Help me stop losing my interest!

[javaslinger]

I just wrote a post in another thread about how I keep stopping playing SEIV but my interest never dies, if that makes any sense.

It dawned on me that what generally occurs is that midway through a full game the micromanagement gets so time consuming that eventually one day I can't get myself to sit down and start moving everything to the next front...

I know the interface of SEIV pretty well. I never use ministers. What can I do to help out with micromanagement. Not just interface tips but strategies.

Thanks,

KEn

[Arkcon]

Here's something fun to try. Turn on all minister except one -- you are that minister. For example, you do the research, and the the design minister build the ships. Or just take what the research minister gives you and design ships.

You won't get bogged down with micromanagement, but you will have a challence dealing with the ministers crappy decisions.

Or just be a general. Turn off a minister for just one frigate. Use that one on tactical, and build up his ship and fleet experience. As he gets closer to Elite, add later, bigger ships to his fleet.

[Atrocities]

Trust me, I have been there often.

What I did I started inventing new facilities to use, new technologies, etc.

Also, I learned that the Auto Que is my best friend. I often set up planet Job Que's, then save them for use with other planets.

6 Intel
6 Research
18 Storage
18 Mineral Pro
etc.

It helps with the micromanagment, and prevents the ministers from screwing me.

I also invented the Genesis Device, a facility that terraformes a planet in about 1 to 5 turns. This way, I can colonize several planets at one time, then add just this facility, then after X amount of turns, I have converted the atomsphere of a bunch of worlds. I then destroy the device and use a preset Que to build on the planet.

Keeps my interest going.

Also, I switch sides. I pick an AI that is weak, and play him for a while to build him up.

Also take a break from the game for a month. Play something else.

Start writing about your game. Make up a story.

There are a lot of things you can do to keep your interest alive. I just have lost my interst in typing for the moment. Time for food.

[dogscoff]

Play Proportions. The slower game pace means that the micomanagement swamp doesn't get particularly deep for several hundred turns, by which time you will be nearing the end of the game.

[Krsqk]

I think what you're experiencing has happened to each of us at one time or another. I've gone from playing two or three solo games at a time, plus PBW games/modding/forum-frequenting, down to next to nothing, to just PBW games, and everywhere in between. Interest in a game (or anything) typically is cyclical; maybe a short break would help rejuvenate your enjoyment.

For micro-managing, you could turn on a minister or two (facility construction, for example). You wouldn't get top efficiency, but you wouldn't have to keep track of as much. You could also try turning on all of the ministers except one, and take their job (colonization, or attack, or exploration, etc.)--it's almost enough to make you want to try writing your own AI. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif In short, try to mix things up a bit. Variety is the spice of life.

[capnq]

Even just playing a different race than you usually do can help. I've played games as almost all of the stock races and most of the TDM-Modpack races, several other races that I installed because PBW opponents were using them, and seven (so far) races I made up myself.

[Thei R'vek]

I know exactly what you're going through. I went without SE for almost a year and a half anf then suddenly I found myself in possession of Gold. After two months of having 20 games vs. the AI going at once(set quickstart to accept all stock races and then made a game with each and every one of them) plus at least 5 multiplayer games(on PBW, vs. my roommate, over email vs. friends) to now playing only one game and never in stock Version anymore. What I find keeping me interested in SE more than the game itself is two things:
1) MODding! The most wonderful things can be done once you start manipulating data files....

2) RPing! Yes, Roleplaying. Writing short stories about my Empire and immersing myself in the role of my Empire Leader has kept me interested in the Space Empires series since 1996 when I found SE2 at a shareware vednor during a tech trade show.

So just kick back, write some stories, go a bit crazy and think of yourself as "His Most Imperial Majesty" and MOD a bunch of stuff for no reason at all.

At this point in time, His Imperial Majesty Adrik Thorsen has ceased referring to himself in other than the third person and shall go to MOD some more stuff whilst playing the Proportions mod at the same time. His Imperial Majesty now ceases writing this post. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[spoon]

Play in smaller galaxies with higher tech costs.

The fewer the planets and resources, the less micromanagement. High tech costs reduce the need to retrofit every turn...

Also I find these games to be more exciting, because you meet other races sooner, and can't rely on Overwhelming Force/Unmatched Tech as your MO.

-spoon

[Skulky]

Or join SE4 by comittee, then no micromanagement while you still get to direct an empires course.

[Gandalph]

My answer has been to mod a races facility construction file to suit my game needs, then use the colonization and facility construction ministers as they are going to use my orders to build. I have also modded the research file at times and turned on the research minister. Late in the game I also use the transport minister as I have already dispersed my population to the systems important to me.

[Ed Kolis]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
Trust me, I have been there often.
Also, I learned that the Auto Que is my best friend. I often set up planet Job Que's, then save them for use with other planets.

6 Intel
6 Research
18 Storage
18 Mineral Pro
etc.

It helps with the micromanagment, and prevents the ministers from screwing me.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You can DO that in SE4?!? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif
<looks at construction queues>
I don't SEE any "save queue" or "load queue" buttons... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif

[dumbluck]

I was going to say that, Ed!

How do you DO that, Atrocities?

[Atrocities]

1. Open either the Planet Que (Recommended) or the Construction Que.
2. If you opened the Construction Que, then select the desired Planet.
3. Fill the Planets Que with whatever you desire.
4. Then Click on the FILL QUE button fourth up from the bottom of the menu to the right.
5. Click ADD
6. Name your new Que and save it. (Good idea to include Facility number, ie 18 Storage, Or 20 Blattle Ship, etc)
7. Click Cancle to exit.
8. Next time you open the Planet Que of a new planet, Click on FILL QUE and choose the Que (you named them) that you desire.
9. Presto Your Planet Que is full.

[ December 20, 2002, 10:29: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[oleg]

My God ! I played SE day and night for 2 years and did't now such a nice option ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif
Thanks.

[capnq]

It's also occurred to me that my Hypermaze mod slows your development down enough to reduce your micromanagement; you only have a fraction as many habitable systems to deal with.

You do have to pay more attention to supply, though. I regularly have to send a tender to rescue ships that ran out of supplies in hyperspace.

[Q]

What I use a lot to reduce the micro-management is the "repeat" order for construction. Together with way points this saves me quite a bit of work. When the cargo of a planet is full and I get the message in the log file, I send a carrier/transport to the planet and load the units and construction can continue.
What I miss is a "next system" button as you have now a next ship/fleet/planet. I go through my empire system by system and I always have to invent a strategy not to forget one system!

[Fyron]

Originally posted by oleg:
My God ! I played SE day and night for 2 years and did't now such a nice option ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif
Thanks.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You don't just go randomly clicking on every button to see what it does? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by oleg:
My God ! I played SE day and night for 2 years and did't now such a nice option ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif
Thanks.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You don't just go randomly clicking on every button to see what it does? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's what I do when I first get a game. That's how I learn them. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif And that is how I started SEIVG, it came in mail, I installed and and started clicking before I read anything on how to play. Worked rather well.
I also do that with new computer programs I get. Trial and Error is the best way to learn IMHO.

[Puke]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
4. Then Click on the FILL QUE button fourth up from the bottom of the menu to the right.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">holey mother of moley, i always assumed that button filled your current que with lots of a single item. so, do these pre-saved queues get saved with your empire the same way ship designs do?

thats the most amazing thing i have heard, since i found out you could right click on the quadrant map!

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Puke:
so, do these pre-saved queues get saved with your empire the same way ship designs do?
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes they do. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[capnq]

do these pre-saved queues get saved with your empire the same way ship designs do?

Yes they do <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Really? That's something I didn't know.

I rarely save empires, except to set up PBW games.

[Fyron]

You people need to become more click-happy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[mlmbd]

click, click, click there is No place like home. click, click No place like home! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

[mlmbd]

OH Yeah! Work Good!

mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif