How is space empires V

in comparison to galciv and MoO

It's much more complex, you definitely to spend quite a while poring over the manual/tutorial before getting anywhere in the game.

Personally I have mixed feelings about it. I like complexity in my strategy games, yet the complete lack of any streamlining makes things harder than they should be.

For instance, there are no set races like in other 4x games. Each you start a game, you need to create custom races for both you and the AI (though you can save them to reuse later).
That makes simply playing a quick game impossible.

Frankly,Space Empires makes you realize why other 4X games are more streamlined.
At a given level of complexity (which will be different for everyone) the game stops being interesting and just becomes frustrating. For me at least, Space Empires V is beyond that point.

Uhm... There are pre-set races. I play quick games all the time.

To answer the question of how it compares: Has more of an emphasis on multi-tasking. You can research multiple things at once (so climb the depleted uranium cannon tech tree while devoting a few points every turn to getting Ice Planets).

But, gameplay wise, the big difference is how the galaxy map works. MoO and GalCiv just have a bunch of systems on a giant map. SE instead has each system as a separate map, and they are linked by wormholes. This allows for much simpler defenses (until people figure out how to jump on their own, you only really need a strong defense at the edge of your empire. Not in every system), but also results in some VERY grueling battles (once spent a few hundred in-game turns fighting over the same system.

Oh, and the endgame super weapons are a lot more satisfying (than GC2, at least). Fun to make a cloaked ship with a solar system destroying bomb on it. Sneak in, detonate a star, laugh :p

Well I just checked, and the set races are only usable in the quick game option (which i hadn't noticed until now because usually those are always too simplified).

Meaning you can't have both a set race for the AI and still customize your galaxy or your own race.
Having to customize the AI races is a problem since you know exactly what you're facing then.

It's not a bad game at all, but it has its problems. It's imho inferior to MoO 2 or Imperium Galactica 2, but about as good as GalCiv.

oh... that seems fun.

How grand are the battles and your empire?

MoO was pretty small for space empire game. you had 20-40 ships maybe tops at the end...
GalCiv even smaller.

Not sure on galaxy (never went beyond picking one of the galaxy types and random-genning), but you can customize YOUR race while using presets for everyone else. I advise you to read the manual before continuing to spread false information.
Been a few months since I had a large fleet, but I recall them being pretty large.

At the very least (but don't quote me on this one :p) I would say you can have over a hundred ships. But, like I said, been a while since I had a large number of ships. I tend to play more along the lines of "Oh god, oh god. Must build faster. THEY ARE BLOWING UP MY PEOPLES!!!" :p

I did read the manual (all 300 pages of it, written in small characters).

I still didn't find that option in it. And I haven't found it in-game either. So, even if it exists, it still proves my point.

The game is needlessly complicated at times and makes a habit of not giving the player standard options. An example is the fact that, unlike every other 4X game out there, you don't have basic ship designs to build.
You need to design yourself every single model of ship you plan to use.
I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy that very much. I play that kind of game for the overall strategy, not to micromanage everything, nor to play ship designer.

Frankly if complaining about the fact that I found the game needlessly convoluted, but still mentioning that it's decent is "spreading false information", then so is extolling the virtues of Space Empires without even mentioning its faults.

A 4x game is needlessly complicated? Gasp! Shock! Amazement!

And yeah, I do agree the lack of default designs is annoying, but you just have to make one or two of each class, and it will auto-upgrade as you research new levels of tech.

And I don't mind if you complain that the menus are too complicated for you. It isn't the most user-friendly game out there (there is a reason Strategy First publishes it :p). But to outright spread incorrect information IS "spreading false information".

It's definitely better than Galciv. You get full 3D solar systems, including planet and moons; a huge tech tree, the ability te design ships and bases and to update them, colony management, 3D combat .

Now, compared to Moo2. Moo2 is a very good introduction to the genre. I'd say nothing in the last years achieved the same balance between depth and playability. Expect a steeper learning curve with SE5. I also find the races in Moo5 funier than SE5's
Well depens what one looks for in 4X. Some players actually like the shipbuilding part. And thats something SE5 is fairly good at in my view. If it's the overall strategy that you enjoy, well , your point is valid