Tactical Multiplayer

[WrathPhoenix]

Hi...sort of new, but not to SPIV... i wanted to know...

Is there ANY way at ALL to get tactical combat in multiplayer over the net? through tcp/ip, play by email, whatever...is it possible?

[Suicide Junkie]

No, tactical combat would take forever.

Its only available in sequential-move single player or hotseat play.

[Fyron]

You can only play tactical combat in Hotseat mode, which does not work well at all for tactical combat over the internet. Tactical combat requires all involved parties to be able to play right then and there.

[WrathPhoenix]

thats exactly the point... I am playing with people right there... no offense but im not a play by email'er http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I like playing with tcp/ip options and such, all there right then, while we chat ect.

[Fyron]

You can play with TCP/IP mode, but all combat is executed in strategic mode. It is how SE4 works.

[WrathPhoenix]

I know, bummer =/ Such a great and indepth combat system and no real way to exploit its depth in multiplayer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif well at least SEV is on the way =)

[Ed Kolis]

Have you tried the Ultimate Strategies Mod? It adds a lot of new strategies you can assign to your fleets so they at least do interesting things in combat http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif It's available at http://www.spaceempires.net.

[WrathPhoenix]

ehh i guess ill give it a try... i was hoping for some way to actually get into the tactical side of things... Thats my favorite part of the game and the one part I cant seem to bring to multiplayer http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[WrathPhoenix]

excuse me... the strategy mod isnt working...would anyone be so kind as to email it to me?...

[boran_blok]

getting your ships to do what you want in strategical combat is a challenge, but it's a double edged sword, what is your disadvantage is also your advantage, if you know what you're doing.

It takes a lot of experimenting (preferrably not in the combat simulator, but anything is better than nothing) to make it work.

[Ed Kolis]

Here's a better link:
http://www.spaceempires.net/home/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownloaddetail s&lid=309&title=Ultimate%20Strategies%20Mod%201.01 .00

[WrathPhoenix]

Yeah but for instance how do you tell them to disable only weapons, or to leave a ship for capture, to bombard a planet, or to invade? can this be done? all these things, this depth, is something I question can be done with the AI running the show, plus tacticals always my cup of tea http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Heres to hoping for an option in SEV http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Nodachi]

Under Empire Status click on Strategies and check out "Firing" and "Damage." You can do quite a bit with those.

The way I look at it if I'm the leader of the empire I can't be at the battles so I have to come up with the best strategies for my admirals to follow. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[WrathPhoenix]

Im a punctual leader...:D

[Slick]

WrathPhoenix said:


Yeah but for instance how do you tell them to disable only weapons, or to leave a ship for capture, to bombard a planet, or to invade? can this be done? all these things, this depth, is something I question can be done with the AI running the show, plus tacticals always my cup of tea http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Heres to hoping for an option in SEV http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



If you build your ships properly and tweak the strategies, you can achieve all of these. Now nothing is 100% in strategic combat. Sometimes your ships will do dumb things but you can pretty reliably set up a fleet to do these things if your fleet makeup and ship designs are right. Without going into a huge thesis here, like everyone else, you started out playing tactical combat because of the control. Strategic combat is much different. Specifically, if you control a ship in tactical combat, you can easily destroy an AI ship 2 hull sizes bigger. You also can get away with putting several different kinds of weapons on a ship and using them smartly. For strategic combat, single purpose ships work better since strategies are not set up with too many options. If you want to target weapons and leave a ship to be boarded, use ships with shield depleters and weapon destroyers; use other ships for your boarding ships; you can set up a strategy for the % damage you want to try to achieve for planets, ships, etc. and you can click a box to damage targets until all weapons are gone. Once again, the AI does sometimes screw up and destroy things while attempting to capture so that's where you try to figure out why and adjust your ship/fleet design or strategy. There are some pretty good threads here (search) about how to capture planets. As for glassing a planet, that's pretty much a no-brainer. Just use more firepower than the planet's defenses can handle. Although a "finesse" player will try to capture and use the new population to undome his other planets. There is no "ultimate" solution because enemy defenses can be so different. Human opponents will also alter their designs/strategies to counter any tweaking you make so what worked before probably won't work again. Experiment, practice and let us know your progress and problems, and I assure you that your questions will be answered quickly on this forum.

edit: also forgot to mention that MM has mentioned that there will probably be no multiplayer tactical combat in SEV http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[WrathPhoenix]

Damn... that puts some serious doubts into buying that one them =/

But thanks.. I appreciate it. I am going to try it at least.

Wish me luck... heh heh

[Suicide Junkie]

WrathPhoenix said:
Damn... that puts some serious doubts into buying that one them =/


Sounds like you may be more of a Starfury person then /threads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Check out the SF demo (http://www.shrapnelgames.com/downloads/sfdemo.exe) for sure.

[Slick]

Before I played my first multiplayer game, I played a few games using "simultaneous movement" so that I could learn the new play style and hopefully not make a fool out of myself. Since then, I have come to much prefer strategic combat. First, in large games, tactical would take much too long, but more importantly I think the real fun is in designing ships and fleets and their associated strategies to accomplish my goals. After a while, you will have learned through experience what works well and what doesn't and then the creative fun starts. Since then, I can't remember playing any single player games with tactical combat (except for testing purposes).

[Kevin Arisa]

I love tactical combat. It ensures that what you want done is done exactly how you want it done. Not to mention it looks a lot cooler than watching some little colored dots swirl around a box. However, I agree that tactical combat would not be very effecient outside of single player and hotseat gameplay. But, since the AI in SE5 will no doubt be more reliable I don't think it will be an issue anymore. As always I remain optimistic. /threads/images/graemlins/wink.gif