fan patch version 1.50.19
Download 1.50.1910 critical crash bugs -- 8 networked multiplayer bugs -- About 30 interface bugs -- Over 100 game-rule bugs.
Play against a random number of opponents -- Play with auto designed ships -- 6th ship design slot -- Greatly improved build queue management -- Unbuy function -- New hotkeys.
1.50 improved -- 1.50 multiplayer -- Version 1.2 mod -- ICE -- VDC -- Melee -- Randomized tech tree -- Lots of mapmods -- Mirror maps option -- A standard mode is available, which is only the patch, no mods.
Modding with plain text configuration files -- Lua scripting support -- Integrated mapgen functionality.
A working copy of MOO2 DOS version 1.31 or higher -- The MOO2 game directory should contain ALL game files (full installation).
Supports English, German, French, Spanish and Italian DOS editions of MOO2. -- Installing 1.50 does not break current version 1.31 or 1.40 installations. No original files are overwritten.
Development of the 1.50 patch for Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares (MOO2) started in 2015, and the first version 1.50.0 was released on February 6, 2016.
1.50.19 Multilingual
Fan patch. March 27, 2022. 12668 kB zip file
The download is a zip file that includes the patch, mods and the MOO2 Launcher. Carefully read the installation instructions (txt) before installing the patch.
1.40b25 English
Fan patch. November 9, 2020. 1178 kB zip file
For testing with the 1.40 patch I use this version. It has 4 changes compared to b23: Screen switches are faster; Tactical Combat is enabled by default in the Game Setup screen; missiles default to x2 shot racks instead of x5 in the Design Dock console; and the ALT+menlo cheat gives 30.000 instead of 9.999 research points. The zip file includes a changelog and the source code of the 1.40 patch.
1.40b23 English
Fan patch. May 22, 2006. 30 kB zip file
The English DOS version sold online is fan patch 1.40b23 by Lord Brazen from May 2006. Information about this patch can be found in Lord Brazen's 1.40 patch FAQ.
In case you do not want to play a fan patch you can revert from 1.40b23 to the last official patch as follows: Download English version 1.31 patch (below), extract the file "ORION2.EXE" from the zip file and copy it into your MOO2 directory.
1.31 English
Microprose patch. April 11, 1997. 3350 kB zip file
1.31 German
Microprose patch. April 11, 1997. 2342 kB zip file
Version 1.31 or higher is required for installing the 1.50 patch. There are no official patches for the French, Spanish and Italian editions because they already released at version 1.31.
1.3 English
Microprose patch. March 3, 1997. 3294 kB zip file
There is no version 1.3 patch for the German edition because it already released at version 1.3.
1.2 English
Microprose patch. November 25, 1996. 4425 kB zip file
Version 1.2 was distributed as a patcher program that would patch six v1.1 files. This download includes the original patcher program as well as the six patched files.
1.50 improved
Proposes gently tweaked race pick valuation. Introduces new combat mechanics like Ship Initiative 2.0, Interactive Combat Stats (ICS) and Simplified Beam Formula. Makes various tweaks to weapons and special systems. Special care was given to improve AI ship designs. The Excel manual included with the download explains it all.
1.50 multiplayer
Based on 1.50 improved with a number of options for multiplayer enabled and modded race picks.
Version 1.2 mod
This little mod approximates MOO2 version 1.2 as close as possible with current 1.50 config: Creative costs 6 picks again, Psilon race design restored, original Guardian and Antaran ship designs, Plasma Cannon, Ion Cannon and Gyro Destabilizer weapon stats set back to original values.
ICE
Designed for single player games, making the AI much more challenging. This mod changes race picks & Tech Tree extensively. The difference between ICE-M and ICE-X is AI strength: ICE-X Impossible has the strongest AI, you'd better know what you are doing!
VDC
This mod is designed for 1v1 multiplayer. Included is version X9_V66_B11_GM3.
Spiral galaxy mod 1.0
Mod by Epirasque that creates a spiral galaxy, one arm per player with their home world at the tip.
Techtree mods 1.0 for version 1.50.19
Bundle of Lua mods by Epirasque. Contains several mods that alter the research tech tree or otherwise interact with how players acquire tech through research. Follow the installation instructions from the included Readme. Note that these mods do not work on 1.50.18.3!
No AI surrender mod
Micromod that prevents AI from surrendering before turn 1000. Unzip the No AI surrender mod and place the config file in 150\mods\150\, then restart MOO2 Launcher.
VDC_X10_V67_B3
Latest version of the VDC mod. See included readme for the changelog. Note that this mod does not work on 1.50.18.3 and earlier versions!
Corion2 1.1.1
Savegame Editor. Corion version 1.1.1 has been optimized for the 1.50 patch. 153 kB zip file.
MoO2 Workshop
LBX editor suite by Grig de Griz. Handles text, picture and font files. Includes a leader editor. 2713 kB zip file.
O2M 4.02 page
Thread on CivFanatics for the modding tool and game launcher by Ponkyo. Includes a tech tree editor.
O2M is not fully compatible with MOO2 Launcher. If you want to use both, then create 2 separate MOO2 game directories, one for each launcher.
DOSBox website
Official website of DOSBox. Emulator to run MOO2 on modern machines.
Discord MOO2 server
Looking to play with other humans? Join the MOO2 chat server on Discord!
Multiplayer over Internet
Instructions for playing MoO2 internet multiplayer. Works both for Steam and GOG game.
GOG forum
Forum for MOO1, MOO2 and MOO3.
Steam forum
Forum for MOO2.
The Orion Nebula
Dedicated MOO2 community forum. Not active anymore, but got some good posts.
Civfanatics Center
Forum section for MOO2 and other Civ-related games.
Civilization Forum (Deutsch)
Forum section for Master of Orion.
Master of Orion Subreddit
Subreddit community for all Orion games.
masteroforion2.blogspot.com
Siron's Master of Orion 2 blog has come back to life. Contains news & interesting posts about MOO2 mechanics.
lordbrazen.blogspot.com
Lord Brazen's blog. Has not been updated for a long time.
Rocco on Youtube
My Youtube channel has lots of MOO2 vids.
AI stuff
Thread on gog about MOO2 AI.
Cabman Housing video discussion
Discussion thread about the housing-technique demonstration video by Cabman.
Turn 100 Benchmarks
Discussion thread about turn 100 benchmarks.
Biospheres vs Hydro-farms discussion
Discussion thread about Biospheres vs Hydroponic Farms.
Gamespot's GameFAQs
MOO2 section with various (old) guides and other info.
MOOniac's Guide to the Galaxies
The Master of Orion II pre-FAQ from 1997.
dirtbag's blitz guide
Overview of various blitz strategies.
Cybersaber's Strategy Guide
Overview for players new to online play.
Delthea's ramblings on MOO2
Overview of MOO2 race picks and technology choices.
Humbe's ramblings on MOO2
Overview of MOO2 game mechanics and strategy.
Humbe's -10 challenge
Overview of games played with custom races with -10 worth of penalties.
Kfizzle's MOO2 Guide
The moo2 how to play more effective faq.
Steffens späte Spieltipps
Elaborate overview of the game auf Deutsch.
The Scientific Gamer
In Praise Of: Master of Orion 2.
Space Sector
Master of Orion 2: The Formula behind the Success.
GameSpot
Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares Review.
IGN
PC Retroview: Master of Orion II.
Nirran's page
Contains tools for MOO2 versions 1.31 and 1.40, including OCL_Improved and PickHack.
Speedrun.com
Overview of speedrun records with videos.
microprose moo2 page
Internet Archive capture of Microprose's MOO2 page.
First moo2mod website design
Internet Archive capture of my first moo2mod design from 2015.