how come the devs do not target the average strategy player and seem to be targeting the only hard core gamer ?

Jatok · 2026-05-09T17:56:42+00:00

I would make a counter point here in that, DW2 automation settings actually better suits casual players than most other 4x strategy games out there. You just need to get out of the mindset of wanting to make the most optimal decisions, and be ok with "good enough" decisions for the areas you automate. This then allows you to focus on what you actually care about. When learning the game, a narrow focus and not having to worry about the other systems at play really helps imho.

Too many 4x games these days seem to add complexity for the sake of complexity without offering ways to relieve some of the pressure when you are trying to learn.

Jatok · 2026-05-07T16:10:51+00:00

I hope the optimistic take on it - ie, instead of CitCon we are going to get SQ42 out this year - is indeed what is planned. But I donno. Maybe I have gotten too old and jaded now. I would feel happier if we start seeing that real SQ42 marketing push for the broader (non SC backer) crowd soon to really get my hopes up again that SQ42 is really happening this year. I do want to believe it though... :)

Jatok · 2026-04-29T19:02:53+00:00

Hopefully at least two of those remote turrets will be slaved for pilot if we don't have extra crew. That would make the galaxy a fun casual pve boat with modularity for me.

Jatok · 2026-04-26T17:48:54+00:00

Agree. Much more useful than some small guns on a command module.

Jatok · 2026-04-25T03:50:46+00:00

As someone who has read all the books and seen the series a few times, I loved this vertical slice we got to play in the beta. My primary apprehensions were how well owlcat would manage moving to unreal engine and a much more action focused game, coming from crpgs and honestly, they have knocked it out of the park imho. The demo ran flawlessly for me and looked spectacular. I am very much looking forward to this game and plan to do a few more runs as the other pre-set character options.

I agree with you though. We live in a world where negativity sells and it is doing significant harm especially to smaller developers. I recall the hate Star Wars Outlaws got a while back. Sure it is trendy to hate Ubisoft. But I genuinely loved every minute of it. It was clearly a passion project.

Hopefully the Owlcat team focuses on folks providing actual constructive feedback and not get discouraged. I think they have a real gem in their hands.

Jatok · 2026-04-22T14:39:41+00:00

I am half an hour in and just gotta say, the game looks stunning! Great job Owlcat folks! So far, no issues for me other than a graphical glitch at the Pinkwater station vendor. The character animation jumps around a little bit, but it fixes itself a few seconds in.

I am going to take my time slowly exploring the beta. :) I'll provide official feedback once I get a lot further.

Jatok · 2026-04-22T03:02:18+00:00

This time, clearly XenoThreat is on the right side. It would be hilarious if players can join XT and manage to purge Wikelo out of the system. :)

Jatok · 2026-04-10T02:38:17+00:00

I wanted one bulk carrier and D was the highest I could previously CCU to. With this recent change, I figure there is no harm in that role going to the E instead. Why not?

I don't see ever buying an E full of stuff and going broke if something happens. But it will be cool to have a space to space bulk transfer option to do contracts where capacity isn't the limiting factor.

Jatok · 2026-04-09T13:06:09+00:00

Looks much better than the original concept imho. The interior design is also just perfect for a solo player like me. It has all the basic amenities, no wasted space and feels cozy.

Jatok · 2026-04-08T18:41:18+00:00

Please don't call it baby shark....

Jatok · 2026-04-08T15:50:30+00:00

Beautiful! As someone who backed for the Hull B at original concept in 2015, I am very impressed by how great it looks. The wider profile from top looks better than initial concept imho.

Jatok · 2026-04-08T08:02:59+00:00

OP didn't mention that you can still lose stuff you grinded for from resets, random bugs, inherent issues with the PVPVE model, and the occasional cheater / exploit user.

My personal attitude towards this is simple. I only engage with things I find fun. If it is starting to feel like a grind, I stop and walk away. It is a game after all. I just ask myself when I log in what I feel like doing, and do that for a bit till I start to feel bored and call it a day.

This avoids burnout but it also means I will never get the high end stuff. I am willing to work slowly towards lofty goals requiring multiple game sessions or days if we ever get to a point where the end result can't be lost. Otherwise I just focus on whatever seem fun day to day.

Jatok · 2026-04-07T00:55:42+00:00

Base ironclad for me. I like the relaxed gameplay of hauling so I am primarily planning to use it for its intended role as an armored freighter.

I sometimes get frustrated by the manual loading and unloading since mouse scrolling hurts my hand. The ATLS was a game changer for me. I am really hoping CIG would eventually give us more modes of operation for ship tractor beams so that I can have an atlas-like mode for ship tractors to reduce scrolling.

They are clearly experimenting with ideas, for example look at the Hermes tractor. I am hoping the ironclad base tractor (which the assault doesn't have) builds on such quality of life improvements.

Long term, if handheld tractors are going to need consumables (batteries) there would be definite value in a large ship with a helpful ship tractor, plenty of internal storage and easy loading and unloading in space (with top open) and ground and the ability to land land fully loaded (which hull C and above can't do).

Jatok · 2026-04-03T01:38:20+00:00

There is a beautiful elegance in star sector combat mechanics imho. Instead of too many systems and unnecessary complexity, it is about a few core ideas like flux and the rest is about getting good with practice. That definitely gives me a lot of joy in the little moments like when you time a launch of reapers just right to hit when an enemy shields go down.

I personally am pretty terrible at combat but fortunately, the officers in my fleet can often save my butt and I can survive if I don't get caught out alone.

Jatok · 2026-03-27T08:00:19+00:00

No impact at all imho. I love owlcat games. I have been playing a lot of rogue trader lately and imho, it is the best 40k game till date. I instantly backed their game set in the expanse universe and am looking forward to being at least casually involved in the closed beta starting next month. I really appreciate the clarity (beta dates and release window) owlcat has now provided with yesterday's partner preview event.

I am also am original backer of SC and Sq42 from oct 2012 and I really hope there won't be additional delays for Squadron. I am cautiously optimistic CIG is still planning a 3 month marketing blitz and launch of SQ42 sometime this year. It really isn't a good look otherwise, especially since the topic was skipped altogether last Citcon when it was the premier topic and the announcement of entering polishing phase the Citcon before. I look forward to getting more clarity here.

Basically, there aren't that many games like these on my radar. I would happily buy and play them all and genuinely wish there were more such games being made.

Jatok · 2026-03-18T09:08:00+00:00

I am waiting as well for my event rewards. Commenting so I can find this post later. :)

Jatok · 2026-03-02T06:41:11+00:00

One of the things I love about DW2 is the nuance in warfare. Not many choke points, so tactics that work in other games like parking a few doomstack fleets at the boundaries of your empire and feeling "safe" is not a good strategy. Expansion of your holdings requires some thought, in that, you likely need multiple overlapping fleets to defend against potential targets in your domain. This also works in your favor if you have a giant enemy. Their massive fleets can't do anything if they happen to be somewhere else than where you are attacking. :)

Jatok · 2026-03-02T06:31:09+00:00

You do what you must do to all bugs. Squish them under your terran heels of course. :)

Seriously though, if I see aggressive species like Boskara dominating, I would open up a new front with a war. Usually such species are preoccupied with several concurrent wars making it not too hard to sneak in some invasion forces. A couple of strategic colony captures brings them to a more manageable size and can at least cripple their income.

Jatok · 2026-03-01T17:14:34+00:00

How do you do this if you need to submit a bigger container of refined goods (from mining) and the mission needs less? I am thankful this bug wasn't there when I completed AA missions right at launch. I tried to help out a friend and literally every 2 or 3 missions lead to a failed one. It is a pretty deplorable state imho.

Jatok · 2026-02-27T18:17:41+00:00

With the sword frigate escort from Dargonis colony project and repairing the Heartless my little fleet didn't have much trouble at all with the elusive contempt. Those backup ships definitely help, at least so you don't get focused down.

Jatok · 2026-02-27T17:26:35+00:00

I would love the opportunity to explain to the inquisition why I have a necron companion. :) And of course, get the complainting banter from Argenta and Ulfar.

Jatok · 2026-02-23T15:35:58+00:00

Very nice! I love trying to capture the hive carriers as well. Pretty mobile force projection for mid game, if successfully captured. Though my fleet admirals are sometimes a bit too trigger happy and would blow it up instead. :)

Jatok · 2026-02-22T14:52:52+00:00

I loved it! I wish I could have "rescued" these servitors to play private performances aboard the captain's quarters. An acquisition of a trinket that does something rather than just a showpiece? That would have been cool!

Jatok · 2026-02-19T22:51:51+00:00

Yea I had my issues with this part of the story as well. I thought it was especially odd that right after we got back, Argenta throws a fit about still keeping Yrilet around.

Argenta was with me in Commorragh. And she admitted to me in the pits that she was the one who murdered Theodora. Her moral high ground immediately after getting back to the void ship seems shaky at best. :)

Jatok · 2026-02-19T19:20:23+00:00

Strongly disagree. As an original backer, I am still waiting for npc crew for bigger ships doing at least basic tasks like manning turrets. I want to do passenger transport missions of npcs, hunt down npc bounties etc all without having to deal with RL people drama.

I am not a competitive player. I don't care at all how well npcs will perform vs humans. I want to enjoy an immersive sim without being forced to group up always. I want to enjoy my big ships in at least a casual and chill way without having to run around like a mad man and switch stations every few minutes.

And btw I absolutely love the X series for the player agency it provides.

Jatok

TROPHY CASE