Mine Follies

HAL · #1 January 9th, 2001, 06:59 AM

So over the weekend I started a new game. To
add a bit to the challenge, I set my homeworld up as Ice/Methane. Medium number of players in a large universe. Bought organic tech since I had never tried it.

No major problems, but the lack of good planets forces me to expand into quickly. My position rises to 3rd and then tumbles to 7th. I then stumble into the 2nd place computer player who hates me. My meager empire falls farther behind the leaders, but I manage to claw my way into 5th. I fighting continual warp point battles with the 2nd place player who is now 4X my size. Luckily, I share only one contact point. I tried to break into his system; however, I hit a heavy mine field. I fall back, but he is sending waves of ships. In desperation, I start using missile dance tactics, but the force advantage is too much. He manages to find another WP on the other side of my empire. It was looking very grim.

I decided to go for mines. I have never used mines before, but I don't see any other way. I develop mines and build my first mine layer. I spend numerous turns trying to deploy mines. I remember from SE III that I need to build them, but I can't figure it out. I become frantic, then slap myself in the head realizing that I have to design the mines. Duh!

I am still playing the game. I am out numbered and trapped in a corner. The computer is sweeping my minefields and pushing through with bigger ships. I now have gas giant colonization, but I don't know if I have enough time to reach paraity with the computer.

I believe people who complain about the AI are taking all the advantages against it. It will be interesting to see if I can turn it around.

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I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.

Grognard · #2 January 9th, 2001, 09:19 AM

hehe

Mine mine follies.

I built a 25-mine minefield in my first game at a penetrated warp point. Ships did not seem to have much trouble getting through. Must increase the density, so the minefield is upped to 100 mines. Still no visible sign of results.

Level two warheads. Time to redesign my mines. Doh, I had not given the first mine design a warhead.

Grognard

Baron Munchausen · #3 January 9th, 2001, 05:23 PM

It is much too easy to block warp points with mines. I got sick of the same old routine of blocking with mines and building up forces while the AI wasted itself running mindlessly into the mines. I'm currently playing a game WITHOUT mines. It's so easy to just click the technology off when you start the game. This is great fun so far. Defending yourself against the AI is much more unpredictable without minefields. Unless there is a major change to mine mechanics, I think I'll be playing without mines regularly from now on.

[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 09 January 2001).]

dmm · #4 January 9th, 2001, 05:57 PM

I had a minelayer get "attacked" by a colony ship. Both ran to opposite corners, with the minelayer trailing mines the whole way, then making a big puddle in the corner. It looked like my minelayer ship got so scared that it peed itself.

Nyx · #5 January 9th, 2001, 06:23 PM

I like leaving mines turned on and I just don't use them myself. Attacking through minefields can be tricky, and the AI is decent about placing them. It makes things a bit mor difficult. Especially because I limit myself to having to steal mine tech to get access to mine sweepers.

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Compete in the Space Empires IV World Championship at www.twingalaxies.com.

HAL · #6 January 9th, 2001, 06:38 PM

This is my first use of mines in SEIV. I don't use them, but in this particular game I really don't have a choice. The computer is effectively sweeping my minefields, BTW. I think it only a matter of time before it totally over runs my position.

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I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.