Total number of Races?

[GHerr]

I know there's only seven playable races but how many total races are in the game?

[zgrssd]

ORIGINAL: GHerr

I know there's only seven playable races but how many total races are in the game?

Distant Worlds 1 has 22 Races. I fully asume bringing all 22 back is the goal.

However, the work needed to get the Shipset and Portaits made - as well as the now 3 racial techs (up from 0-1) - makes it a lot harde to add them.
In the meantime, I think most are in as species for minor colonies.

[GHerr]

I was wondering about that. I could see other races on some of the streams. That makes it sound like Independence can't become full fledge Empires like they used to though

[Cauldyth]

Das explicitly said that they can, so no worries. I think in an earlier preview, Erik said that those other races will re-use existing ship models if they do become full empires.

[zgrssd]

I managed to sneak a peak at the Encyclopedia and it seems to be "only" 20 races listed there. I guess the Shaktury and the similar looking race are not there anymore?

[Gertjan]

Aside from bug fixes, I suggest the devs make this a priority as reviewers/players are likely to complain about this. This would really a shame given how good the game looks on the beta streams I saw so far.

[Jorgen_CAB]

ORIGINAL: Gertjan

Aside from bug fixes, I suggest the devs make this a priority as reviewers/players are likely to complain about this. This would really a shame given how good the game looks on the beta streams I saw so far.

What do you mean... as far as we know Independent colonies can grow to full empires just as in DW Universe. Those species that don't have unique ship sets will use some of the existing ship sets if they become full empires.

They will not create unique ship sets for all the species by launch, that will take many updates and DLC before that happens.

[LordMM]

7 playable and 20 minor independent races which includes the 7 playable races.

[Gertjan]

My point is that there are 'only' 7 playable races available, which is not much for a hyped game such as DW2. While it is good that there are more in the game as opponents/AI races, there is a risk that potential customers find this number insufficient and sales my suffer as a result. I don't really care about the low number personally because I am confident that Matrix/codeforce will release the other races soon and hopefully modders will jump in as well.

[Jorgen_CAB]

ORIGINAL: Gertjan

My point is that there are 'only' 7 playable races available, which is not much for a hyped game such as DW2. While it is good that there are more in the game as opponents/AI races, there is a risk that potential customers find this number insufficient and sales my suffer as a result. I don't really care about the low number personally because I am confident that Matrix/codeforce will release the other races soon and hopefully modders will jump in as well.

Sure... but the job of including species is a pretty long process in DW2... I rather have it released with seven species in March rather than wait another half a year to get another two or three species. I also guess that they plan on including specific new mechanics that goes with the theme of certain other species, so we would then have to wait even more.

The seven species is probably more than enough for play-ability of the initial release. Seven species is enough for decent diversity in game-play.

Asking for more species at release are going to be quite fruitless at this stage I'm sure.

[zgrssd]

ORIGINAL: Gertjan

My point is that there are 'only' 7 playable races available, which is not much for a hyped game such as DW2. While it is good that there are more in the game as opponents/AI races, there is a risk that potential customers find this number insufficient and sales my suffer as a result. I don't really care about the low number personally because I am confident that Matrix/codeforce will release the other races soon and hopefully modders will jump in as well.

From the FAQ:

Erik, can you clarify the idea for the rest of the races? Will they be released as development advances?
--> Each faction is now a pretty big amount of work compared to DW1, between the 3D models, animated characters, story and balancing. I expect we'll be making more factions fully playable with each expansion. The exact expansion schedule is still being discussed beyond the first one.

Making a species is so long, they do not even yet have a idea how long it takes them.
DW2 with 7 Races is 100% more DW2, then DW2 with 9 races half a year later.

I take this temporary reduction in playable, non-mod factions as a acceptbale price for a UI I do not have to fight for Information!

[Erik Rutins]

The 7 factions in DW2 took us much, much more time than the 20 in DW1. We tried to pick a representative sample of the DW2 factions that would give a wide variety of playstyles. We plan to add more of the DW2 factions in post-release DLCs/Expansions as time allows, eventually getting all back in. Those that are not currently playable are still in as independents and if you add them to your empire and they grow to a large enough population, you can also benefit from their bonuses and their troop/colonization types.

[Jorgen_CAB]

The only thing from the information above I want to know is what the first expansion is about... [;)]

[Gertjan]

ORIGINAL: Jorgen_CAB

The only thing from the information above I want to know is what the first expansion is about... [;)]

Yes I would be curious too!

[Galaxy227]

This conversation brought an idea to my head. I think it would be nice if players were able to specify what races should be allowed to spawn during galaxy generation. Perhaps I want to play in a galaxy with only humans, or perhaps would prefer only the seven finished factions to be included. I think this would be a neat feature.

Though, I'd bet it's also possible to do this through modding.

[Gertjan]

ORIGINAL: Galaxy227

This conversation brought an idea to my head. I think it would be nice if players were able to specify what races should be allowed to spawn during galaxy generation. Perhaps I want to play in a galaxy with only humans, or perhaps would prefer only the seven finished factions to be included. I think this would be a neat feature.

Though, I'd bet it's also possible to do this through modding.

Actually I think you can as I have seen in the game optons screen by streamers.

[Jorgen_CAB]

ORIGINAL: Galaxy227

This conversation brought an idea to my head. I think it would be nice if players were able to specify what races should be allowed to spawn during galaxy generation. Perhaps I want to play in a galaxy with only humans, or perhaps would prefer only the seven finished factions to be included. I think this would be a neat feature.

Though, I'd bet it's also possible to do this through modding.

Yes... you can do this in the same manner you could in Universe.

I usually always preferred to do it this way... making sure there were enough bad guys and good guys to make it interesting. Also I almost always spawned empires at different stages of development and size. I think the idea of everyone starting at pre warp is a bit contrived. It also make the game allot harder when some AI already start as developed empires, sometimes even impossible if you happen to spawn near a developed Boskara or something. I usually put some expanding Boskara at the outer edges to be a decent mid game threat to the galaxy.

If you also put your species as the only existing main species it also complicates things a bit for you as well... I like complications.

Spawn an Old Ackdarian empire at decent tech level and they are already halfway to winning the game when you enter into it at pre-warp.

You can set up the galaxy to be whatever you want and that is the fun part.

[Gertjan]

Fully agreed1

[Galaxy227]

ORIGINAL: Jorgen_CAB

Yes... you can do this in the same manner you could in Universe.

ORIGINAL: Gertjan

Actually I think you can as I have seen in the game optons screen by streamers.

If you guys are referring to the "Other Empires" screen, where you can select the species, age, and technology of civilizations (among other things), then you misunderstood my original idea.

I was suggesting there to be a way to outright prohibit certain species from existing in the galaxy. Say, for instance, I only want Mortalens and Ackdarians to exist. All civilizations, independent colonies, and even pirates would then be comprised of these two species. There shouldn't be any of the other species in the galaxy, (regardless if they're of the seven completed races in DW2, or the rest carried over from DW:U) as I specified for only Mortalens and Ackdarians to spawn. This way, if I wanted to play in a galaxy of only humans, an interface would allow me to toggle off every other species' ability to spawn in the galaxy.

I know my suggestion isn't within the scope of release (or perhaps ever!), but I'm at least hoping the ability to specify which races should be allowed to spawn will be possible through modding.

[GogoV]

Every human planet needs a securan community.