Questions/RFCs from a newbie

Krakenup · #1 April 15th, 2002, 10:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by neofit:
What settings can I modify to make the game a bit harder, not too hard of course

If you set the difficulty below High, you are crippling the AI. Set that to High and add some bonus. You may want that at High also. In addition, you may want to use the TDM-ModPack or other mod races. Most of them are quite a bit more challenging than the stock races.

Your strategies seem to be good, but, when the AI starts putting PDCs on its ships, your CSM fleets are goners. You might want to use PPBs (requires Physics II) in the midgame.

quote:
Oh, the questions:

1. I didn't notice my ships gaining experience in combat. Then I found an old year 2000 post on this board saying that ships don't gain exp for firing missiles.

I think that's been fixed. Ships just gain experence slowly.

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2. What is the difference between Ship experience and Fleet experience?

They are separate and additive. If a ship leaves a fleet, it keeps its ship experience but loses its fleet experience. If it joins another fleet, it gains that fleet's experience.

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3. What is the difference between the 'Move' and 'Attack Commands'?

If you are already on the enemy fleet or planet, you can use the Attack Command. Otherwise, they are the same.

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4. Is there a trick to speed up population growth, besides constantly ferrying people between planets that are at/near maximum and the less populated ones? Besides making the population happier through gathering military facilities in the sector and building Urban Pacification Centers? I have found a Climate Control facility and have yet to assess its use and usefulness. From what I read on this board there are also some kind of 'atmosphere changing' facilities along the research tree. Anything else?
What is the max population growth rate one can have? Mine was 20% (which in fact is 2% if you do the math) on an Optimal planet with Jubilant population , can it go higher?
Is it possible to ferry population between two planets with indigenous population from different races?

I think you got most of the tricks. Growth rate can go higher than 20%, but I don't know the maximum. Yes, you want to match the planet's atmosphere with the population.

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5. How to subjugate a race?

It all depends on the relative score and the race settings in the politics file. Turn on the "See scores of all players" option. For most races (and all the neutral races - the ones with the simple flags and limited to one system), you need ten times their score to get them to accept a surrender demand. Score depends on their tech levels, production, ships, and bases. So all you have to do is destroy all their ships and bases and station a ship over (blockade)
each of their planets to drop them to minimum score. If your score is ten times theirs, they will accept a surrender demand - unless, of course, they require 30 or 50 times their score or if they will never surrender Like some of the ModPack races.

neofit · #2 April 15th, 2002, 10:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Taera:
Welcome to the forum Neofit!

[quote]-Play with high number of AI enemies.

How do you change this? I can't find it anywhere. On my first campaign there were 8 players (as displayed during the AI turn) on a Medium-sized quadrant, the next one there were 13 on a Small-sized one, and I haven't changed any parameters to that effect.
Besides, I thought that the more enemies there are, the less resources each one of them will have.

quote:
-Remove Neutral Empires by unchecking the "Generate random computer controlled Neutral Empires"

Ah, so there are 'regular' empires that will develop normally and hopefully attack, and neutral empires that never do? Thanks.

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For the races part, i reccommend you to download the TDM-ModPack. Its a MOD which will enchance the AI difficulty greatly - many good modders put a lot of time to design a challenging AI.

So that's what a TDM race is then?
Hehe, just found "TDM-ModPack_Gold.zip" on the Gold CD. I was not willing to mess around with Mods until I get to know the game. This Version is 3.00, is it any good or too old?

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It does not matter how good do you play, if the AI is a decent one soon enough your missiles tactics will be countered by greater PDCs and shields and engines. And then you'll get hit.

So maybe training, better missiles, and good sensors will see us through? With the advantage I seem to have in research and resources so far in the game, I think my missiles, electronics and speed will always be above those of the AI. Need to try on Hard Difficulty setting.

neofit · #3 April 15th, 2002, 10:37 PM

Also, is there a use for subjugation? If I need to be 10 times as strong, wouldn't it be better to simply capture its planets and get 100% of the resources instead of just 40%.
Maybe in the endgame, when capturing planets becomes very costly against a technologically advanced empire?

Suicide Junkie · #4 April 15th, 2002, 10:39 PM

Along with the "AI difficulty" and "AI bonus" settings, there is "Number of AI Players"

Low Medium and High define a range of numbers.

Lots of AIs can also encourage infighting along with the resource shortages, but too few can leave you alone long enough for you to build up an insurmountable lead.

Wardad · #5 April 15th, 2002, 11:35 PM

Now you know why we play with modded AI. I wish I had my files here with me, but it's probably too early for the NEWBIE to learn to edit AI scripts.

I toughen up the stock AI by requiring them to have more Colony ships. I also expand their limit on research and intelligance points. They will build more of those facilities. (Stellar Manip requires lots of research points). I also have a better AI file for building facilities and another for choosing planet types (mineral, reseach etc..).

Maybe one of the other guys could recommend some MODPACKS with tough AI.

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INCOMING!!! another damn upgrade!

TerranC · #6 April 16th, 2002, 01:09 AM

Subjugation and Protectorate is usually for Play by web games

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the only time I've got an Protectorate to another AI race was when the guy had One mining planet and One ship surrounded by a fleet of 12.

Crushed them anyhow but Really not beneficial.

oleg · #7 April 16th, 2002, 03:26 PM

Neofit:

To change number of empires, edit setting.txt file in data folder. It contains lines that set the range for "low", "medium" and "high" number of random empires.

TDM is not really a mod, it contains only improved AI and some new races for standard SE IV.
The Version on your disk is the most recent one.