[jim]

Mephisto -

Sadly, I was unable to get to where you suggested.

That is, I did indeed download 1.49 patch and install it. The game says in the corner that it is 1.49 when the game starts. I did indeed also download the TDM Modpack. At the moment I have an unzipped copy still, if it is the one named 175 1 of 2 and 2 of 2.

The file was indeed unzipped or extracted into the SEIV folder. I can see it there in My Computer.

When the game starts up, I get no TDM stuff. I fiddled with the Path stuff, as best I could by going with massive trepidation into the txt files. No results that I could see.

I finally achieved a small but real measure of success by lifting out the emp files one at a time and moving them to various places. Eventually, I found that one location let me "see" them in the race selection part of the game setup.

My thoughts all these Last several months were that GOLD would fix this for me. I would get instant access to all the TDM races. I would get instant access to all the various new "flavors" of how to play SEIV. My hopes seem not to be realized. I am NOT a savvy PC guy who makes Mods and is comfortable with code. I simply want the game to work out of the box as it is advertised. I have only recently acceded to the need to install a Patch pn any game, and I have done several on SEIV.

Quite frankly, I do not care about drones. I never did. However, the failure to fix the player order= order of combat bug POs me. In a simultaneous game, it makes for an unintended handicap. Playing against the AIs, I have had to always make sure I was the Last player, just to keep the game interesting - and for the wrong reasons.

I play 100 - 250 systems, 5 AIs, no neutrals, no intel, no mines, highest diffulty, medium bonus, 2000 for me, 2500 for them, varying planets, AIs allied against me, and I avoid phased weapons.

I just can't get a good game. The Rage, if I encounter them early, can be a problem, but they fade under tech advances by late mid-game (at the latest).

This is not bragging - I am quite sure everyone here can do the same thing. Web games won't work for me - I cannot play every night. I do not have the patience for 6 month PBEM games. Thus, I am left with a rare LAN party, of moi against the AIs. I simply want my few discretionary hours to be PLAYING the game, and not trying over and over to figure out what dumb mistakes I must be doing to get the #%$@*$ thing to work.