Total GalCiv noob: Where do I start if I want a non-campaign game?

from GalCiv2 Forums
So I'm totally new to the series. I plan to go through the tutorials and that awesome newbie guide in the Dev blog forum. Just had a couple of questions about the game.

If I want to play a non-campaign game, do I ignore the original Dread Lords game or are all the new changes and improvements from the following two expansions retro-active?

If they aren't, should I play Dread Lords anyway? What will be the easiest way to learn this game?
9,722 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Dread Lords and Twilight play quite differently. I'd start with Twilight right away, it also has a couple of interface improvements that make playing much easier (such as various automation setting for ships).
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Any way to play the Dread Lord and Dark Avatar campaigns with the new stuff in Twilight?

If it isn't possible, is it worth it to play through the old campaigns considering that the gameplay and the interface is not as good? I know I can't get an objective answer to this, but just wanna hear what the community thinks.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If you want the story, play the old campaigns. You can do so in Dark Avatar (it loads Dread Lord campaign as well), but not Twilight. The campaigns simply aren't designed to handle the unique tech trees and other features of the last expansion.

Personally, I never played the campaign beyond a mission or two during beta testing. I guess, if you just want to know the backstory, load them in the campaign editor and compile a print-out of the briefing and debriefings. ;)
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hello there...

If you are attracted to GalCiv because of the total freedom of gameplay, ignore the campaigns & get straight intoi sandbox (or metaverse). Write your own story!

Cheers
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
as suggested already (and because I am a huge fan of ToA) I would start with a sandbox game of that. set the Universe to small or medium and the AI to beginner. You may not win the first couple of games, though you may, but the trial by fire will teach you what you need to know.

The reasons I reccomend ToA in stead of the previous two is there were a LOT of updates in ToA. The AI was improved, the graphics, and there were a bunch of improvements to the Tech trees. Also, if you learn DL or DA style of play and then switch to ToA, the changes are so significant that you will have to rethink a lot of what you were doing.