The pace of the game

[jobasha]

This game looks very interesting to me, but I have one big question: what will the pace of the game be?

I mean, it is a RTS, but this covers a wide range of games: are we talkin' Starcraft, Sins of a Solar Empire or Europa Universalis? Will the player need to click fast and take quick decisions or will he/she be able to take a deep breath and consider the grand scheme of things?

 

[HorseDemon]

In general I'd say the pacing is closer to more traditional RTS games that Paradox Grand Strategy titles but it's not a hectic click-fest. Also, there's a nifty PAUSE feature where you can give orders and take strategic stock of the situation. Zoom around the map, give orders, look at what your enemies are doing and so forth before you resume play. It's not necessary to use this feature, but it's there if you want it.

 

[Jokurr]

Glad to hear it isn't a clickfest. One of my favourite things to do in Homeworld was to take a moment to watch the ships fly around while they were in combat. I hope watching the combat in this game is a treat in itself and that we aren't so focused on clicking that we actually have time to do so

 

[jobasha]

In general I'd say the pacing is closer to more traditional RTS games that Paradox Grand Strategy titles but it's not a hectic click-fest. Also, there's a nifty PAUSE feature where you can give orders and take strategic stock of the situation. Zoom around the map, give orders, look at what your enemies are doing and so forth before you resume play. It's not necessary to use this feature, but it's there if you want it.

Thanks a lot for your answer. Sounds reassuring!

 

[silveressa]

Also, there's a nifty PAUSE feature where you can give orders and take strategic stock of the situation./QUOTE]

This is one of the most valued, (and often non included) features of space RTS's I thoroughly enjoy. Being able to pause the game and issue orders in the middle of a complex battle (or when managing battles in 2 different areas) and helps keep the game enjoyable rather than it descending into a frustrating attempt at being in 2 places at once. I deeply pleased at seeing this feature included at launch rather than have to ask for it and hope it gets included in a future patch. (I also enjoy pausing and being able to appreciate the level of detail that goes into ships in the middle of combat, but that's just me.)

On a related note are there a lot of time attack/hurry up and complete objective X in X minutes type of missions? One of the things I really didn't care for in Starcraft II and its expansion was the high number of "rush" missions where you rarely had time to build up a force, explore the map and complete objectives at your own pace without a mission timer forcing you into hasty decisions. (I think in the entire campaign there was maybe 4 missions that weren't timed/rushed somehow.)

I'm guessing from the response so far and the emphasis on exploration timed missions aren't much of a thing, but curiosity compels me to ask anyway.

 

[HorseDemon]

There are a couple timed "tense" parts of missions where you're working against the clock, but overall I'd say they're pretty manageable- especially with the strategic pause function.