Strategy Guide in the Archive

Dubious · #1 April 12th, 2001, 04:11 AM

Thanks Dracus. "Rippling" the sat's as your border expands. That's a nice one. For the inexperienced like myself, could you expand a bit on the use of a sat in an "empty" system to monitor movement? Are you talking about using sensors (which I thought could only go on ships)?

It (and any reply you might give) will be in the next revision under the "First 50 Turns" topic.

Dubious · #2 April 12th, 2001, 04:15 AM

Nitram, beginner's tips are probably the primary reason someone will (at least initially) download the guide. Bring them on.

I found posting an attachment a little confusing as well the first time.

For those who've never uploaded before, you select the "Post Reply" link at the top of the thread (or archive) page, which brings up a Reply page with fields for your Forum name and password. There is also a field for the "attachment", which is initially empty. Next to it is an "upload your files" link. When you select that, it brings up a separate browser window with fields for 3 attachments. There are browse buttons which let you navigate to each file location on your local drive. When you have selected the files and clicked the "upload now" button, the Reply page "attachment" field will have a single filename (random numbers with a ".txt" extension), which means the file(s) uploaded successfully. The ".txt" file is probably a "pointer" file to the real filename(s) and location on their server.

Or you can just put it up as a series of Messages. Looking forward to your contribution.

Dracus · #3 April 12th, 2001, 06:23 AM

Sure,
Since you can see any movement in a system that you have planets/ships
(unless they are cloaked)
You either have to keep a ship on patrol in the empty systems (were you can't colonize) Or you can just place a sat over in a corner. (less likely the AI will take it out then.) This Sat can be unarmed. Now onyour map, it will so that you occupy that system and everytime some other race enters it, a trangle will appear. I do this to all empty sytems within and around my borders. prevents anyone from sneaking in on me.
Also, maybe sat protect any WP's that come from blackhole systems. Others like to use these once they get shields. I personally don't use sat's to protect planets because they can't move and can't be placed in a defense orbit. Long range guns can take them out quickly. But you will find that most of the time, the wp battles will place both your sat's and the enemy ships near the point. you get first shot and you can take out a small fleet before they even get to fire. send in ships to clean up the others.
And exception to this is nebula and black hole systems:
Blackhole systems will pull anything in so you can not monitor them. So blocking the the connecting systems WP's takes care of any movement acrossed a blackhole system.
Nebula systems hide everything. SO to counter this I put a sat/mine defense on the WP's Anything in or out that is not friendly hits my forces. and now I know were they plan to attack from.

[This message has been edited by Dracus (edited 12 April 2001).]

Nitram Draw · #4 April 12th, 2001, 02:08 PM

Here are some tips for beginners. Remember, don't blame me if you follow them and still get your butt kicked, there is no absolutly no certain winning strategy in this game!

DirectorTsaarx · #5 April 12th, 2001, 04:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Dubious:
Thanks Dracus. "Rippling" the sat's as your border expands. That's a nice one. For the inexperienced like myself, could you expand a bit on the use of a sat in an "empty" system to monitor movement? Are you talking about using sensors (which I thought could only go on ships)?

Actually, you CAN put sensors on a satellite. I do it all the time (and so does the AI). I don't build many of them, since the advanced sensors take up so much room, but it's a cheap way to monitor systems.

Personally, though, I prefer to put bases in asteroid/nebula systems; generally with a shipyard and a sensor, so I can build ships if I need to. I've also created a base with a shipyard, sensor, and combo of satellite, fighter and mine storage, so I can build units in the remote systems. Add a mine/satellite laying ship and you have a pretty potent defence force (since fighters can travel in-system on their own, you don't need a carrier).

Dracus · #6 April 12th, 2001, 04:34 PM

Yes you can add sensors to sat's
But I personally don't Until later in the game and by that time, I have a good defense force built. To do the Sat defense, were you move the sat's outward as you expand, requires 6-10 sat laying ships.
One Other thing, since you can't recover mines.As I expand, I normally destroy them form area's deep within my empire.
This is a risk because if the AI moves ships into your systems before they break off relations then they can attack a couple of your planets. but when they try to escape to refuel, they stall at your defense lines. You
can then take them out with ships. But if they happen to use the solar panels, ( I have not seen this yet.) It could be assumed that they could then repeatly attack inside your systems and force to have to hunt them down.

[This message has been edited by Dracus (edited 12 April 2001).]

Dubious · #7 April 13th, 2001, 05:29 AM

The zip file in the "Space Empires: IV - Modding and other Help Tools/Information" archive has been updated (same name: SE4 Dubious Strategy Guide).

Revision 12 Apr 2001: Added new topics: Nitram Draw's "Beginners Game Tips", with subsections on "In The Beginning", "General observations and recommendations", "Must have technologies", "Combat tips",
"Opinion"; topic "System Defense" with subsections on "Controlling Costs", "Treaties and System Access", "Minefields". Added items to First 50 Turns; First Contact subsection on Treaties.

Revision 10 Apr 2001: Added to First 50 Turns: Research Strategies, Exploration, and Weapon Research Comparisons subtopics; First Contact.