Noobie Question(s)

[dbt1949]

Altho I've had this game for awhile it finally arose to the top of my backlog.

I'm a really old guy(53) and don't learn as fast as you young whippersnappers.

I'm still learning the game mechanics and have my very first question: Can I generate a game where I generate who the computer players are? And if so how?

I have been reading a lot of the beginners questions and answers but didn['t see this one.

Thanks!

[Rojero]

Well I just pick all the players involved...make sure the first race you pick is the one you want to play with...then pick the rest...
Then when you start a game go into..options and select PLAYERS..once there click on which races you want to have under AI control.
Which you be everything except the first one..

[Atrocities]

Can I generate a game where I generate who the computer players are? And if so how?

Yes.

After starting SEIV,
1. Select NEW GAME
2. Click on the PLAYER SETTINGS tab.
3. At the bottom of this page choose the Racial Points for New Players. (2000, 3000, or 5000)
*I like to play with 5000 Racial Points.*
4. Click on the PLAYERS tab
(In this section you can either choose ADD EXSISTING or ADD NEW. The Exsisting Players are AI opponents that have already been set up and saved for use with new games. Add Player will allow you to set up a race the way you want.)

NOTE: Most new Ship sets come with Emp.Files that you can copy from the race directory to the Empires Folder. This will give you access to that race without having to manually set it up.

5. Click on the ADD NEW tab
Under GENERAL DETAILS tab you can choose the race you want. Additionally, you can give it an empire name, empire type, Emperor title, Emperor Name, choose a design name file, (For use with ship design names)

NOTE: If your new player is going to be computer controlled, then you will want to select both the Computer Controlled, and Use Race Minister Style option at the bottom of the General Details page.

6. Under the ENVIRONMENT tab you can select the atomsphere for the race, and the home planet type.

7. Under the CULTURE tab you can select the culture for the race.
(At the bottom of the page is a button for COMPARE CULTURE MODIFIERS. Click that to compare the advantages and disadvantages for each culture.)

8. Under the CHARACTERISTICS tab you can either increase or decrease values for the player.

9. Under the ADVANCED TRAITS tab you can select advanced traits for the player. (I often choose my advanced traits first then do the Characteristic. Remeber, for each of these you use, you will use up Racial Points. You can gain more racial points by decreaseing the Characterstics below a 100%, but not a good idea for playing the AI. Good idea for PBW games if its your race.)

10. Under the DESCRIPTION tab you can fill in the information about your race, and select Demeour, and Happyness Type.

11. After you have set up the race, click the CREATE EMPIRE button at the bottom of the page.

12. Select the empire you just created from the Players in Game window, and then click Save to File.

13. Click no for save with designs

14. Click NEW EMPIRE, name it, and then click OK.

You will have just saved that empire to the Empire Folder and it can now be accessed whenever you want to use it for a game.

After you have added your new races, start playing the game.

Befor you do though, make sure all of your game settings are to your liking. Have fun, and I hope this has helped.

[ December 29, 2002, 23:41: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[dbt1949]

Thanks guys for your quick replies! I'll try it out right away.

[dbt1949]

Now for my next question. I'm confused about weapons platforms. Are they a facility for the planets? Can you transport them like to a wormhole and drop them off there?

How and where do I deploy them?

[Baron Grazic]

Weapon Platforms are defensive units for your planets.
You can add them to a transport, but they have no effect, until you drop them off at another Planet.

[Cheeze]

Weapons platforms are not a planet facility, but are listed in the cargo for the planet. So, particularly on small planets or ones with a different atmosphere than the race colonizing it, be careful of how many you put there.

In addition, weapons platform are listed by the number of a particular type. This can be a problem if you wish to replace older platforms or just make some space. You would have to dump all of one type. So if you want to keep some on the planet (of one weapons platform design), have a cargo ship or space station in orbit which can hold them!

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Cheeze:
Weapons platforms are not a planet facility, but are listed in the cargo for the planet. So, particularly on small planets or ones with a different atmosphere than the race colonizing it, be careful of how many you put there.

In addition, weapons platform are listed by the number of a particular type. This can be a problem if you wish to replace older platforms or just make some space. You would have to dump all of one type. So if you want to keep some on the planet (of one weapons platform design), have a cargo ship or space station in orbit which can hold them!

You can now just jettison a single WP even if you have multiples of that type on the planet. I think this was a Version 1.78 fix.

[dbt1949]

Okay,so even tho they're listed in the cargo area of the planet they still function against enemy attacks.

My next question:When you gut first start a game do you expand like mad or concentrate on your own system and then expand?

[TerranC]

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Okay,so even tho they're listed in the cargo area of the planet they still function against enemy attacks.

My next question:When you gut first start a game do you expand like mad or concentrate on your own system and then expand?

Expand like mad. Try to move population from your home system to other breathable planets to speed up the rate of expansion. Remember, the faster you expand, the less space for your enemies, and less space for your enemies, the faster you can exterminate them.

[ December 30, 2002, 04:41: Message edited by: TerranC ]