SE:V Tips & Tricks
 

You can get lower tech research costs in the demo, just edit the (normally locked) formulas.txt file.

In your favorite text editor, switch 'Formula Low Level Cost' with 'Formula Medium Level Cost'. Switch the actual Name Field, not the formulas.

Just played a game, so I can say for a fact that it works! Have fun http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: SE:V Tips & Tricks
 

You can move through certain wormholes even if you don't know where they are. I told my ship to move to the enemy side of a wormhole. The ship was a few systems away. Anyway, the computer knew there was a more direct route so my ship was moving through unknown space heading for wormholes I couldn't see and using them.

Re: SE:V Tips & Tricks
 

Rather than editing the tech costs, go to the system map, press `, type alltech, press enter then press `. Presto, you've got all your reasearch done. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

EDIT: a few more.

Right click on EVERYTHING. There are a number of right-click shortcut menus in every screen that will save you lots of time and effort.

Simiarly, get to know (and change if needed) the keyboard shortcuts. Much faster to hit backspace to cancel an order than wade through a menu.

Play in the highest resolution that gives you decent FPS. The UI elements are a fixed size, so the higher your resolution the less screen space they will take up.

Re: SE:V Tips & Tricks
 

When creating ship designs, holding Shift then Clicking will allow you to add the same component as often as you like (that's in the tutorial).

Whats not in the tutorial is if your pointer is 'empty' and you hold Shift then click, you can quickly remove components from your design without having to click, move to the left and click again.

Re: SE:V Tips & Tricks
 

<font color="red"> */me places "9/19/06 Time Capsule" to look back on fondly 3 years from now </font>

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

I just noticed during my last game, if you switch to sector view, you can arrange any ships/bases you have in the sector! This means you can make sure your defense bases are actually close to your planet.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Oh yeah - I should have mentioned that one so long ago for you guys. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Ohhhhhh, I was wonder what practical purpose that served...

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

That's ok Kwok...it was more fun to discover it on my own, lol.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

.. and if you accidently use the "back to combat simulator start screen"-button (or somesuch), you get a nice crash. Cause is obvious - you where'nt in the simulator http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I like this game.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

That just happened to me. Any reason why you can move your planet? Further for the enemy to go?

Anyhow, I just found out that ship capture is different now. Instead of moving alongside and boarding you launch little shuttles, ala Star Fleet battles, and also a newly captured ship can start fighting for you. I think in SE4 they were out of the battle, although the enemy could fire at them.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

There is a set downtime for captured ships before they can fire.
In SE4, it was long enough that the battle would usually be over before the captured ships managed to load their guns. (10 combat turns in addition to any existing reload at the time of capture, IIRC)

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

"That just happened to me. Any reason why you can move your planet? Further for the enemy to go?"

Strange, I wasn't able to move mine, only the ships/bases in the sector.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Here's another tip..since we can now move objects (bases/ships) around to place them in sector view, and sats aren't viewable/moveable, turn frigates into floating weapon platforms (no engines) by giving them long range weapons, and placing them strategicly around your planets or warp points.

Edit: Yes I know that they won't be able to get to the warp points without engines http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif But you can either build them at the warp point or (and I think this is the better option), build them with engines then retrofit them at the warp point .

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Satellites can be viewed and moved in sector view.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp;amp; Tricks
 

Well unless its a bug, not only satellites can be moved this way, ships as well can be moved around...so you could use the uber frigate sized orbital weapon platform...or if you wanted to be devious, you could use a freighter, and with the right kinda of mounts, could mount alot of large weapons, and have a bunch of free armor, via the cargo bays...

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Really? I couldn't even see them in my game.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

They're pretty small... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

To expand on my earlier tip for low research costs (which was promptly upstaged by the alltech cheat http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif), most of the game settings (that are greyed out in the demo) can be changed by going into settings.txt...for example, to start with 3 planets, rename 'Starting Planets Player Low' to 'Starting Planets Player Medium' (and vice versa)..

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Have the cheat codes been posted? If not perhaps we should post them.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Only a couple have been mentioned. ALLTECH, and MONEY.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

I think there might be more but am not going to confirm or deny it unless oked.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Not bein' a beta...

RESEARCH gives you 1,000,000 to research points.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

It didn't seem to be long before the captured ship started firing. The shuttle flew over. The captured ship started turning, then the enemy attacked it and it got off 2 DUC shots before it exploded. This took about 5 seconds.


I read that you could move stuff in sector view so I went to it and moved my ship about. Then I tried the planet and a green square appeared around it like with the ship. So I moved it to the top left corner and my ship to the bottom right. Then I exited with end combat simulation, which I thought was strange, and the game promptly broke down.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

By using the `RESEARCH` cheat code, it is possible to exceed the maximum tech level for a research area.

In one game I used the cheat code repeatedly to get tons of research points which I put into Energy Weapons. Because extra research points spill over to the next level, it was enough to get the tech level up to 103 which is 3 levels above the maximum of 100. It looks like the game doesn't check for the maximum level when the points roll over to extra levels.

So even if you don't use the cheat code, if your empire is generating a lot of research points the same thing might happen, in which case it would be a bug.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

But that happens even if you don't have any planet in the sector to move about - if you hit the "exit combat simulator"-button if you're in fact in sector view, not the combat simulator http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

When I tried to do this delieberatly for a second time, I wasn't able to find the "exit simulator button" .. either it was deactivated or not present at all?

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

What did that do? Did the formula use the extra levels to make the component more effective, or ignore it, or crash the game?

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

It didn't actually do very much. In the Research window, it shows Energy Stream Weapons current level = 103. But when you design a ship, the anti-proton beam is only available at level 100, so it does not appear to give you any extra technology above the maximum.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

No, the components themselves have a defined cap that they'll go up to regardless of the level of their prerequisite tech area. However, the exceeding the tech area cap is a bug.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Can you use a random function in the research/tech tree? Would be interesting if the next level of some arbitrary weapon gave a randomized degree of improvement.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Perhaps. I'm not sure if the data for a weapon is calculate just once when it becomes available or not. If so, it might be possible to have a random affect like you want.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp;amp; Tricks
 

Might be neat to have a randomized reasearch amount as well per level...If that is possible.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Found another cheat code. Type `REPAIR` to instantly fix a damaged ship.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

I looked around in the data files. The cheat codes are listed inside MainStrings.txt.

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>DC_Main 8 := allsysseen
DC_Main 9 := allempseen
DC_Main 10 := omni
DC_Main 11 := money
DC_Main 12 := research
DC_Main 13 := alltech
DC_Main 14 := fastbuild
DC_Main 15 := nomaint
DC_Main 16 := intel
DC_Main 17 := restoresupplies
DC_Main 18 := collisiongrid
DC_Main 19 := showstats
DC_Main 20 := retrofit
DC_Main 21 := repair
</pre><hr />

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Im not sure if this has been mentioned but if you attack an enemy cloaked, you can first switch to the sector view and arrange your ships in position much closer to the enemy before you uncloak and the tactical round starts.

Useful for surrounding a weaker foe before it can run away or run a suicide plague mission from a frigate without giving the enemy a chance to stop it.

Edit : It's also got a seriously cool suprise attack feel to it. Bird of Prey in a Star Trek Mod could be fun.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

SWEET! I never thought of trying that!

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

There's a related bug where if you use the simulator first and then try it you can also move the enemies ships and star bases.

Although your game dies when you go back to system view, cheaters never prosper.

Edit : Right click to spin your ships direction when placing your ships.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

More cheat codes, found a bit further down in MainStrings.txt.

`RESTOREMOVE` to give your ship full movement.
`VIEWALLDESIGNS` to see all enemy ship designs.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

The scroll over text for the Upgrade button states that a design using a name such as "Attack Ship Mk I" will be upgraded with the name of "Attack Ship Mk II". I tried this and it works as it says. Cool!

*You can even use your own names and you don't even need the "Mk"; just a space and the "I" after your design name. Yes!*

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

How to take control of an A.I. empire and make it human-controlled:

Click the MENU button and then Players. When it asks for the Game Master Password, enter "master".
Now de-select computer control from any of the A.I. empires in the list.

When the newly player-controlled empire's turn comes up, enter "master" as the password in the login prompt.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

It is possible to quickly toggle through filters and layouts by pressing CTRL+F and CTRL+L.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Here are all the cheat codes and what they do:

allsysseen = Current Player has seen all solar systems.
allempseen = Current Player has encountered all other players.
omni = Current Player is omnipresent in all solar systems.
money = Add 100,000 resources of each type to the Current Player's treasury.
research = Add 100,000 research points to the Current Player.
alltech = Current Player gains all technologies.
fastbuild = All construction queues get 1,000,000 in accumulated resources.
nomaint = Current Player's empire no longer pays maintenance.
intel = Add 100,000 intelligence points to the Current Player.
restoresupplies = All of the Current Player's ships get full supplies and ordinance.
collisiongrid = Show the collision grid in combat.
showstats = Show statistics on the selected combat object.
retrofit [design name] = Retrofit the current ship to the new design.
repair = Completely repair the currently selected ship.
allplayershuman = All players set to human control.
viewallcombats = All combats are shown on screen.
restoremove = restores selected ship's movement

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Ridiclously small, actually. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif Seems Aaron listened to the Starfury "all the ships and sats are too big!" complaints.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

nah they are good. there just needs to be a way to see them. maybe a glowing arrow above them?

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

The scale of SE V is completely different than Starfury. You need to be able to see what is happening to many ships at once, so of course the view is further out and the ships are smaller. In fact, we've been asking him to let us zoom further out!

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

When the scale is such I can't *see* drones/sats without zooming in, there's an issue. They need to be larger, or there should be a marker to indicate their location.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

They should scale with the zoom. That's the way Homeworld is.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp; Tricks
 

Or, also borrowing from homeworld, have little boxes around the units.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp;amp; Tricks
 

General Tips

(1) [MOUSEOVER TOOLTIPS] Take the time to read the help text from the mouseover tool tips. There are a lot of tips in there (since they can easily and quickly be changed via the text file) that have continually been updated with each subsequent patch that you probably (won't) find in the manual.

(2) [CUSTOM LAYOUTS] Known them, love them, enjoy them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif my favorites for max information on what I need to know to make decisions: SHIPS LIST for moving ships (picture - only for ability to reduce row height and add more rows per screen, Name, Movement, Damage, Supplies, Fleet Name, Status Icons); PLANETS LIST to send colonizers (Name, Size, Type, Atmosphere, Values, and Time to Arrival); CONSTRUCTION QUEUES LIST for updating queues (Picture, Name, Colony Type, Items under Construction, Time to Completion, Status Icons); COLONIES LIST to check cargo/facility status on change colony type as needed (Picture, Name, Colony Type, Facilities (current &amp; total), Cargo (current &amp; total) and Status Icons.

(3) [MOVING] Hotkey "M" for moving - lifesaver each turn

(4) [PRIMARY SCREEN HOTKEYS] Get to know the major hotkeys for primary subscreens you use each turn (Log = SHIFT + L, Research = SHIFT + R, Ships = SHIFT + S, Queues = SHIFT + Q, Colonization = SHIFT + P, Designs = SHIFT + D, Intel = SHIFT + I, Diplomacy/Empires = SHIFT + E and Finances/Overview = SHIFT + O)

(5) [END OF TURN DIALOG] Leave the end of turn warning dialog box on - that way it will warn you when you have unallocated points, ships without move orders and unanswered messages

(6) [SYSTEM DISPLAY] Leave in empty queue notice, but turn off the full queue (no need to have them both). This way the empty box will appear on the system display when you have an empty queue. Also, I like to turn off WPs since they are on every planet, but keep on others that work into my logistics system (sats, troops, fighters, mines).

(7) [CYCLE ALL SHIPS EACH TURN] Use the spacebar to cycle through ships without orders each turn. It will quickly select that ship so you can give it orders.

(8) [REMOTE LOAD/DROP] Key hotkeys for your logistics system. I find the defaults hard to remember, re-designate to what you like and use.

(9) [RETROFIT, SURVEY, QUEUE, COLONY TYPE] More hotkeys that I use regularly "CTRL + E", "/", "Q", ";" respectively.

(10) [WAYPOINTS] Currently designated with CTRL + #, and send ships to by simply pressing the #. No current way to rename them, but its on our list http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

(11) [SPOUSAL TIME ALERT] Clicking on the header bar over the star date will reveal whether its time to attend to your spouse or kids. Also, clicking on the resources will cycle the intel/research points and your normal resources.

Hmm, that's it for now.

Re: SE:V Tips &amp;amp;amp; Tricks
 

maybe im stupid and have been missing something all these years, but the first thing i do in a SE4 game is to set all my options. empire options, display options, turn ministers off, etc. etc. its irritating, and sometimes i forget some.

SE5 has MORE of these options and, while I do like them, i'd also be really keen for there to be a way to save them from game to game. So when i started a new game, it would remember my settings. Or I would be able to load them with my empire or something.

Maybe theres a way to do this in SE4 and I just missed it, but more importantly, does any one know if this can be done in 5?