SEIII Comparison

Vermithrax · #1 July 20th, 2003, 05:11 PM

Greetings Everyone,

I'm new to SE4, but was quite a hand at SE3. So what's really different? If all the old stuff works the same it minimizes the learning curve. I've noticed multiple space yards on a base or ship no longer give you parrallel build capability. That's the kind of info I need. If this has been answered before please direct me to the thread. I did a search for Space empires III but found nothing.

Erax · #2 July 20th, 2003, 05:47 PM

Hello, welcome to the forums. I only played the SE3 demo for a while, but the main difference I noticed when I started playing SE4 were the planets. You can colonize any atmosphere, but those with your native atmosphere ('breathables') are best. The others will have a white 'domed colony' icon when colonized, which restricts population size and number of facilities. There is a facility that changes a planet's atmosphere, but it takes time.

You've probably noticed that colony tech is now for planet types, not atmospheres.

I'll let someone who played SE3 more than I did fill you in on the rest.

mottlee · #3 July 20th, 2003, 05:49 PM

one of the differences from III to IV is the fact that in III you could "Move" your build between different Space Yards you can no longer do this,
combat there is NO "Retreat" in IV but you can run! you no longer have a "Targeting screen for weapons now just click and shoot

give it time you will find more there also

Thermodyne · #4 July 20th, 2003, 05:58 PM

With SE3, you could win a game in as little as 7 moves. A one on one might Last thirty turns. With SE4, it takes a lot longer. SE4 is a new game, there is not a lot that you can bring across from SE3.

Master Belisarius · #5 July 20th, 2003, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thermodyne:
With SE3, you could win a game in as little as 7 moves. A one on one might Last thirty turns. With SE4, it takes a lot longer. SE4 is a new game, there is not a lot that you can bring across from SE3.

Exactly my friend. This is the main difference to me.

Also, think some things were better in SE3 (and some were posted here).
- The Shipyard Queques:
- a lot more flexible.
- the Base Space Yard are now near to useless! In the old times, was allowed to create Base Space Yards without limits in the number of Yard components.
- The way to spend your points to Research.
- The Right click menu!
- The option to start a game using some number of tech levels (this option helped a lot to do fast games).
- The Retreat option.
- Ships not finished to construct, still were able to fight.

Arkcon · #6 July 20th, 2003, 08:43 PM

In SE3, as you advanced in fighter tech, you got fighters with advanced components. Now you research components and design everything, even units.

A certain high level of troops, working in concert, could give a planet a beam weapon to fire back. Now, the weapons platform fills that function and that's the only way they work.

In SE3, like other 4X games, you can work your people to death and make them angry, or slack them off and make them happy. Now happiness is controlled by other things, and emergency build only works for one year at a time.