Re: Gold Version - First Look
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Is this HTML manual available for download somewhere? I've got the demo and I'm trying to figure out some things but the Online help is all but useless. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

This looks like a fun and interesting game, the different races use different strategies in their ship design, so I can't just design a single killer ship and "whup" them. But I sure would like to know what I'm doing (other than by experimentation) as I figure this stuff out.
Thanks,

AtP

Re: Gold Version - First Look
 

IMO, the best feature of SEIV-Gold, which alone makes it worth a price, is an added ability to
mod population growth and size. Without it Proportions mod and new Derek mod will be impossible.

Re: Gold Version - First Look
 

I was disappointed by the manual too : I didn't play any SE before Gold, and expected a good heavy manual when I received the package ... But the manual goes up to lengthy trivial explanations of simple interface functions ("Toogle AI" button : this button will toggle AI on ... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif ), without sufficient info about the game's MECHANICS !
The Online help has more detailed info, but still lacks on mechanics.
The tutorial is good, but too short and doesn't cover enough of the game.

Luckily I found this board and Dubious'guide, that have a wealth of info, but with the manual and HTML help alone I surely would have been left wondering ..

What's badly needed IMO is :
- More in depth explanation of ship design, research, intel and tac combat
- Tables and charts of tech trees, facilities and components type (as we have in any Civ or MOO game)
- Some "Strategy guide" chapter, with rough guidelines on setting up an empire, managing fleets, diplomacy and so on.

This game is great but as it stands now need a high dedication to enjoy, in part due to this faulty documentation.

Re: Gold Version - First Look
 

The Gold Version is a Major improvement. Make sure you have the patch installed.

I also think that the TDM mod is almost required. The guys that put this together have really done a nice job. Keep it updated, as they improve it fairly regularly. Not to take anything away from the other great Mods here, however, I've found the TDM one to be a little more stable and glitch free then some of the others. I think it's because it's a group effort and therefore gets a little more practical testing then some of the others before they go up.

Another really interseting effort you may want to look at is the Proportions mod.

All in all, personally, I don't really mind sending Malfador money regularly, if they would keep improving the game.

( Are you listening, Richard?! SUBSCRIPTIONS!!!)

[ May 17, 2002, 14:52: Message edited by: Tenryu ]

Re: Gold Version - First Look
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">TDM is more stable because it keeps all SE IV data intact and change only AI files. Other mods mess up everything possible and impossible.

I agree that there is no logic whatsoever to play unmoded SE IV without TDM (if computer players participate of course).

Re: Gold Version - First Look
 

I really like Gold, its an improvement for sure but not neccesarily a be all end all to the line (obviously).

I was also hoping for a Civ/Civ2 esque 300+ manual wiht technical descriptions you could fall asleep reading (cause they're so long, not boring).

I WANT NUMBERS! haha. Also, tech tree, a la civ, would be nice

[ May 20, 2002, 05:25: Message edited by: Skulky ]