Which game is best for a n00b? SEIV or SEV?

[Jeku]

Hey all,

I'm new to this kind of strategy game, but not to typical RTS' and turn-based games like Advance Wars. After finding both SE IV and SE V on Steam, I was wondering which one would be best to sink my teeth into?

I've played through the tutorials on both demos, and I understand that it just scratches the surface. I probably won't be interested in modding the game for a while, and graphics do not matter to me as long as gameplay is solid.

The only thing stopping me from getting SE V is the price difference (40 as opposed to 10), and since none of the stores in my area (Vancouver) have either box, and I don't want to order it on Steam, I'll have to get it directly from Strategy First.

Thanks for your time :-D

[Phoenix-D]

Get SEV from EB Games- you'll get both that way.

[Jeku]

Yah, I just wish the EB Games in my area had it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Maybe I'll have to order it from the US' EB Games, but thanks for the suggestion. I didn't realize both versions came with it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Phoenix-D]

I had to order mine online as well. Same difference ordering it from SFI, really; it still has to be shipped. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[President_Elect_Shang]

Same as Phoenix-D said order it online from ebGames and I would suggest starting with SEIV. The learning curve is less steep and best of all the stock version will keep you entertained until you feel ready to try and install a mod someone has made. Once you are up to speed with SEIV, have tried your hand with various mods, and feel like you have a broad knowledge of the way the game can be played then step up to SEV. All of that should take you a few months and by that time there will be plenty of mods out; maybe a SEIV mod you really liked will have been converted to SE5 standards by then. Also it will take the edge off the learning curve for SEV and best of all by then many of the bugs will have been patched.

[Jeku]

Thank you all for your helpful tips. I will order the game from EB Games in the US and have it shipped to my US PO Box, and play SE IV first.

By the way, does anyone know if my SE IV demo save game will load in the final build? Just curious, but I don't mind starting fresh if need be.

[Suicide Junkie]

Here's a test:
Look in the demo's components.txt...

If you search for and find a "Stellar Plasma Sphere" component, then the savegame is probably compatible.
If not, then you will certainly have to start a new game.

[Jeku]

Nope--- not there. But that's ok. I'm liking this game a lot so I don't mind starting again http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Heh. SEIV can suck up years when you first start out. A lot of the guys here, it still sucks up years.

[tmcc]

As said above I would buy from EB online and get both. Play SEIV first, it is fully patched with years of experience nad bug fixes. By the time you are ready to progress SEV should be in much better shape. I also recommend immediately using the TDM AI mod. It is much better than the stock AI.

[Jeku]

Much better as in more difficult, or much better as in smarter? I was already outgunned in my first combat in the SEIV demo so I definitely don't want the AI to be more difficult for now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Phoenix-D]

A little of both actually.

[Suicide Junkie]

Carrier Battles mod has quite effective AIs, thanks to Rollo. They give even me a decent challenge even on the "No Bonus" settings.
The best part of "No Bonus" settings is that you could have done whatever they just did, if only you had had that starting position and that racial setup.

Low bonus AIs will steamroll over all but the most crafty and lucky of humans.

[tmcc]

Jeku said:
Much better as in more difficult, or much better as in smarter? I was already outgunned in my first combat in the SEIV demo so I definitely don't want the AI to be more difficult for now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



Once you get the hang of the game and learn some tricks the stock AI will quickly become little more than a spead bump on your road to Galactic domination. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Jeku]

Yah, I'm looking forward to the moment I force an alien race to surrender. I might mark it on my calendar http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[tmcc]

How easily they surrender depends on their racial traits. Some surrender more easily than others and some won't surrender at all. The prerequisite though is to destroy all of their armed ships, bases, and sats and then keep asking them to surrender while keeping their key worlds under blockade.