More stupid newbie tricks ( questions ) !

[Dogberry]

Just got an "out of range" error about 100-120 turns into a standard game.

BTW..the figures for PBW look pretty good for MP .. for a game like this. There is probably two or three times as much actual activity out there. Has anybody tried hosting games by using ICQ to develop a player list ?

Dog

[Phoenix-D]

"Has anybody tried hosting games by using ICQ to develop a player list ?"

Why? PBW is much superior.

Phoenix-D

[capnq]

There seems to be two schools of thought about SE IV MP:

1) People who insisted the game needed TCP/IP support, which was only added in Gold;

2) People who were baffled why anyone wanted to play it that way.

TCP/IP games have a Chat function, which I suppose would give the same real-time interaction as ICQ.

PBW also supports a Real-Time Client, which Admiral developed independently of Malfador's work on TCP/IP. This was included in the Extras folder on the Gold CD.

[Dogberry]

Have not really checked out PBW yet.. will later on. Was just curious how the stand alone IP games worked.. if they do. When I was active with Civ 2 .. I used to host a lot of games, using ICQ & my list of players. Frequently we would pass the game along as players dropped out & new ones came on. Sometimes this went as smooth as silk... other times it did not.

Well.. time for a couple of pills & an oz. of wine.

later,

Dog

[Dogberry]

Got another "Range Check Error". Is this my Version of Windows ( 98 SE ) or is this something else ? Perhaps the fighter thing mentioned elsewhere on the MB. I don't normally autosave.. but I will now.

I must admit this is quite the game. It has tons of depth. BOTF had "micro".. this has depth. I forced the Krill to hand over 10,000 Kt of minerals & they did so, but were quite sarcastic about it. .. hehe

Question.. does Fleet Training have any effect when you are using the tactical mode ? If so .. I assume that you have to keep your formation(s) together to get the benefit. I have been breaking them up at the start to better observe how the individual components behave. Also, when you "dismiss" a fleet .. does that fleet lose all of its experience ?

I notice that there are planet descriptions such as "thought to be the final resting place of two ancient cultures" .. but does not contain ruins. Are there stories in this game ?.. or is this just "colour". Some of my foundest gaming memories have to do with an old DOS title.. Starflight 2.

What I have seen of the way the AI operates, just reinforces my opinion that the most fruitful modding efforts would be there. It seems to do "ok" tactically, but really lousy at handling its forces in either an operationally or a strategically competent manner. I can't really make any observations on how it does on exploration, production, construction or the tech tree. Again .. I am no expert, but to paraphrase the Duke of Wellington .. " they came at us the same old way, and we beat them in the same old way."

One minor way to help out the AI.. would to be, not always giving the human the first move/shot.

Another thing that I noticed is that even a lousy frigate with relatively primitive tech can really hammer a planet. Has anyone ever thought of using some sort of population to space ratio.. to make those Last bunch of pop. points hard to kill off ?
That way .. if you want the planet.. you would have to send in the Marines to finish the job.

Finally.. it would be nice to have the way you set up a game, to automatically become your new defaults. That way, unless you want to change something.. you would not have to go through the entire menu & push all those buttons.

I had another question, but I have forgotten it. LOL

Having fun....

Dog

[capnq]

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does Fleet Training have any effect when you are using the tactical mode ? If so .. I assume that you have to keep your formation(s) together to get the benefit.

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Fleet Training does count in Tactical, but AFAIK the ships don't have to stay in formation. I could be wrong; it's never occured to me to test that.

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I have been breaking them up at the start to better observe how the individual components behave.

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Having all ships break formation often improves their battle performance. Trying to stay in formation when the leader changes direction can really mess things up, especially in tight formations.

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Also, when you "dismiss" a fleet .. does that fleet lose all of its experience ?

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Yes.

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I notice that there are planet descriptions such as "thought to be the final resting place of two ancient cultures" .. but does not contain ruins. Are there stories in this game ?.. or is this just "colour".

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Just color. Ruins always have a standing stones icon, and appear in the (F4) Planets/Special window.

[Wardad]

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Originally posted by Dogberry:

...I must admit this is quite the game. It has tons of depth...

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TURBO TAX has more depth, but the replay s--ks.