Is there a strategy guide & where is dubious guide

[edrisk]

I'm sure this gets asked alot but is there a known strategy guide to SE4 Gold? I saw a post about the Dubious Strategy Guide but all the links were dead, anyone know where I can get the zip file?

I've played (and lost) a few games against the AI and I still feel lost about which technologies to research, how to effectively defend planets/systems without having an fleet of 4-5 ships, etc.

Thanks in advance.

Btw, I have gone through some of the Newbie FAQs and it is helping quite a bit.

[douglas]

I don't know where to find the Dubious Strategy Guide, and I rather doubt it's been updated in a long time, so much of its information may be out of date. Here (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=330343) is a thread from a while back containing quite a lot of advice and answers to questions from a new player. He was asking for a multiplayer game and medium starting tech level, but advice that's good for multiplayer should be many times more effective against the AI than it is against human opponents, and medium tech start doesn't actually give all that much. The main difference the starting tech option makes is that going directly for Physics 2 and Phased Polaron Beams immediately is much less practical on a low tech start (Projectile Weapons are a good early alternative), and you'll have to research Construction before the critical Mines tech will become available.

[Atrocities]

The dubious guide can be downloaded form www.spaceempires.net/home (http://www.spaceempires.net/home) in the downloads section and there is also a link to download it from the New Members Please Look Here thread.

[Fyron]

Much of the info in the Dubious Strategy Guide is still relevant. Beware of any info on Organic Armor though, since it behaves much differently now (no pre-regen point buildup, all regen happens after an organic armor component is destroyed now).

http://www.spaceempires.net/home/downloads-details-420-Dubious_Strategy_Guide.html

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Hi, welcome to the forums! Hi, welcome to the forums! Hi, welcome to the forums! Hi, welco*BANG!*

Stupid recording. Want some cheese?

[NullAshton]

Here's a tip that's more effective against the AI than multiplayer: use missles. The AI, at least on stock, never uses point-defense that I've seen. Also, AI races use only one type of weapon when possible. For example, the Norak only use CSMs, which allows you to defeat an entire fleet with a handful of fighters. This is also a hint to start researching point-defense http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Many races like to use direct-fire weapons, however, like the Phong, who use Shard Cannons. There, you can exploit the AIs weakness of little to no PDC, and use a bunch of missle boats with strategy set to max range. That way, you can keep out of range of those pesky anti-proton beams and the like, while still being able to attack your opponent.

Lastly, if you feel the need to gain more advantage over the AI, use tactical(I think that's the name for manual combat... I always get the two confused) combat. Once you get the hang of tactical combat, you can win even when you're vastly outnumbered.

[edrisk]

Thanks for the help guys. I seem to be getting the hang of this game pretty quickly. I've also noticed that the AI in the game isn't exactly topnotch. I've run into 1 neutral and 4 random empires and most of them can be taken care of rather quickly with missiles, fighters and bonus propulsion. I rarely ever use strategic because I think half the fun is fighting the battle. Too bad Tactical battles aren't available in multiplayer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Wolfman77]

Try the TDM mod, they'll knock you around a bit. I've been playing SEIV for years and I was just recently able to try it. Lost my first 3 games in less than 70 turns once in about 25. I'm not sure how to put in links, but I got it off of a link from Malfador's site.

[Fyron]

If you just paste the url in your post, the forum software will automatically convert it to a link for you.

http://tdm.otaku42.de/

[Atrocities]

www.eatatjoes.com (http://www.eatatjoes.com)

[narf poit chez BOOM]

http://www.pressanykey.com/roadkill.html

[Wolfman77]

So like this?

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/girlsinging.html

Yay, it works. Didn't know it was that easy, thanks.
Need sound on for the link btw.