Is tactical combat possible in a SE IV PBEM game?

[madprophet]

Hi, new to the forum. Looks like it is very quiet.

A buddy and I are playing SE IV 1.95 in PBEM mode. This is NOT simultaneous mode, since we are mailing the save game back and forth.

However, he attacked an enemy's planet and automatically the attack went into strategic mode, and he got wiped out.

I completely understand why the game engine requires strategic mode when playing in simultaneous mode, or when the AI attacks a human player. But is there a setting which allows the human to attack the AI in tactical mode? Are we missing something in the initial set up of the game?

thanks

[geoschmo]

No, the only multiplayer mode which allows tactical combat is hotseat, both players on the same pc.

[madprophet]

Thanks. That is too bad, but I guess my buddy will have to alter his methods for strategic play only.

[Fyron]

You could always pass a hotseat savegame around; just have to trust your buddy not to make changes to your empire. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[capnq]

Fyron said: You could always pass a hotseat savegame around; just have to trust your buddy not to make changes to your empire. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Fyron, it's not nice to confuse the newbies by teasing them with false information.

You cannot exit tactical combat to save the game and "pass it around".

[Fyron]

Teasing with false information? What?

VNC (remote desktop connections) will do the trick for combats involving both players... there are always ways around these things. You could even have the remote player play the whole turn with VNC and skip the file sharing part, but that might get more frustrating if the host doesn't have a really fast connection.

[Suicide Junkie]

madprophet said:
Thanks. That is too bad, but I guess my buddy will have to alter his methods for strategic play only.


It is a good idea to get used to strategies anyways.

When you're in a real war, assaulting warppoints with three or four hundred ships (http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/MM/SE4/Mods/CarrierBattles/Tudran2_00.jpg), tactical isn't practical. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[geoschmo]

Actually, I think Fyron's original statement was correct, as the question was how can tactical combat be used against the AI in a multiplayer game. IIRC you could play hotseat and pass the turn around, play your empires combat against the AI in tactical, and click the button to run the other combat in Strategic mode. Am I wrong that that would work?

I do agree the idea of using VNC for PvP tactical combat is a little impractical, but the original poster wasn't asking about PvP combat at all.

[madprophet]

Thanks for the input. Some clarification: I have been playing the game for about a year. I have played hotseat before with my buddy, and yes, there is clearly no problem with human vs AI tactical combat there. This is the first attempt at PBEM.

What is this VNC concept? I don't grasp that.

Oh, and Shrapnel Fanatic, saw your location. I grew up 5 minutes away from the Kitchener Aud.

[Fyron]

VNC (http://www.ultravnc.com) is remote desktop software; it allows you to control another machine remotely, with a direct window into the GUI.