Another refugee from the MOO3 Cataclysm

[Creepo]

Hi all! After my brief but painful experience with MOO3, I decided to check SE4. Two 100 turn demo games later, my copy was shipped today and I should have it at the end of the week.

Since I've only been playing the demo Version, I don't know much about the game, but I do have 2 n00b questions:

1) Is it possible to *move* a Starbase? I'm thinking there might be some kind of Tug Ship later in the game that could accomplish this. That way, I could put repair/defense/resupply outputs in the "empty" systems.

2) How can you tell if your Mineral/Organics/Radioactive storage facilities are actually storing resources? I can't seem to find this.

Thanks for your help in advance...

[Ruatha]

Originally posted by Creepo:
Hi all! After my brief but painful experience with MOO3, I decided to check SE4. Two 100 turn demo games later, my copy was shipped today and I should have it at the end of the week.

Since I've only been playing the demo Version, I don't know much about the game, but I do have 2 n00b questions:

1) Is it possible to *move* a Starbase? I'm thinking there might be some kind of Tug Ship later in the game that could accomplish this. That way, I could put repair/defense/resupply outputs in the "empty" systems.

2) How can you tell if your Mineral/Organics/Radioactive storage facilities are actually storing resources? I can't seem to find this.

Thanks for your help in advance...<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">1. Nope. you can't move them. But you can build a space yard ship and build the bases wherever you want them, in an empty system aswell.

2. You can check the "Empire status Screen" (the Crown). Where you'll see how much you have stored and how much storage capacity you have.

http://ruatha.homelinux.org/es.jpg

(Edit - added pic)

[ March 11, 2003, 17:36: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[Suicide Junkie]

Bases cannot move.

You can, however, put a spaceyard on a ship, move to the warppoint/ empty system, and build a base there.

Press the crown button, and look at the bottom of the budget report.

The base resource storage of an empire is only 50,000 of each resource. The very bottom line shows your actual capacity (base storage + storage facilities)

The second lowest line shows the actual amount stored this month.
Unless you're running a deficit, this will probably be the same as the maximum storage capacity.

[Creepo]

Wow! Nothing better than "sooner than instantaneous resonse"!!

Thanks guys!

If I have any other questions when I get the full Version I definitely know where to come.

[trooper]

Originally posted by Creepo:

1) Is it possible to *move* a Starbase? I'm thinking there might be some kind of Tug Ship later in the game that could accomplish this. That way, I could put repair/defense/resupply outputs in the "empty" systems.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">In the basic SE game, bases can't move. In some game mods, it's not necesserly the case. You'll learn very soon what a mod is, and that nothing is written in stone when you talk about SEIV...

[Slick]

Read the Newbie FAQ in this thread:

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=005518

It will probably save you hours of learning.

Slick.

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by Creepo:
Hi all! After my brief but painful experience with MOO3, I decided to check SE4. Two 100 turn demo games later, my copy was shipped today and I should have it at the end of the week.

Since I've only been playing the demo Version, I don't know much about the game, but I do have 2 n00b questions:

1) Is it possible to *move* a Starbase? I'm thinking there might be some kind of Tug Ship later in the game that could accomplish this. That way, I could put repair/defense/resupply outputs in the "empty" systems.

2) How can you tell if your Mineral/Organics/Radioactive storage facilities are actually storing resources? I can't seem to find this.

Thanks for your help in advance...<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">About your first question, in the later game does exist a hull ship named "BaseShip", that's very massive and slow, and could be considered as a mobile StarBase.

[Baron Munchausen]

Originally posted by Creepo:
Wow! Nothing better than "sooner than instantaneous resonse"!!

Thanks guys!

If I have any other questions when I get the full Version I definitely know where to come.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Notice his post count (at the bottom of his Messages). It's twice almost anyone else's here. This is the local Post Monster. He is ALWAYS here, and always answers questions first. We're still trying to figure out if he has a wearable computer and wireless access so he can scan the forums while he's eating or sitting on the toilet. I suppose Shrapnel ought to be paying him. Maybe they're giving him first access to new threads? That might explain his uncanny ability. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ March 11, 2003, 19:18: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

[anderscootdav]

I bought SEIV around when it first came out. I've always had a formula not to buy expansions or gold editions if I had already bought the main game. (Except for AGE II exp and Baldur's Gate II exp) So when SEIV GOLD came out I ignored the great deal I could have gotten. I was also waiting for what MOO3 would look like. Every board I go to says MOO3 is very bad and so does every review. So I finally caved in and just ordered SEIV Gold for $20 more than I could have gotten it (with shipping) when it was released. I don't think SEV is coming out this year so SEIV Gold will at least hold me over for another year. One question though, is SEIV Gold a much improved Version of SEIV?

[Cyrien]

Gee... that sounds just like my story. Cept I will still be buying MoO3... I have found a few good reviews and a good friend over in Japan who bought it says that it isn't great but it is good. I have the $30 to $40 dollars to spare atm so what the hecks.

On the upside I just recieved notice that my copy of SE4 Gold is on the way. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Just in time for Spring Break.

[Wardad]

I pulled this out the the MOO3 forum....

"This is macromanagement gone too far. I can imagine that if you'd take this Macromanagementmodel just one step further the AI would press turn for you!! Its like this standalone galaxy-simulator where you can only alter some global things, why not call it Matrix of Orion 3?? I think it's a shame they called it MOO3 because its a totally different game than 2. For example, you are a Monkey Island fan. Some day, Monkey Island 5 would be in the stores. You buy it and...tadaa it's not an adventure anymore, no they turned it into a RPG. The whole game would be lost in my opinion. Same with MOO3.....

I really hope the patch will make this game more enjoyable!"

__________________
MOOing since the first cows arrived on planet Earth

[trooper]

Gold Version is an increased Version with more features, better AIs (at least less dull AIs) and a few technical problems resolved.
It has also many mods and raes with it, but those files are available on the net.

[Aloofi]

I thought that the people that had the original SE4 just needed to download a patch to become gold.....

[capnq]

I thought that the people that had the original SE4 just needed to download a patch to become gold. <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, Gold has always been a separate game.

[Creepo]

Originally posted by Wardad:
I pulled this out the the MOO3 forum....

"This is macromanagement gone too far. I can imagine that if you'd take this Macromanagementmodel just one step further the AI would press turn for you!! Its like this standalone galaxy-simulator where you can only alter some global things, why not call it Matrix of Orion 3?? I think it's a shame they called it MOO3 because its a totally different game than 2. For example, you are a Monkey Island fan. Some day, Monkey Island 5 would be in the stores. You buy it and...tadaa it's not an adventure anymore, no they turned it into a RPG. The whole game would be lost in my opinion. Same with MOO3.....

I really hope the patch will make this game more enjoyable!"<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">To be honest, I really don't think MOO3's problems can be solved with a patch. I don't even have a problem with macromanagement, but here it is very poorly executed. The interface and viceroy AI seem to fight you every step of the way, and it begins feeling more like a chore than a game. I just uninstalled it from my computer, and I'm going to play another 100 turn demo game of SE4...

[dumbluck]

LOL!!!

And just before the release of MOO3, here in the forums we were worrying about whether it would HURT SE4 sales.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Instead, MOO3 helped it's competition. We got a somewhat big influx of players who went out searching for something to fill the void that MOO3 was supposed to fill...

I just can't get over the irony of that...

[ March 12, 2003, 11:10: Message edited by: dumbluck ]

[Atraikius]

With the comments about MOO3's macro-management, and SEIV's micro-management, I thought I'd point out something that I found working on AI's.

To help out in determining how AI's work, I've played games in which I left my race under complete AI control, but woould make changes to the AI files durring the game to adjust how they operated. Playing SEIV this way was a bit slow and awkward, due to having to quit the game and reload in order for the changes I made to take effect, but made for some very entertaining games. The experience I had playing SEIV in this way, was very similar to what appeared to be the goal of MOO3. This would be a neet option to include in SEV, and would help with making AI's at the same time.

[Master Belisarius]

I have used your approach too, Atraikius.
Playing as the empire of one of AI files that I did (Aquilaeian, Pyrochette, Tessellate), usually can play with lot of automated things without scream!
Of course that always I have controled my fleets. But can let without big problems, to the AI manage most of the planets, manage the research tree, and even, design most of my ships. Then, can adjust what I want.

But think that's only valid for SE4, if you really know very well the AI files that you're using.

[Atraikius]

MB - Yes, you need a basic understanding of the AI files to begin with, but once you have that, I think it helps you understand the files better.
Instead of controlling event he fleets yourself, try making yourself ONLY make changes to the AI files. Any thing you want the AI to do differently you have to do in the AI files (or the strategy settings in game if using a .emp file). I thought playing that way gave the feel of really being the emporer, not being able to directly control what your empire does, only directing/manipulating your miniters to do what you wanted. (you can also think of it as an additional difficulty level for when the game gets too easy)