Hidden facts of SE IV
 

Hey, I wonder if anyone has compiled a list of "hidden facts" of SE IV. I mean things like

- "special" weapon to hit modifiers that are not revealed either in the manual nor the game menues themselves (Wave motion gun +30%, Torpedoes ???, etc.)
- fighters can leave a solar system by ordering them to attack the warp point
- the use of all those other weapons that are obvioulsy useless because they have a ridiculous damage/(fire_rate*size) ratio

... add your own, I´m sure people would like to hear them.

[ August 11, 2003, 16:36: Message edited by: JurijD ]

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hmm. 'Kay, see, anyone can read the text files and find out. There's been a couple lists like this. They should all be in the newbie faq, for examples, it being so huge.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif Ohh.. gotta try that when I get home. Ohh. Ahh.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Question comes up often. Answers are -- Role-play. Surprise and confuse an enemy. Examples for modding. Search on specific weapons you think it would apply to, it's all here -- back and forth.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What are your favorite questions?

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think he meant this simply as an example of what he means by hidden facts, not that he was saying it could be done. I can tell you for sure it cannot.

It can be done with Drones though. Maybe that is what he was refering to.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think he meant this simply as an example of what he means by hidden facts, not that he was saying it could be done. I can tell you for sure it cannot.

It can be done with Drones though. Maybe that is what he was refering to.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah, but what if it were possible, ohhh, and P&N fighters can carry sensors, ohhh. Why am I stuck here at work.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

Hidden knowledge of SEIV.
Actually this thread should be named
"Why didn't I think of that!"

When creating planets create the planet then move on to the next asteroid field once set inmotion you can create 1 planet per turn.

In the empire options page turn off the "Clear orders when entering a system with enemy presence"

Plasma Missiles are the best.

Never trust an AI or human player

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, the shrieking sound of Space Parasite equals the lamenations of your women (copy right - next California governer)

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

plasma missiles are the best.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

"Organics planets are best!"

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

[quote]Originally posted by Arkcon:

Quote:

Originally posted by JurijD: [qb]Hey, I wonder if anyone has compiled a list of "hidden facts" of SE IV. I mean things like - "special" weapon to hit modifiers that are not revealed either in the manual nor the game menus themselves (Wave motion gun +30%, Torpedoes ???, etc.) .

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hmm. 'Kay, see, anyone can read the text files and find out. There's been a couple lists like this. They should all be in the newbie faq, for examples, it being so huge.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">From the FAQ:

2.8.3 Point Defense Cannons (PDC)’s get a 70% to-hit bonus. (components.txt)
2.8.4 Incinerator beams get a 10% to hit bonus. (components.txt)
2.8.5 Wave-motion Guns get a 30% to hit bonus. (components.txt)
2.8.6 High-energy magnifiers get a 30% to hit bonus. (components.txt)
2.8.7 Tachyon canons get a 10% to hit bonus. (components.txt)
2.8.8 Mental singularity generators get at 20% to hit bonus. (components.txt)

Slick.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Have you read the Newbie FAQ's thread at the top of this forum? It contains a lot of info. There is also a good strategy thread floating around. There is a link to is in the Second thread of the forum.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Krsqk, have you played with Taera in your game?? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

3rd person reference...

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Actually Conan was paraphrasing a translation of The Virtues of a Mongol by Genghis Khan.

"Man's greatest good fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize his total possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing, ride his gelding, use the bodies of his women as a nightshirt and a support, gazing upon and kissing their rosy breasts, sucking their lips which are sweet as the berries of their breasts."

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Actually Conan was paraphrasing a translation of The Virtues of a Mongol by Genghis Khan.

"Man's greatest good fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize his total possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing, ride his gelding, use the bodies of his women as a nightshirt and a support, gazing upon and kissing their rosy breasts, sucking their lips which are sweet as the berries of their breasts."</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">LOL! Too funny. I don't think Conan wanted to coat the women in pLastic...

"and hear the lamentations of the women!

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">lamination != lamentation

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

Another hidden fact:
Light carriers can carry the same size weapons as light cruisers.

And another hidden fact:
SEIV is a tool used by extraterrestial governments to recruit stellar Empire leaders.

And another hidden fact:
Tachyon sensors can sense what is in the next starsystem over.

And if you get the message from an AI "Your growth is astonishing!" that means you are sitting too close to the screen and bump on your face is growing from the radiation.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you are talking about mounts, that would be battleships, as they can use heavy mounts. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Rather gamey tactic if you ask me though...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I hope that was just a joke, as it isn't true. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ August 12, 2003, 20:01: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

OOPs I must have misheard.
A friend told me this. In a conversation on sensors in SEIV I pointed out that sensors were virtually the same except Hyperoptics as they were the cheapest and quickest to get to.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And another hidden fact:
Tachyon sensors can sense what is in the next starsystem over.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope that was just a joke, as it isn't true.

Hidden fact about SEIV:
The defender almost always shoots first at a warp point. And I think it may be always.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Awww. It doesn't work. Oh, well. I can always do it with drones.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Why is it hidden http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif Everebody knows that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

*sigh*
I am sorry my 'humor' is running away with me on this thread. I am giving some real tips mixed with some not so real tips. Many experienced SEIV players laugh and say that's not hidden. And I bet some new players reading this thread are saying "wow!" or "Cool!" for example I know having a good climate on a planet increases reproduction. But I still ignore the production benifit. Also maximizing your population as quickly as possible on a planet by moving them from another planet also increases production rapidly.(don't depopulate your home planet just use the excess)

another hidden fact is One Talisman in a stack of weapons platforms, satilites, causes ALL weapons to not miss. The Stack effect also goes with regular sensors build 5 WP's and only one need have combat sensors or ECM for the whole group to have thos benifits. Also this works with fighters.

[ August 13, 2003, 21:44: Message edited by: Gozra ]

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Climate only affects reproduction rates, not production or happiness or anything else.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

ACK!
OK
reproductin > bigger population > more production.
Since my facts are off a bit I am changing to hidden possiblities

Hidden possiblity: IT appears that an AI will go to war with the first Race it encounters.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Interesting. But it seems to me the other way around. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Usually the AI is peaceful with me at first then mean later. But it's been awhile since I've played a long single player game besides for my story.

But in actuality the AI state towards you is all decided in its AI data files.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Interesting. But it seems to me the other way around. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Usually the AI is peaceful with me at first then mean later. But it's been awhile since I've played a long single player game besides for my story.

But in actuality the AI state towards you is all decided in its AI data files.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There is a setting in AI files (sorry, forget which one) that directs AI to have only few wars at time (smart thing to do of course). Thus, if AI is aggressive, it starts the war with the first race and makes peace with later contacts. But if AI is moderately peacefull, it may make peace with the first race and only then go to war with someone else. It all depends, you see.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

NOT! AGAIN!

I think what I did is get this axiom from a game I am currently in were the AI's have been extensivly changed. And the change author made it so the very first race that an AI meets that AI will declare war. Then I have been playing a solo game with the Devenull Mod and the 2 first AI's I met declare war right away. Your statements I think are closer to the facts than mine.

But I will keep trying to find new hidden facts.
and I might even check them before posting.

new hidden fact: SEIV is not as addictive as previously thought. I can go cold turky without SEIV for 24 hours maybe more. And single player SEIV can subsitute.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">SE4 is addictive in the way that once you start, you just can't stop. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif Refraining yourself from starting up se4 is quite easy, but once you start a particular game...

*TC makes a slurping noise with his mouth*

Sucks you right in. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">ECM on your weapons platforms? Isn't that a bit like painting sheep green so the wolves can't find them? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

Grin
I see your point and raise you one. Your command fighter, satillite, or weapons platform will have room to spare. In SEIV there are so many good players that kicking, clawing, and scratching for any legal advantge is worth while. In 'Last Man Standing' ask the Spirit of space and the La Veins Empires if running up against these stacks is any fun. 2 turns ago Spirit lost several ships to talisman armed satillites. Something like 50 Battle Cruisers.

Hidden fact:
building a planet creator ship is cheaper than a warp opening ship and faster. Then it takes one turn to upgrade to a warp opener. Shaving several turns off building a warp opener ship.

[ August 15, 2003, 04:42: Message edited by: Gozra ]

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">????

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

planets have about 200% penalty to be hit, ECM wont change a bit.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The 'command Fighter' concept won't work, as Fighters will only stack with like Fighters in combat, so only other 'command' Fighters will get the bonus from a Fighter with Talisman, ECM, or Combat Sensors. <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you certain of this?

[ August 15, 2003, 14:43: Message edited by: Loser ]

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you certain of this?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">well it WILL change it... to 140% http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif
Like that makes any difference http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you certain of this?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">well it WILL change it... to 140% http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif
Like that makes any difference http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Okay, so with both 30% armors this cranks down to a 70% bonus for the attacking ships. And that means, assuming the assaulting ships don't have any combat bonus of their own, that their chance to hit does not drop from 100% until they get eight squares away from the planet. Is this correct?

[ August 15, 2003, 16:56: Message edited by: Loser ]

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

Some more hidden facts about SE4:

-Putting supply storage on bases allows them to be fleeted with ships, and if it's in orbit above a planet the planet gets the resupply depot ability.

-Your race can earn experience points and save them from game to game. If you get enough points you can trade them in for a massively powerful hidden racial tech tree with weapons that can destroy planets from up to 4 systems away.

-If you start a game of se4 between midnight and 1am on halloween, all ship images are replaced by pictures of witches, pumpkins etc.

-If you meet a player in an SE4 game whose emporer name contains the letters 'F', 'N', 'Y', 'R' and 'O' in any order, there is a bug that lets you get infinite minerals for the rest of the game if you declare war immediately and direct all your warships/ intel against that player.

-If you succeed in building a ring/sphereworld over every star on the map before turn 255, a nude picture of anna kournikova will be displayed as your race portrait.

-If you play your se4 cd backwards on a record player, you will hear demonic Messages in the lost ancient language of the EEE.

-If you send money and/or nude photos of Anna Kournikova to dogscoff's home address, you will be granted masses of good karma and be guaranteed a happy re-incarnation.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

Now D, I was all ready to jump on you about the first one being totally wrong, untill I read the others and realized you are just kidding around. That first one sounds reasonable enough that you are going to get some people saying, "But I read somewhere that if you..." http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

New hidden fact SEIV
67% of the people that play SEIV use mood altering drugs (legeal amd illegeal) My Wife says no of us can spell worth a durn.

Hidden fact:

replaces componets.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

Hidden Facts:

--Fighters in Space added to fleets suck up incredible amounts of supply (Fighter piolots go crazy buzzying all the ships, wasting valuable fuel).

--Co defending warp-points with an ally frequently causes you both to be position well away from the center.

--Defending against a fleet coming through a warp-point does not give you first fire, it gives you the first move, which usually gives you first fire.

--Unarmed ships disregard orders and run away.

--Troops cannot invade an eneymy world with zero population due to Food Contamination or some other means.

--Units never take damage. They are either intact or destroyed.

--Combat occurs every day when zero movement assets (Satellites, Bases) are present at a potential battle site.

--Fighters draw experience from the fleet to which their mother ship belongs.

--If you abandon a riotous world and transfer new population to it, it will no longer be rioting.

--Opaque systems & storm sectors add 1 to 2 factors to cloaking.

--Units do not get racial movement bonus during combat. e.g. 6 engines on a fighter + one racial, give seven movement strategically, but they only move 3, not 4 in combat.

--Ship/Fleet Experience at a planet accrues even if you only move through the sector.

--Retrofitting your entines with no other supply container on board will deplete all your supply.

--To close a warp-point you must start your turn on a warp-point. You can move and create a warp-point.

--Combat does not occur every 5 days as indicated in the manual. It happens when a ship's or fleet's turn to move comes up.

--Downgrading a treaty resets the trade percent back to 1%.

--Population growth occurs before production, so removing a small population from a fully populated homeworld well sive give the 4 Bil bonuses to production and construction, providing your pop growth recovers back to the 4 Bil level.

--Fighters launched from ships during combat will be recovered, if possible, automatically at the end of combat.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

--If you abandon a riotous world and transfer new population to it, it will no longer be rioting.

This is true in most cases. However when an enemy is pounding your Empire. And continuing Happiness losses the 'Shoot a million people and the rest will behave techneque' can fail.

Hidden fact: Ship movement log replay can be a valuable tool for watching were enemy ships go.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No. ECM + both armors gives 90% bonus. So, the planet will have 110 penalty to be hit (assuming ECM on the weapon platforms can even affect the planet in the first place). Which means you get 99% to hit at range 11, 90% at range 12, and so on. And that is if your ship has NO bonuses to hit at all.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I am fairly certain that was fixed in one of the Gold patches (if not Gold itself).

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That should be unit components never take damage, the unit is either intact and fully functional, or destroyed when it has more damage than hit points.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I am pretty sure they can only get a fleet bonus if they are in the fleet themselves, meaning they have to be launched on the strategic map and added to the fleet.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not quite. They provide a level or 5 of cloaking, but they do not really add to the cloaking you have, they replace it (if it is higher). If you have cloaking 2 on your ship and you move into a storm with cloaking 3, your ships will be cloaked at level 3.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you sure about that? It has been my experience that they only get trained if they end their turn over the planet.

[ August 15, 2003, 22:55: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The 'command Fighter' concept won't work, as Fighters will only stack with like Fighters in combat, so only other 'command' Fighters will get the bonus from a Fighter with Talisman, ECM, or Combat Sensors.

Quote:

Originally posted by Taera: planets have about 200% penalty to be hit, ECM wont change a bit.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you certain of this?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">OH yes it will. You prelaunch fighters the turn before and all fighters will be included in the stack. Or when a planet launches all fighters will be in the same stack. Some of this stuff I have been the recipient and it is frustrating to get hit with these tricks.
Tactics in SEIV can overcome a lot of Axioms you read in these forums. A lot of people say missles and fighters are useless in an end game. But when you use better tactics and little trick well some folks I know will make you regret that you ignored missles and fighters in the end game.

[ August 15, 2003, 22:49: Message edited by: Gozra ]

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you lose to missiles and fighters in the end game, it means you got careless and did not include enough PDCs. That, or you were overwhelmed industrially anyways, and so the enemy had many times as many ships and such as you.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you lose to missiles and fighters in the end game, it means you got careless and did not include enough PDCs. That, or you were overwhelmed industrially anyways, and so the enemy had many times as many ships and such as you.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">My apologies. I should have included that combined arms fighters missles and all the weapons avaiable are helpful in securing victory. But Mr. Fyron you did go to the heart of the matter He who produces most has a darn good chance of winning. I have run up against good designs with better ship designs better weapons but lost anyway 'BECAUSE' I was out produced. Getting the most planets the most production in the shortest time can make up for a lot of mistakes.
And the Missle barrage I can bring into the combat is the prelude to the heavey ships going in to grapple with the enemy.

Hidden fact: Missles are a prime target and ships will shoot their primary weapons at them rather that the assult ships behind the missle storm. This allows you to Fire first at his ships with your ships.

[ August 15, 2003, 23:24: Message edited by: Gozra ]

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Excuse me but what are these "primary weapons" that can target missiles ???

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I almost jumped on him as well, until I saw who was posting. It's almost like Narf in disguise. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

i'm sure i should say something, i'm just not sure what.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

You could say "No no no - it's like him."

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

Is this now the misinformation thread?

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Excuse me but what are these "primary weapons" that can target missiles ???</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I am going to mull this one over. I am positive I acheaved the effect I am talking about but now I am not sure how I acheived it. I did send in a wave of OK now I remember. You send in Fighters at the same combat speed as your Ships and the enemy ships fire at them before they fire at your ships. Yes I think that's it. Plus your fighters are designed to take punishment so that some do survive the the point defense weapons.

Re: Hidden facts of SE IV
 

Your opponent can choose his firing priorities and switch it up on you, just so you know.