PBW Interstellar Storm

[couslee]

It's where I am hiding, for now at least. but beware PBW players, you never know when i might emerge from my haven and start wuppin hiney.

I did join the PBW site, and did read the Q&A. i am sure I will read it again, but am curious about a couple of general things. I am still tired, so if some of my ?s seem weird, I "default disclaimer" them all now. All questions refer to un-modded games .

1. If I take over a position in a current game, do I have to use that current position's race file. And if no, is it fairly easy to find out about the race choices before making a commitment to the game?

2. I want to get more use to game mechanics. What are the typical galaxy and option settings. I want to make a race that is applicable to common steeings. IE, it does no good to design a race with 5k starting points, if most PBW games use 0 points.

3. Do most PBW players choose racial techs, or do they leave those for the AI to make it more challanging. (A PBW game that has no human player racial tech choices might be interesting). 3.1 Also what impact does "race experience" have on the game. (I have not tried too hard for a search on this yet, but asking the question might be easier than a long hunt for it).

4. OT: I hate "real player" because of it's practices. I have windows xp. Does that, or a different (free)program have the ability to play "real player" files? I tried to view a news article that was a real player file type, and couldn't without getting the RP dl, which requires a credit card. And if yes, where do I get that program or how do I use xp to do it. I don't know about such computer things.

gonna try and get some sleep again. laterz

[Ragnarok]

1. If I take over a position in a current game, do I have to use that current position's race file. And if no, is it fairly easy to find out about the race choices before making a commitment to the game?

Yes you have to use their race file that they set up. No way of getting around this.
As far as how easy it is to find out what it is I don't think you can without either joining and seeing for yourself. Or by having the game host look into the players game and tell you.

2. I want to get more use to game mechanics. What are the typical galaxy and option settings. I want to make a race that is applicable to common steeings. IE, it does no good to design a race with 5k starting points, if most PBW games use 0 points.

There are no typical galaxy options. Each PBW game varies as far as size, warp points, type of galaxy and so forth. Be ready for anything.
I suggest making a new race for each PBW game you play in. If you use the same file for all PBW games players will get used to that one and be able to defeat you faster. Also it's hard to set up 1 single race file for all games. Some games are 0 racial points, some are 5K. Some 2K, some 3K. It all depends.

3. Do most PBW players choose racial techs, or do they leave those for the AI to make it more challanging. (A PBW game that has no human player racial tech choices might be interesting). 3.1 Also what impact does "race experience" have on the game. (I have not tried too hard for a search on this yet, but asking the question might be easier than a long hunt for it).

Most players choose racial techs yes. When in a PBW game there are very few games with the AI so no point in only allowing racial techs for the AIs.
Race Experience does nothing for the game. When Aaron first made the game he was going to have Race Experience have an effect on the game (faster construction for example) but he took it out because humans coule exploit the AI very easily by played one race ALL the time and getting the EXP points up and getting godly bonus'

[quote]4. OT: I hate "real player" because of it's practices. I have windows xp. Does that, or a different (free)program have the ability to play "real player" files? I tried to view a news article that was a real player file type, and couldn't without getting the RP dl, which requires a credit card. And if yes, where do I get that program or how do I use xp to do it. I don't know about such computer things.[/quote

Uhh, I have no idea.

[couslee]

Originally posted by Ragnarok:
Some games are 0 racial points, some are 5K. Some 2K, some 3K. It all depends.

I guess that was what I was asking. was what is the most common racial point choice, the only other things that might affect a stragey (to the level i am thinking about) is tech cost.

I want to get more familiar with basic game strats, but OTOH I am anxious to get into PBW games. And sometimes a question is easier than a month of game play testing.

I know with SMAC, PBEM was fantastic. SP was still fun as one could play other "challange types" like the One City Challange (in which I Transcended playing Miriam), but vs humans is quite a different story. I know that much about the differences between MP and SP.

[Ragnarok]

was what is the most common racial point choice, the only other things that might affect a stragey (to the level i am thinking about) is tech cost.

Tech cost is easier to guess at. Most games run at Low tech start with at least a Medium tech cost. Alot of games, however, use high cost to make the game Last longer. You hardly ever see a low cost game.

I want to get more familiar with basic game strats, but OTOH I am anxious to get into PBW games. And sometimes a question is easier than a month of game play testing.

I was the same way when I first started PBW. I couldn't wait to get into it. And now I hate it when I am playing less then 5 games at a time. I am currently in 7.

One game I am host of needs 3 replacements if you're interested. It is a full tech start, 10 planets, 5K racial points. No one has met in game yet. Turn 50. Each empire has their own cluster in which to build their society and expand. Then when they feel they are ready to meet others open a warp point and go for it. Game is called "Return to Hell" if you want to check it out.


You'll enjoy PBW alot once you finally get into it. I know I did.

[couslee]

I might take you up on that, since there are three openings.

That is a good example of why I started this thread. In Sp, I have not even looked at "full tech start, 10 planets, 5K racial points" starting combos. 5k racial yes. the others no

I made a few mulligan starts, one just to check out 3 starting planets and didn't care that much for it, but my other settings might have cause some conflicts. (IE players start in different systems, and colonize only breathables).

The only game I have actually got past the first ten turns, is my current one.
cluster/large/finite/start in dif sys
tech low/low cost/highest starting resources (I wanted to choose which extra techs I started with, not what ever the game decided I should start with)
max # AIs/Max AI bonuses/(max anything AI, still want a challange even if only a training game)

I took no racial techs (but did use my 5k up). has been an interesting game to say the least.

oh yea, all WP connected. wanted to check out the full weapons tree, including costs for each level with no turtles

[ January 28, 2003, 18:21: Message edited by: couslee ]

[Ragnarok]

Yes, think about joining and if you want to I will accept you into the game. If you don't feel like it yet that is fine as well. I will give you a bit of information about the open slots though.
I looked and got the positions of the empires in question.
The Memetic empire that is open is currently in 5th place and probably will be falling slowly but surely since the AI is running it. So get it now if you want that spot.
The Taolsian empire is in 2nd place. But I am sure it will begin to fall as well if the AI runs it much longer. Take this spot if you want to be near the top early.
And finally the Dinesku empire is in 11th place. Which you can't get any lower then this spot. If you want to rebuild a empire that the AI ruined then this would be the spot for you.
But if you want any of the high spots then you better join quick. Because now that I have released this information I am sure it will go quickly.

[ January 28, 2003, 21:08: Message edited by: Ragnarok ]

[couslee]

I applied the patch, gonna give another go with SP and try to not make so many of the same mistakes. (like not using mounts on ships that could use them.)

now, before i do any major modding of my own, I will check out the modding tutorial in full. I just have a couple of question I want answered before embarking on the endeavor (which will be months down the road).

1> I see they didn't fix the stupid storage setting, so I am going to change that. I think 50,000 is too low for a homeworld, and since you have a game setting option of starting with 100,000 it only makes sence to me to have the planet match that. My question with this, is since I made that change will that have any effect on PBW games. the other setting I might change, is to balance the AI-angry over allied planet setting, and the same question applies to that. OR, would I have to change both of those back to the original settings to play a PBW turn?

2> I really would like to change the "capture ship" general type to something else. I want that component repaired asap, and not wait for every other type of component to fixed first. i was thinking of changing that to general group "miscellaneous" so I could have it prioritized. I would also change security stations for the same reason. IMO, weapons is a poor choice for that unit. The question about that, is will that work, or will it screw everything up. and if it works, same question about PBW as in "1>" above

Adept modders should be able to handle those questions easily.

[ January 29, 2003, 09:12: Message edited by: couslee ]

[Fyron]

1>

Always, and I repeat, always make your changes to the files in the Data folder in a mod folder, not to the default Data folder. This will save you lots of trouble later on when you get into multiplayer games.

2>

I am fairly certain that all the general group does is determine repair order and how the component is sorted in the design window. I don't think it has any other effects on the game. Of course, further testing is always helpful.

[ January 29, 2003, 10:47: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]