Amplitude Studios’ Endless universe has been built up quite extensively over the years. Whether it’s the 4X machinations of Endless Space or the rogue-lite quirks of Dungeon of the Endless, there’s quite a lot to go through. The entire franchise is on sale this weekend, but you can also try any of the games for free until January 28th, 7 AM PT.

The games in question include Endless Legend, a 4X title with stunning art-work and compelling factions. Then there’s Endless Space 2, a 4X space expansion title that builds significantly on the first game. Finally, we have Dungeon of the Endless, which mixes way too many genres to count (more about that here).

If any of these titles catch your fancy, then you can pick them up for pretty deep discounts on Steam (and even snag the Endless Space Collection for cheap). Amplitude continues to release new expansions for Endless Space 2 and Endless Legend. The former has received Penumbra, which brings the hack-tastic Umbral Choir to the universe, while the latter receives Symbiosis with its assimilating Mykara.

The Humble Bundle store has generally been a good place to pick up collections of games for decent prices. The Humble Strategy Bundle is no different and contains some great titles at various tiers.

Pay whatever you want and you’ll receive Dungeon of the Endless, the Endless Space Collection and Planetary Annihilation Titans. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Charity Pattern Pack for Company of Heroes 2 is also included in this tier.

If you beat the average asking price, which is $6.95, then you’ll also receive Empire: Total War Collection, Endless Legend – Classic Edition and its accompanying Tempest DLC. A coupon for 66 percent off on Total War: Warhammer, which can be used only on the Humble Store, is also provided.

Finally, at $12, you get all of the above with Endless Space 2 and Tooth and Tail. Even the soundtrack for the latter is thrown in. The Humble Strategy Bundle will be available for 13 days so head on over and pick it up quick.

If you thought Sega’s strategy division was already a big deal with Relic Entertainment and The Creative Assembly on-board, it’s added yet another strong studio to the list with the acquisition of Amplitude Studios. Amplitude is responsible for the Endless series of games including Endless Space, Dungeon of the Endless and Endless Legend with Endless Space 2 in development.

Sega of Europe president Jurgen Post noted that, “To have the opportunity to add a studio with the growing reputation of Amplitude’s to the Sega family is an exciting one and reinforces Sega Europe’s position as a market leader in publishing high quality PC games.

“Culturally, Amplitude is a fantastic fit for the business as it not only produces great games, but also has a proven track record in listening to fans and directly involving them in the ongoing development of their games through their GAMES2GETHER system.”

Sega currently has Relic’s Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 3 in development while The Creative Assembly is busy supporting Total War: Warhammer and adding post-launch content. What are your thoughts on Amplitude Studios joining the list? Let us know in the comments.

Welcome to Campfire Gaming, a weekly feature where I play a game and describe my wacky adventures. Last week we started a journal on the indie 4x game, Endless Space, and today is part 2 of that series. You’ll find part 1 right about here.

My empire has been cut in two. The Horatio empire recently took control of the neutral system of Yisel, right in the middle of my territory. They’ve also sent a fleet to my own system of Vega. This cold war is heating up.

I destroy the enemy fleet in Vega without too much trouble, but the problem in Yisel is different. This is no longer about attacking each other’s fleets. I have to take Yisel to reunite my empire. This time I’m invading an entire system.

The inevitable war between the Amoeba and Horatio is underway.

This is Endless Space: Part 2.

This all started when the Horatio Empire attacked and destroyed one of my scout ships without warning. The attack came in a neutral system called Tercana, and the incident spiraled out of control until it lead to all out interplanetary warfare. I took Tercana for the Amoeba empire, but as soon as I did the Horatio empire took Yisel. This split my faction in two.

I build a fleet of dysentery ships destined for Yisel (you may recall that I’m naming my ships after diseases). They flood the system and the invasion is underway.

System invasions in Endless Space are essentially just timers. You wait them out, similar to a siege in the Total War series but with no option to attack early. The invasion will take several turns depending on the system and depending on the strength of the attacking fleet. Certain ships can also have bonuses that speed up invasions. To begin an invasion the system must be clear of enemy ships, but if enemy ships show up after the invasion has begun it doesn’t interrupt things unless your fleet is wiped out.

A few turns after I begin the invasion two Horatio ships show up. I have two ships as well, though my dysenteries have proven more effective because they’re made to defeat Horatio. Horatio ships use kinetic weapons and my dysenteries have kinetic weapon defense. My dysenteries shoot missiles, and the Horatio ships don’t have missile defense. I defeat the interlopers fairly easily and the invasion is completed shortly after.

My empire is reunited, and Horatio is pissed.

I’ve been researching war technology, and my missile attack and kinetic defense is better than ever. I create a new line of ships with the latest in amoeba technology. More missiles. Better defense. I call it West Nile.

My capital at Nusakan has a very high production rate, so I mass produce a fleet of West Nile and head for the Horatio capital of Delphinus. In that system I’ll have my largest battle yet.

3 West Niles and two dysenteries versus a fleet of 5 Horatio ‘strikers’. Once again, my missiles win the day. With the system clear of enemy fleets, the invasion of Delphinus begins.

Meanwhile, I complete the research required to travel through wormholes, the squiggly lines on the map that are restricted at the start of the game. As I go north and snatch the Horatio capital, I can send another fleet east through the wormholes and snatch up as much neutral land as possible.

I’ll need to be quick about it too. The Cravers, a race of bug people that eat everything in their path, are moving swiftly in my direction.

I send a fleet of two West Niles and three colony ships through the warmhole into parts unknown.

They run into pirates. Lots and lots of pirates. You know how most pirates like, try to get you to surrender so they can take your stuff without a fight? Well, the ones in Endless Space aren’t like that. The pirates in Endless Space are the kind that attack you on site, offer you no chance of surrender, and who blow up your ship and all of the valuable goods on the first chance they get. Wait, how exactly are they pirates?

All three of my colony ships are immedietely blown to bits. It looks like this colonization mission is going to be more difficult than I hoped.

The pirates are essentially barbarians from the Civilization series, hostile fleets that fly around randomly causing havoc. It’s odd to me that they attack government ships for sport, but it’s something I’ll have to deal with. I was hoping this land grab would be sneaky and easy. And fast! Let’s not forget that the Cravers are still closing in to take any land I don’t get my dirty amoeba tentacle things on. This land grab won’t be sneaky, easy, or fast, because I’m going to have to build some West Niles just for the purpose of the mission.

Getting control of systems early in Endless Space is vital, but this means I’m essentially fighting a war on two fronts: Horatio on one side and pirates on the other. I’ll have to divide my forces. Sun Tzu would not approve.

I begin the construction on a separate fleet just for the purposes of killing pirates and helping get colonies. Oh, and I also start rebuilding those colony ships. In the meantime, I still have a large fleet currently invading the Horatio system of Delphinus but it’s taking a long time.

I build 2 West Niles, a dysentery, and a Propagator, the proper name for one of our colony ships. We head through the wormhole vastly superior to any pirate fleet we’ve encountered before. Victory should be fairly easy. We find some pirates and engage.

Victory is easy. We only lose a single ship. UNFORTUNATELY IT’S THE DAMNED PROPAGATOR!!!!! THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS MISSION IS TO COLONIZE NEW SYSTEMS AND I’VE LOST MY COLONY SHIP!!!!! (For those of you new to the internet, the caps lock means I’m angry.)

So… I build another colony ship while my warships float there with their thumbs up their asses. Bah!

Things are going just as slow on the other front against the Horatio Empire.

The invasion of Delphinus has grinded to a halt. Horatio has increased the planet’s defenses, making it literally impossible for my current fleet to take it. I’ll need more ships. Ships that I’ve already sent in the opposite direction to hunt for pirates.

On the other end, I still haven’t actually claimed any new territory, despite all of my losses from these pirates. Not only are the Cravers here and claiming some of the land I had my eye on, but a new faction has moved into the area and is taking up land quickly.

The United Empire. I’ve now met humans for the very first time. The United Empire is your typical science fiction evil empire of humans. Shortly after, I meet the Pilgrims, your typical science fiction human rebellion, though I suppose they less rebelled and more fled from the United Empire, hence why they’re space pilgrims.

I send more colony ships and finally start claiming new territory. I send more military ships to Delphinus and finally the invasion makes more progress. I’m about to take Horatio’s capital for myself.

They hit me with everything they’ve got to keep that from happening. If I win this battle I win the war. If I lose this battle then I continue a war on two fronts that hasn’t gotten me anywhere so far.

A fleet of 5 ‘Striker 4s’ versus my fleet of 3 West Niles and 2 dysenteries (my maximum fleet size is 5, so the other ships I sent are there helping the invasion, but they couldn’t be in the battle).

Here comes the enemy fleet.

There goes the enemy fleet.

Delphinus is mine.

I’ve taken the enemy capital and its people aren’t happy about their new amoeba overlords. They go on strike and the system of Delphinus is essentially useless until this gets resolved. I’ll have to find a way to get these guys to like their new leaders. Perhaps time will help. Horatio is now a sad husk of an empire, so I offer a ceasefire. They accept without hesitation. I’m the good guys, and there’s no need to wipe Horatio off the galaxy.

Unless they piss me off again.

Which they almost certainly will.

Will the Horatio Empire piss me off again? Will the people of Delphinus ever accept amoeba rule? Will the pirates in this game ever realize that if they just blow up every ship they see they’re not making any profit?

Read Part 3!

If you liked this article, check out my personal website at RobertGreenStories.com.

Welcome to Campfire Gaming, the weekly segment where I play a game and write about my wacky adventures. Last week we finished up a journal on Empires of the Smoky Skies, so today we start something new. Endless Space is an indie 4x game that came out on July 4 of this year. Now let’s get to the story. 

I’m an amoeba.

I’m the emperor of a civilization of large amoebas that stretches across the galaxy.

We met an alien race called the Horatio Empire. Negotiations with them have quickly broken down.

We met another alien race called Cravers. They are not to be trusted.

We met another alien race called humans. We shall see if they are friend or foe.

This is Endless Space.

This is only my second game ever of Endless Space. In the first game I got completely massacred, and I’m hoping things go better this time. There are 8 races. My game is using 5 of them:

United Empire: The evil human faction. They’re imperialistic and cruel.

Pilgrims: When there’s an evil human empire, there must be a good human rebellion. That’s the Pilgrims, who fled the United Empire long ago but will soon meet them again.

Horatio: Endless Space takes itself pretty seriously, so this ones an oddball. Some idiot named Horatio cloned himself so many times he made a star traveling civilization out of it. They’re neutral.

Cravers: If the United Empire wasn’t bad enough, the Cravers are the classic alien bugs that fly around eating everyone in their path. Needless to say, they’re evil.

Amoeba: That’s me. We’re listed with a good alignment, and our goal is to unite all living things, even if it means breaking some skulls along the way. Let’s try to do that.

That’s me. Good looks run in my family.

Endless Space lets you choose what kind of galaxy you play in. I chose a spiral out of respect for the Milky Way. Here’s the galaxy I got with everyone’s starting locations (weirdly, there isn’t any fog of war with planets, though you can’t see other ships unless you’re in the same system).

Red: Me

Orange: Horatio

Teal: Pilgrims

Green: United Empire

Blue (Hard to see): Cravers

I immediately start on food production in the capital. Famine issues from my first game taught me that focusing on food to build up a big workforce and then moving to other things might be the way to go. In Endless Space, your ships can only move along preset lines. These are essentially jump gates. The squiggly lines represent wormholes. They allow access to more travel locations, but you can’t use them without first completing certain research requirements.

I have an interesting starting location, perhaps even unfortunate. My only routes to expansion are through wormhole gates to the east and the Horacio Empire to the north.

I immediately snag the nearby Vega system. The two squiggly line things coming out of my capital of Nusakan are wormholes that I don’t have the technology to enter yet. There’s another wormhole coming out of Vega. This means I only have two systems to colonize for now, Yisel and Tercana, and Horatio is going to want them too. I’ll have to act fast.

In the meantime, I send a scout vessel out to the prospective colonies to get a feel for them. The scout flies through the Yisel system with no problems. It’s not a great system, but it’ll be worth having. The scout continues to the Tercana system.

It’s here in Tercana that the Amoeba and Horatio empires meet for the very first time.

Horatio attacks. There’s a battle on the spot. Relations between the Amoeba and Horatio empires have broken down before they had a chance to begin.

“All hands to battle stations! This is what we trained for people! A giant space penis is trying to kill us all!”

My scout ship is destroyed. The Horatio empire is directly responsible for the atrocity. We were not at war. Until that moment, we’d never even seen each other.

Endless Space has a unique neutrality system. When two countries are neither allied or at war, they are in cold war status. This means they’re allowed to attack each other as long as it’s not in the defender’s home system.  I immediately start researching combat technology.

A shadow war has begun.

It’s time to design my first ship. The game uses three different types of weapons, kinetic (bullets fired at a high rate of speed), missiles (blow up on impact), and lasers. Each one has its own defense type, and ship design is based on figuring out what weapons your opponent has and building defenses for them. It’s all very similar to Galactic Civilizations 2, except the different attachments don’t change how the ship looks. That’s disappointing, though I do appreciate how amoeba-like my ships are in appearance.

Vega has a resource called Titanium-70. It allows us to build missiles. This early, most civilizations will still be using kinetic weapons and might be expecting others to do the same. With this in mind, I build a missile-clad gunship with kinetic weapon defenses. I’m hoping this is exactly what the Horatio empire won’t want to deal with. Since I’m the Amoeba, I decide to name my ship types after disease. It… well… it seemed like a good idea at the time. I name my first custom ship ‘dysentery’, in honor of the great Oregon Trail.

I set the dysentery loose on Tercana to have my revenge. The bastard ship that destroyed my scout is still there, though the Horatio empire still hasn’t colonized the system. I’ve got two dysentery ships and now the odds are very much in my favor. Battles in Endless Space use a card system to decide tactics. Different cards boost certain stats for the round. A battle consists of three rounds, the long range, medium range, and melee. Each card also has another card that it completely trumps.

The enemy chooses the card that trumps mine. I cringe and can only watch the battle unfold from here. Luckily, my force is so much more powerful than the enemy that my lousy tactics don’t screw me over too much. The dysentery ships win the battle and kill the people who killed my scouts. Revenge is sweet.

You see that burning green fireball in the background? That’s my enemies.

I think I’ve won and can now concentrate on other things. I think I’ve sent a message to the Horatio empire, but as soon as I get a colony ship on Tercana, they get a colony ship on Yisel.

They also send a fleet into my own Vega system. I send a fleet to respond. Tercana has been completely cut off from the rest of my civilization. I’m going to have to take Yisel from the Horatio empire to reunite it. On top of that, a battle at Vega is a near certainty as this conflict continues to escalate.

What was once a mere border dispute is about to turn into all-out war.

Read Part 2 here!

This galaxy is ancient, and its first intelligent life was the civilization we call the Endless. Long before our eyes gazed upon the stars they flew between them, though all that remains of this people is what we call Dust. A substance found scattered or in forgotten temples, it once gave powers to admirals and galactic governors.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.