Noobie Question(s) [Archive] - .com.unity Forums

Atrocities

December 30th, 2002, 01:20 AM

Can I generate a game where I generate who the computer players are? And if so how?Yes.

After starting SEIV,
1. Select NEW GAME
2. Click on the PLAYER SETTINGS tab.
3. At the bottom of this page choose the Racial Points for New Players. (2000, 3000, or 5000)
*I like to play with 5000 Racial Points.*
4. Click on the PLAYERS tab
(In this section you can either choose ADD EXSISTING or ADD NEW. The Exsisting Players are AI opponents that have already been set up and saved for use with new games. Add Player will allow you to set up a race the way you want.)

NOTE: Most new Ship sets come with Emp.Files that you can copy from the race directory to the Empires Folder. This will give you access to that race without having to manually set it up.

5. Click on the ADD NEW tab
Under GENERAL DETAILS tab you can choose the race you want. Additionally, you can give it an empire name, empire type, Emperor title, Emperor Name, choose a design name file, (For use with ship design names)

NOTE: If your new player is going to be computer controlled, then you will want to select both the Computer Controlled, and Use Race Minister Style option at the bottom of the General Details page.

6. Under the ENVIRONMENT tab you can select the atomsphere for the race, and the home planet type.

7. Under the CULTURE tab you can select the culture for the race.
(At the bottom of the page is a button for COMPARE CULTURE MODIFIERS. Click that to compare the advantages and disadvantages for each culture.)

8. Under the CHARACTERISTICS tab you can either increase or decrease values for the player.

9. Under the ADVANCED TRAITS tab you can select advanced traits for the player. (I often choose my advanced traits first then do the Characteristic. Remeber, for each of these you use, you will use up Racial Points. You can gain more racial points by decreaseing the Characterstics below a 100%, but not a good idea for playing the AI. Good idea for PBW games if its your race.)

10. Under the DESCRIPTION tab you can fill in the information about your race, and select Demeour, and Happyness Type.

11. After you have set up the race, click the CREATE EMPIRE button at the bottom of the page.

12. Select the empire you just created from the Players in Game window, and then click Save to File.

13. Click no for save with designs

14. Click NEW EMPIRE, name it, and then click OK.

You will have just saved that empire to the Empire Folder and it can now be accessed whenever you want to use it for a game.

After you have added your new races, start playing the game.

Befor you do though, make sure all of your game settings are to your liking. Have fun, and I hope this has helped.

[ December 29, 2002, 23:41: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

dbt1949

December 30th, 2002, 02:25 AM

Thanks guys for your quick replies! I'll try it out right away.

dbt1949

December 30th, 2002, 02:54 AM

Now for my next question. I'm confused about weapons platforms. Are they a facility for the planets? Can you transport them like to a wormhole and drop them off there?

How and where do I deploy them?

Baron Grazic

December 30th, 2002, 03:17 AM

Weapon Platforms are defensive units for your planets.
You can add them to a transport, but they have no effect, until you drop them off at another Planet.

Cheeze

December 30th, 2002, 03:25 AM

Weapons platforms are not a planet facility, but are listed in the cargo for the planet. So, particularly on small planets or ones with a different atmosphere than the race colonizing it, be careful of how many you put there.

In addition, weapons platform are listed by the number of a particular type. This can be a problem if you wish to replace older platforms or just make some space. You would have to dump all of one type. So if you want to keep some on the planet (of one weapons platform design), have a cargo ship or space station in orbit which can hold them!

DavidG

December 30th, 2002, 04:01 AM

Originally posted by Cheeze:
Weapons platforms are not a planet facility, but are listed in the cargo for the planet. So, particularly on small planets or ones with a different atmosphere than the race colonizing it, be careful of how many you put there.

In addition, weapons platform are listed by the number of a particular type. This can be a problem if you wish to replace older platforms or just make some space. You would have to dump all of one type. So if you want to keep some on the planet (of one weapons platform design), have a cargo ship or space station in orbit which can hold them!You can now just jettison a single WP even if you have multiples of that type on the planet. I think this was a Version 1.78 fix.

dbt1949

December 30th, 2002, 06:28 AM

Okay,so even tho they're listed in the cargo area of the planet they still function against enemy attacks.

My next question:When you gut first start a game do you expand like mad or concentrate on your own system and then expand?

TerranC

December 30th, 2002, 06:40 AM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Okay,so even tho they're listed in the cargo area of the planet they still function against enemy attacks.

My next question:When you gut first start a game do you expand like mad or concentrate on your own system and then expand?Expand like mad. Try to move population from your home system to other breathable planets to speed up the rate of expansion. Remember, the faster you expand, the less space for your enemies, and less space for your enemies, the faster you can exterminate them.

[ December 30, 2002, 04:41: Message edited by: TerranC ]

Pablo

December 30th, 2002, 09:04 AM

Expand like mad until you meet the first enemy (they are all enemies afterall http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ) Then remember your undefended Homeworlds... And hopefully you build the defences faster than your enemy ships are http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

dbt1949

December 30th, 2002, 04:19 PM

Thanks guys!

Gryphin

December 31st, 2002, 02:23 AM

Expand Like Mad
One of the popular techniques is:
Build Base Space Yard, (Small Base with Ship Yard)
Build Colony Ships on Emergancy Build
Do this till you get low on resources or you can't expand any further.

tesco samoa

December 31st, 2002, 02:57 AM

if you ever need real time answers stop by #se4 on gamesnet irc....

There will always be players there to answer questions as well

dbt1949

January 7th, 2003, 03:40 PM

Hi,I'm back with some new questions. Played a few games and got my butt kicked. Found out I need to specialize more when it comes to weapons.

Do any of you use missles/torpedos later in the game. When in fleet actions they don't seem to Last long.

Also when defending you planet in a ground attack. Is the milita the defualt defense? Is there any way to tell how many there are? Is there anyway to increase them? For your regular troops,do you just construct them and then leave them is the planets cargo or what?

Thanks!

Arkcon

January 7th, 2003, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Do any of you use missles/torpedos later in the game. When in fleet actions they don't seem to Last long.Not really, a couple larger hulls with level 4 or 5 point defense cannons will rip up all your seekers. You might suprise someone with them sometime.

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Also when defending you planet in a ground attack. Is the milita the defualt defense? Is there any way to tell how many there are? Is there anyway to increase them? For your regular troops,do you just construct them and then leave them is the planets cargo or what?

Thanks!You get a militia based on population. See my opinion Click Here: (http://invirtuo.cc/phpwiki/index.php/militia)

Some troops left in cargo will help defend your planets against ground combat.

dbt1949

January 7th, 2003, 04:17 PM

Thanks for your reply.

Another thing I've been finding out is to make sure(at least on planets with lots of facility slots) I leave some cargo facilties there. Especially when I have a shipyard.

Slick

January 7th, 2003, 05:18 PM

From Settings.txt:

Defending Units Per Population := 20

This means you get 1 militia for every 20M population. Since defending ground troops are considered as planet cargo, they get destroyed in planet attacks before you land troops. Thus there is rarely a troops vs. troops ground combat. It is usually your attacking troops vs. defending militia. Settings.txt also gives attack/defense stats for a militia unit.

P.S. read this, it answers most of your questions:
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=005518

Slick.

[ January 07, 2003, 15:18: Message edited by: Slick ]

dbt1949

January 8th, 2003, 04:36 PM

Another question. Where can I find a good decription of the standard races that come with the game. The manual gives a good thumbnail decription but I was looking for one that shows the complete decription like when you open up your own description while playing the game and it says things like +10% production or somesuch.

Thanks!

Captain Kwok

January 8th, 2003, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Another question. Where can I find a good decription of the standard races that come with the game. The manual gives a good thumbnail decription but I was looking for one that shows the complete decription like when you open up your own description while playing the game and it says things like +10% production or somesuch.

Thanks!In the game setup screen, choose the empire of the stock race you want to look at, choose edit and look at all the information there. Besides that, there is no other place outside of the game other than the races' AI files to find that information.

[ January 08, 2003, 14:45: Message edited by: Captain Kwok ]

Arkcon

January 8th, 2003, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Another question. Where can I find a good decription of the standard races that come with the game. The manual gives a good thumbnail decription but I was looking for one that shows the complete decription like when you open up your own description while playing the game and it says things like +10% production or somesuch.

Thanks!Like the Captain says, I've never seen a list like that. Sounds like a project for you. I know I don't often play a race without moving around the race characteristics.

[ January 08, 2003, 15:25: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

dbt1949

January 8th, 2003, 06:55 PM

Thanks for your replys. I guess that's what I'll have to do. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Arkcon

January 8th, 2003, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Thanks for your replys. I guess that's what I'll have to do. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif When you start doing it for the TDM Modpack races, you'll find out what it takes to make a race tough -- but you'll spoil all the adventure of finding out.

I remember the Arquilians, I saw them and said oh, organic -- *yawn* organic armor and weapons. Heh, they have so much aggressiveness and defensiveness they really cut me down. Who would have thought their favorite weapon was .......transmission ends

[ January 08, 2003, 22:20: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

capnq

January 8th, 2003, 11:50 PM

Where can I find a good decription of the standard races that come with the game. The manual gives a good thumbnail decription IMO, that entire section of the manual shouldn't have been included. For me, part of the fun of the game is discovering how the different alien races behave; the manual gives too much away. Most of those "thumbnail" descriptions are lifted verbatim from the AI_General files, anyway.

dbt1949

January 9th, 2003, 11:36 AM

Not a question this time,just a comment. Here it is 3:30AM and I've been playing SE4 for 8 hours straight. Well,almost.I've had 3 bathroom breaks. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

mottlee

January 9th, 2003, 05:02 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Not a question this time,just a comment. Here it is 3:30AM and I've been playing SE4 for 8 hours straight. Well,almost.I've had 3 bathroom breaks. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Come on just 1 more turn! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

"Honey Come to Bed" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Just 1 more turn

Dang 4 AM

1 more

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

dbt1949

January 10th, 2003, 06:09 AM

I have noticed when researching the extraction facilities that I can research past level three but I can never build past level three.(and it doesn't seem to have any extra effect on my output)

What's going on here?

Thanks

Phoenix-D

January 10th, 2003, 06:21 AM

"I have noticed when researching the extraction facilities that I can research past level three but I can never build past level three.(and it doesn't seem to have any extra effect on my output)"

After level III you get a different set of facilities, that if built increase the amount of resources you get. Ex: build one and it increases the minerals made on that planet by 10%.

However, they're mostly useless, since they are expensive to research and there are cheaper, better alternatives- namely the Robotoid Factory from the Computers tech tree.

Phoenix-D

dbt1949

January 10th, 2003, 06:40 AM

Ah,that explains it. Thanks!

Arkcon

January 10th, 2003, 06:45 AM

Originally posted by Phoenix-D:

However, they're mostly useless, since they are expensive to research and there are cheaper, better alternatives- namely the Robotoid Factory from the Computers tech tree.

Phoenix-DJust remember, robotoid factories not cheaper to build than the mineral scanner et al. They take longer to come Online, and time is money.

That said, I hardly ever research them. But if I got them from a ruin ... well, why not

Grandpa Kim

January 11th, 2003, 04:25 AM

Originally posted by Slick:
...Since defending ground troops are considered as planet cargo, they get destroyed in planet attacks before you land troops. Thus there is rarely a troops vs. troops ground combat. It is usually your attacking troops vs. defending militia. Settings.txt also gives attack/defense stats for a militia unit.

Slick.Sorry, Slick, this is incorrect. Ground troops are not destroyed by space-born attacks. Both the troops present on the planets and the militia defend the planet against invading troops.

If weapon platforms are on the planet, the troop ship will not make a bee line for the planet till they are gone. Fighters, of course, would be launched so they are not a factor. Satellites in cargo, I have no idea, but it seems likely they would be a null item in both space and ground combat. So, as I see it, the only thing that prevents a troop transport from heading immediately to a planet is weapon platforms. Once the line ships have destroyed the platforms, they will cease firing on the planet and the troop transport will move in. If the attacking troops fail, the line ships will destroy the planet (and defending troops) for its termerity.

Kim

Fyron

January 11th, 2003, 04:35 AM

Kim, if there are troops and weapon platforms on a planet, the troops will always be bombarded before the platforms (assuming unmodded game). The unit with the least hit points (including shields) is destroyed first. Troops have fewer than WPs. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

dbt1949

January 11th, 2003, 05:07 AM

Another question for you all. What kind of victory conditions do you use? Right now I'm just trying to destroy everbody with this uber fleet. But I'm always missing some colony ship somewhere and by the time I make my rounds of the galaxy the bad guys(some anyway) have built back up their strength.

I guess I should take it a little slower and send colonies of my own into the abondoned systems,but I was just trying to take a shortcut.....and it didn't work!

I created an old galaxy if I remember right and every other region is a black hole or radiation or rogue planets or something. Don't think I'll try that again!

Slick

January 11th, 2003, 05:41 AM

Originally posted by Grandpa Kim:
Sorry, Slick, this is incorrect. Ground troops are not destroyed by space-born attacks. Both the troops present on the planets and the militia defend the planet against invading troops.

If weapon platforms are on the planet, the troop ship will not make a bee line for the planet till they are gone. Fighters, of course, would be launched so they are not a factor. Satellites in cargo, I have no idea, but it seems likely they would be a null item in both space and ground combat. So, as I see it, the only thing that prevents a troop transport from heading immediately to a planet is weapon platforms. Once the line ships have destroyed the platforms, they will cease firing on the planet and the troop transport will move in. If the attacking troops fail, the line ships will destroy the planet (and defending troops) for its termerity.

KimSee IF response regarding why troops do get bLasted from space. Note that I did say it is rare not impossible to have troops vs. troops on the ground. The other thing that can kill troops on a planet is how the strategy is set up.

If there are no WP's on the planet (i.e. the planet is not a threat to the troop transport) AND there is nothing in the strategy to make the fleet attack the planet AND the fleet strategy is to capture planet AND the troop transport does have troops in it, then yes, the rest of the fleet will hang back and the troop transport will drop its troops to give you a troop vs. troop battle. If you don't mess with the default strategy to capture planet, a fleet won't attack a planet which is not a threat to the troop transport. If the planet is a threat, the fleet will try only to attack it until it is no longer a threat and during this phase, the troop transport will hang back and wait till the planet is no longer a threat. Sometimes the fleet will fire in such a way that it will eliminate the threat, but so much firepower was used that the planet will be glassed in the same combat round.

Also, regarding satellites MM reported that it was a conscious decision to not auto-launch satellites during combat due to they might be recon (or other non-combat satellite) so you are correct in saying they are null either way if unlaunched.

Cheers,
Slick.

Grandpa Kim

January 11th, 2003, 08:18 AM

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Kim, if there are troops and weapon platforms on a planet, the troops will always be bombarded before the platforms (assuming unmodded game). The unit with the least hit points (including shields) is destroyed first. Troops have fewer than WPs. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Hmm, that's very interesting. Since all my data is empirical (gleaned from games) I was unaware of this. Not trying to be snotty here, but how do you know this to be true? Since this occurs only in simul games where you never see the enemy troops, how did you find out?

Slick, what you replied is bang on. No arguments here except I have little trouble capturing planets. As you suggested you just need the right strategies.

Kim

Fyron

January 11th, 2003, 08:26 AM

It occurs in all games, actually. Test it. Control both empires, and load various HP troops and WPs in the cargo, then control the bombardment. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Slick

January 11th, 2003, 09:27 AM

Kim & all: The difficulties in capturing planets is definitely a recurring issue. I became so frustrated with it (in simultaneous games) that I have been doing excessive testing. It certainly is not intuitive and it involves lots of variables. And I am by no means an expert at it. I have a couple of test games in progress where I am experimenting with ship capture in one and planet capture in the other one which I play from time to time to tweak my skills. Here are some of the things I have learned, off the top of my head. Please chime in with corrections and/or additions. All of these are for simultaneous games with strategic combat since tactical combat can be done manually.

- Your troop transports can be of any hull design so long as you have at least 1 cargo carrying component on board, but if you want it to work right, you must give your troop transport the SHIP strategy of "capture planet"

- If you want your transport to work in a fleet, you need to give the fleet the "capture planet" strategy as well. This will make the fleet work as I said in the post below.

- If you want to try to capture more than 1 planet in the same turn, give the fleet orders to attack the target planet, then load troops from that planet then attack the next planet, etc. The loading of troops can get all screwed up using this set of orders if you have other cargo carrying ships in the fleet. The fleet will load troops into the first available cargo carrying ship in the fleet from the top down. Any troops over its capacity will spill over into the next available ship. Bottom line: the game is not smart enough to load troops into troop transports. Select your "capture planet" fleets with caution if you intend to use carriers or have support ships which can carry cargo. Remember, one of the requirements for the "capture planet" strategy to work is that the troop transport is actually carrying troops.

- I have had very little success in getting more than 1 troop ship in a fleet to work together. I got very frustrated trying to get them to work together and have given up in favor of 1 larger, more heavily shielded/armored transport. Of the few times I got it to work, the result was poor since each time troops drop, a separate ground combat session is generated. Either I win after the first ship drops its troops or I lose with the first ship, the militia regenerates and I lose with the 2nd ship too. I have read about using troops in the first wave with only shields followed by the combat troops, but I have not been able to coordinate this with more than 1 troop ship.

- The number of militia per population is set in settings.txt. If the defending militia win a battle, they regenerate to full strength before the next battle. The only time that this does not happen is if the battle is not completed within the 10 turns of ground combat.

- Having a massive fleet with your troop ship is not really a good idea because your fleet can very easily glass the planet. I almost have to add and remove ships as required on a case by case basis to tweak the fleet for different size planets and differently defended planets. If anyone knows how to configure a rather large fleet so that it will be able to handle huge to tiny planets without getting killed or glassing the planet, please speak up.

- Beware of satellites and moons. If you capture the planet before satellites and moons are killed, they will turn around and glass your newly captured planet, killing all of your troops on the ground. In strategic combat, if this happens, it may not be obvious at first what went wrong if you are not looking for it. Even a couple of satellites or 1 WP on a moon can glass the newly captured planet before combat is over. On this note, I have yet to successfully configure a fleet with multiple troop transports to capture a planet AND its moons in 1 round of strategic combat. The only times that it wasn't catastrophic were when there were no WP's on the moons. Anyone know how do this? Maybe breaking up the fleet into a sub-group for each planet/moon might work, but I haven't done this.

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. I was going to make an entry for the FAQ for this topic when I felt more comfortable with the mechanics after more testing. Maybe a veteran out there can lend some good advice??

Slick.

Fyron

January 11th, 2003, 09:58 AM

- Having a massive fleet with your troop ship is not really a good idea because your fleet can very easily glass the planet. I almost have to add and remove ships as required on a case by case basis to tweak the fleet for different size planets and differently defended planets. If anyone knows how to configure a rather large fleet so that it will be able to handle huge to tiny planets without getting killed or glassing the planet, please speak up. I rarely ever see planets with heavy defenses and really low population. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Arkcon

January 11th, 2003, 11:57 AM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Another question for you all. What kind of victory conditions do you use? Right now I'm just trying to destroy everbody with this uber fleet. But I'm always missing some colony ship somewhere and by the time I make my rounds of the galaxy the bad guys(some anyway) have built back up their strength.

I guess I should take it a little slower and send colonies of my own into the abondoned systems,but I was just trying to take a shortcut.....and it didn't work!

I created an old galaxy if I remember right and every other region is a black hole or radiation or rogue planets or something. Don't think I'll try that again!Last man standing can be a little annoying at the very end. Just colonize and defend the best planets per system. The AI won't come back strong from a nothing position. That said, you won't win until every Last planet, ship, and satelite group is destroyed. Ususally I take over those guys, just to find where they are. Scanner sats in each empty system will help you. If you've won you have ships and resources to burn.

Originally posted by dbt1949:

I created an old galaxy if I remember right and every other region is a black hole or radiation or rogue planets or something. Don't think I'll try that again!This galaxy type is full of eye candy, but the AI is not as good at playing these quadrants. It doesn't know how to pace it's supply to cross empty space.

dbt1949

January 11th, 2003, 05:33 PM

More question for you experts out there. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
How do you handle spying,either yours or theirs? I build tons of intelligence centers and still their spys keep getting thru. Also,how can I spy?(wan't that a TV series? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif )

Arkcon

January 11th, 2003, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
More question for you experts out there. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
How do you handle spying,either yours or theirs? I build tons of intelligence centers and still their spys keep getting thru. Also,how can I spy?(wan't that a TV series? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif )dbt1949, you don't know how happy I am to see your question. You've discovered the most important part of intelligence, the part most people who hate intel haven't figured out, building lots of facilities.

In fact I have a tear in my eye -- our little NEWBIE: (http://invirtuo.cc/phpwiki/index.php/newbie) has gone and grown up and become an EXPERT: (http://invirtuo.cc/phpwiki/index.php/expert) (click links)

Okay, yes, you have to build lots of intel facilities. But you also have to select intel projects. Click the alien head on the commad bar to get the diplomacy window. There is a button for intelligence. Select them like you select research projects.

[ January 11, 2003, 17:18: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

Suicide Junkie

January 11th, 2003, 07:24 PM

Of the few times I got it to work, the result was poor since each time troops drop, a separate ground combat session is generated. Either I win after the first ship drops its troops or I lose with the first ship, the militia regenerates and I lose with the 2nd ship too. I have read about using troops in the first wave with only shields followed by the combat troops, but I have not been able to coordinate this with more than 1 troop ship.This is an artifact of there being 10 ground combat rounds per turn. With so much shooting going on, it is usually over extremely quickly.

In my mod I set the # of ground combat rounds to One. That means your troops are almost guaranteed to survive for a while, and allows reinforcements to arrive from both races. When invading a large world, it can take a year or more, which I find much more realistic.

dbt1949

January 11th, 2003, 07:30 PM

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif Thanks!

[ January 11, 2003, 17:30: Message edited by: dbt1949 ]

couslee

January 11th, 2003, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by mottlee:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by dbt1949:
Not a question this time,just a comment. Here it is 3:30AM and I've been playing SE4 for 8 hours straight. Well,almost.I've had 3 bathroom breaks. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Come on just 1 more turn! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

"Honey Come to Bed" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Just 1 more turn

Dang 4 AM

1 more

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif <hr /></blockquote>5am, one more

5:15am. gotta potty, whoa! what was that?

6:45 am......whats that smell? DAMN! JOMT really was just one too many. (steals one of grannies Depends and returns for just one more turn.)

Quikngruvn

January 12th, 2003, 01:27 AM

A couple of other settings to tweak on your 'Capture Planet' strategy:
--Select 'Damage targets until all weapons are gone' under the Damage tab. The theory is that your ships will stop shooting when all the planet's defenses are gone. It usually works for me.
--Under that same tab, set 'Damage Percent per Planet' to something smallish, like between 20 and 50. You don't want to set it too low, in case the planet is heavily defended, so you will keep pounding the planet's defenses while it still has 'em.

Quikngruvn

Wanderer

January 12th, 2003, 03:17 AM

Am I right in thinking that once all the weapon platforms are dead the ship currently firing will continue to fire at the planet if it has unused weapons remaining, but any ships still to fire will not fire?

If so, a possible strategy is to create 'WP bombardment' ships that are very strongly shielded/armoured, but only carry a light armament. The light armament means that any one ship can only do a small amount of damage to the planet and shouldn't be able to glass it by accident.

On a similar topic, I wanted to throw my computer out the window the other day when my capture fleet descended upon a huge planet stocked with facilities, but instead of capturing it they glassed it. Meanwhile the troop transport dropped 500 troops on the nearby moon... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

Wanderer

January 12th, 2003, 04:02 AM

I build tons of intelligence centers and still their spys keep getting thru.Something I drafted concerning defensive intel use:

does this make sense? (http://www.manwithcamera.co.uk/se4/intel.html)

dbt1949

January 12th, 2003, 05:14 AM

Yep,it certainly does. I had all those intelligence facilities sitting around doing nothing.

Fyron

January 12th, 2003, 06:51 AM

Am I right in thinking that once all the weapon platforms are dead the ship currently firing will continue to fire at the planet if it has unused weapons remaining, but any ships still to fire will not fire?I think not. Ships should stop firing their remaining weapons when all platforms are dead _if_ they are using a strategy that is set not to destroy unarmed planets.

tbontob

January 12th, 2003, 11:08 AM

Originally posted by Wanderer:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />I build tons of intelligence centers and still their spys keep getting thru.Something I drafted concerning defensive intel use:

does this make sense? (http://www.manwithcamera.co.uk/se4/intel.html)<hr /></blockquote>I like your rendition on how intell works (does this make sense). It is in accord with how I believe it works.

You state in 'does this make sense', "Defensive projects get such a high bonus...".

What is the bonus?

Fyron

January 12th, 2003, 11:30 AM

The level of the project multiplies the effectiveness of the points. 100k in CI 3 blocks 300k og intel projects (well, 360k including the already 20% bonus to CI projects).

dbt1949

January 12th, 2003, 04:31 PM

Why is it that anytime my "empire" has more than 3-4 star sysyems the AI gets mad at me and goes to war?I mean even my blood pact brothers.Everybody. In this game I'm playing now I had have a large galaxy and few AI opponents.I have like a dozen star systems before meeting my first alien. First thing he says is "you too big and greedy" and I'm at war with him.And this was with the Cue Cappa race.

That's okay tho, they just signed their death warrant. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Wanderer

January 12th, 2003, 05:15 PM

Probable causes of AI anger:

1) you own/have claimed a bunch of systems the AI considers to be 'rightfully' his. Check out the Borders tab in the Empires window and look for clashes.

2) Mega Evil Empire (MEE) effect. Once you get too large compared to the other races (it's worked out as how large the score of the race in first place is compared to the score of the second placed race) they'll all gang up on you.

From settings.txt:
AI Uses Mega Evil Empire := True
AI Mega Evil Empire Threshold Score Thousands := 500
AI Human Mega Evil Empire Score Percent := 170
AI Computer Mega Evil Empire Score Percent := 250

To translate: if you have more than 500,000 points (score not race experience), are in first place on the score table and have 70% more points than the second place player, you'll be public enemy number one.

3) Some alien races just don't like you!

Sounds like you've hit MEE if everyone has suddenly declared war on you. This is a deliberate part of the game to prevent a human player from running away with the game. If you're quite small when this happens it must mean the AI races are not doing very well.

dbt1949

January 12th, 2003, 06:45 PM

I'm sure that explains it. In this game I've just lucked out with sooo many green + planets and I'm going ape.

Sounds like I need to build some more storage areas for my surpluses.I'm going to be needing them for a looong war! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

tbontob

January 12th, 2003, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
The level of the project multiplies the effectiveness of the points. 100k in CI 3 blocks 300k og intel projects (well, 360k including the already 20% bonus to CI projects).Thanks Fyron http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I "think" I know what you are trying to say. Here is my interpretation.

For each 1000 put into intel,

If put into CI1, then 1000 x 120% = 1,200
If put into CI2, then 1000 x 220% = 2,200
If put into CI3, then 1000 x 320% = 3,200

But the chances are good, I didn't get it right. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Suicide Junkie

January 12th, 2003, 07:18 PM

Almost:

1000 x 120% (defense bonus) = 1200
CI1: 1200 x 1 = 1200
CI2: 1200 x 2 = 2400
CI3: 1200 x 3 = 3600

tbontob

January 12th, 2003, 07:56 PM

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
Almost:

1000 x 120% (defense bonus) = 1200
CI1: 1200 x 1 = 1200
CI2: 1200 x 2 = 2400
CI3: 1200 x 3 = 3600Thanks S.J. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

It is compounded! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Fyron

January 12th, 2003, 11:32 PM

I did sort of imply that it was compounded. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

dbt1949

January 13th, 2003, 04:03 PM

You all will be happy to know I've been following your guidelines and suggestions about using Intelligence. So far I've managed to "capture" a couple of colony ships and their escorts and colonize planets in the enemies systems! As well as learning all I can about their empires and stopping them from doing me any damage. It's great!Even casued a couple of planets to break away from their empire.

I also found out the enemy is using psycic weapons to capture my ships. I've countered with researching and building computer only ships. They're just now reaching the front lines. I assume the AI will counter with computer virus but maybe by that time I'll have whittled him down quite a bit.

dbt1949

January 13th, 2003, 06:36 PM

When building a ship:is the more sensors,ecm etc the better? In other words do they add up or is just one all you need?

tbontob

January 13th, 2003, 08:34 PM

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
I did sort of imply that it was compounded. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Yes you did. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

My comment was prompted by a feeling of surprise.

In other areas of a game where more than 1 factor affects something, it is usually additive and not compounded.

I would imagine there are more examples of compounding, but I have yet to find them.

capnq

January 13th, 2003, 09:35 PM

When building a ship:is the more sensors,ecm etc the better? In other words do they add up or is just one all you need? Check the description of the component; many of them specifically say "only one component per ship is effective".

Different components that have similar effects do combine, e.g. Stealth Armor and Scattering Armor.

dbt1949

January 13th, 2003, 10:01 PM

Okay,I see now. When designing a ship there's alittle box off to the side that says something like "Modifiers" and you can see the result there of whether or not multiple sensors help or not.

dbt1949

January 16th, 2003, 05:00 AM

I don't quite understand how one group can be "murderous" but want to be your ally when another group is "brotherly" but you're at war with them. Could someone explain this please?

Arkcon

January 16th, 2003, 04:33 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
I don't quite understand how one group can be "murderous" but want to be your ally when another group is "brotherly" but you're at war with them. Could someone explain this please?Yes. Click. (http://invirtuo.cc/phpwiki/index.php/Why%20does%20the%20AI%20hate%20me%3F)

dbt1949

January 16th, 2003, 05:06 PM

Why those sneaky SOBs. DEATH TO ALL THE ALIEN NATIONS!!!!

Thanks! That explains it perfectly. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

<as dbt rushes off to cancel all his trade agreements>

Arkcon

January 16th, 2003, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Why those sneaky SOBs. DEATH TO ALL THE ALIEN NATIONS!!!!

Thanks! That explains it perfectly. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

<as dbt rushes off to cancel all his trade agreements>Cheers. If you discover something different, please feel free to edit it.

dbt1949

January 17th, 2003, 06:07 PM

Could someone explain to me what the temporal tech tree is all about?

Thanks

Arkcon

January 17th, 2003, 06:11 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Could someone explain to me what the temporal tech tree is all about?

ThanksTake the temporal racial trait and find out. Or click here (http://invirtuo.cc/phpwiki/index.php/temporal%20knowledge)

If some temporal race is pestering you, click here. (http://invirtuo.cc/phpwiki/index.php/defeating%20temporal)

That second click won't help much, but I think its funny http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ January 17, 2003, 16:22: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

dbt1949

January 17th, 2003, 08:06 PM

Thanks! Your site has some real good info on it but you need some kind if internet booster to speed up the download. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Arkcon

January 17th, 2003, 09:11 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Thanks! Your site has some real good info on it but you need some kind if internet booster to speed up the download. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif Hmmm... not my site. It belongs to LazarusLong if anybody -- we all have edit access. It gets slow sometimes, but not often.

couslee

January 18th, 2003, 05:09 PM

from newbie faq:

6.3.3 Shields Skipping. As is well documented the "Weapon Only" damage type skip all shields and armour and get straight to the component.

Can I have a clarification. Does it ingnore the protective shields in place during combat (IE 600/600),? Or does it skip the shield/armor components and hits the target component after existing shields are depleted. ?

Arkcon

January 18th, 2003, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by couslee:
from newbie faq:

6.3.3 Shields Skipping. As is well documented the "Weapon Only" damage type skip all shields and armour and get straight to the component.

Can I have a clarification. Does it ingnore the protective shields in place during combat (IE 600/600),? Or does it skip the shield/armor components and hits the target component after existing shields are depleted. ?Both. Neither. Umm what was the question again. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

OK. No shield stops the weapon destroyer. It only damages weapons on the ship. So it ignores shields, armor, shield generators, the bridge. Shields remain in place when it's done.

The shield disrupter does the same, bypasses all shields, destroys the shield generator, and ignores all other components. Shields are depleted as the generators disappear.

For balance reasons, the engine destroyer doesn't skip shields, it does damage shields, once they're gone, it burns out engines leaving an immobile hulk -- that can still shoot back if it has supply storage.

[ January 18, 2003, 16:53: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

dbt1949

January 19th, 2003, 06:44 AM

How does one make a ring world? And what's up with the cable and gravitational units? How are they used?

Fyron

January 19th, 2003, 07:00 AM

You have to have 11 Starbases to build a RW, and 21 to build a SW. On one Starbase, there needs to be the Ringworld Generator (or Sphereworld Generator). A RW requires 5 Gravity Plating and 5 Hyper Density Cable components in the same sector as the Generator (and a SW requires 10 of each). These comps only fit on Starbases. So, once you get all of them built in the same sector as a star, select the Starbase with the Generator, and then do Stellar Manipulation. You'll have an option to Build RW or Build SW.

dbt1949

January 19th, 2003, 08:21 AM

Thanks! What kind of systems qualify to have one built in?

[ January 19, 2003, 06:23: Message edited by: dbt1949 ]

Slick

January 19th, 2003, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
Thanks! What kind of systems qualify to have one built in?any one with a star.

dbt1949

January 19th, 2003, 05:31 PM

Thanks! I'll try it out. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

dbt1949

January 20th, 2003, 12:32 AM

I just built one of those ring worlds. Almost sent my empire into bankruptcy. Those are quite amazing. Just researched the sphereworld. I don't think I can afford it without scrapping my fleet. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I've got another ship going around making planets out of asteroids. By this time late in the game it's kind of redundant but those new planets are loaded with minerals.

By this time I've conquered half the large galaxy and the end is a foregone conclusion but it's fun experimenting with some of these expensive exotic weapons and things like the ringworld.

I've also learned from the AI to make light cruisers as my mainstay. Drednaughts cost to much to keep large fleets and the smaller numbers can't control large numbers of small ships. Now I'll put a CA or BC in charge of a horde of CLs,DDs,and frigates,backed up by an occasional baseship or special repair ship.

Intelligence is working pretty good except I'm confused about the 3 different levels. Do I need to "research" all three levels all the time?

Thanks!

Fyron

January 20th, 2003, 12:34 AM

Always use the highest level of CI project available. The higher levels multiply the effectiveness of the points stored in them, and can store more points. Never finish a CI, cause they work by using the points stored in them. Finishing one clears all the points stored in it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

dbt1949

January 20th, 2003, 12:44 AM

Thanks! I've just been "researching" all three levels cause I didn't know the difference. Now I can invest some of those points in getting the enemies planets to rebel! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

dbt1949

January 21st, 2003, 03:38 AM

It's late in the game and I've got these star destroying ships. They work pretty cool except about the 4th star I destroy the game freezes up. Is this a known bug or a new one?

Fyron

January 21st, 2003, 03:39 AM

That is probably a memory issue with your computer.

dbt1949

January 21st, 2003, 11:41 PM

When you're setting up a game and the screen comes up where you set up how many ships will be allowed and how many "units" will be allowed,what are the consists of the "units"?

Thanks!

Slick

January 21st, 2003, 11:53 PM

Originally posted by dbt1949:
When you're setting up a game and the screen comes up where you set up how many ships will be allowed and how many "units" will be allowed,what are the consists of the "units"?

Thanks!Units: mines, satellites, troops, drones, weapon platforms, fighters.

Slick

Arkcon

January 21st, 2003, 11:53 PM

unit (http://invirtuo.cc/phpwiki/index.php/unit)

[EDIT]
Aww... Slick beat me to it.

[ January 21, 2003, 21:54: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

Slick

January 21st, 2003, 11:58 PM

Originally posted by Arkcon:

Aww... Slick beat me to it.Fastest gunslinger west of Maui.

Slick.

dbt1949

January 22nd, 2003, 12:29 AM

Thanks!

Alari

January 23rd, 2003, 04:35 AM

A few questions:

You can put supply storage on satellites, but they don't seem to need them...?? Just curious.

In Abilities, there's research point generation, planet research bonus, and system research bonus. Is the planet research bonus really planet-based, or is it sector-based? How does the plain research point generation work if it's attached to something that the player can't directly control/own? (Like a nebulae or whatever) Does the system research bonus stack if there's more than one?

Is there any way to script events? I checked the Events file but it's random events, no logic code that I could figure out (Like "If player has X technology...") I wanted to design a high-level research tree that would do nasty things like wipe out and plague planets, reset technology levels back down to 0, etc. ("Pandora's Tech" =)
I know I can't do it in either Events or the Research tree itself, any suggestions?

...Dunno if it's obvious or not but I have a few ideas for a mod. ^.^

One of the other ideas that I'm fairly certain will work is assigning higher construction costs to a ship and then adding "Reduced Maintenance" bonuses to the components, so that a damaged ship will cost more to maintain, but I'm not sure if that stacks either...

Fyron

January 23rd, 2003, 05:20 AM

Some components have too many vehicle sizes to be placed on, but it really isn't that big of a deal. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Is the planet research bonus really planet-based, or is it sector-based?

It is planet based.

How does the plain research point generation work if it's attached to something that the player can't directly control/own?

It doesn't work in that situation.

Does the system research bonus stack if there's more than one?

No. Only the highest one is applied. Others are ignored.

Is there any way to script events?

Unfortunately, no, there is not.

One of the other ideas that I'm fairly certain will work is assigning higher construction costs to a ship and then adding "Reduced Maintenance" bonuses to the components, so that a damaged ship will cost more to maintain, but I'm not sure if that stacks either...

Maint Redux ability on a comp does not stack with multiple comps from the same family. I think it will stack if you add components with the ability that are in different families (like ECM, Combat Sensors, etc. do).

[ January 23, 2003, 03:23: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Alari

January 23rd, 2003, 06:17 AM

Yeah, the only way I saw to do what I wanted was to assign the abilities to a facility and then somehow convincing the player to build it. Even then, I couldn't knock techs down at all, but I could probably blow up the planet real good. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

What I originally had in mind was a series of techs that would unlock the next level up, but in being researched they would damage the society trying to harness the newfound power.. This isn't something I was thinking of springing on the unsuspecting, either, these would be late-game techs with definite warning signs that the player was dabbling into the realms of the Dangerous and Pointy. Or something.

Thanks for the advice, I'll have to play with things and see how it goes.. I've played enough stock games to understand the basics and dabbled with a few mods (luv the quadrant mod BTW ^.^) I know I want to make my own now, just gotta figure out how. =)

dbt1949

February 3rd, 2003, 03:18 AM

When you design your own race and you use something like 3000 racial points and then start a regular game,do the random AI's race add extra points over the normal 2000?

Suicide Junkie

February 3rd, 2003, 06:06 AM

Is there any way to script events?

Unfortunately, no, there is not.You can "script" a single event, such as in one of my scenarios, where you command a "neutral" empire that is forced to flee its only system into the dangerous galaxy full of large AIs because your star is about to go nova.

What you would do is temporarily fiddle the events.txt so that the event you want, with an appropriate delay, is almost guaranteed to happen each turn.
Keep reloading the savegame and ending turn until it gets triggered on the appropriate object/system.

Alternatively, you could have an uber-tech race own a maintenance free, ubercloaked ship having 1MP, and give it orders to move and then do something. Blow up a star or planet, close a warppoint, open a warppoint, whatever.
Leave the uberrace with no planets or uncloaked ships, and none of the players will know they exist.
Set the Uberrace to use the "no-ai" ministers, so nothing happens to your scripted orders.

The only thing you need to worry about is mines, and sundestroyers, and possibly random events.
Give the uberships a massive sweeping capacity, and set the scenario in a time before sun destroyers are available.

When you design your own race and you use something like 3000 racial points and then start a regular game,do the random AI's race add extra points over the normal 2000? All AIs have custom settings for each possible number of racial points.
Look in AI_General.txt to see the three sets of race setup choices.

[ February 03, 2003, 04:08: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]