Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

what is with this strategic combat lark? I have tried it on my first SE IV game but everything blitzes around so darned fast you dont seem to be able to influence it in any way. Also, various threads seem to say there is a playback mechanism but I cant find that anywhere - can someone please tell me what this strategic combat bit is?

one more question, what do the explore and sentry buttons do - given that you can see the whole system as soon as you enter it, the explore doesn't seem any use - I am not sure what the purpose of the sentry is either as it doesnt seem to make any difference

Any assistance or sarcastic remarks greatly appreciated

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

OK: Strategic combat - no you can't influence it when battle has commenced. You have to influence it in advance by designing your ships properly and giving them formations / strategies which suit their designs, what you think you're up against and how you want to fight. It's a whole other way of playing.
I prefer tactical but if you play by email (PBEM) or by web (PBW) you have to use strategic - tactical is not available.

I reckon you'll get a lot of replies on this topic=-)

Give a ship the explore command and it will automatically seek out unexplored systems. That simple.

Sentry. GIving a ship "sentry" status doesn't actually *do* anything, but it puts an order into the ship's order queue. This is useful, becasue it allows you to differentiate between ships doing nothing and waiting for new orders and ships doing nothing but guarding an important position. In other words, when you click through your ships using the "next ship with no orders" button, "sentry" ships will be skipped.

Does that make sense? Doubt it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[ 19 December 2001: Message edited by: dogscoff ]</p>

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

I reckon you'll get a lot of replies on this topic=-)

hope so, only way us SE IV virgins will learn anything if reading lots of threads, picking up tips from you guys and being whomped by the Phong (who came up with that name? sounds like someone chewing a sock)

good point, I need to pay far more attention to the strategies section for fleets, especially as I go missile heavy on ships and need to put in that 'engage at maximum range' option

explore button - good call and many thanks, likewise on the sentry button - havn't found the 'next ship with no orders' button yet but can definately see the use.

Cheers for responding

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>
and being whomped by the Phong
<hr></blockquote>

Well, until you start playing against the Rage, the Vikings and the Aquileans anyway=-)

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>
good point, I need to pay far more attention to the strategies section for fleets, especially as I go missile heavy on ships and need to put in that 'engage at maximum range' option
<hr></blockquote>

Well, you can get away with ignoring it as long as you only use tactical. I don't play much multiplayer so I'm still not too good with strategic yet.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>
havn't found the 'next ship with no orders' button yet but can definately see the use.
<hr></blockquote>

I don't know where it is either, I do everything the hard way=-) Like most of the SEIV knowledge I dispense on this forum, it's something I learned rfom someone else's post http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>
Cheers for responding
<hr></blockquote>
Well, us UK players have to stick together. Besides, us crusty old forum dogs like to compete and see who can get in first with an answer to newbie questions. Being one of the only regular posters in a European time zone gives me a distinct advantage= http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

[ 19 December 2001: Message edited by: dogscoff ]</p>

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

Well, us UK players have to stick together. Besides, us crusty old forum dogs like to compete and see who can get in first with an answer to newbie questions. Being one of the only regular posters in a European time zone gives me a distinct advantage=

Fair comment, maybe we need to set up a PBW/PBEM SE IV Version of 'Jeux sans Frontieres' so that us players on this side of the pond can challenge and take on the US/Canadian/South American players

Beware, give me another month on this game and I might end up as a crusty old forum dog as well!

Seen a couple of other threads on strategic battles which are good, question Dogscoff - on tactical battles, do you tend to clear all group assignments and go ship by ship - seems the best way forward but a pain in la derriere when you've got 20 ships (and fighters) in a fleet

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Growltigga:
havn't found the 'next ship with no orders' button yet but can definately see the use.<hr></blockquote>

The button itself is at the upper right corner--there's a little ship with a left and right arrow on either side. Or, because it's quick and easy, you can just use the space bar. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Eric/LL
PBW UI Guy

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

In this game everyone has their own style, in Tactical, if your ships are far apart, you can use the quick tac combat button, go to options in tactical combat screen click on it, until your ships get close or within range, then its really up to you, be sure to go back and turn off quick button unless that is what you want to do, I usually move fast until close to combat range, then clear orders and move individually if good size fleet engage, if I outnumber them, I check their stats and if I feel I outgun them, go to fast combat, otherwise I like to move and fight each ship, slower but far more enjoyable, my opinion, this is the way I do it, it doesn't mean that's what everyone does, each of us has own likes/preferences/styles, best way see is experiment until you see which you prefer. Also you can use the "E" button (hold down) on computer to end tac combat sequence fast instead of going thru full 30 turns.

just some ideas mac http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

thanks mac

which is the quick tac button - I have seen the auto button but cant seem to switch this off once I turn it on - which is a right pain up the jacksy when your ships start doing daft things and get blown apart

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

Some people find it too easy to beat the AI races in Tactical Combat, so they voluntarily limit themselves to Strategic for more of a challenge.

The playback is accessed from the (F10) Log screen; click on the message "Combat in &lt;system&gt;", which lists the results, then click the Combat Replay button. (Note this is not the same thing as the Replay Movement button on the main screen in simultaneous games, which tends to do odd things if you use it.)

The (E) Explore command will send the ship through the nearest unexplored warp point. This can lead to a nasty surprise if you don't notice that the nearest unexplored warp point is one that does damage.

The (Y) Sentry command will let the ship stay where it is until an enemy ship enters the system, which clears the order. You can't put a ship on Sentry if there's already an enemy in the system, or if the ship is low on supplies.

Another way to end tactical combat faster is Orders/Resolve Combat. You should be able to turn Auto off; it only executes one turn at a time, IIRC. Unless you've put the formation leader on Auto and don't have any other ships that aren't in the formation and still on manual; that might be why you couldn't stop it.

[ 19 December 2001: Message edited by: capnq ]</p>

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Growltigga:
Seen a couple of other threads on strategic battles which are good...<hr></blockquote>

Was this a question? If so, here are a couple...

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...23&t=003931&p=

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...23&t=003805&p=

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

[quote]Originally posted by dumbluck:
[QB]

Was this a question? If so, here are a couple...

It wasn't a question but many thanks - these look useful

BTW - are you an insomniac? what time is it over there??

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

It is 5:44 am here. I just got off work a couple of hours ago... I've always been a night owl. Maybe I'm part vampire, I don't know. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

edit: to put the quote in, you have to put the end quote codes in as well. They are the same, except with a / in them {quote}{qb}like this, but with the square parenthases{/qb}{/quote}

[ 20 December 2001: Message edited by: dumbluck ]</p>

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by dumbluck:
It is 5:44 am here. I just got off work a couple of hours ago... I've always been a night owl. Maybe I'm part vampire, I don't know. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif <hr></blockquote>

If it means you get to meet Buffy, then I am all for it

Not so much a night owl, more a morning gerbil

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

yea, I sunburn easily, you easily burn thu 5 candybars worth of sugar in the morning....? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Growltigga:
It wasn't a question but many thanks - these look useful
<hr></blockquote>

They are, especially the second one...

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by dumbluck:
yea, I sunburn easily, you easily burn thu 5 candybars worth of sugar in the morning....? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif <hr></blockquote>

what on earth do you do jobwise which means you work the same hours as europeans and need 5 chocolate bars in the morning

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

Yeah, too right on that - I am not a morning person or an evening person but just find that it doesn't matter - work makes me both

I must probably peak at about 12.30 on Feb 29 only

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

I am so NOT a morning person that EDS's coffee bill doubled when they hired me on http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I have worked on a contract where they made me pay twice a much for the coffee mess than the other guys http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I used to be a late night person...until I got older and my jobs required that I get up at 6am to be at work by 7am.

When I was a young Marine, I'd get up at 5am for PT and work, and then routinely stay up until 1 or 2am that night. We'd play games over the weekend for 48 or more hours straight...ahh, the days of youth http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Growltigga:


what on earth do you do jobwise which means you work the same hours as europeans and need 5 chocolate bars in the morning<hr></blockquote>

Hah! how did you know I worked in a candy factory??? Oh, wait, you misread my statement, is all. I've always been a night person, that's why I work the 2nd shift.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by dumbluck:


Hah! how did you know I worked in a candy factory??? Oh, wait, you misread my statement, is all. I've always been a night person, that's why I work the 2nd shift.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif <hr></blockquote>

Elementary my dear Watson, I surmised you worked in a sweet factory by (a) misinterpreting what you said and (b) seeing your entry whilst flicking through the back pages of the 'How old are you' thread!

If you have been up all night in a sweet factory, does the smell on you in the morning tend to drive the girls wild??

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

*chuckle* well, the one girl it matters with is a chocolate freak... who happens to dislike the flavor of the chocolate I work with. (she worked there briefly as well.) Go figure. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

And also, I don't really work with the raw chocolate (where the smell permeates the entire room), I just wrap and pack it after it's been formed into the various candies. Heck, after the new year, I'm going to be in the shipping department for about 2 months, so then all I will smell like is battery acid, sawdust, and cardboard shavings!!

So, what does your nine to 4 job entail? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

edit: And just for giggles and chuckles, take a look here

[ 21 December 2001: Message edited by: dumbluck ]</p>

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

'nine to four??' in my dreams.

I am a lawyer based in Manchester, England. I specialise in banking and finance and because it is transactional based, we normally do 50-80 hour weeks. Average working day is 7.30am to say 20.00.

Problem is law is so highly specialised you cant really move to do anything else as all you have trained for is to be a money grubbing miserable whinging swine.

Personally, I need to win the lottery tomorrow so I can train up to be the world's first male lap dancer

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

Luckily, the wife is a lawyer as well so she understands. Sad to say going home is generally a treat.

Strange, in the UK, lawyers tend to marry lawyers but then I suspect that just has something to do with genetics and trying to breed the strain out

Bad thing is we dont get bonuses or overtime so when you work out the hourly rate on the salary, I pay my cleaner more - hell, anyone in MacDonalds earns more than me

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Growltigga:
Bad thing is we dont get bonuses or overtime so when you work out the hourly rate on the salary, I pay my cleaner more - hell, anyone in MacDonalds earns more than me<hr></blockquote>

Yes, but you get to wear those nifty wigs right? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Geo

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by geoschmo:


Yes, but you get to wear those nifty wigs right? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Geo<hr></blockquote>

No, that's barristers - unlike you Yanks, our legel professions are split two ways - you are either a barrister (get to wear the wig and appear in court) or a solicitor (do the hard graft and grease the wheels of industry)

I am a solicitor

Scary thought is that when you join the English legal profession, you either go soliciting or go to the bar (technical term for becoming a barrister)

European lawyers for some reason laugh so hard at this that the tears run down their legs - they say that English lawyers either go cruising for a piece of derriere or end up drunk

probably a fair comment

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

Growltigga
Do they compare you to *Sharks* over there? Maybe we should create a special Ship Set for Lawers and Computer people like me.
Hmm, and a 3rd set for people who are both.
Enjoy

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gryphin:
Growltigga
Do they compare you to *Sharks* over there? <hr></blockquote>

Well, the standard joke is that this lawyer falls into the sea and before he is rescued, a damn great big maneating shark comes swimming up to him. Instead of chomping him up, the sharks puts him on his back, swims up to the side of the ship and puts him back on board. Noone can believe this so they ask the lawyer why the shark didn't eat him but rescued him instead. The lawyers just says that it was professional courtesy.

Actually, English lawyers arn't called sharks cos we are (a) useful members of society, (b) a damn sight cheaper than US lawyers and (c) not thieving lying rotten bindippers

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

And we don't chase Ambulances in Europe (well, at least in germany). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by [K126]Mephisto:
And we don't chase Ambulances in Europe (well, at least in germany). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif <hr></blockquote>

that doesn't really happen in the UK either

just thought, your combination of being a paramedic and lawyer is great, you can patch 'em up on the scene and get new instructions

you cunning swine

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

LOL! Actually most of the time you wonder how the doctors can get around with some people all day long. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Strategic combat - a couple of Newby questions
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Growltigga:
'nine to four??' in my dreams.

I am a lawyer based in Manchester, England. I specialise in banking and finance and because it is transactional based, we normally do 50-80 hour weeks. Average working day is 7.30am to say 20.00. <hr></blockquote>
Gosh, you must have a cot in the back room! do they let you out for an hour every so often to visit your family? Heck, maybe they can go all out and let you commute home once a month to sleep in your own bed!

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Personally, I need to win the lottery tomorrow so I can train up to be the world's first male lap dancer<hr></blockquote>

Yeah, i need to win the lottery. If I did, I could attain solvency! Well almost, anyway. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif