Lost my saved games
GalCiv3 Forums
i was initiating the game, when it asked me something about where do i wanted to load my game from, cloud or local. i didn't check which was the last game and i selected "local". then when i started the game all of my progress was lost 
no saved games, at least the last ones, please help me recover them pleaaase!
Bad news I am afraid...
It is exactly the reason why I do not use the "cloud" for saving my games. Especially via Steam...
The local saved games are in your computer, and probably in something like :"(the drive where My documents is active):\Users\(your user name)\Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade\Saves".
The cloud games are totally distinct from your local version, and are activated when you start a game - the game checks then what is the list of games saved in the cloud and propose them to you -, or when you save and exit : the cloud games are refreshed and updated.
If you choose "local", so then, for avoiding confusion with version and turn numbers, the local saved games are sent to the cloud for being synchronized, with your local games being the template, EXCEPT if, before, you have manually turned off the steam cloud like in the example below :
And if you choose "cloud", then, you have the possibility to save your local files elsewhere for backup, otherwise they are also refreshed for reflecting what the cloud has...
In short, if you let the cloud enabled, and chose a location, local or cloud, you MUST use the same location for the entire game, otherwise, one will destroy the other set of file. Like Highlander, there can be only one.
If you started using saved games from the cloud, and in the middle of a game you switched to local, the cloud version is destroyed for uploading your current local saved games as new backup, even if it means no files...
There is no way back. No cloud 2nd backup. It is a 1 shot.
AVOID "clouds" as much as you can, especially if you are not well aware of the risks.
noooooooo. ok, thanks a lot for the reply and the explanation. i will switch it to local then. i have it on epic games and not on steam. is the same thing?
The concept behind a cloud system (for your saved games) is to allow you to play on any connected device where the same game is installed, and access the latest versions of your saved games.
By instance. at home, you play on your desktop, then you go to see friends or relatives, or move elsewhere with, say, your laptop : the cloud system allows you to access your latest saved game, and continue your game where you left it on your other device - if you have access to internet of course -.
It means that, for all cloud systems intended to be used with different devices and different locations, it will rely on synchronizations. When connected to your cloud, and if you delete a saved game on your PC, then go to another computer, the new computer will access in the cloud the files, without the deleted ones : files available are all the same wherever you go.
It is then VERY risky to use this option if you tend to forget if you saved something locally, or silently on the cloud. And many players don't even know how their saves are processed.
Epic is no exception : as soon as you have the possibility to keep your files on several devices, locally and cloud, there is always a higher risk to be confused and loose something because, as you did, you choose the wrong path... And don't worry, many did.
I have zero problems navigating in my computers : I prefer 100% to disable the clouds (in Steam, you can do it in the settings for all games), and, when I know that I will continue to play on my laptop and not desktop, do a manual synchronization. The simplest way is to copy (not cut/move) your files on a usb, then copy then back on your next device where you intend to continue your game.
You know what you do, you know when and where, and it is much much safer... 
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