need some advice on playing.

Larsenex · Post by **Larsenex** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 2:19 pm

I am amazed at the amount of automation I can set the game to, however I find that I can just let the game run without any input from me. I will occasionally tell the adivsors to do 'X' but I find myself looking at the strategic galaxy view. I have had some battles with Kaltors or some pirates. I found I can drag and grab several ships to focus fire on one target (man this is a GREAT feature!), but I am wondering if I am missing more.

How do you all play?

Do you use mods, if so, what kind and why?

Are there mods for balancing of 'fixing' gameplay like ones needed for Civ 5? (I play Gal civ 2 and civ 4/5).

How do I install mods?

Can we zoom in closer to see our ships during combat?

I have so many more questions but alas I am at work.....

Shark7 · Post by **Shark7** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 2:55 pm

I am to the point that I leave a lot of the automation off. You might want to leave it to suggest for a while until you get used to it.

Mods are easy enough, if you download a players mod, it simply needs to be in its own folder in the customization folder.

Data · Post by **Data** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:02 pm

all the modders have step by step instructions on their respective threads also so it's easy to do it
you can zoom with page dn and page up to the max zoom levels

WoodMan · Post by **WoodMan** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:12 pm

How do you all play?

Me personally?  Ship Design automated, everything else manual. 20 Empires, 1 of each race.

Do you use mods, if so, what kind and why?

So far I've never used any mods, I'm working on one but haven't played a full game with it.  In the future I want to play BSG, Trek and SW mods, because I love all those films/shows [:D]

Are there mods for balancing of 'fixing' gameplay like ones needed for Civ 5? (I play Gal civ 2 and civ 4/5).

There is one to make the AI more aggressive, but I find the AI okay as it is (I'm an RP'er so don't really want all races to be warlike).  Also, Eliott (the dev) is very responsive to players requests and concerns especially when he is going through a phase of active patching, these kinds of things are being fixed all the time by him.

How do I install mods?

Instructions usually in threads.

Can we zoom in closer to see our ships during combat?

Um.. yes [:D]  I'm guessing you haven't played yet, just mouse wheel or use the various zoom buttons on the UI [;)]

I have so many more questions but alas I am at work.....

What?!? [&:]  Pull a sickie right now, get home and play DW [:-]

 

Data · Post by **Data** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:35 pm

What? Don't do that, Larsenex, by the time you get back to work you'll find that not only did they kicked you out but the company itself no longer exists and we have colonized the moon...at least

Larsenex · Post by **Larsenex** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:05 pm

I can zoom in and out with the up and down keys. I wanted to know if we can get in a bit closer to see more detail during ship combat. Sometimes my mousewheel does not zoom and i resort to key comands.

I have also had the game crash (a lot lately) but this may be more of a memory issue. I deleted all my 'test' games and re-installed the game and it seems to be running better. Can I have 'counter espionage' to prevent the stealing of my state secrets?

I found how to crash research a particular field if i have the cash, which is very nice. Do we have 'fleet' commands for things like 'patrol this quadrant or defend Grid #. I know I can zoom out go to a star and in the F command select a fleet to go here/there. Is this the only way?

Bah, I have to actually work here at work...grrr....silly customers getting in the way of my gaming...arrrhhh....

Data · Post by **Data** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:13 pm

yes, 'counter espionage' is the default mission when you create an agent

caerr · Post by **caerr** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:18 pm

ORIGINAL: Larsenex
Do we have 'fleet' commands for things like 'patrol this quadrant or defend Grid #. I know I can zoom out go to a star and in the F command select a fleet to go here/there. Is this the only way?

'Patrol system' is as close as you can get. You can find it in the context menu once you click a star with a fleet selected. However note that this command is a bit broken atm, more details in tech support.

Alternatively, you can make a lot of ships and put them all on automation, so that they provide even coverage for all of your empire.

Data · Post by **Data** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:39 pm

patroling is good but there are two reasons why i don't prefer it:

1) it consumes fuel

2) someone else observed and I tend to agree that a ship stationary in a system will respond to a threat just as fast as a patroling one

so better to have it stationary and conserving fuel with collectors than patroling

caerr · Post by **caerr** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:37 pm

I think I've found a possible oversight.

The problem I've been having with just leaving ships idle, is that they cease to respond to system targets and eventually end up pretty useless and far away from the planet they're supposed to be protecting.

I looked into this closer, and despite setting fleet AND ship engagement stance to system wide, it is reset to nearby targets as soon as they attack an enemy ship.

This is because I have under default engagement stances: attack/bombard set to engage nearby targets. So when my ship that is set to system wide stance automatically attacks a ship, the stance is set to nearby instead.

Data · Post by **Data** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:14 pm

cool piece of testing, caerr
i would normally expect to work the other way, what you actually set to override a default

James009 · Post by **James009** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:23 pm

ORIGINAL: Larsenex

I am amazed at the amount of automation I can set the game to, however I find that I can just let the game run without any input from me. I will occasionally tell the adivsors to do 'X' but I find myself looking at the strategic galaxy view. I have had some battles with Kaltors or some pirates. I found I can drag and grab several ships to focus fire on one target (man this is a GREAT feature!), but I am wondering if I am missing more.

How do you all play?

I started off overwhelmed with the gameplay and size of the game so I decided to play the small maps and gradually expanded/learned everything this game has to offer. I let the AI suggest most of the things too me but I have to rubber stamp everything and usually have my own agenda.

- Generally I don't micro-manage fleet combat except when I have a specific mission in mind.
- I usually have a few "flagships" that I monitor and control for specific and important missions (ie. protecting important stations, responding to attacks, investigating suspicious ruins/areas, and escorting important constructors)
- I also design all my own ships and stations. This REALLY helps me learn about how they function.

Do you use mods, if so, what kind and why?

I'm using a couple of excellent mods that I've combined and added my own stuff too.
- Diverse Worlds (liking the variety)
- Racial Troops Icons (LOVE IT)
- Star Trek (Federation ships as my capital ships), also amazing SFX
- BSG (using these as my base ships, gonna have the Shaktari become Cylons)
- Star Wars (Using some of their ships and stations)
- Human Supremacy Troops
- I made a sort of "Rogue" or Mercantile Human race
- Also, made an all female humanoid race

Are there mods for balancing of 'fixing' gameplay like ones needed for Civ 5? (I play Gal civ 2 and civ 4/5).

I don't think so.

How do I install mods?

90% of them get dropped into the customization folder.

This game is so fun, I love finding something new to explore and discover every time I play it. Just take it slow and learn whatever you can focusing on what you enjoy. Good luck!

caerr · Post by **caerr** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:41 pm

Yeah, I think I'm going to put all of those at no stance, just to be on the safe side. Didn't realise the effect it would have when I messed with it. [:)]

Data · Post by **Data** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:08 pm

that's the perfect reason to mess with it [:D]
i'm sure the crews on those ships hate me know for saying this [:'(]

Larsenex · Post by **Larsenex** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:40 pm

Ok, talk to me about ship design/editing. I opened up the ship builder but was a bit overwhelmed. Any advice?

James009 · Post by **James009** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:49 pm

Definately read up on everything using the Pedia and the links (THANKS for including those, Matrix), you will learn a lot. Then begin observing what the AI builds (either other races or automate development). You should eventually start seeing the effects of the different components. Then start making some of your own designs and see how they function. Lastly, start reading up ideas from other people posted on these forums.
 
Also, I'd do this from the beginning of the game... don't jump into a tech level 4 civilization and expect to understand ANYTHING.

Data · Post by **Data** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:50 am

second that, it may take some time away from the actual game at the begining but it's worth it....and it's actually the fastest way to master it

need some advice on playing.

need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.

RE: need some advice on playing.