"STANDARD" game settings??

[JesusFreak]

Just got my copy. I'm as green as they come. Here is my first question, though I'm sure I'll have tons more....

Is there a STANDARD setting that most players use? If I create an empire for instance, how many modifiers is normal? I don't want to create some SUPER RACE that just dominates the universe and niether do I want some wimpy empire. What size universe does everybody use? What number of home planets? what victory conditions?

TOO MANY OPTIONS!!! ARGH!!! : )

Having great fun so far, I just want to set up the game to get the most fun out of it, ya know?

Asher

[Suicide Junkie]

By default you are only allowed to spend 2000 points worth of modifiers. All of the races in the game will spend that 2000, so it will still be fair, no worries.

Watch the counter in the top right of the screen to see how many points you have left to spend.

[JesusFreak]

I coulda swore there was an option for 0, 1000, 2000, and 3000.... but ok. I'm not in front of game right now.

What about all the other game settings? Is there a STANDARD rule set that the community uses or is it just helter-skelter?

[QuarianRex]

Its more helter-skelter. Pretty much dictated on a game by game basis. Its all up to personal preference. I tend to like 5000 points myself. It gives more variety.

Don't worry about dominating the galaxy based on points though. All the randomly created empires will automatically use the same amount of points you do. Experiment a bit, see what you like.

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by QuarianRex:
Don't worry about dominating the galaxy based on points though. All the randomly created empires will automatically use the same amount of points you do. Experiment a bit, see what you like.

This is true if you select "Player Difficulty=High". If not, the random empires will use less points to create their empires...

[Suicide Junkie]

Actually the AI dificulty setting does not chance the number of racial points they use.

If AI difficulty is set to medium or low, it will just turn off some of its ministers, making it dumber.

As for my reccommended game settings;
- Midlife map
- 5000 racial points (more cool traits to play with)
- low/medium tech start.
- Generate random AI players (NOT neutrals, unless you want it to be easier)
- Hard Difficulty, Low/No bonus
- "Quadrant is at peace" victory condition enabled. (Allows team victory, so you don't HAVE to backstab your allies)
- AUTOSAVE EVERY TURN.
- The rest default.

[ March 12, 2003, 02:07: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[mac5732]

take rock oxygen as your trait, more races use this, but you will start off with more planets closer for you to colonize, pick midlife for your map, pick large map, med number of computer opponets, no neutrals, racial points are up to you, I usually go with 5000, let computer pick your ai races for now until you learn the game, low/med tech start, pick 1 planet start, all warp points attached, your advanced traits are really up to you and your style of play, everyone has their own preferences in this area, Med to high aggressivness, since your just starting out you may want to stick with medium for now, no bonus unless you want a short game , Basically you may just want to experiment with the various ways you can set the game up, what I have listed is in my opinion only, a good way to learn the game for now, Just remember if you do pick existing ai's to play in the game, be sure you mark that they are computer controlled or they will all start as human controlled. Even if this happens it can be adjusted on the lst game turn by going to players and turning on the computer player....

Just my 2 cents, enjoy the game, and never be afraid to ask questions....someone will always answer...

just some ideas Mac

[Stone Mill]

Welcome!

Sniff around in the FAQ... especially for happiness types for your empire. Many new players create empires with Neutral or Bloodthirsty (know what you are getting into) and get a bit frustrated. Peaceful is recommended.

[JesusFreak]

Ok, so now there are two people that say the Computer races adjust their Empire Race Points according to what I choose or the difficulty I choose, and one guy says they always remain the same.

WHICH IS IT? and where are you getting this information... just play experience? Or is there a more in depth help manual than what I have.

[Suicide Junkie]

Take rock oxygen as your trait, more races use this, but you will start off with more planets closer for you to colonize

The numbers of each planet/atmosphere type are quite balanced in the unmodded game.

Take an uncommon one, and you'll have much less competition. Vaccuum breathers (can't have breathable Gas giants, but get more moons) and Ice/methane combos are the only special ones, but they are only off by a small fraction.

I know for sure that the AI difficulty does not affect racial characteristics or racial techs chosen. Those choices depend ONLY on the number of points available to be spent and the AI script in question (AI_general.txt).
AI difficulty settings below HARD turn off ministers and make the AIs dumber. (IE, they dont use mines, or population transports, or whatever)

I even wrote a program to edit those files automatically in order to add and remove traits from the race so that they would be compatible with my Pirates & Nomads mod.

[ March 12, 2003, 22:29: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]