Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

I ordered SE IV Gold Last week, and it's gonna come tomorrow. Never played it. My fingers are twitching with anticipation, and I hope you're all extremely jealous that I get to discover this game for the first time! : )

My question is this: if you had to recommend one thing (a mod, say, but anything else is cool) to an utter newbie, what would it be?

Can't wait for tomorrow!

Franklin

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

Well, the FAQ for Newbies (stickified at the top of this forum) would certainly help. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Check out the Must Visit SE4 Sites thread too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

Then set aside all of your free time till Xmas, you’ll be busy fighting AI’s.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Aack! I didn't see that until after I posted, of course! Sorry for the, er, redunant question. I'm just too excited to be thinking right. I get the game tomorrow. On Saturday, I go on a two week vacation ...

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

For me, the best way to learn was two things:

- When all I had was the demo, I played whatever I could in the demo many many times to learn different aspects of the game. First, I'd play through and focus on satellites - to learn how they work, etc. Then I'd play again, focusing on mines, then troops, ship boarding, stellar manipulation, drones, etc. There are so many aspects of the game that you may never even know about them until you find yourself on the receiving end of something you never saw before. Even now, in my first multiplayer games, I'm learning a lot.

- Second was the so-called "dubious strategy guide", which is totally unorganized and only somewhat legible, but if you you take your time and read/skim through it little by little, you'll also learn a lot of good tips and pointers.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

Franklin ,Everytime I play its my first time,I recommend play the game and start to research the games tecks,play the game a couple times .Once you know the particulars elements etc intell,creation,etc, try the DevnullModGold 1.70.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

Franklin... Join SEIV PBW and learn against some human players.... I highly recommend it.

And remember that PBW takes months to play http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Which will drive some people batty.... But if you in for games and stories... It is a good combination.

And if you like it... Join KOTH....

ANd ask questions... In game why people do stuff... It will help...

And if all else fails and you do not understand something...

Post a question... Direct it to SJ... It will get answered...

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, days at least. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif It depends on how many players in the game really and how active they are.

Geoschmo

[ December 11, 2002, 13:02: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

Actually, I have nothing to say, I'm just testing my new forum account, since im planning to use it quite frequently. I got SEIV Gold a week ago, after playing the demo for some time. I'm allready throughly addicted, so I guess i'll be going for PBW in a month or so when I grow tired of the AI. See ya then.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Welcome to the forums! We are always glad to have new ones here. Again, as was already mentioned don't be afraid to asks questions, even veterans of the game ask questions. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif It will get answered in a matter of hours, and or minutes, it all depends on who is on at the time. Again, welcome!

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Absolutely nothing! Figure everything out yourself, i believe the newb faq has some spoiler in it. Also don't get any mods, not yet anyway, the first time playing vanilla SE4 realy is the best experience IMO, and after that, the mods only make the next games better.
Or if possible, get on the irc channel, and only ask question when you're stuck or something.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

Hey, thanks for all the answers! I'm sitting here right now waiting for UPS to show up, the lazy bastards! V. nice that SE comes with a built-in community of veterans who are so willing to help. PBW sounds fantastic, too--though at this point (having read thousands of words of strategy and debate using jargon I don't understand) I have a hard believing I'll -ever- think I'm up to human opponents! Gimme a couple months, though, and I'll be eager as a puppy to learn you old-timers a lesson, upside the head ...

Thanks.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

fresh meat for the grinder! welcome aboard. I think that you will find plenty of newbie games and cooperative games at PBW, if you are interested in jumping in and getting your feet wet. Online games are always slower than single player games, so you can always get into an introductary game with people while you figure out things on your own in single player games.

also, if you are planning to play Online, it is important to get practice in simultanious games. many people play single player games in sequential, or turn based mode. figuring out how preplotted movement and strategic combat works in simultanious games (required for play by web or email) takes some getting used to. I think its a better mode of play though, as tactical combat against the AI just isnt fair, unless you are using some mod that almost requires it.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

While you are waiting you can be downloading all the cool mods.
I'd start with the TDMmod.

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

I've never really played against the Ai, it seems a bit booring, only done some quickies to try out specific things.
Previously I played VGA planets where AI really wasn't an option so I'm not used to play aginst the computer.
Started playing against some friends through e-mail, and then quickly got into the Newbie games at the PBW. I get alot of advice from my allies.
And by reading this intel forum I've larned quite lot.

So don't be afraid to join the PBW, the games go slowly in the beginning so you can learn as you go along.
There are often Newbie games where mistakes are made every day by everyone, so it's not so difficult.
I have just recently entered my first non-newbie game and have applied for another, it's quite addictive (se addictivness vote thread in this forum).

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I totally and completely agree with this. One of the big draws for me was the huge amount of detail and discovery. I would recommend highly that if you enjoy figuring stuff out, don't read the forums for answers... at least not 'till you've struggled for a few days (weeks, months, etc.) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Be Very Jealous of Me!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yea, usually within the hour.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif