Stardock Releases Mercenaries, the First Expansion to Galactic Civilizations III

New Expansion Adds Mercenary Bazaar, New Factions, New Ships, and More

from Stardock Forums

Plymouth, MI. – February 18, 2016 - Today, Stardock released Galactic Civilizations III: Mercenaries. The first expansion to its popular 4X space strategy game adds a new campaign, Galactic Bazaars, new races, the ability to recruit elite units with special abilities, and more.

In Mercenaries, players will be able to visit new Galactic Bazaars where they can hire mercenaries to assist in expanding across the galaxy. With several new mercenary ships and multiple Bazaars to discover on each map, the expansion offers hours of unique gameplay.

"Once they’re gone, they’re gone," said Paul Boyer, Lead Designer of Galactic Civilizations III. "When a mercenary is hired by a civilization in a game, it is no longer available to the others. You will need to act quickly and choose wisely in order to get the best mercenaries and leave your enemies without."

The campaign for Mercenaries centers around the peaceful Torian race who have long been enslaved and farmed for their meat by the cruel Drengin. Explore and discover mercenaries, then hire them to aid in escaping the oppressors. Liberate the Torians and help them rebuild their shattered civilization while staying out of reach of the Drengin.

The expansion also includes the Arcean faction and an old favorite from Galactic Civilizations II, the Torians. The Arceans are an ancient and honorable civilization of warriors and the Torians are an aquatic species seeking to escape the slavery of the Drengin. Both races come with new traits, abilities, and tech trees.

Along with this expansion, Stardock is releasing the v1.6 update to the base game, which is a free update for all Galactic Civilizations III game owners. Improvements include more detailed match results, AI improvements, visual updates, and balance improvements.

The expansion costs $19.99 and is available now on Steam at http://store.steampowered.com/app/411650/ or directly through Stardock.

For more information about Galactic Civilizations III and its current updates and DLC, please visit www.galciv3.com.


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About Stardock: Stardock is a developer and publisher of PC games and desktop software founded in 1991 by nationally recognized technology expert Brad Wardell. Located in Plymouth, Michigan, Stardock is a powerful leader in the video gaming and software development world.  Its PC games include Sins of a Solar Empire, the critically acclaimed Galactic Civilizations series, and the highly anticipated upcoming Ashes of the Singularity. Stardock puts the user experience first through software that enriches the Windows experience for everyone from casual computer users to highly technical professionals. Products offered by Stardock include Start8, Start10, Fences, WindowBlinds, Multiplicity, and more at www.stardock.com.


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28,654 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

When creating new custom factions using the Torian/Arceans or even the Snathi is there something within Steam to let players know that these factions will only work if they have the expansion or DLC content?

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Seilore, reply 1

When creating new custom factions using the Torian/Arceans or even the Snathi is there something within Steam to let players know that these factions will only work if they have the expansion or DLC content?

Those should be fine.  

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting pshaw, reply 2

Those should be fine.  

Thank you I found it in a section labeled as required DLC's

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I'm not clear on the mechanics.

Is hiring a mercenary a lifetime contract? Contracts should be able to expire, and if unrenewed, the mercenary should become available for hire once again.

Do new mercenaries appear over time, or are the mercenaries at the start of the game the only mercenaries that will ever appear?

Do the mercenaries have AI, or are you really just buying new ships?

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Well I started playing - I enjoy the fact that resources can offer hard choices to open up new options with mercs in the early game, that is my first early observation, whether to spend it on mercs or planet improvements. I was lucky enough to snag the scout that needed no resources early on, made discovering the bazaar early in my first game a big boon. I can see smart players really making use of them with great effect.

What happens if they die? Do the contracts expire and they need to be rehired, that isn't explained anywhere but I am assuming they go up for rehire?

Will the early age mercs upgrade in time? I put that in the stream questions before I purchased, as it is I still have that question.

It'd be nice to see some others appearing down the line, there is a lot of nice options, but for the huge galaxies, I can see them all being out on loan all the time. Even if its modders adding them, that's fine.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top


Is hiring a mercenary a lifetime contract? Contracts should be able to expire, and if unrenewed, the mercenary should become available for hire once again.

Lifetime.

Do new mercenaries appear over time, or are the mercenaries at the start of the game the only mercenaries that will ever appear?

Mercenaries are picked from a pool at the start of a game. Some are available from the start, while others require the appropriate tech age to be reached.

Do the mercenaries have AI, or are you really just buying new ships?

They are ships with special abilities, like to increase the research of a planet, or bonus to beam weapons of all ships in a fleet, etc.


What happens if they die? Do the contracts expire and they need to be rehired, that isn't explained anywhere but I am assuming they go up for rehire?

If they die, they die. No rehire.

Will the early age mercs upgrade in time? I put that in the stream questions before I purchased, as it is I still have that question.

No.

It'd be nice to see some others appearing down the line, there is a lot of nice options, but for the huge galaxies, I can see them all being out on loan all the time. Even if its modders adding them, that's fine.

They plan to add mod support, with possible Steam Workshop integration.

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting matrix_v, reply 4

Is hiring a mercenary a lifetime contract? Contracts should be able to expire, and if unrenewed, the mercenary should become available for hire once again.

Once they are hired, they are under contract forever until death do you part :)

Quoting matrix_v, reply 4

Do new mercenaries appear over time, or are the mercenaries at the start of the game the only mercenaries that will ever appear?

No all mercenary ships are present at beginning of game.  They are chosen from a pool of available ones once those are purchased they are done for the game.

Quoting matrix_v, reply 4

Do the mercenaries have AI, or are you really just buying new ships?

You're buying new ships.

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thanks for the answers. Definitely need more then, if they are dead and out, the base game needs more for larger galaxies.
 

Notes on the races, if the arceans are generally a turtle player great, it will be nice to go up against a different playstyle like that or have that in the mix, two thumbs up. I don't see the torians being anything noticeable however, couple of extra tiles a planet and one ship? Its great to have them in the galaxy, as it didn't seem complete without them, but I don't think they have enough going for them at first glance. Also what happens if they discover the bazaar and all the mercs are out on hire, does the game crash? (Might be worth checking)
 

Further a general comment, everything is looking good graphically, and clear and presentable so nice work there, appreciate the Korx getting some fan service as well.

Reply #9 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Congratulations!