Help me stop losing my interest!

[javaslinger]

I just wrote a post in another thread about how I keep stopping playing SEIV but my interest never dies, if that makes any sense.

It dawned on me that what generally occurs is that midway through a full game the micromanagement gets so time consuming that eventually one day I can't get myself to sit down and start moving everything to the next front...

I know the interface of SEIV pretty well. I never use ministers. What can I do to help out with micromanagement. Not just interface tips but strategies.

Thanks,

KEn

[Arkcon]

Here's something fun to try. Turn on all minister except one -- you are that minister. For example, you do the research, and the the design minister build the ships. Or just take what the research minister gives you and design ships.

You won't get bogged down with micromanagement, but you will have a challence dealing with the ministers crappy decisions.

Or just be a general. Turn off a minister for just one frigate. Use that one on tactical, and build up his ship and fleet experience. As he gets closer to Elite, add later, bigger ships to his fleet.

[Atrocities]

Trust me, I have been there often.

What I did I started inventing new facilities to use, new technologies, etc.

Also, I learned that the Auto Que is my best friend. I often set up planet Job Que's, then save them for use with other planets.

6 Intel
6 Research
18 Storage
18 Mineral Pro
etc.

It helps with the micromanagment, and prevents the ministers from screwing me.

I also invented the Genesis Device, a facility that terraformes a planet in about 1 to 5 turns. This way, I can colonize several planets at one time, then add just this facility, then after X amount of turns, I have converted the atomsphere of a bunch of worlds. I then destroy the device and use a preset Que to build on the planet.

Keeps my interest going.

Also, I switch sides. I pick an AI that is weak, and play him for a while to build him up.

Also take a break from the game for a month. Play something else.

Start writing about your game. Make up a story.

There are a lot of things you can do to keep your interest alive. I just have lost my interst in typing for the moment. Time for food.

[dogscoff]

Play Proportions. The slower game pace means that the micomanagement swamp doesn't get particularly deep for several hundred turns, by which time you will be nearing the end of the game.

[Krsqk]

I think what you're experiencing has happened to each of us at one time or another. I've gone from playing two or three solo games at a time, plus PBW games/modding/forum-frequenting, down to next to nothing, to just PBW games, and everywhere in between. Interest in a game (or anything) typically is cyclical; maybe a short break would help rejuvenate your enjoyment.

For micro-managing, you could turn on a minister or two (facility construction, for example). You wouldn't get top efficiency, but you wouldn't have to keep track of as much. You could also try turning on all of the ministers except one, and take their job (colonization, or attack, or exploration, etc.)--it's almost enough to make you want to try writing your own AI. In short, try to mix things up a bit. Variety is the spice of life.

[capnq]

Even just playing a different race than you usually do can help. I've played games as almost all of the stock races and most of the TDM-Modpack races, several other races that I installed because PBW opponents were using them, and seven (so far) races I made up myself.

[Thei R'vek]

I know exactly what you're going through. I went without SE for almost a year and a half anf then suddenly I found myself in possession of Gold. After two months of having 20 games vs. the AI going at once(set quickstart to accept all stock races and then made a game with each and every one of them) plus at least 5 multiplayer games(on PBW, vs. my roommate, over email vs. friends) to now playing only one game and never in stock Version anymore. What I find keeping me interested in SE more than the game itself is two things:
1) MODding! The most wonderful things can be done once you start manipulating data files....

2) RPing! Yes, Roleplaying. Writing short stories about my Empire and immersing myself in the role of my Empire Leader has kept me interested in the Space Empires series since 1996 when I found SE2 at a shareware vednor during a tech trade show.

So just kick back, write some stories, go a bit crazy and think of yourself as "His Most Imperial Majesty" and MOD a bunch of stuff for no reason at all.

At this point in time, His Imperial Majesty Adrik Thorsen has ceased referring to himself in other than the third person and shall go to MOD some more stuff whilst playing the Proportions mod at the same time. His Imperial Majesty now ceases writing this post.

[spoon]

Play in smaller galaxies with higher tech costs.

The fewer the planets and resources, the less micromanagement. High tech costs reduce the need to retrofit every turn...

Also I find these games to be more exciting, because you meet other races sooner, and can't rely on Overwhelming Force/Unmatched Tech as your MO.

-spoon

[Skulky]

Or join SE4 by comittee, then no micromanagement while you still get to direct an empires course.

[Gandalph]

My answer has been to mod a races facility construction file to suit my game needs, then use the colonization and facility construction ministers as they are going to use my orders to build. I have also modded the research file at times and turned on the research minister. Late in the game I also use the transport minister as I have already dispersed my population to the systems important to me.