Newbye SEV General Questions
 

Hi guys, i'm a SEIV fan and i would like to have an insight review of the new chapter. In particular i would like to know:

Is SEV (as it is now) in your opinion better than SEIV?
Does it have any major bug which render it quite unplayable?
How is performing AI? Is it better, out of the box, than SEIV? And using player mod is AI competitive enough and enjoyable?

LAN Multiplayer is supported? Is it working better than SEIV LAN Multiplayer (which was giving us annnoying problem sometimes)? Is it enjoyable? Combat is player handled or automatically handled, or both, like in SEIV? Are threre major exploits that can be abused in multiplayer? Is the game balanced or it goes especially towards predetermined builds, race configuration and fixed weapons?

PBW Multiplayer is supported? Is it enjoyable? Does it have many players? Are there more player for SEV or SEIV?

Is User Interface good enough? We are not idiots (we liked SEIV, Civ series and such games) but we hate good games with poor interfaces because the game become very slow and tedious. Rules are well balaced and entertaining enough? Races are customizable like SEIV (maybe more)? Tech tree is big enough to entertain a long game (that we usually prefere)?

Any major guide out there to gather an inner understanding of the game, such as the notoriouus mega FAQ of SEIV? Any link is appreciated. Some suggestion to generally improve the game? We usually don't like using mods and we prefere playing patched out-of-the-box, but non total conversion mod may be welcome if it adjust big balance problems and render the game more entertaining without changing it too much.

Re: Newbye SEV General Questions
 

Here is my take on what you asked. I've been playing SEV for 3 weeks.

1. I find it easier to track movement and like the looks better than SE4. I never know in SE4 if i moved my ships correctly half the time. (played just a little SE4)
2. Bugs are down to a few. I rarely crash at all with V1.17
3. AI: I use Balance Mod 0.99 for all my games. Its not that challenging, but it's better than nothing. Kwok is working hard on a better AI.

4. LAN: Doesn't work and PBW just started using SE5. Exploits are there if you know a little about programming. mainly you can see others turn info with the script files. But, I go on the honor system and HOPE others do as well.

5. PBW; I'm in a SE4 game with 17 active players. There seems to be a decent player base.

6. Interface is a bit rough. SE4 is better. Tech tree is HUGE and diverse. Races are VERY customizable

7. Use the Balance Mod by CaptainKwok. It is a GREAT improvement over SE5 boxed.

Re: Newbye SEV General Questions
 

4. LAN: Doesn't work

It doesn't work AT ALL?

I mean i can't even set up a multiplayer game with my friends at home or at university, as i did for SEIV?
Damn, if this is true i'm not going for it, most of the fun is by playing it with my friends on live, make some turns, then save to continue the game tomorrow.

I will take a look and PBW but i'm willing to bet that it is not as automatic and instantaneous as it was the turn processing method for LAN gaming in SEIV.

Re: Newbye SEV General Questions
 

Is SEV (as it is now) in your opinion better than SEIV?

Much worse.




Does it have any major bug which render it quite unplayable?

Yes, too many to list. Additionally, the UI is extremely cumbersome and this alone makes the game very unfun.



How is performing AI? Is it better, out of the box, than SEIV?

Tough to say since both are very poor.



And using player mod is AI competitive enough and enjoyable?

At least SE4 had mods such as TDM Modpack to make the AI more challenging. I'm hoping that those guys are working on something similar for SE5, but it isn't out yet. There is a balance mod out, by Kwok, that does help the AI, though not specifically designed to do that. The AI's are hurt both by not being very good to start with and also by some of the the same bugs that affect human players (such as certain things not working).

Re: Newbye SEV General Questions
 

I hear u can set up a LAN. Run each 1st turn of the host then turn 2 onward from the other computers. Haven't tried but read where that works for some folks.

Re: Newbye SEV General Questions
 

Does it have its flaws? Yes but the modders (myself included) are working diligently to recreate your favorite universes and to branch out into new ones that we could NEVER have done in SE4.

Does it have bugs, is the UI rough? Again sadly yes! Again we modders are smoothing this out, tweaking, and fine tuning. Suicide Junkie, Atrocities, TNZ, and more have already put out mods that can even be layered which make massive improvements.

Is the game worth buying? Honestly I have barely played the game. That is only because I am so busy working on my TC. But that doesn’t answer the question does it? The only person that can answer is you and I feel you are asking the wrong question. The game has its errors and flaws there is no arguing that. What you should ask yourself is:

• Do I have enough faith in the community of modders and Aaron to sort this out and produce a game well worth every last dime?

Re: Newbye SEV General Questions
 

Try the demo, the demo is currently at version 1.08, approx 1 patch behind (cur retail patch is 1.17). Try it for yourself and see how you think you like it, some people are alittle hard on this game IMO but its definately still a work in progress.

Re: Newbye SEV General Questions
 

By "LAN" are you referring to the built in TCP/IP method for SE4? If you are, actually, as far as SEIV is concerned PBW with the RTC (Real Time Client) is easier to setup, and at least as fast as TCP/IP. In fact for games with many players PBW RTC is much faster than TCP/IP because for some odd reason the TCP/IP sends the game file to each player one at a time. In my experience with games of dozens of players using TCP/IP the first players could be finishing their turns before the last players even could get started on it.

Sadly the RTC does not work yet for SE5 as all the command line options have not yet been implemented. I'm confident they will be though and with some minor tweaks we should be able to get RTC to work for SE5.

Geoschmo, your friendly neighborhood, totally unbiased PBW Admin. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif