Simultaneous Games

[couslee]

SP, I took nary a word in offence when I read your post the first time. Nor did I think it was harsh.

I know part of being a great armchair general is getting your "troops" to do what you want. The level of frustration I was having was not only trying to determine what each of the strategy settings (firing, damage, ect.) did, but also other game mechanics that I don't have a full grasp on yet. I only got this game around the start of the year, and am still learing the basic game mechanics, and developing a race I am comfortable with, that matches my play style. In trying to get into a MP setting this eary, was really putting too much on my plate at once. I can handel trial & error testing, bug hunting and all that, but not all at the same time that I am trying to get familiar with the game itself.

To give you an idea on where I am at, I have started a lot of games, but gave them the right click of fellowship once I saw that a paticual set of circumstances had sent the empire is a disasterous direction. Like taking a lower percentage on reapir, and also during the same game only finding out about how to use mounts after my cruisers fleets were obsolete even, along with design flaws. when you have made so many mistakes in a game, it is just easier to start a new one. Sure, I could retro fit.....if I had not bankrupt my minerals.

Some aspects of the game I have yet to explore at all, like training facilities, and atmosphere converters (whatever they are called). I have only started partially up the sensor tree and have not had the chance to see how they work, and when it is best to use or not them. Ect.... ad nausuem.

This is what I mean by still learning the basics. I have played about 4 games where I would say I reached "mid-game", and only one of those went towards the end where I could consider building a baseship. Add all that, on top of trying to learn the strategic combat basics, and not being use to simultaneous turns (was my first game trying that). So as one can seen, I just piled too much on my plate.

I am not giving up on MP, but it will take a while to get the basics down to a second nature. then I will address the ins and outs of simultaneous games, and strategic comboat. For now, I am going to play turn based and get back to the basics. I was having zero fun by trying to do too much. And having something to have some fun with, is the ONLY reason I buy computer games.

I guess that is the best adivce I can give other players new to game too. Take your time. Learn the basics until they become almost second nature, then progress into the harder aspects of the game, like simultaneous turns and strategic combat. Just learning the ins and outs of race desing can take several games. And don't feel bad if you get pissed off, delete the game from the save folders and start a new one. Nor should you feel bad about reloading a turn and trying something different. It's how you learn a game. Just don't take on too much at once.

And remember to blink your eyes often.

Edit in:

Also, if you are using Missile craft to soften planets, you will get surprises because the ships consider a cease fire when the damage gets done. They do not consider how much damage is likely to be done by the missiles that are on the way. Therefore the following happens:

I undrstand that. but during one combat, my ships stopped firing at the planet, and turned their attention to an unarmmed base, wislt the planet continued to pick them off one by one at range. They did the same a couple of time, even whe I changed the setting to 80% planet damage, and don't attack unarmmed bases. those were fleet orders, and they reverted to their default strategy anyway. And yes, I had the "break formation/ ships" unselected. Why, I don't know. Figure it out? Be my guest, I will address that another day.

[ February 02, 2003, 19:10: Message edited by: couslee ]