Colony Ship Early Access Release Thread [GAME RELEASED, GO TO NEW THREAD]

[Pink Eye]

Yeah. All of the companions will be at Whiskey Jack when dismissed, not just Jed. Though. When you leave for Factory and Habitat. The party members are stuck with you.

 

[Ibn Sina]

Can you recruit the mutant you meet in mission control or he is not yet implemented?

 

[Pink Eye]

Not yet implemented.

 

[Twiglard]

Camera dragging using the middle mouse button absolutely shouldn't have any smoothing applied to it.

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Performance is abysmal for an "isometric" RPG (even though it uses perspective). My RTX 3070 has 65-70 FPS in The Pit on large zoom-out levels, and 50-55 FPS with max FOV and max unzoom.

If only it was real orthographic projection you could just pre-render static geometry and lights into a memory buffer. Is the gameplay even improved by the presence of parallax?

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Combat tooltip (the one with CTH) needs to have UI scaling applied. The exact value can be retrieved using a Windows API. Displays above 1080p have higher pixel densities and use text scaling between 150-200%.

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Put Aimed Burst onto '3' and not a '2'. Rifles already have all kinds of aimed attacks on '2' so cycling between them just to find the burst attack takes time each turn.

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Even after turning motion blur to the minimum, it still exists. Similarly, what happens by turning down anti-aliasing? Is it using a low-quality FXAA or not using any at all?

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Playing with permanent outlines always on,

1. unexplored parts of the level have their things visible through the ceilings
2. in some cases the outlines are so convoluted that they merge into one big turquoise blob
3. some parts of the level that are technically outlines aren't useful to highlight with the same brightness or at all: empty containers and doors that are opened and remain open forever since. why not make regular common doors non-interactible after they're opened?

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Edit: deleted few paragraphs about level legibility issues. Turning up brightness solves this without introducing washed-out colors or other artifacts.

 

[Kyl Von Kull]

If do all the black hand fights in the factory, will I be able to loot these fuckers before I get sent to the habitat?

 

[Twiglard]

After securing Jackson's Riflemen's pact with Jonas and pledging the machine to one of the factions, can you leave the Habitat and either go back to the Pit or end the game by trying to go to ECLSS?

 

[Pink Eye]

No. You can not. That content isn't implemented yet. For now you're finished with the content. Have you tried out all the new weapons you can purchase from the different traders?

 

[Twiglard]

The disposition system is a great improvement over AOD. There was a Persuasion[5] check on Moses forming an alliance with the Pit. The main character didn't tag any dialogue skills. There were two dialogue options for convincing him (Jonas being the Pit's leader, and some other guy having been taken care of). Apparently cold, hard facts were enough no matter how clumsily said by the PC.

 

[Commissar Draco]

If do all the black hand fights in the factory, will I be able to loot these fuckers before I get sent to the habitat?

No you are send to the Habitat after the second fight with Black hand ends, you can loot the goodies from the big part of factory after the first fight though and the one from Denver Gang if you decide to whack them so in my opinion its better to not pay the price in bullets and med-kids and just do the quest diplomatic way.

I noticed the bug I promised the chief of Greenery to speak with Brothers Keepers about alliance but had not chance to mention it instead got option to suggest finding some generic allies.

 

[Vault Dweller]

I noticed the bug I promised the chief of Greenery to speak with Brothers Keepers about alliance but had not chance to mention it instead got option to suggest finding some generic allies.

You need to open another way into the Habitat first (which will put the Keepers or whoever runs the toll road out of business). That's chapter 3's content.

 

[Commissar Draco]

I noticed the bug I promised the chief of Greenery to speak with Brothers Keepers about alliance but had not chance to mention it instead got option to suggest finding some generic allies.

You need to open another way into the Habitat first (which will put the Keepers or whoever runs the toll road out of business). That's chapter 3's content.

Thank you Comrade Commissar for clarification how long are we before the next update? Also would love to have way to upgrade my favorite gun in the game the Redeemer revolver, Will be there more of factions themed unique weapons?

 

[Whisper]

I noticed the bug I promised the chief of Greenery to speak with Brothers Keepers about alliance but had not chance to mention it instead got option to suggest finding some generic allies.

You need to open another way into the Habitat first (which will put the Keepers or whoever runs the toll road out of business). That's chapter 3's content.

Why you would put them out of business? They are protecting people against bandits, looks like good guys to me.

 

[Pink Eye]

Because if people have an alternative path to Habitat which is safer and without paying to a third party - this is the biggest one. Why would they go to the other path that forces them to pay?

 

[Whisper]

Because if people have an alternative path to Habitat which is safer and without paying to a third party - this is the biggest one. Why would they go to the other path that forces them to pay?

Well, they are fighting bandits. What prevents bandits to move to another path to Habitat?

 

[Pink Eye]

Good question. I'm not sure.

 

[Marat]

Good question. I'm not sure.

Probably the hostile wildlife. Or Keepers could secure all entries into Hydroponics with the foreknowledge of it being clensed. How many of those could there really be?

 

[Pink Eye]

Probably the hostile wildlife.

Right, but, how would that put the Keepers out of business. That's the ramifications here.

If the wild life is that dangerous. Wouldn't people choose to pay the toll for safer passage instead.

 

[Marat]

Right, but, how would that put the Keepers out of business. That's the ramifications here.

We're talking about pacifying the Yellow and Red zones of the Hydroponics - something that the Player will have the ability to help Grangers to do. That would put them in control of the safest route to the Habitat, one through which both the algae they produce and the scavenged findings from the Mission Control could find their way to prospective buyers. As such, they would invalidate the Keepers' business model of charging obscene fees for safe transit through the Factory and that, in turn, could push them to violence against Grangers - problem which the Player can suggest to circumvent by proposing an alliance between the two.

 

[Konjad]

I've played the game for a few hours and here are my thoughts so far.

Quite a decent and intriguing RPG.

While for the time being it's unfinished and still requires work, the mechanics and the first parts of the game are already available and enjoyable. The setting is absorbing, writing is decent and quests are interesting. Combat is gratifying as well. In addition I'd like to praise the off-beat environment and eccentric surroundings.

I can't really criticize the game beside perhaps two drawbacks which are the camera - gets obstructed by buildings too often, and music - which is just average. Assuming the rest of the game will be as fleshed out as currently available locations (up to Habitat), then this will be a neat game worth purchasing.

To compare other games, I didn't like their first game Age of Decadence much, I only considered the first location alright but the game overall disappointed me, and I fairly enjoyed Dungeon Rats for the combat which introduced party members and entertaining challenges. CP has similar combat, and also is overall much improved in every other important regard.

I don't want to recommend a game in alpha/beta version as it's not yet finished, but I will most likely recommend Colony Ship once released.

 

[Agesilaus]

...I didn't like their first game Age of Decadence much, I only considered the first location alright but the game overall disappointed me...

 

[Konjad]

...I didn't like their first game Age of Decadence much, I only considered the first location alright but the game overall disappointed me...

Here's my negative Steam review of AoD if you care:

Spoiler

Unfinished and buggy CYOA mess with optional combat and gripping lore.

While the beginning of the game and the first location of the game are quite good, it quickly declines into half-empty and unfinished world of soulless tasks, albeit with intriguing setting and lore.

I appreciate the work put into this game and its engine, but AoD doesn't hold up for long.

First of all, the writing is too edgy. Sure, it's a game about cutthroats and other degenerates in a broken world, but when an NPC asks you for help and it's a third or fourth ambush in a row, you lose interest in accepting random quests anymore. Moreover, the amount of indecorum is exaggerated. Dialogues in this game remind me of Hollywood movies - with cool and edgy characters swearing and acting violently all the time because they live in edgy and dirty world. It's completely over-the-top.

Unfortunately after the first location, the game becomes a bit empty. The largest city seems to be just a few NPCs standing here and there, with a few simple quests and nothing more. Oh, and a combat-focused location plus arena. Further locations past that city are even emptier, having scarce amount of tasks for the player.

The game focuses on choices and their consequences, but too often these are completely broken even 3 years after the release of the game. For example, trying to play throughout the game as house Daratan, but also trying to play another faction house Crassus, I completed quests for both of them. When I was about to find a temple for them, I went to Daratan instead and blow entrance up. You'd think that would have some consequences, huh? Out of curiosity I went back to Crassus and not only they did not mention it - I could continue the quest... and go to the same location where entrance was still perfectly fine!

The player often does not actually have many choices. The choices available are usually pre-defined by character's statistics. Very often you only have one option in a dialogue (past the first location) and therefore it's hardly choose-your-own-adventure or role-playing, it feels half a game and half a novel - even more so when you realize the game forces you to meta-game and only level small amount of skills that you will then always have to choose in dialogue checks to continue with the game.

On a positive side, the world of Age of Decadence is quite intriguing. While it doesn't come up with anything exceptionally original, it mixes fantasy (with low magic) and science-fiction themes in a meaningful way. Lore is the best part of this game and reading lore-related texts made me regret I did not create a lore-based character, but typical charismatic type I usually make in RPGs.

Another good aspect is a decent combat system, although it suffers from the fact that the player always controls only one character. The system seems to be made with tactical games in mind, and indeed the second game of the same developers, which is called Dungeon Rats, is a tactical game where the player controls 4-men party and is significantly better than AoD as it focuses on the strong point of this studio's skills, while not boring the player with uptight dialogues and superfluous tasks. DR also has a much smaller scope than AoD and it works in its advantage.

Age of Decadence is not a bad game, but at the same I can't say it's good or worth recommending. In fact, if you can get it for about 1€ as it's now often in bundles, then by all means it might be worth a try. Even if you don't finish it, the first two or three hours should be entertaining enough. However, buying it for more than insignificant amount of money is not recommended as it is an average game with good ideas but too many shortcomings.

 

[Agesilaus]

...I didn't like their first game Age of Decadence much, I only considered the first location alright but the game overall disappointed me...

Here's my negative Steam review of AoD if you care:

Spoiler

Unfinished and buggy CYOA mess with optional combat and gripping lore.

While the beginning of the game and the first location of the game are quite good, it quickly declines into half-empty and unfinished world of soulless tasks, albeit with intriguing setting and lore.

I appreciate the work put into this game and its engine, but AoD doesn't hold up for long.

First of all, the writing is too edgy. Sure, it's a game about cutthroats and other degenerates in a broken world, but when an NPC asks you for help and it's a third or fourth ambush in a row, you lose interest in accepting random quests anymore. Moreover, the amount of indecorum is exaggerated. Dialogues in this game remind me of Hollywood movies - with cool and edgy characters swearing and acting violently all the time because they live in edgy and dirty world. It's completely over-the-top.

Unfortunately after the first location, the game becomes a bit empty. The largest city seems to be just a few NPCs standing here and there, with a few simple quests and nothing more. Oh, and a combat-focused location plus arena. Further locations past that city are even emptier, having scarce amount of tasks for the player.

The game focuses on choices and their consequences, but too often these are completely broken even 3 years after the release of the game. For example, trying to play throughout the game as house Daratan, but also trying to play another faction house Crassus, I completed quests for both of them. When I was about to find a temple for them, I went to Daratan instead and blow entrance up. You'd think that would have some consequences, huh? Out of curiosity I went back to Crassus and not only they did not mention it - I could continue the quest... and go to the same location where entrance was still perfectly fine!

The player often does not actually have many choices. The choices available are usually pre-defined by character's statistics. Very often you only have one option in a dialogue (past the first location) and therefore it's hardly choose-your-own-adventure or role-playing, it feels half a game and half a novel - even more so when you realize the game forces you to meta-game and only level small amount of skills that you will then always have to choose in dialogue checks to continue with the game.

On a positive side, the world of Age of Decadence is quite intriguing. While it doesn't come up with anything exceptionally original, it mixes fantasy (with low magic) and science-fiction themes in a meaningful way. Lore is the best part of this game and reading lore-related texts made me regret I did not create a lore-based character, but typical charismatic type I usually make in RPGs.

Another good aspect is a decent combat system, although it suffers from the fact that the player always controls only one character. The system seems to be made with tactical games in mind, and indeed the second game of the same developers, which is called Dungeon Rats, is a tactical game where the player controls 4-men party and is significantly better than AoD as it focuses on the strong point of this studio's skills, while not boring the player with uptight dialogues and superfluous tasks. DR also has a much smaller scope than AoD and it works in its advantage.

Age of Decadence is not a bad game, but at the same I can't say it's good or worth recommending. In fact, if you can get it for about 1€ as it's now often in bundles, then by all means it might be worth a try. Even if you don't finish it, the first two or three hours should be entertaining enough. However, buying it for more than insignificant amount of money is not recommended as it is an average game with good ideas but too many shortcomings.

Here's my review for AoD:

This may well be the best RPG I've ever played, and I've played a lot of RPGs. It has an engrossing story, great gameplay mechanics, and enough content to keep you entertained for countless hours.

and CS:

Great game from an amazing studio. GOTY 2021 & 2022, stop reading this and go buy it. If you liked Age of Decadence you will love it. If you disliked Age of Decadence you should get it anyway; it merges the high quality writing and story of AoD with improved gameplay mechanics and graphics.

we are not the same

 

[Twiglard]

A few Habitat quests have the same problem as the Braxton tax collector encounter right at the beginning of the game used to have in the first builds. That is, sudden contrived things happening leaving the player dumbfounded.

• The encounter with a wannabe spy (?) on a Brotherhood street, then having to negotiate with his buddies in an apartment. What was that even about, and what kind of people were they? I'm left to guessing that they were anarkiddies, but the game doesn't imply anything clearly. The whole sequence of events from seeing the "spy"'s confrontation with the workers to getting to the apartment's conversation and killing them feels like a non-sequitur.
• Brotherhood quest sending you into the lobby of a building near the spy encounter. You can bugger off or ask the guys to leave, which leads to immediate combat.
• Being treated as a spy by the Protectors is fine up until locating the real spy in the same building, and suddenly being able to turn him in to the entrance's guards despite killing their buddies just two rooms earlier. What the fuck? I know you took me for a spy but look, you've had the real spy all along all by yourselves! Now let me give the spy to you even though he was already yours and mark this quest as complete.
• Moe and his crew aren't elaborated upon. I picture them as if they were intended to be a Waco-style group, but their actual ways aren't elaborated upon in the game. Right now it presents as "a generic group that lives in the shuttle bay". You have a nicer description for JR on the faction list, so reflect it somehow in the game.
• Doing quests for the Protectors and the Brotherhood -- no indication how it changed the state of affairs, if at all. Despite being able to talk to leaders of both groups, there's no progression or resolution as the quests run out.
• The Uzi-wielding female temporary companion in the Factory. Will we see her again, depending on whether we took her along while talking to the gang's main guys? After killing them, nothing came out of it.

 

[Marat]

What was that even about, and what kind of people were they? I'm left to guessing that they were anarkiddies, but the game doesn't imply anything clearly.

The only reason you were let in the residential block was to assist a politruk in infiltrating a group of dissidents. Context is pretty clear in that case.

Brotherhood quest sending you into the lobby of a building near the spy encounter. You can bugger off or ask the guys to leave, which leads to immediate combat.

You can also talk them down. What you're left to figure out is whether the inspection is a simple shakedown or an extirpation of a genuine subversive (and if you care at all).

Being treated as a spy by the Protectors is fine up until locating the real spy in the same building, and suddenly being able to turn him in to the entrance's guards despite killing their buddies just two rooms earlier. What the fuck?

A society built on pathological paranoia where anyone is alarmingly ready to accept the demise of a rival at the most improbable of elucidations, should it further their own political goals. I wonder at whom is this crude jab pointed...

I know you took me for a spy but look, you've had the real spy all along all by yourselves! Now let me give the spy to you even though he was already yours and mark this quest as complete.

They didn't have the spy though? He was on the lam, in hiding and ready to bolt, far from being securely in their hands.

Doing quests for the Protectors and the Brotherhood -- no indication how it changed the state of affairs, if at all. Despite being able to talk to leaders of both groups, there's no progression or resolution as the quests run out.

Well, the factions of the Habitat have been in a deadlock for a century now and, the situation being relatively stable, the MC only begins to stir shit up.

Whilst I cannot point to anything objective, I agree that the Habitat feels strangely short and static. I am at a bit of a loss when I ask myself what is it exactly that it is missing.

 

[notpl]

As much as I love AoD, I 100% agree that the writing often strays into middle school edgelord territory. In particular all the "brutal" writeups of how badly your character gets owned for not reading the developers' mind and picking the right dialogue option rubbed me the wrong way, you could smell the writer's fedora right through the monitor. Overall it was a case of obviously inexperienced writers not understanding that less is always more.