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New player struggling
Hi,
I am new to SEIV and am struggling. It seems very complex and poorly documented. Simple example - what is a weapons platform, I can't find any reference to it anywhere, it might be for fighting off ground troops, perhaps enemy space ships, why weigh 200,000 tons, why is it cargo?? I must be missing a manual or something somewhere? HELP !!! Andy |
Re: New player struggling
It is a type of ground platform used to fight off ships that get too close to the planet in combat.
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Re: New player struggling
Welcome to the game and the forum Andy.
Dont be too frustrated, it will come to you. Eventually you will be like the rest of us, hooked and modding new addons to the game. As to your question, it is a platform that you will use to defend your planet with in combat. You will need to place weapon mounts and shielding on the platform for better defense. Another good suggestion is armor. This way, when the computer or other players attack you, it is better for defending and warding off the enemy ships. Hope this helps.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif |
Re: New player struggling
A weapons platform is basically a self-contained military base. When they are in a planet's "cargo", they are deployed across the surface, and can fire at passing warships.
They are useless while carried on board a ship or space station. |
Re: New player struggling
Andy, welcome to the forum and I am glad that yet another Brit has joined the forum to add a bit of class to all these north americans http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif
Dont worry about asking any questions however daft you may feel they are because (a) we all lacked a manual once and learnt through trial, error and asking people and (b) your questions wont be daft, guaranteed |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Growltigga the Great:
Andy, welcome to the forum and I am glad that yet another Brit has joined the forum to add a bit of class to all these north americans http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif <hr></blockquote> This reminds me of a message which has been published during the Last election in the US: Theme: United States of the Commonwealth Subject: A message from the Home Office. To the citizens of the United States of America, In the light of your failure to elect a President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchial duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except Utah, which she does not fancy. Your new prime minister (The rt. hon. Tony Blair, MP for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect: 1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium". Check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. Generally, you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up "vocabulary". Using the same twenty seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. Look up "interspersed". 2. There is no such thing as "US English". We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. 3. You should learn to distinguish the English and Australian accents. It really isn't that hard. 4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as the good guys. 5. You should relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The Queen",but only after fully carrying out task 1. We would not want you to get confused and give up half way through. 6. You should stop playing American "football". There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game. The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football. Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like nancies). We are hoping to get together at least a US rugby sevens side by 2005. 7. You should declare war on Quebec and France, using nuclear weapons if they give you any merde. The 97.85% of you who were not aware that there is a world outside your borders should count yourselves lucky. The Russians have never been the bad guys. 8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 8th will be a new national holiday, but only in England. It will be called "Indecisive Day". 9. All American cars are hereby Banned. They are [self-censored] and it is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean. 10. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us crazy. Thank you for your cooperation. ---------- Don't be offended by this, it does not display my opinion, of course... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif [ 18 March 2002: Message edited by: PsychoTechFreak ]</p> |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by PsychoTechFreak:
This reminds me a message which has been published during the Last election in US: ... <hr></blockquote> ROTFL http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif |
Re: New player struggling
Andy,
As a newbie myself, it helps if you have some recollection of MOO2. The game is similar in many ways albeit more complex. Trial and error is sometimes the way to go. Playing the Klingons, one of my colonies rebelled (in the home system yet). How to go about bringing it back in line? I had researched "troops" earlier but had no clue how to use them. WTH, just give it a go, put 'em on a transport and include in a fleet of LC's, DDs, and a Light Carrier. Soften up the planet and send in the troops. I had barely enough but armed with Meson BLasters 3 (early in game) they squeaked out a victory. I also gleened that approx 1 militia point is generated planetside for every 20 MM pop. Don't get frustrated. Part of the fun is watching the game unfold as you learn. |
Re: New player struggling
Since no-one else has mentioned it:
Weapon platforms, fighters, troops, and drones are "units", which can be cargo; bases are classified as ships. When you are designing (Designs, F3) or building (Construction, F7; or Construction Queue, Q), ships and units are on seperate tabs. |
Re: New player struggling
Andy, I'm a person in the same situation, and can say this is the VERY BEST forum ever. They have answered ever question I've asked (no matter if it's dumb or not!). As for me, I play my game until I run into a problem or question, then scan the forum and ask questions until I get it solved. Then I continue playing. If you like to play fast, my method may not be very good. I'm already 4 months into my first game.
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Re: New player struggling
PsychoTechFreak:
Please don't tell me we have to show the Brits who's boss, AGAIN! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif |
Re: New player struggling
Andy: Don't feel alone. I been playing SEIV since September 2000 and have won only one game out of hundreds.....and they say the AI ain't so great! HA! and now it is even harder with the improved AI in gold....oh well...back to my daily whuppin'
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Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Alpha Kodiak:
PsychoTechFreak: Please don't tell me we have to show the Brits who's boss, AGAIN! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif <hr></blockquote> Strength is irrelevant. Resistance is futile. Negotiation is irrelevant. You will be assimilated. Freedom is irrelevant. Self-determination is irrelevant. You must comply. A neural transceiver is required for maximum communication, we will work as one mind. We are the Brits. Resistance as you know it is over. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. You will become one with the Brits. Why do you resist? We only wish to raise quality of life for all species. Brit Locutus. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif |
Re: New player struggling
BTW Psycho, on point #9, as an Audi A4 owner, I agree. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif
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Re: New player struggling
Psycho: Sevens? BAH! full sides and scrum down!
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Re: New player struggling
American football is awesome dude. Rugby is for insane people. I remember this pic where the guy was reaching for the ball, grabbed this guys head, thinking it was the ball, and poked this guy in the eye, drawing a fair sized squirt of blood. Both players continued playing. Goodness, at least we keep them alive in american football.
Edit: I must duly note that rugby is a really fun game though. But its nuts [ 20 March 2002: Message edited by: Instar ]</p> |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Andy Watkins:
Tigga and all, [Andy, I will do my damnedest to answer all these, the nice thing about this forum is that if my answer is incomplete, you can safely bet a spice girl that some north american or german will give you chapter and verse] Thankyou for your support, you have inspired me to have another go. [don't give up, it is actually really worth it] Space empires IV is very difficult to get in the UK so I guess most of you are from the good old US of A. I will of course try and remember to spell things incorrectly :-) [I am a true blue Brit] I thought the manual with Gold was supposed to be great, (it isn't) so didn't look on the disk, have now read the real manual and much more makes sense, though I still have a feeling there are lots of gaps in my knowledge. I am VERY early in the game so don't appear to have any fighters or any ground troops at all. [to get fighters and troops, you need to research 'Construction' which will open up these areas - I personally like fighters - see my Posts in the 'ship designs for stock game' thread] I can build up to Destroyer sized ships, or small satellites or space stations or weapons platforms that's about it. [that is about right for the early part of the game - to increase the size of your weapons platforms, satellites or space stations, you need to research the next tech level in weapon platforms, satellites and base constructiuon respectively - if you research 'ship construction', your next level should give you light cruiser and IIRC medium transport although that may only be with the cruiser hull] I recently noticed an ally of mine has been planting satellites on all his warp points. Ah that's a good idea I thought I'll copy them. Built some satellites, loaded them onto a transport, went to warp point and could not dump the cargo. Looks like I need to be able to "Launch" the satellites, how do I do that? [right, first you need to build a ship that has "satellite layer" component on it. You get this free at the start of the game. Also make sure you build some cargo pods on your satellite layer ship. This will allow you to deploy and pick satellites. When you get to the place you want to deploy, hit the 'I' button on your keyboard (I can tremeber what the symbol looks like on the order bar), this will allow you to lauch your sats. This also works for launching fighters, mines whatever] I wanted to mine asteroids, only ship that seemed to be able to do so was an attack destroyer with no guns and a pair of mining add on's. Took ship to asteroids and it started mining straight away. Yippee I got something right..... Then it ran out of fuel and I had to send it back to a planet to reful in the next system and then all the way back again. BORING! How can I stop this?? [you cant stop running out of fuel, various techs will allow you to enhance your ships' range, eg supply storage pods, solar collectors etc, but you just need to scope this into the game] If I want to move a ship a couple of systems I appear to have to go WARP to the nearest point. Then go to the next system and put WARP to the next point etc etc. Can I get a ship across several systems with just one command? [yes, just press the move order ('m' key on keyboardand click on where you want the ship to go, it will authomatically warp as required on route] What do waypoints do and how do you use them? [dont know, anyone?] Not very clear about combat. if you have ion cannons they seem to fire straight at whatever you target. I had a mk I capital missile and think I fired it, very difficult to tell, I think it was reponsible for a purple splat on my ship, I never seemed to get a purple splat on my target so don't know if it ever hit, or was the purple splat their missiles hitting me?? [hard to know what your purple splat is, missiles should be easy as if you fire them, a missile appears and on following turns will track after the target - most beam weapons are represented by a direct firing icon, the purple splat could just be shields?] I have a big list of other questions but only a small brain to store them in so I have forgotten them all! [join the club - everybody on this forum has a big list and a small brain] Any assistance you can provide on any of the above would be hugely appreciated, Andy PS are there any "Difficulty" setting in the game? [there is to the extent that on the playter setup screen, you can set the AI to hard setting, with lots of bonus points] PPS My favourite sci fi series of all time is Babylon 5, do I get the impression I can "Mod" the game in some way to reflect B5?? I don't understand anything at all about modding. [see modding and the 'Babylon 5 mod' thread] [quote]Originally posted by Growltigga the Great: [QB]Andy, welcome to the forum and I am glad that yet another Brit has joined the forum to add a bit of class to all these north americans http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif <hr></blockquote> |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MikeRMcCartney:
BTW Psycho, on point #9, as an Audi A4 owner, I agree. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif <hr></blockquote> Meown an Audi A4 too, it rocks ! |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MikeRMcCartney:
BTW Psycho, on point #9, as an Audi A4 owner, I agree. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif <hr></blockquote> Hey, meown one also, Audi A4 kicks ***. What a coincidence ? I do not think so. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif |
Re: New player struggling
The waypoints can be set in the empire screen(I think). Then you can use them to move ships to them without clicking on the system. I find them useful on resupply bases so you can send ships along a warp chain.
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Re: New player struggling
The waypoints can be set by hotkeys directly in the systems view.
To set one, hit Alt+Number of waypoint, e.g. Alt-1 and then click the sector. To move a ship to a waypoint, select the ship and hit Ctrl-1 (through 0). Edit: You can find the (other) Hotkeys under the "?" - window, "hotkeys". [ 20 March 2002: Message edited by: PsychoTechFreak ]</p> |
Re: New player struggling
Since no one really answered your questions, I will try, you asked quite a few in somewhat a huge post so bear with me.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Andy Watkins: I am VERY early in the game so don't appear to have any fighters or any ground troops at all. You have to research constrution and then fighters/troops before you get them. I can build up to Destroyer sized ships, or small satellites or space stations or weapons platforms that's about it. Once again, you have to research each upgrade. ships ---- ship construction sats ----there is a sat research tree same thing for platforms, drones, and space stations. I recently noticed an ally of mine has been planting satellites on all his warp points. Ah that's a good idea I thought I'll copy them. Built some satellites, loaded them onto a transport, went to warp point and could not dump the cargo. Looks like I need to be able to "Launch" the satellites, how do I do that? First make sure you are loading them into a ship that contains sat launchers (not cargo holders) Then there is a button on the top that shows a ship with and arrow going out, that is the remote launch button. you can preset the orders by clicking the ship, the button and the wp, it will ask what you want to launch, pick sats. I wanted to mine asteroids, only ship that seemed to be able to do so was an attack destroyer with no guns and a pair of mining add on's. Took ship to asteroids and it started mining straight away. Yippee I got something right..... Then it ran out of fuel and I had to send it back to a planet to reful in the next system and then all the way back again. BORING! How can I stop this?? for mining ships you can add panels once you research them. Or you can build large sats and launch them to do the mining, Once again you need to research them. If I want to move a ship a couple of systems I appear to have to go WARP to the nearest point. Then go to the next system and put WARP to the next point etc etc. Can I get a ship across several systems with just one command? Yes, if the first system has been explored, then all you do is click the ship, click the system and click the far wp, you want to use. You can go across as many systems as you want as long as all the systems you are crossing, can be viewed by you. What do waypoints do and how do you use them? Waypoints can be used for a number of things. I use them to create central locations for all my newly built ships to move to before I send them out on missions. some people use them to create move chains for moving fleets or ships to the front lines. They are very useful. Not very clear about combat. if you have ion cannons they seem to fire straight at whatever you target. I had a mk I capital missile and think I fired it, very difficult to tell, I think it was reponsible for a purple splat on my ship, I never seemed to get a purple splat on my target so don't know if it ever hit, or was the purple splat their missiles hitting me?? I don't quite understand this question. I think you are asking if you fired a missle or if you were being hit? well, if you fire a missle, it appears in the same spot as your ship and then moves out toward the target. if you are being hit, then the missle moves into you ship spot and you see an explosion. PS are there any "Difficulty" setting in the game? yes, when you first set up a new game, there are settings to pick if you want neutral races, if you want low, medium, or high number of reg races, if they should be easy, medium or hard, if they should recieve, a low, medium or high bonus. There are other settings that make the gamje harder or easy, such as how many starting planets you start with, what type of events you want, and an number of other settings, too many for me to remeber without pulling up the game. Don't play hard settings until you fully understand the game, or you will be taken out to early to enjoy it. PPS My favourite sci fi series of all time is Babylon 5, do I get the impression I can "Mod" the game in some way to reflect B5?? I don't understand anything at all about modding. you can in a way and there are mods that add B5 sets to the game. It is best not to try modding, until you understand the game a little more, then come post your modding questions and we will try and help you. Never mod the orginal game itself, create a mod folder and do all modding there or set up a second game load on your system and mod it. <hr></blockquote> |
Re: New player struggling
Dracus,
Thanks for the reply, I've made a few observations, will make more when I have the chance to try them out. <<You have to research constrution and then fighters/troops before you get them.>> I will research construction next <<First make sure you are loading them into a ship that contains sat launchers (not cargo holders)>> Thanks you are the second person to say this, hadn't realised what Sat launchers were, will give it a try <<for mining ships you can add panels once you research them. Or you can build large sats and launch them to do the mining, Once again you need to research them.>> Would a satelite with panels ever run out of supplies, if not this would seem ideal??? <<Yes, if the first system has been explored, then all you do is click the ship, click the system and click the far wp, you want to use. You can go across as many systems as you want as long as all the systems you are crossing, can be viewed by you.>> I think this is the mistake I made, tried that right at the beginning and it didn't work, probably because I hadn't been to the systems before, so I gave up never thought to try again, silly me! <<you can in a way and there are mods that add B5 sets to the game. It is best not to try modding, until you understand the game a little more, >> Agreed I'll figure out the basic game before buggering around with it! Andy PS Thanks to everyone who is helping PPS What was the relationship between this post and Audi cars? |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr><<for mining ships you can add panels once you research them.
Or you can build large sats and launch them to do the mining, Once again you need to research them.>> Would a satelite with panels ever run out of supplies, if not this would seem ideal???<hr></blockquote> Two things: - Sats have infinite supplies and/or do not use or keep track of supplies. You never have to worry about ammo on a sat. - Running out of supplies does not affect the minig capability of your ship. Let it sit there forever. - Ships cost maintenace! be sure that you are still getting more resources OUT of the planet than you are putting into the ship! <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr><<you can in a way and there are mods that add B5 sets to the game. It is best not to try modding, until you understand the game a little more, >> Agreed I'll figure out the basic game before buggering around with it!<hr></blockquote>Feel free to download and play with the B5 Mod that is being written! |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dracus:
Since no one really answered your questions, I will try, you asked quite a few in somewhat a huge post so bear with me. <hr></blockquote> cheeky swine, I did try and answer Andy's questions, I just dont know how to split up the quotes in bold and normal text as neatly as you do! PS I once got into an accident with an Audi A4 - my 7 year old clio lost quite badly but it was almost worth it to see a grown man burst out crying at the state of the audi http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif |
Re: New player struggling
Ah, That is why I did not see your answers.
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Re: New player struggling
Tigga and all,
Thankyou for your support, you have inspired me to have another go. Space empires IV is very difficult to get in the UK so I guess most of you are from the good old US of A. I will of course try and remember to spell things incorrectly :-) I thought the manual with Gold was supposed to be great, (it isn't) so didn't look on the disk, have now read the real manual and much more makes sense, though I still have a feeling there are lots of gaps in my knowledge. I am VERY early in the game so don't appear to have any fighters or any ground troops at all. I can build up to Destroyer sized ships, or small satellites or space stations or weapons platforms that's about it. I recently noticed an ally of mine has been planting satellites on all his warp points. Ah that's a good idea I thought I'll copy them. Built some satellites, loaded them onto a transport, went to warp point and could not dump the cargo. Looks like I need to be able to "Launch" the satellites, how do I do that? I wanted to mine asteroids, only ship that seemed to be able to do so was an attack destroyer with no guns and a pair of mining add on's. Took ship to asteroids and it started mining straight away. Yippee I got something right..... Then it ran out of fuel and I had to send it back to a planet to reful in the next system and then all the way back again. BORING! How can I stop this?? If I want to move a ship a couple of systems I appear to have to go WARP to the nearest point. Then go to the next system and put WARP to the next point etc etc. Can I get a ship across several systems with just one command? What do waypoints do and how do you use them? Not very clear about combat. if you have ion cannons they seem to fire straight at whatever you target. I had a mk I capital missile and think I fired it, very difficult to tell, I think it was reponsible for a purple splat on my ship, I never seemed to get a purple splat on my target so don't know if it ever hit, or was the purple splat their missiles hitting me?? I have a big list of other questions but only a small brain to store them in so I have forgotten them all! Any assistance you can provide on any of the above would be hugely appreciated, Andy PS are there any "Difficulty" setting in the game? PPS My favourite sci fi series of all time is Babylon 5, do I get the impression I can "Mod" the game in some way to reflect B5?? I don't understand anything at all about modding. [quote]Originally posted by Growltigga the Great: [QB]Andy, welcome to the forum and I am glad that yet another Brit has joined the forum to add a bit of class to all these north americans http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif |
Re: New player struggling
Thanks all, I am starting to do better.
Didn't realise if a ship ran out of fuel I could just leave it mining, I presumed the crew would all die or something. Assuming you can put mining panels on a satellite this would be better and more efficient?? I built some light cruisers and went off to clobber the only neighbour I wasn't allied with. Had a couple of great fights, kicked his arse. I went to one of his colony planets did a strategic battle, won easily and the colony was gone..... I didn't get given the option to invade, take over the colony or anything?? Admittedly I haven't yet researched ground troops, but if I had would I have been given an option to take over, or in strategic battle do you always blow up the colony? Mining ships running out of fuel, I have found the resupply at nearest button, this is nice but they don't come back! What does the set patrol button do, will they patrol, go back and resupply and then come back again?? Presumably if you were building a big fleet you could put a big freighter with lots of supply in the fleet and then the fleet could Last much longer?? Andy |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Andy Watkins:
Thanks all, I am starting to do better. Didn't realise if a ship ran out of fuel I could just leave it mining, I presumed the crew would all die or something. Assuming you can put mining panels on a satellite this would be better and more efficient?? I built some light cruisers and went off to clobber the only neighbour I wasn't allied with. Had a couple of great fights, kicked his arse. I went to one of his colony planets did a strategic battle, won easily and the colony was gone..... I didn't get given the option to invade, take over the colony or anything?? Admittedly I haven't yet researched ground troops, but if I had would I have been given an option to take over, or in strategic battle do you always blow up the colony? Mining ships running out of fuel, I have found the resupply at nearest button, this is nice but they don't come back! What does the set patrol button do, will they patrol, go back and resupply and then come back again?? Presumably if you were building a big fleet you could put a big freighter with lots of supply in the fleet and then the fleet could Last much longer?? Andy<hr></blockquote> 1)Problem is, you can just put one part on a sat, but this sat would not have to pay maintenance. Try to build a space station, they are 50% maintenance compared with ships, but you can put more miners into it compared with sats. 2)You need a troop transport with ground troops, and the fleet has to be set up with "capture planet" strategy. You could observe how this problem is solved with several AI races, e.g. Space Vikings, just sit tight and watch them invading planets. 3)This button just orders the ship to the nearest resupply facility, nothing else. If you have a military alliance with someone, this could be even a resupply by allies planet. 4)Set patrol for a fleet or a ship lets them patrol between several sectors that you want them to guard. It is a neat function in simultaneous games. 5)Yes, the supplies are always divided brotherly at the end of a turn. Another good part for such a kind of resupply ship is always a resupply unit, repair unit or a quantum reactor. "PS I once got into an accident with an Audi A4 - my 7 year old clio lost quite badly but it was almost worth it to see a grown man burst out crying at the state of the audi " I can feel with him, buying an Audi is more like a kinda marriage, although it does not exist a sufficient term in any of the known Languages. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif [ 21 March 2002: Message edited by: PsychoTechFreak ]</p> |
Re: New player struggling
Hi Andy,
You'll be surprised (as I was) at how many UK players we have here on the forum. We're probably the third or fourth most common nationality here after the US, Canadians and Germans. I think we also have more than one Argentinian, a few ozzies, and I'm pretty sure there's someone round here currently residing in Africa - and that doesn't even take into account the lurkers. Actually, it'd be interesting to do a comprehensive head-count. Or maybe Shrapnel could give us an indication based on where they have shipped copies of the game..? *(Dogscoff ducks to avoid stale bread products thrown by people whose country he failed to mention) [ 21 March 2002: Message edited by: dogscoff ]</p> |
Re: New player struggling
Thanks for advice,
A few questions. <<1)Problem is, you can just put one part on a sat, but this sat would not have to pay maintenance. Try to build a space station, they are 50% maintenance compared with ships, but you can put more miners into it compared with sats.>> Good idea HOW do i move a space stion to the asteroid field? <<2)You need a troop transport with ground troops, and the fleet has to be set up with "capture planet" strategy. >> Sounds reasonable I will do that <<If you have a military alliance with someone, this could be even a resupply by allies planet.>> Didn't know this, will give it a try Andy |
Re: New player struggling
Good idea HOW do i move a space stion to the asteroid field?
you need to develop cruiser size hulls so that you can build a spaceyard module in that hull and make a mobile construction base - move this beuaty to where you want to build the spacestation and bingo |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>
>You need a troop transport with ground troops, >and the fleet has to be set up with "capture >planet" strategy. Sounds reasonable I will do that <hr></blockquote> Or, if you're using tactical combat, fly your troop transport right up close to the planet, then click "options" and "drop troops". Watch out for those pesky weapons platforms! |
Re: New player struggling
A few more points that haven't been mentioned: <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> first you need to build a ship that has "satellite layer" component on it. You get this free at the start of the game. Also make sure you build some cargo pods on your satellite layer ship. <hr></blockquote> The Satellite Layer component itself has a small amount of cargo capacity, but you usually want to add Cargo Bays, too. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> Not very clear about combat. if you have ion cannons they seem to fire straight at whatever you target. I had a mk I capital missile and think I fired it, very difficult to tell, I think it was reponsible for a purple splat on my ship, I never seemed to get a purple splat on my target so don't know if it ever hit, or was the purple splat their missiles hitting me??
<hr></blockquote>There are a couple different classes of weapon; you can see which is which when you're designing a ship (F3) with the Weapons Report button. When a weapon hits a ship, there will be an explosion sound effect and a visual that varies by weapon. If you see a brief flicker of a circle-ish thing around the target, you hit Shields. Each race has its own ship and missile graphics; some races are much harder to see than others. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> What does the set patrol button do, will they patrol, go back and resupply and then come back again?? <hr></blockquote>I don't think I've ever actually used this in SE IV, but I think it will shuttle back and forth between its current position and the destination you set. It won't go back for supplies on its own unless you have the Resupply Minister [ (F11) Empire Staus/Ministers ] turned on. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> Presumably if you were building a big fleet you could put a big freighter with lots of supply in the fleet and then the fleet could Last much longer?? <hr></blockquote>Yes, but note that Cargo Bays and Supply Storage are two different things; you probably don't want to build your supply tender on a Transport hull. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> maybe Shrapnel could give us an indication based on where they have shipped copies of the game..? <hr></blockquote>A long time ago, the Shrapnel home page had a Top Ten list of countries by games sold (though I think that was for all products). USA was first, of course; ISTR that 2-4 were the Netherlands, Germany, and Great Britain, but I may have the order wrong. |
Re: New player struggling
That might have taken me a long time to work out, I'll see if my light cruiser hull is big enough for the job.
Thanks everyone you are giving me loads of great ideas. you need to develop cruiser size hulls so that you can build a spaceyard module in that hull and make a mobile construction base - move this beuaty to where you want to build the spacestation and bingo |
Re: New player struggling
Guess I'll add my newbie question to this thread for convenience...
Is there any way to make the Ministers automatically pick what type of colony to make? I set my ministers for Facility Construction on, and they take care of building, but no matter what I try, it still asks for what type of colony it is. I know the AI have a file that determines planet type... I just want it to work for me, so I don't have to worry about it. Thanks in advance! Also - is there a way to thread Messages in the board to put the newest at the end instead of the beginning? Reading whole threads involves a LOT of scrolling for longer Messages.... |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by rand029:
Guess I'll add my newbie question to this thread for convenience... Is there any way to make the Ministers automatically pick what type of colony to make? I set my ministers for Facility Construction on, and they take care of building, but no matter what I try, it still asks for what type of colony it is. I know the AI have a file that determines planet type... I just want it to work for me, so I don't have to worry about it. Thanks in advance! Also - is there a way to thread Messages in the board to put the newest at the end instead of the beginning? Reading whole threads involves a LOT of scrolling for longer Messages....<hr></blockquote> It took me forever to figure it out, but there is a setting under Empire Options (I think) that allows you to turn that off. I'm at work, so I can't tell you exactly what it says, but I believe that it is toward the bottom of the first group of options. |
Re: New player struggling
Ah, I found it...
"Display select colony type dialog when colonizing planet." Thanks. Much better now! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif |
Re: New player struggling
"display confirmation dialog when ending turn" -off, saves a lot of clicks, too.
|
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by dogscoff:
I'm pretty sure there's someone round here currently residing in Africa - and that doesn't even take into account the lurkers.]<hr></blockquote> His handle is Saxon and he only half counts as African as I think he is Canadian. A head count would be interesting, you, me and Dogscoff = 3 brits, NippyTheMagicalDUck makes 4, Derb makes 5, trying to think who else there is |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>A head count would be interesting, you, me and Dogscoff = 3 brits, NippyTheMagicalDUck makes 4, Derb makes 5, trying to think who else there is<hr></blockquote>
I think Matryx is in Exeter, that's 6, and I believe (but I could be wrong) that John Beech of USy is on our side of the water, although he doesn't post here often, having his own website to take care of. |
Re: New player struggling
Hi all,
Doing better now, one more question though. When you are picking up or dropping off cargo, it always drops off or picks up EVERYTHING. How can I select the amount?? Andy |
Re: New player struggling
Hi all,
Doing better now, one more question though. When you are picking up or dropping off cargo, it always drops off or picks up EVERYTHING. How can I select the amount?? Andy |
Re: New player struggling
End your orders at the transfer location. Then you can use the transfer button to shuffle units as you please. Once satisfied, you can proceed with more orders. In simultanous mode games, this will require you to lose a partial turn's movement (unless your ships ends the turn there exactly at turn end) in order to do the transfer manually.
PvK |
Re: New player struggling
That sounds like a great explanation, only I didn't understand any of it!
"End your orders at the transfer location" This sounds crucial but I am sorry it means nothing to me? Actually WHAT transfer button, I am using a load and drop cargo button? is that my problem?? Andy <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by PvK: End your orders at the transfer location. Then you can use the transfer button to shuffle units as you please. Once satisfied, you can proceed with more orders. In simultanous mode games, this will require you to lose a partial turn's movement (unless your ships ends the turn there exactly at turn end) in order to do the transfer manually. PvK<hr></blockquote> |
Re: New player struggling
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Andy Watkins:
Actually WHAT transfer button, I am using a load and drop cargo button? is that my problem?? Andy <hr></blockquote> The button that PvK is talking about, it displays an arrow up AND an arrow down, it is located somewhere near the "up only" and "down only" Versions at the left side of the control panel. |
Re: New player struggling
Tell the ship to go to where you want to transfer cargo to/from.
Wait. Once the ship physically arrives, then you can use the transfer order. |
Re: New player struggling
To clarify:
There are several different orders for cargo handling. Transfer (T) lets you manually move things among ships and planets in the same sector. Load (L) and Drop (D) let you move to a destination and pick up or drop cargo there. You can only specify one type of cargo and it automatically shifts the maximum amount possible. Launch/Recover (U), Launch Remotely (I), and Recover Remotely (O) work similarly, but only for satellites, fighters, mines, and drones, except that you can't recover mines and drones. |
Re: New player struggling
Andy, I think there are various strategy guides out there (I am sure the more technically minded people out there can provide the links) but I think none of them really provide the basic tips and information any new player probably needs.
The easiest thing is still to ask on the forum, I dont think I have ever seen a case of anyone minding |
Re: New player struggling
Andy,
RE: "Did anyone ever write a kind of "Starters Guide" to SEIV with all these little tips and techniques in that we may miss at first appearences?" I have thought about it. Ieven started a database so I could look ideas by subject. There are two issues: 1) The content of this site is the legal property of Shrapnel Games 2) The amount of work to do it properly would require more than any possible pay off. Possible if a group could get permission to do so then a group of dedicated people could compile something. |
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