Play by web guide

[geoschmo]

The key to sucess at PBW is experience. And I don't mean ship experience, although that is important too. I mean your experience at playing other humans.

Play LOTS of games. Join as many games as you think you can handle, and then find one more and join that too.

The more you play against other humans, (even other newbies) and see what they do, the better you will get. Playing solo games against the AI is almost worthless when it comes to gaining experience for playing other humans in PBW.

The best AI isn't going to be as challanging as the worst PBW player.

Join games that are already in progress and in need of replacments. This way you can pick up in a game and skip all the boring empire building stuff and get right to the combat. Sure you might get pasted quick, but you can always blame it on the former owner, even if it was your fault.

Be flexible. There is no formula for winning on PBW. The tips given in this thread are things people did in the past to win games that worked well. They might not win in the future, especially if your opponent knows them too.

Protect your homeworld.

Know where your enemies are.

Know what your allies are doing.

Geoschmo

[DocShane]

I agree with Geo. Once I started playing humans, I went back to playing the computer. I couldn't do it. Gave up about 50 turns into the game because the AI was so pathetic. The only real challenge against the AI is to get the real good modded AI's and give them astronomical advantages. Then you have a tough game. Mega evil empire also ruins any chance for a large peaceful empire.


We all try to prepare FOR or AGAINST an attack. But what will you do AFTER the attack? ....read on!

I got a good trick. Got a storm about 3 clicks from a key warp point? Park a minelayer in the storm. After the enemy comes into your system and raises a little havoc, he will inevitably return home to refuel or return to the warp point to await reinforcements. Send your mine layer out and mine the warp point AFTER he comes through. If you have enough movement, you can hide back in the storm without him knowing. It is a treat to see their reaction, returning to that "safe" spot in the system to recoup. Boom! Hehe, ask Gimboid about it.

This is why playing humans is so fun. May the Phage remain pure!

------------------
The Good Doc

"Henceforth I spread confident wings to space
I fear no barrier of crystal or glass;
I cleave the heavens and soar to the infinite.
And while I rise from my own globe to others
And penetrate even further through the eternal field,
That which others saw from afar, I leave far behind me."

-Giordano Bruno
"On the Infinite Universe and Worlds," 1584

[Dragonlord]

Doc,
I'm not sure that trick would work too often. A good player would assume the wormhole itself is mined before he comes through, and would include sweepers in his fleet that can sweep more than your minelayer could place in a turn or two...
I for one never send off big fleets without the ability to sweep 100 mines.

[Mudshark]

Great Posts!! I also would recomend reading this post for anyone thinking of joining PBW; Are battles always one sided? (Page 1). This game is so much better with human players! It does offer a new level, even though fleet settings and ship settings are confusing in the simultanious setting, let alone the lack of movement in the game. The PBW Admin. deserves many thanks for the time they have put into bringing a new playing level to SE4. I do look forward to seeing more Posts of strategy and tactics that us newbies can devour, and the many hours that I plan on spending on making many more mistakes! LOL

[Mudshark]

Originally posted by Dragonlord:
"In one PBW game I had one annoying opponent who put one minelaying component on a transport ship, loaded it up with mines, then started creating little 2-mine minefields *everywhere*. Makes you really paranoid, even after defeating his military I couldn't safely send any colonisers or such into his former systems without sweeper escort..." trying that trick now, teach him to send 3 fleets each larger than my whole Navy!! Fleets destruct, I go from Last place to first in one glorious turn!! BTW who is considered the best player at this point, both SEIII and IV, knowing my luck the one I declared war against Last turn! LOL

[Gimboid]

quote:

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Originally posted by docshane:
It is a treat to see their reaction, returning to that "safe" spot in the system to recoup. Boom! Hehe, ask Gimboid about it.

This is why playing humans is so fun. May the Phage remain pure!

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Touche Doc.

i think we are both weary of approching each others planets and systems without minesweepers now...

In regards to strategies id like to add to some of the ones already presented:-

Know what your allies are doing. Also know who your allies allies are, and what they are doing together.

Nothing hurts more then seeing a valued ally turn on you because you didnt notice they were allied with your mortal enemy from day one of your partnership with them.

[Rollo]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mudshark:
... BTW who is considered the best player at this point, both SEIII and IV, knowing my luck the one I declared war against Last turn! LOL

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I have suggested in the PBW forum to set up a hall of fame. This might be fun and you can tell the veterans from the rookies .

Any takers?

Rollo