Great game, and some questions...

[DirectorTsaarx]

Originally posted by Stone Mill:
Hi Creepo.

1) Just to add a little, which you may know already: You can multi-select ships for retrofitting in the retrofit window as long as they are all the same "beginning" class.

And, of course, as long as they're in the same sector.

Oh, and to emphasize something in Baron Munchausen's post, the basestation with space yard and cargo bays also needs the appropriate launcher to use mines/sats/fighters.

Finally, as for game length, if you look at the AI Deathmatch thread, the games are typically Lasting 150-300 turns; and there's a cutoff at 500 turns in case neither empire manages to destroy the other. For a shorter game, try a smaller galaxy and start at high tech. I'm not certain if games are faster with more AI or with fewer AI. Oh, and if you want a longer game, try using the Proportions mod for SEIV...

[Fyron]

You can also get a longer game by playing as a pirate or a nomad in the Pirates and Nomads mod.

[Suicide Junkie]

Beware: Fyron's suggestion may result in a much shorter game, mainly due an unprepared human getting slaughtered

[Fyron]

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
Beware: Fyron's suggestion may result in a much shorter game, mainly due an unprepared human getting slaughtered

Yes, but then you get mad, and do it again to take revenge upon those evil AIs!

[Creepo]

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
2) Yes, but this is actually a problem for the AI. Players can use it fine, but the AI doesn't know to get things out of the SYB cargo. A base with a space yard, cargo, and mine/satellite bays is a great way to make a self-sustaining warp point defense. Add fighters into the mix to chase strays that get away from the satellites and you have a complete defense without ships.

3) How long do you want it to take? You can play for days easily. That's what makes the game so great, you can get totally absorbed in it.

Once I realized the implications of 2), I almost wept with joy. Mining WPs is central to my defense plan, and a Mine-producing Battlestation is just what the doctor ordered. I am also about to produce my first Baseship, which has a SY to replenish fighters between battles.

I wasn't really complaining about the game length; I find it amazing that the Tech Tree is paced so well that I never feel I "skip over" anything. There was an age when a Light Cruiser was the terror of the stars... Of course now I am going up against B5 and Floral battleships. This game is aweseome!

[oleg]

Originally posted by Creepo:
I wasn't really complaining about the game length; I find it amazing that the Tech Tree is paced so well that I never feel I "skip over" anything. There was an age when a Light Cruiser was the terror of the stars... Of course now I am going up against B5 and Floral battleships. This game is aweseome![/QB]

Moreover, if for some reason you think research is too slow or too fast, you can swith to low or high research cost for your liking !