[gforce]

After reading some SEIV reviews criticizing the combat at the tactical level, I was pleasantly surprised in my first game to find it challenging and fun. I am playing the Earth Alliance from Mod 1.60 and am having to shift my fleets to get the first shot in a battle. I am in turn 150 and only researched Physics about 20 turns ago and the oppostion fleets have shields and better tech. Luckily, I found the Massive Shield Depleter weapon on some ruins and have made that weapon the centerpiece of my fleets to bring down the AI's shields before heavy engaging.

The only drawback so far is how the AI fights around its planets. Whenever I have attacked so far, the AI ships left the safety of the planet and its satellites and engaged my fleet at a distinct disadvantage.

All in all though, I will be playing this one for a while.