Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Absolutely nothing! Figure everything out yourself, i believe the newb faq has some spoiler in it. Also don't get any mods, not yet anyway, the first time playing vanilla SE4 realy is the best experience IMO, and after that, the mods only make the next games better.
Or if possible, get on the irc channel, and only ask question when you're stuck or something.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

Hey, thanks for all the answers! I'm sitting here right now waiting for UPS to show up, the lazy bastards! V. nice that SE comes with a built-in community of veterans who are so willing to help. PBW sounds fantastic, too--though at this point (having read thousands of words of strategy and debate using jargon I don't understand) I have a hard believing I'll -ever- think I'm up to human opponents! Gimme a couple months, though, and I'll be eager as a puppy to learn you old-timers a lesson, upside the head ...

Thanks.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

fresh meat for the grinder! welcome aboard. I think that you will find plenty of newbie games and cooperative games at PBW, if you are interested in jumping in and getting your feet wet. Online games are always slower than single player games, so you can always get into an introductary game with people while you figure out things on your own in single player games.

also, if you are planning to play Online, it is important to get practice in simultanious games. many people play single player games in sequential, or turn based mode. figuring out how preplotted movement and strategic combat works in simultanious games (required for play by web or email) takes some getting used to. I think its a better mode of play though, as tactical combat against the AI just isnt fair, unless you are using some mod that almost requires it.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

While you are waiting you can be downloading all the cool mods.
I'd start with the TDMmod.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

I've never really played against the Ai, it seems a bit booring, only done some quickies to try out specific things.
Previously I played VGA planets where AI really wasn't an option so I'm not used to play aginst the computer.
Started playing against some friends through e-mail, and then quickly got into the Newbie games at the PBW. I get alot of advice from my allies.
And by reading this intel forum I've larned quite lot.

So don't be afraid to join the PBW, the games go slowly in the beginning so you can learn as you go along.
There are often Newbie games where mistakes are made every day by everyone, so it's not so difficult.
I have just recently entered my first non-newbie game and have applied for another, it's quite addictive (se addictivness vote thread in this forum).

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I totally and completely agree with this. One of the big draws for me was the huge amount of detail and discovery. I would recommend highly that if you enjoy figuring stuff out, don't read the forums for answers... at least not 'till you've struggled for a few days (weeks, months, etc.) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yea, usually within the hour.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif