Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

I prefer finite resource games. They just seem more realstic and over-all better. anyone else agree?

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

I like all sorts of games, so I wouldn't say they are better or worse. But I would encourage everyone to try a finite resource game one at least once. They are quite different.

Geo

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

I played a finite resources game once, but what happened was:
a) I took care of my colonies' ecosystems, and ended up with infinite resources again.
b) By NOT stripmining resources, I ended up with more research as a side effect.
c) The eventual AI confrontation became a low-volume, high-tech defense against the resource-strangled Last gasp of medium-volume, medium-tech ships. Me having piles of maintenance-free sats & fighters just made it worse.

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

Yeah, I dont' recomend it against the AI. I don't think the AI acts any differently in a finite resources game. This is doable if you can expand rapidly enough to counter act the depletion of your core planets. But if you don't expand very well, which the AI doesn't, its a matter of time before your empire collapses on itself.

Geo

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

Actually, I only controlled 3 systems. Taking care of what I did have was the key.

My homeworld, in fact was well on its way to unstoppable resource growth.

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

some good points but i think the key to a good finite resource game is to DISABLE all resource improvement plants.

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

If you do that, you end up with a heat death for the universe.

Perhaps better would be a one-per-planet value improvement facility. Then you still get to balance conservation & productivity.

Teach the kiddies responsible use of resources! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

Eventually everything dies... even the universe, sad but true

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

Sure, but it takes longer than a decade to happen http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

If you disable Stellar manipulation, you'll get a better heat-death scenario, as the stars go nova one-by-one.

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

I like them. I've never learned to grow my resources though. In every game I've played, we all just strip-mine, and pummel until everything is gone, then we wither-up and die.

There's probably a more graceful way, but I haven't learned it yet..

I feel like it gives another reason to fight over planets, too.. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

I've only played one finite resource game, and disliked it so much that I've never played another. IMO completely stripping the resources of an entire planet within a few years is totally unrealistic.

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

Oh, I don't know, I think we've done a good job of significantly reducing our resources in the past 500 years http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Sure, we haven't quite succeeded in bring our resources down to zero yet, but we've only just left the industrial age! Think of the possibilities once we really get some space-aged/nanotech-aged manipulations happening! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

Actually it's not unlikely that in 50 years most of our natural resources will be depleted to the point where it's completely unproductive to mine what's left, so it's not THAT unrealistic.

Fun possiblity with limited resources games would be fighting over worlds, and the sense that your empire might 'run out' just like the universe, so it's a speedy battle to get more then the others, opening up options for necessity of mining asteroids.

Unfortunately mining asteroids is completely unproductive and not an option for the AI, I focus on getting infinite resources via those crystal solar thingies or value improvement plants, and the enemy has a depleted homeworld within 50 turns which makes him die in effect.

Versus humans it might be fun, balancing stripmining versus putting only 1 mine on such planets to prolong it's value.

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

Thought i might add my opinion of the topic.
First of all when you play with finite resources the Religious tech finaly comes in handy. Not only you get Value&ConditionImprovementPlant for each planet by single facility, but also you get those handy bonuses to defend those planets.

Now another thing. The Finite Resources just might be fun.. never played it, but thought about it. But the AI wont make it.

But here is an idea, a challenge if you like.
All the modders out there. Its the right time to design a MOD for this.
Nothing too serious. the most of what is requied is a new minister style. We have the Neutral, Defensive and Aggressive. What we need is FRNeutral, FRDefensive and FRAgressive (FR is Finite Resources) that will make the AI:
a. Research Value Improvement Plants ASAP
b. Build them on every resource planet
c. IF IT IS POSSIBLE, put in some mining ships

Religious races will finaly get their edge over the other races.

As for the mod, it might include some races with more personalized AI, and perharps a new layout.

Re: Finite resources vs infinite resources
 

Well figured out a realistic solution, when i comes to finite resource games.

A. All planets should have the natural ability to regen resouces in a set amount not a % say +1500 inerals and +500 oragincs/rads per turn.(this is due to naturally processes like volcanic activiy and space dust falling on planet).

and also

B. When a sun destroyer goes off all the asteroids in the system should increase in value

both of these i think are very realstic solutions.

- still don't belive in anything that can provide inf growth (those facilities)