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.