Sins of a Solar Empire

Sins of a Solar Empire is a space RTS game for the PC (Windows), which was released in the U.S. on 4 February 2008, in Europe on June 26, 2008. It was developed by Ironclad Games and is distributed in Europe by Kalypso Media, in the United States of Stardock. The game is still one of the sub-genres of the Global Strategy and orbital simulations. In February 2009, the expansion appeared entrenchment, in February 2010, followed by the second extension Diplomacy. The package Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity includes the game and both expansions. 2012 appeared the third expansion rebellion as a standalone addon. June 2013 also appeared for the " rebellion " version of the first DLC Forbidden Worlds, and November 2013, the second, Stellar Phenomena.

Game

The aim of the game is to expand his empire and defend it. For this you have to conquer other planets and civilizations out the opponent. This is done primarily through the construction of a fleet of starships. Late in the game you can develop and deploy the three special weapons for the three races TEC, Advent and Vasari. There are three resources the metal, crystal and credits available. It is always possible to buy or sell in order to speed up pending transactions metal and crystal. A technology tree in the fields of Military, Civilian and fleet capacity allows the player to unlock additional ship types and structures to enhance the combat capability of its fleet (eg, better shields, better lasers, torpedoes, etc.) or defense systems such as gun platforms or repair yards to build. Even their own economy can be designed as a trading post with more efficiently. The playing surface is one or more solar systems with a certain number of planets. At the beginning of the game each has a planet and see the two or three neighboring planets, but does not yet know their specifications. It was only when any of the player's ship has reached this heavenly body, the player knows the nature of the planet (eg, desert planet, volcanic planet, Earth-like planet, gas giant, etc.), its resources and capacities for more information. Not every planet can be colonized, to the neutral defense fleet of the planet must be switched off and a special Kolonisierungsschiff be used. Not kolonisierbare celestial bodies such as asteroids rings, plasma storms, magnetic clouds, however, have sometimes resources asteroid with the corresponding extractors that are indestructible and can be taken with a particular ship.

The game takes place in real-time, recommended for success is a healthy balance of naval construction, colonization and exploration of military, defensive and economic developments. In actual combat between two or more fleets of individual players must reach no special click thickness, most often it is easily possible to have his ships to fight "automatic". On the left side of the screen all the planets, all the buildings situated around it, and all ships are always displayed. Can be switched so quickly Click this bar. It is also possible in the playing surface zoom in to a single ship and addition to a complete view of the entire galaxy system.

Sins of a Solar Empire does not provide any single-player campaigns, but a series of successes that you achieve and so by playing the game.

Extensions

Here are the features of the extensions of the game are mainly explained.

Entrenchment

In addition to the features of the main game, the surface was " research " is now a branch of research "defense" extended. The player now has the option to lay minefields, and he also can per orbit a powerful battle station, the star base, erect, he can equip individually with various offensive and defensive capabilities until no more skill points are available. The usual military orbital structures have also been improved and partially extended with additional capabilities. In addition, each race gets a new cruiser: TEC and Advent now have an offensive cruiser that specializes in the destruction of orbital structures; at the Vasari is their mine-laying ship, with which it differently than the other two races can also place in planetary systems beyond their control mines.

Diplomacy

Here, the diplomacy system has been completely revised and expanded. In addition to a new research tree " diplomacy" relations with other players will no longer be measured in satisfaction levels from 0 % -100 %, but in points 0.00 to 20.00, which represent 0.00 no lower limit and the points also may fall below freezing. Depending on the number of relationship points different pacts are unlocked, in addition to the already known such as trade agreements or cease-fire available to the player, six race-specific packages available, but must first be explored. Relations with a player of another race bring six additional packages from this, which can only be offered by the other players though. There is also a diplomatic ship, which can be sent to other players in order to maintain relations, and now also for the player the ability to recruit other players for an order, the fulfillment or denial then correspondingly increased or decreased, the relationship points, also orders from other players can now immediately reject. The pirates can thus hire for special orders, regardless of their recurring raids and the amount of current bounty. There is also now the possibility of a " diplomatic victory" because (close contracts and break, give orders, fulfill and refuse etc. ) on all diplomatic actions diplomacy points are collected. In the case wins, who first reaches a certain number of points, how much exactly depends on the number of players.

Rebellion

The standalone addon includes all features of previous expansions. The most serious change in this addon shows, however, the cleavage of the three major races in loyalists and rebels, so that there are now a total of six different fractions. In addition to the capabilities of the main race now has each fraction add their own abilities. Furthermore, there are now two new ship classes: Titanium and Corvette. Each faction has its own realm titanium, which has as well as the capital ships special, individual skills. However, its structure needs to be explored only in 4 steps and done in a special " titanium foundry ", also each player can only have a Titan at the same time. Also, each of the three major races gets a new capital ship, with which can hijack enemy ships. In addition, four new optional victory possibilities come to this: The first is to complete a certain very costly and time- consuming research first. In the second case, each player begins the game on a flagship, and loses the game in its loss. The next time there is somewhere in the galaxy a neutral planet to be conquered, and winner is who can hold it the longest under his control. The fourth victory possibility is that the main planet can not now be changed, and each player loses when his home planet is destroyed.

The first expansion for " rebellion " will bring four new planet types ( ocean, iron, greenhouse, infertility ), also can now each planet optional specializing in Social Engagement or industry. The specialization in social engagement increases the population size, population growth and the culture propagation rate, but for the reduced rate of shipbuilding and trading income. Conversely, increasing trading income and the speed of construction of ships with specialization in industry, culture, propagation and population decreases it.

The second extension to "rebellion" changes the following: There are other types of planets ( ship graveyard, Destroyed moon, Radioactive Cloud, antimatter fountain, ice rink, Comet ), most of it unkolonisierbar, as well as three new types of stars ( neutron star, pulsar, black hole ). There are also random events that activate before the start of a match or deactivated, and another downward pressure on the players. For example, it can provide sudden ups and downs in the economy in the game, planets can be struck directly by a plasma storm, a magnetic cloud or the like, there appear new, neutral enemies or players can "open rebellion " affected planet with a lose impact and need to fight against a larger rebel fleet before these planets are safe again.

Ratings

Metacritic calculated an average score of 87%, based on 52 reviews. However Critify determines 82%, based on 23 reviews