Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Slick, I see no hurry in adding to the FAQ at present.
So I'll wait for you to do it.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

I have some time off coming at the end of this month. I'll try to get an update done then. Hopefully the next patch is out by then too.

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

For next update:


1.2.4 Happiness: Every five percentage points you increase your happiness makes 0,1% people happier every turn. For example if you increase happiness 10% it's the same effect if you have one troop on your every planet.(Asmala)

If you drop your happiness to 50%, it makes 1% of your population angry each turn. Natural decrease is 2% (neutral 5%). The result is 1% happy people each turn. (Asmala)

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Might want to note that this natural anger decrease only applies to you own race. Ex-pats from other empires have a natural increase in anger, which will be magnified, slightly, but this setting.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

It's actually in there already. But you are right. This needs to be clarified and referenced in a few places because it is buried in the section for capturing planets. Thanks.:

7.2.9 Captured population (by any means) loses all of its racial attributes and is identical to yours except they retain their atmosphere breathing so can be used to populate your colonies appropriately AND they slowly get unhappy over time so you need to account for that so they don’t riot (riot police, upc, etc.).The positive happiness effect of 10 troops of any type will exactly cancel out the negative happiness of having alien population on a planet.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">This is in FAQ already. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I just copy pasted it to the Exploit: create other breathing population thread.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I believe they also get angrier while you are at war with their mother-empire.

But I am a slacker, and have not checked the FAQ to see if that is also covered in that specific block. I'll apologize for the slack, but I won't promise a change. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Forgive me Slick if I correct you, but the happiness thing is a little bit more complicated:

1.) What makes the difference between original and captured population is in the happiness.txt file
Natural Decrease := -20
Natural Decrease for Other Races := 20

The first line is the original population, the second all foreign/captured populations. Therefore this can be modded! If both values are equal then there will be no difference in the happiness reaction at all.

2.) You think that a positive value makes the population angrier and a negative value makes them happier. That is not correct. If you leave a happy original population with the "natural decrease = -20" alone they will get indifferent! A negative value shifts the happiness to indifferent no matter if you start jubiliant or angry. In contrast a positive value shifts the happiness to the extremes: if you start a little bit happier than indifferent you go to jubiliant, if you start a little bit unhappier than indifferent you go to angry. As far as I know the natural decrease alone will not cause a riot. For this you need other factors that influence the happiness.

[ December 16, 2003, 17:12: Message edited by: Q ]

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Thanks and I do appreciate any feedback on the FAQ. I guess I could make it a little more clear, but that is what I meant. From happiness.txt:

Our Troops on Planet := -2

-2 * 10 = -20 which offsets the 20 for being another race. I guess it should really be 20 troops to equal the happiness gain of your native population.

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Please change the link to SE4 Modding 101 tutorial in section 16 to:

http://se4modding.spaceempires.net/

[ January 02, 2004, 07:00: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">In the process of doing an update now. Will incorporate.

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

You know you should also submit the FAQ to Gamespot.com and other game sites. I don't know if that is a good or bad suggestions, but I do know that many gaming sites do have FAQ's on games, so why not add the sites?

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Ok, I'm a little too tired to continue tonight but I got about 1/3 of my latest material entered. Added 17.12 article by Stone Mill, numerous tweaks and some additions. Over the next few days, I will be adding a lot more material - stay tuned. This UBB editor is really terrible for handling large articles and I have tried several other editors, but somehow the UBB stuff gets messed up during cut/paste operations. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

Atrocities: good idea, thanks! I'll do that after this round of updates. If the next patch comes out soon, I'll do another update after that one for any changes.

[edit: Mephisto, you can delete the old Version of the FAQ in the sticky thread if you wish.]

Slick.

[ January 02, 2004, 08:26: Message edited by: Slick ]

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

The link in 1.0.1 is dead.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I think I used wordpad Last time, don't remember if it messed up the linebreaks though...
First I choose "edit post" (or quote) to be able to copy the UBB formats and then paste that into the text editor. Later on it's just to post and paste.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

I'll make a test and try it again. It was months ago but I remember text editors messed up spacing, tabbing, paragraphing or some such.

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I have the file. Anyone know when the uploads section will reopen?

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

There has been no word on when the new system that is in the works will be ready. I could host the file on SE.net. Email it to admin at spaceempires dot net.

[ January 02, 2004, 19:06: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">One great FAQ site is GameFAQs.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Just make sure to stay far away from GameSpy...

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Added more stuff to the FAQ this morning. About 1/2 finished at this point.

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Did you mean GameBorg?

And you should consider reviewing that discussion we all had about Torpedos a few weeks ago. IIRC that thread was a hot topic for sometime. A lot of great tactics and strategies were discussed. I cannot seem to find the thread though. HELP.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Ah ha, found it!

LINK TO TOPIC

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Game Guide

There you go.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">No no no. That is Atari. Just wait til Atari buys GameSpy... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

[ January 02, 2004, 20:39: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

One day all things will be a Pay to use Subscriber system. Atari will assimulate everything web based, game based, multiplayer based and turn us all into paying customers.

$50.00 for game
$120.00 per year MP access
$40.00 Game book
$40.00 Phone bill for game tech support
$120.00 subscription to game update site

$370.00 for game that you will play for only a year.

Not worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">and in that day, i will make a lot of money selling hammers. just think of all the wonderfull things you can do with hammer's. you can bash, you can smash, you can smack, you can wack, you can thwack, you can smush, you can bang, you can...

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Sorry for posting on topic http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif , but could someone please change the turn sequence in the FAQ to the correct one? Retrofit definitely comes before income, for example.

I think it is correct here:
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...=009418#000000
... but this is not very convenient as it is not sticky and I have to search for it every time I want to look it up. Also, its not nice to noobs who might rely on the FAQ http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Fixed. Thanks. Also added a few things and fixed a couple of mistakes.

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

'Heads-up'.. the link to the Un-Official Space Empires IV Strategy and Tactics Page.. (
http://home.earthlink.net/~petemmer/ ) in the faq is broken.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

I think this:
5.7.10 Fleet experience is earned by an relatively obtuse formula.

should be changed to this:
5.7.10 For each kill made by a ship in a fleet, there is a 25% chance that the fleet gets 0.1% experience

Also current 5.7.4 could be changed to 5.7.4.1 and then added

5.7.4.2 Ships get a small amount of experience for seekers, fighters, drones and satellites, but none for troops and weapon platforms.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

For next update...


Facility output:

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

You should definitely replace the commas with plus signs to indicate that they add. As it is, it is somewhat vague.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...;f=23;t=011092

for next update.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

FAQ entry 4.4.5.1 is incorrect. It is contradicted by FAQ entry 17.3.3, which is correct.

I.e., Happiness level has no effect on construction rate, unless it reaches the Rioting point.

PvK

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

FAQ entry 7.2.14 is incorrect. See 8.3.1, which is correct.

That is, troop losses in ground combat are applied left to right (against first-in troops, not against first-out troops).

PvK

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Thanks PvK. I'm letting the dust settle after the Last patch to make the (probably) Last update to the FAQ to incorporate the new things in this and some other threads as well as from v1.91.

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

You should probably have something in the FAQ about TCP/IP games. If it's there I missed it.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">If I didn't have zero experience with TCP/IP games, I'd take a swing at it. I'd sure include it if someone were to write it. Wanna give us a short blurb about what the newbie needs to know?

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Reproduction without modifiers. +1 for each percentage of Reproduction and +1 for each five percentages of Environmental resistance.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;"> Jubilant Happy Indif. Unhappy Angry Rioting
Unpleasant 13 10 8 6 3 0
Mild 15 12 10 8 5 0
Good 17 14 12 10 7 0
Optimal 20 17 15 13 10 0</pre><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Thanks Asmala. Just to be clear for my one, old, semi-functional brain cell... What happens if I lower reproduction and/or environmental resistance too much? Will reproduction rate ever go less than 0? I have never seen a rate < 0% so I assume it is capped at 0.

Also, what do you do with both of these? I like to take ER down to 51% and add +9 or maybe a few more percent to repro. I like to have populations grow fast. Helps production and construction, etc.

Slick.

[ March 09, 2004, 23:46: Message edited by: Slick ]

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

ER and Reproduction stack. You can not have less than 0% reproduction rate.

I guess you did not see any of my various planetary conditions testing Posts... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Oh well.

[ March 10, 2004, 00:41: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

You don't have to be rude. I know that they stack, and I wasn't asking you what you did.

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

My post was not rude in any way. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Fyron, I tell you this as a friend. Your Posts do sometimes come across to me as rude. I'm willing to bet that others may also find some of them a little offensive, but due to your relentless nature and repuatation here on this forum they don't say anything. Again, as a friend, I suggest you try to read your own Posts before that final click and place yourself in the shoes of the other person or persons that will be reading it. It is the receiver's opinion that should matter to you, not your own opinion.

Consider this. If it were face-to-face in a group and someone said something that was rude to the others but seemingly inoffensive to the speaker, whose opinion(s) would matter? In such a case, if nothing was said to the speaker, how would he know? And after he is informed that the statement is rude, what would be a mature response?

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

What was rude about my post specifically? The answering of your questions, or the joke part? You may have misinterpreted it. It was only stated in gest, not meant to be rude. I apologize if it came off that way.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Slick, condensed other thread for the next Faq edition (You know better then me where to place it):

To avoid having the AI mess up your turns during simultaneous multiplayer games when you miss a turn, always do this:
In the game, press the "Empire Status" button (The crown icon). On the pop-up screen press the "Ministers" button, the next to top button on the right.
Scroll to the bottom of the list and check the box saying "AI should not make changes to the empire during a Simultaneous Game".


When playing a simultaneous game, if you miss a turn and haven't checked the box "AI should not make changes to the empire during a Simultaneous Game" in the ministers option the AI will run the turn for you.
Due to the sequence in which events take place the Messages the AI send will block your message sending function the next turn.
So if the Ai decides to send a message or reply to the "Terran Empire", the next turn that you play the game will say "Message already sent" for that empire and you cannot send any new message until another turn has been processed.


Concerning the SLick-Fyron discussion. I agree with you both on this one http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Fyron> You are a fast poster and sometimes your Posts do come across as rude or should I say pompous..
In this particular post, the "Oh, well" can imply that someone isn't doing his homework, is sub-standard and such things. I see that it can also mean alot of other things...

Slick> In this particular case I don't think it was particularly rude.
It's not only the speaker who has to think of how what he says is interpreted, it's also up to the listener/reader to try to interpret what he means.
In the Fyron case I belive it's easy to have a bias when interpreting his Posts http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif
Try to re-read this one in a positive way.

(I can butt off and mind my own buisness, but I'm not in that mood right now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif )

[ March 10, 2004, 04:57: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

PM'd, apon consideration.

[ March 10, 2004, 04:57: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

That's part of the problem with forums. People can't see body language or hear tone. The smilies are a poor substitute. What I found rude was that it was clear I wanted Asmala's opinion, but you responded in a way that basically said I would have known these things if I had seen your previous Posts. Again, since people are reading text, it's hard to tell the intent. No harm done, its clear that you meant it in a joking manner. I know some of my own Posts could be received as rude so I try to read them before posting with that in mind. Maybe I need to work harder at it.

Slick.

Re: Updated the FAQ
 

Ruatha:
<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Thanks. I'll find a place somewhere in the multiplayer section.

===========================================


<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">If I didn't have zero experience with TCP/IP games, I'd take a swing at it. I'd sure include it if someone were to write it. Wanna give us a short blurb about what the newbie needs to know?

Slick. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Anyone wanna take a swing at writing this section? I know nothing about it.

Slick.