learning SE4

ttomm99 · #1 March 25th, 2002, 01:52 AM

hi

i've played the tutorial but i'm wondering the best way to learn the game.

i was on a game review site and the reviewer said he's started at least 40 games of space empires and hasn't finished one cause there's so much to do it's impossible to learn,,

real encouraging. but any help appreciated...

Tom

ttomm99 · #2 March 25th, 2002, 01:55 AM

ps.

has anybody played the gold edition and is the manual any better ? thanks

tom

Fyron · #3 March 25th, 2002, 02:02 AM

Over at seiv.pbw.cc, there are some newbie games. I don't know if they have already started or not, but if they haven't you could join one. Also, ask any questions you might have here (after a quick search to see if its already been answered, of course). The people here will be glad to help you.

pathfinder · #4 March 25th, 2002, 02:13 AM

Also the manual for Gold is much better than the original, may still need some work but all in all is WAY better.

One of the best ways to learn is to setup a small universe and set the complete ai on and watch, at least for the first couple of game years. Hehe, I have only finished a few games myself in something like 18 months of playing. Still, it is loads of fun.

One of the greatest aspects of the game IMHO is the fact there no set scenarios, it's all random. So there is no ONE strategy but many, depending victory conditions, opponents (AI or human), you "race" you are playing...many variables.

[ 25 March 2002: Message edited by: pathfinder ]

[ 25 March 2002: Message edited by: pathfinder ]

[ 25 March 2002: Message edited by: pathfinder ]

ColdSteel · #5 March 25th, 2002, 02:58 AM

The Gold Manual *is* better but I found it odd that they completely ignored the Scrap/Analyze screen. Since analyzing alien ships for technology can be an important (and fun) part of the game, I was wondering why the author left that out. They seem to cover all the other GUI items. Strange, but my guess is that maybe they just ran out of time..(shrug).

As for learning it, you just have to do it. Then ask questions here when you can't figure something out. Everyone's been in that boat at some time.

CS

Suicide Junkie · #6 March 25th, 2002, 04:43 AM

If at all possible, playing a hotseat game would probably be a very good way to learn.
Playing tactical combat can get you a good feel for the advantages and disadvantages of the various weapons, defenses and general design theories.
Just agree to "open source" any tricks you figure out, say, 15 turns or fewer after you've used it on your opponent. That way you can both live and learn as you go.

Gryphin · #7 March 25th, 2002, 08:02 PM

I have had Gold for 2 weeks now, (but have played SE III and IV for years). I have only looked in the manual once. I enjoy the constant "puzzles" of not knowing how to do something. That said, yes, I wish more of the game "How To Do *fill in the blank" were described. It cost me 20 plus mines in a usless warp point to find out I could not recover them. I suspect such a manual would be an inch thick and add 10 dollars to the price.

Edit: I wish I could spell.

[ 25 March 2002: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

Atrocities · #8 March 25th, 2002, 09:20 PM

I started playing SEIV with the original Demo back in August 2000. The game was rather easy to learn.

As I continued to play, and after getting my copy of the full game, I began to learn a lot more. Now that GOLD is out, and yes the manual is sweet, I have even learned some more things.

Most recently the Build Que feature "Fill Que." What you do is after filling the Que the way you want it, say for colonizing a planet with 24 slots, you click the Fill Que button, Add Type, and name it. Then Cancel. Whenever you colonize a planet with 24 slots in it, you simply hit Fill Que, and then the name you gave it, and voila, your que is full. I usually name my Ques according to size and type. 18 Intel, 24 New Planet, 5 Intel, etc.

The game is easy to learn, but the feature may take you a while. My only suggestion is to recommend that you keep playing, and learn as you go as many of us have. best of luck.

Ragnarok · #9 March 26th, 2002, 04:31 AM

I've only had Gold for about 2 months, (if even that long), and it only took me about 3 days to figure out the basics. I'm now getting into the more detailed stuff, it's not too tough to learn if you put your mind to it. Just keep trying and you'll get it eventually.

When I got the SE4 Gold demo I had never played SE4 or SE3 I had only played SE2 along time ago, then I lost it and I got curious and went and found the Malfador web-site and found out they had SE3 and SE4 and were coming out with SE4 Gold. So untill I got the Demo I had no xp with the new interface other then SE2.. So just thought I'd bring out that even if you don't know the interface it's still not tough to learn. It's a bLast once you get it down.