length of game...and weapon platforms

ttomm46 · #1 May 30th, 2002, 10:10 PM

hi

how long does it usually take you guys to finish a game with low number of computer players.

someone on a review site said it could take weeks.

also when i build weapon platforms i take a ship with cargo hold and load some up to unload on another planet but i can't tell if i'm actually delivering them or not/

tom

Taera · #2 May 30th, 2002, 10:15 PM

I dont usualy finish a game

but the process could take from several days to several weeks depending on game settings, the exact enemies, luck and other modifiers.

I dont understand the second question.

dmm · #3 May 30th, 2002, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ttomm46:
how long does it usually take you guys to finish a game with low number of computer players.
someone on a review site said it could take weeks.

Small galaxy, 5 AI + me, low tech cost, high resource start, low tech start, easy AI, no bonuses, no events, set up empire with good bonuses that the AI doesn't give itself, capitalize on known AI shortcomings = about 3 to 5 hours to finish depending on how I roleplay.
OTOH, if I played huge galaxy, max AI, no neutrals, hard AI, high AI bonus, frequent bad events, and no abusing the AI's stupidity in setup and gameplay (e.g., no use of exploits), well then it could take weeks, and I might not win. I don't really have that kind of time, so haven't played a game like that yet.

Quote:

Originally posted by ttomm46:
also when i build weapon platforms i take a ship with cargo hold and load some up to unload on another planet but i can't tell if i'm actually delivering them or not

Not sure I understand, but if you use the TransferCargo button (has up and down arrows) at both planets it should be obvious what is going on.

Jmenschenfresser · #4 May 30th, 2002, 10:35 PM

Easiest way to unload stuff from a ship or vice versa is to use the load/unload button (the green and yellow arrows).

TO check to see if it is there, check the cargo tab on the planet or the ship...or both.

capnq · #5 May 30th, 2002, 10:50 PM

Since my copy of Gold arrived, I've started two PBW games and eighteen solo games. I've finished two of the solos, and abandoned two others because I'd only set them up to test something. None of the rest are anywhere near ending.

How long a game will take varies wildly: the victory conditions probably have the biggest effect, then which if any mods you're using, then some mix of all the other settings on the Game Set-Up screen. Plus how much time you have free to play, and how many games you're playing at the same time.

The first game I finished was set-up to only go 15.0 years. The second game I finished was set for a score of 200% of second place after 10.0 years, and ended exactly then.

[ edit ] Forgot the cargo part.

There are three different cargo handling commands. Transfer (T), which has been mentioned, gives you complete control over what goes where. Load (L) and Drop (D) will automatically move all of one type of cargo.

Launchable units (drones, fighters, mines, satellites) also have a parallel set of orders: Launch/Recover (U), Launch Remotely (I), and Recover Remotely (O).

[ May 30, 2002, 21:58: Message edited by: capnq ]

Taz-in-Space · #6 May 31st, 2002, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Since my copy of Gold arrived, I've started two PBW games and eighteen solo games.

Wow, and I thought I had a lot of games at 8!
BTW have you tried the Devnullmod since they added monsters?

Quikngruvn · #7 May 31st, 2002, 11:26 PM

I once had nine PBW games going at once... and did poorly in most of them. Now I'm down to three PBW games, plus my one solo game. My solo game has been going on for about a month, but only because I don't have a lot of time to devote to it, after my PBW games. I figure in another month or so I'll have the psycho Cue Cappa finally bottled up....

You can tell if a weapon platform is on a planet by checking the cargo of the planet. Also, the planet will have a status icon that looks somewhat like a weapon platform.

Quikngruvn

capnq · #8 June 1st, 2002, 12:01 AM

Quote:

BTW have you tried the Devnullmod since they added monsters?

Not yet. Despite all the games I play, I'm really slow at adopting mods. The only mods I currently have installed are TDM, Pirates & Nomads, and my own Hypermaze, and I only started my first P&N game a few days ago.

What I'll typically do is play one solo game until I reach a point that I don't want to tackle micromanaging something (usually upgrading a bunch of ship designs), and then switch to one of the other solo games the next time I play. New games get started when I want to try something other than the next solo game in the cycle.

Dracus · #9 June 1st, 2002, 01:01 AM

I never play a low number of palyers. I always play a full set of AI. My latest game has Lasted 6 months and I just up dated to gold. I role play my game alot so it takes more time. as I don't just try to wipe everyone out quickly. And I want to see how the AI acts after all tech is researched.

jimbob · #10 June 2nd, 2002, 01:05 AM

I've never finished a single game to date

Usually I reach a point where I control 3/4 of the universe, and it's pretty obvious that I've won. So I just start a new one and hope to get crushed. Lately I've been playing P&N, not having the capacity to colonize really changes the dynamic of the game.

ttomm46:
any luck with loading and moving around those weapons platforms?