Obscure, unintuitive and unforgiving

[Fyron]

Furthermore, the component to create a Sphere World states that "it will create a sphere world AROUND a sun". Where does it say anywhere on the components or manual or help file that you need to create all the material ON the sun itself???

A sector is a very, very large space (compared to the size of a ship). Pluto is only 6 SE4 sectors away from the Sun, yet it is many dozens of AU. The Earth is only 1 AU. Logically, it would have to be in the same sector. However, you never see planets in the same sector as a star... Sectors are a highly abstract unit. You can be in the same sector as a star and yet still far enough away from it not to burn up. The sector with the star has quite a lot of empty space. "Around the star" means just that, wrapped around the star. Stellar objects can only occupy a single sector, so the only way to accomplish this is by being in the same sector.

...how unforgiving and exact things must be within the game design...

What (real, complex) game is not like this? They are all exact and unforgiving. It is the nature of the beast.

narf poit chez BOOM said:
Note that the component will be destroyed, also a balance requirement and I think in the Last patch it can only be repaired at a shipyard.

Nope. Only emergency movement components (and maybe emergency supplies, but that was not a huge balance exploit, so I do not know...) require the presence of a spaceyard. Of course, a space yard is extremely easy to include in a fleet, or with a SM ship if it actually required one to repair...

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Thought there was something about that somewhere.

[bbq]

Imperator Fyron said:
What (real, complex) game is not like this? They are all exact and unforgiving. It is the nature of the beast.

I can easily think of dozens of games that are better documented than this. Master of Orion 2, one of my favorite game, came with a manual that is much much more detailed than even the help file that was included in the SE4 CD.

But the thing is, I'm not even asking for that level of documentation. The developers KNOW that creating a Sphere World is a time consuming and resource consuming process. Is it really that unreasonable for them to put the text "This High-Density Cables component MUST be placed in the same sector as a star" on the component? No, I don't think so either.

[Mephisto]

bbq said:
But the thing is, I'm not even asking for that level of documentation. The developers KNOW that creating a Sphere World is a time consuming and resource consuming process. Is it really that unreasonable for them to put the text "This High-Density Cables component MUST be placed in the same sector as a star" on the component? No, I don't think so either.

bbq, you are right, that would be some helpful information. SE4 is just very complex and there are lots of ways one could do things in a way Malfador didn't expect it. Unfortunatley there will be no more patches for SE4 because if you had this problem while patches were still created I'm quite sure Aaron would have cleared the text up if so suggested. Be on board for SE5 and you'll see how much feedback Aaron will incorporate into future patches for SE5.

[Randallw]

I still learn things playing and I would describe myself as a veteran. I learnt that you need a sun in the system to make planets during a PBW game.

[Atrocities]

bbq, you really should thumb through the FAQ. It has so much valuable information in it that is has become the preferred manual for those who have pirated the game.

Seriously, no game that I know of has ever had a manual that explains everything to you. In fact Moo3 shipped with one of the worst manuals I have ever seen in my life. Tribes shipped with a good manual but it did not tell you how to ski or sniped while flying. These were things that had to be learned.

Now we all agree with your furstration over having to learn things on the go, we have all been there, but you can benefit from our experiences by reading the FAQ.

SE IV really needs a strategy guide, and believe many have tried to write one. I am, or have been, working on one for over two years now. The problem is simply, to much info for my tiny little mind to encompus its self around and put into readable form.

That and a general lack of interest from the community.

Really it is the time consideration. The time it would take to sit down and go through the whole game and create a players guide is enormus to say the least.

Now I doubt you will read this post, but if you do, I hope you will also take the time and read the FAQ. Good luck and happy playing.

And yes, some things do need fixing for SE V. And Aaron has a huge list going already.

[Timstone]

bbq:
If you have questions about the game that the manual of the faq don't answer. Just ask us.
Alfterall you were smart enough to post your complaint, but not seek a solution via the internet.
And discovering how a game works is one of the biggest funfactors in a game.

[Ruatha]

Is it really econimical to build Monoliths on ring/sphereworlds?
Sure on planets where there are limited space, there I always build monoliths.
But on Sphereworlds you'll propably never finish filling the facility spaces.
I always build the other type of resource generating facilities on sphere/ringwords (farms etc).
I'm sure Fyron builds Monoliths but how about the rest of you?

[Alneyan]

*Points at the NGC5 game, and glowers at Ruatha* Do not expect to deceive me. You have been building Monoliths at your Ringworlds and Sphereworlds there! As such, your query can only be a ploy to trick me into revealing important intelligence about how I use the products of my imperial ego.

I would only build the basic resource facilities at any planet, including Ringworlds and Sphereworlds. Once the planet is filled up, I start scrapping one facility to replace it with a Monolith; it takes a lot micromanaging, but gives a decent resource production while waiting for Monoliths. At least, I ideally do that; more often than not I lack the patience to make such changes, and tend to leave my basic resource facilities.

Since Ringworlds take 120 turns to be filled (assuming Advanced Storage and one facility per turn), plus quite a few turns to build them, I will seldom come anywhere making the switch to Monoliths. But then, I mostly use Ringworlds to show off and to make myself secure from Star Destroyers, so.

[Renegade 13]

I always build Monoliths on all my planets, as soon as I have the tech for them...even on sphere/ringworlds.

*Pointing at NCG5* Ruatha, I'm offended! You closed the warp point I opened into your system! And here I was just trying to be friendly