.com.unity Forums - Some basic questions

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Some basic questions

I'm trying to figure out this game as I go along, I have most of the combat figured out, but what is stumping me is empire management. It's just really hard for me to keep track of what all has been built and where it is. I often go through some backwater system and find 2 or 3 ships at a SY just sitting around waiting for orders, this is very annoying. Is there some way to tell a SY to send anything built there to a given point, like a training world?

Also, is there some purpose for the various types of colonies (military, research, etc) you get when you colonize a planet? At that point, how am I supposed to know what kind of world it will be? I usually just pick something at random since as far as I know it doesn't have any game effect.

Finally, with planet values, I've been assuming that the percentages are simply the amount of 'normal' that the planet has of those kind of resources. Is there some kind of breakeven for when it's not worth building mineral mines, etc? I've just been ignoring planets with less than about 90 percent mineral value.

Thanks!

Re: Some basic questions

1. SYs can be ordered to send any constructed ships to waypoints. There is a tab under the crown (IIRC) that lets you set waypoints.

2. Colony types are used mainly for the AI (ministers). If you set a planet under minister control, you can set the colony type to give the AI an idea of what you want that world to do.

3. Planet resource % are direct modifiers of the resource harvesting facility. For example, 2 MinMiners 1 (rated at M800 per turn) on a planet with 100% mineral rating will put out 1600 Minerals per turn.

(800 x 100%) + (800 x 100%) = 800 + 800 = 1600 minerals per turn.

Those same two MinMiners on a 150% Mineral rated planet would put out 2400 minerals

(800 x 150%) + (800 x 150%) = 1200 + 1200 = 2400 minerals per turn.

Edit: My keyboard can't spell!
I hope that helps.

[ September 16, 2002, 06:58: Message edited by: dumbluck ]

Re: Some basic questions

I'll try to answer your questions before someone else jumps in ahead of me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

1. You can create a 'Warp Point' via the 'Empire Status' (Crown icon). Then in the Planets Constuctions window, click on the 'Set move to' and any ships built here will move to the warp point you specified.

2. The Colony types are used by the AI in determining what to build there. I usually turn that off via the 'Empire Status' 'Empire Options - Look for the 'Display select colony type ...'

3. A 100% Mineral Planet will give you 800 Minerals per turn, 110% would give you 880 minerals, 90% 720 minerals. Anby planet with low %s just build Research, Intelligence centres, Storage Facilities, unless you need the money.

When you are ready give PBW a go. That's the best part of SE IV. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Some basic questions

I knew I should have spent more time on that QuickType program http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: Some basic questions

I have been toying with trying PBW, but to be honest there's so many mods and whatnot that I'm pretty confused by the whole thing, I think I should focus on beating the AI a few times first. I definitely like the TDM AI I am using now, though.

At least I'm learning new things each game (like Stellar Manip ships have ludicrously high maintenance costs!)

Re: Some basic questions

You probably just saw my best response time, and I was still to slow http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Give PBW a go - Look for Standard or Gold games, which ever you have, there is always a few games waiting to start or join an existing game. If you lose then it wasn't your fault, it was a bad empire to start with http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Do a few practise games using the 'Simitanious (SP?) moves' and then jump in - Only way to learn.

[ September 16, 2002, 07:05: Message edited by: Baron Grazic ]

Re: Some basic questions

Rainstorm: PBW is the best, bar none. There are usually at least a couple of newbie games you can get into, and you can be a replacement player. Then, even if you do horribly, you can save face by blaming it on the mess the previous occupant left behind. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

In short, TDM makes the single player game tolerable, but it doesn't compare to PBW.

One word of caution, however. PBW is simultaneous move only, so you might try a single player game or two with that setting, just to get used to it's quirks. It has several, stategic combat only being the biggest one...

Re: Some basic questions

Quote:

Originally posted by Rainstorm:
Is there some kind of breakeven for when it's not worth building mineral mines, etc? I've just been ignoring planets with less than about 90 percent mineral value.
Thanks!

I usually set the cutoff at 75%-80% for minerals, and 130% for Rads and Organics. I rarely find myself in the situation where I have "too many" minerals -- and when I do, there is almost always an ally that appreciates a mineral gift.

And PBW is the way to go.

-Spoon

Re: Some basic questions

At the end of my turns I always go through the construction window and ship orders window to make sure that all my ships have orders and I haven't forgotten to set some build orders on some remote colonies somewhere.

And definately give PBW a shot.

Also watch out for the Earth Alliance in the TDM. They scare the **** out of me.

Re: Some basic questions

I usually use the "next ship" and "next fleet" buttons (upper right corner; I forget the hotkeys) to cycle through all my ships/fleets without orders. You might want to check the options (i.e., which ships/fleets the next ship/fleet button will skip; for instance, you can set the next ship button to skip ships in fleets) to make sure you're comfortable with how it works.

I also recommend checking the "empire status" every turn, so you know how much surplus (or deficit) you're creating; if you have a large surplus (or a large deficit), check your construction queues; don't forget to check research and intelligence every turn as well. Oh, and if you're building lots of units (fighters, satellites or mines in particular), go to the "colonies" screen and check planetary cargo; that will help you remember to load/launch those units (or, if planetary cargo is full, to stop building).

The best thing is to come up with a system. For instance:

Check turn log, paying particular attention to notices about unit construction completed
Update ship/base/etc. designs based on newly completed research projects
Check intelligence projects (particularly counter-intelligence)
Cycle through all ships
Cycle through all fleets
Check colony screen for "mood" (jubilant, happy, indifferent, etc.)
Check empire status
Modify construction queues (especially if you have new ship/base/etc. designs that should be put into production)).

I've probably missed something, but those are the basic things to check. And, as some people (like myself), things to double- and triple-check. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Some basic questions

A quick way to find ships without orders is to open the (F6) Ships window, click the Orders button, and click the "Orders" column header. That will put all the ships without orders together in one group (alphabetized as if they had the word "None" in the Orders column).