window will display static images only.

End of quote



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Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
QUOTE (from above post by PrimusPilot)
.... I think I sat with my jaw open for twenty minutes when I first came to the website and saw that the lead designer was not only posting, but posting current and legitimate information, ....
ENDQUOTE

Even more impressive:

The Stardock people not only read and post on this forum but also on other fori giving out information, responding to queries, looking for player feedback etc etc etc! (eg. The lead designer wanders over to the Apolyton forum regularly, and posts there)
Siege of Centauri
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Primus - I have the same issue if I insert the GalCiv CD into my computer when switching from my kids' CD.

The autoplay feature kicks in loading the menu but if I try to 'play game', it never loads the game for some reason. I usually just quit when the autoplay comes up, the go through the start menu like you described.

And amen to the only stupid question is the unasked one! :D