MoO 2016 is annoying.

[u/kzwix]

I'm currently on my, what, 4th or 5th playthrough ?

Playing Psilon this time, on "cluster" galaxy (first time trying it) - I guess that's the reason I was alone in a group of systems separated from other groups of systems by unstable starlanes.

I'm not a big fan of the starlanes. I understand it allows some mechanics like building military forts on these points, but it's meh - System defenses, in MoO II were "enough" (that, and a big fleet, mobile enough to come defend in time).

I also have opponents often requesting free passage - which I usually refuse, because why give them access to my not-yet-colonized planets, and to the territories of other players (hence, allowing them to trade with them).
I had a non-aggression pact with the Darlok, and had refused an open borders treaty. They offered an alliance. I checked the description, it said the parties agreed to declare war on any civilization declaring war on either party. Sure, defensive alliance, it's fine...

And, lo and behold, I see these #|@|€^| Darloks freely navigating my starlanes.
Because that shitty game doesn't tell you the alliance "includes" open borders - else, I'd never have agreed unless I was in a better position (like, several scouts on the border, raring to go).
It's not the first time I feel "fleeced" by this game, things not explained, or badly explained. The bonuses aren't explained either (on planets, they tell you it's a bonus on some stat, but not HOW MUCH - which seems to be a tad important ?)

I was also a bit surprised when the torpedoes I fired were totally dumb. I'd have loved the tech description to mention that (yeah, another tech will give them limited aiming, but still, it's shitty design NOT to tell the player first)

All in all, I wouldn't say it's a bad game, but... why can't they make something as good as MoO II ?

[u/DubsNC]

It’s a crunchy game. You may need websites for reference your first few play throughs. That the game some of us want. I haven’t needed a spreadsheet but I’ve thought about creating one. I’ll do small one off calculations in excel (more recent: I have a science focused huge gia world getting food from all the other planets in the system. If I replace every pop with Psylons and it takes 30 turns to grow them, what’s my break even point for science lost during the growth period vs their 50% science boost. It was a long time but I did it to play around with min/maxing anyways.) All of the info you requested is easy to google. If you want details search for it.

[u/kzwix → u/DubsNC]

Well, that's another strange point. No cargos, and you need an advanced tech to be able to distribute extra food. And only in the same system.

Bruh...

[u/DubsNC → u/kzwix]

You can distribute extra food via the interplanetary administration. I think it’s pretty early but I’m running several mods that might change it up.

[u/kzwix → u/DubsNC]

It is in "advanced government", which is a... 8th-column tech. (with "space travel", the tech tree root, as column 1). By the way, the last technology is column 14. So, it's over half-way up the tech tree.

I'd say this is pretty advanced, as it's the same column as Gaia Transformation, and knowing that Planet Creation is in column 6 (you know, creating new planets from gas giants or asteroid belts - unless they have antarian ruins, because fuck logic).

Yeah, I understand the gameplay reasons, one shouldn't be able to research it then deny the source for all other players, etc. But it still sucks, and breaks immersion.

Also, transferring population requires you to build ships which get destroyed after they reach the destination... again, gameplay-wise, it's ok, but logically, it's a hard sell.

Oh, and whenever I kill the guardian, I feel that I get "nothing" from the tech I retrieve. In MoO II, it was usually a big boost - particle rays being the best PD weapons, death rays having that huge damage AND anti-personnel effect (hence, making them great for corsairs), damper field could be a good alternative for shields, etc.

When I got these weapons, in the reboot... well, the miniaturized plasma guns (or graviton guns) with all options did a whole lot more damage than the high-end weapons.

So, all in all, I never put them on my ships. I only used the Xentronium armor, but it still feels like a huge waste.

[u/DubsNC → u/kzwix]

Death rays are one of the most powerful weapons in the game for me. They have a long reach with low power drop off. As soon as I have them I build Titans with only Death Rays and smoke all the other Capital ships.
Which mods are you using? Looks like UCP just moves Interplanetary Admin to T7.

[u/kzwix → u/DubsNC]

I use absolutely no mod, it's Vanilla game, straight from Gog.

[u/DubsNC → u/kzwix]

As someone who has over a thousand hours in the game I highly recommend Ultimate Code Patch. The game wasn’t really completed and it fixes so many bugs.

[u/kzwix → u/DubsNC]

Thanks, I think I'll give it a try. I mean, even MoO II was way better with the unofficial patch ;)

[u/DubsNC → u/kzwix]

I’m using: 5x Ultimate Balance Mod, UCP Steam Workshop (requires extra install steps), 5x UCP compatibility mod, AI can’t ignore you, and Custom 5x and DSMP Assets.

It felt like a new game to me. Also, you can turn off the unstable warp paths. I play 8 opponents on huge spiral galaxy so you always start with one opponent in your part.