Yo,

I've been keeping track of this game since it was first announced and bought it online the moment the "buy now" option appeared. It's pretty sweet, causing me to miss 3 classes in the two days it was released. I am disappointed in some parts but hey, maybe it's because my expectations were too high.

Anyway, I do have some questions:
1) Is there a comprehensive list of unit actual damage numbers, armour bonuses, economic bonuses, and whatnot?
2) Is there any way to speed up the game beyond fast speed? I set everything on fast and it's still too slow (personally). Yes, I understand you guys don't like this since it's something like twitch gaming but sometimes, I don't want to have to wait 1/2 hour for my ships to move before I crush my opponent.
3) Is there any way to actually destroy planets? The Vasari superweapon is nigh useless since the stun effect doesn't even last long enough for your ships to phase jump there in time. At least give the Vasari superweapon the choice of shooting your own planets in times of desperate need. The TEC superweapon is useful (but only because I built four), kinda worthless on its own. MAKE THEM TURN FASTER!
4) Is there any way to make the AI harder? Or give an AI that excels in every front (not just the current aggresive, defensive, technology, money)? The AI in this is so easy (yes, even on the red chevron setting). Its actions remind me of how the AI in Supcom work. I love it how they build massive fleets but don't use them (they attack once in awhile... but the moment they do, they run away.), or how they expand so fast but don't build any infrastructure.
5) What's that pony achievement?


Feel free to skip this next part.
Impressions:
Hmm... I was kinda disappointed really. I love the game, but still. I was expecting it to combine Master of Orion or Galciv with Homeworld. I love the combat in Homeworld: it's dramatic, fluid, and very tactical. But Homeworld's scale was small and we couldn't do anything outside of combat.

Then there's 4X, with almost perfect galactic conquering gameplay. In fact, I thought Galciv2 almost got it except for the horrible... horrible... combat mechanics. Ship designing was awesome.

So, what I was kinda expecting was a perfect game: conquer the universe through culture, diplomacy, superweapons, technology, trade with incredible combat mechanics akin to Geldensagen vom Kosmosinsel. Sins seems to be a jack of all trades, master of none. While i don't doubt that the developers who are awesome will improve this game to no end, I am a bit afraid of the combat mechanics since Galciv's combat never changed throughout its lifespan.

As for the people complaining about pirates or AI being too hard or spammy with siege ships... please. See the ship building button? USE IT. Heck, one capital ship and one defense emplacement can rout nearly any early stage pirate raid. You can even build defenses right there and then and they won't bother to stop you. So singlemindedly focused are these AI in attacking your trade and refinery ships that they will ignore everything else. And siege ships are only good against planets. Any other ship that's not a colony or scout can kill at least two or three of them. Really, the AI in this game is pathetically easy.

Lastly, what's with the AI asking me to do moronic, illogical missions every 15 seconds? Why does the enemy expect me to kill my allies and fund his empire? Even if they ask me to do so, at least give a viable target that's not behind 20 other planets with an 8 minute time limit. It takes 20 minutes just to get there!

Well. That's about it. I'm going to load a savegame of mine (we can do this right? I saw the option while loading a savegame) and switch myself to the last of the three AI that I decimated to try and use the AI's army and last surviving planet to defeat my original, 300 ship navy. Nyar har har har challenge. After that! LAN party!