Noob lost in space

[necaradan666]

I don't get why people don't just RTFM. I learned the game by reading through each tutorial and reading all text displayed in each screen as I used them. Sure some mechanics are a little esoteric but overall the game tells you pretty much everything you need to know.

[fenrislokison]

Perhaps because it feels nice to have answers coming from other players? and because those who answer probably feel nice too because they were able to help?
I'm also quite sure there's a lot of lurkers quite happy to find an answer to a question they didn't dare to ask (or too lazy to create a account).

And overall, it creates a good activity on this forum which would be dead if all players knew exactly how to play the game.

And all this is a good thing since i have something to read when i'm bored at work [:D]

[necaradan666]

Didn't really mean anything by it, just gets frustrating helping people sometimes knowing that the information is readily available if they just open their eyes. I had just watched a friend playing an xbox game getting red in the face, screaming mad, had to stop him throwing my controller out the window and all because he couldn't figure out how to do something when right there at the bottom of the screen it said 'press X to equip item'

[Sirian]

Having an actual player answer a question has one added benefit: It is an answer by someone who actually did that and can confirm it works like the "FM" says. Often enugh, the answering person will add other hints and isights. Additionally, those not involved in the question - answer process can read it and improve their game experience.

Its a win-win-win situation.

[Bingeling]

I love good questions with good answers. I suck at asking, and pick up knowledge from the answers given to others.

If closely observed, I can on occasion be found desperately googling while internally screaming "Have really noone had this problem before?". Then finally find one that asked, and that never got an answer...

[Tcby]

^ Reminds me of me [:D]

[SundiataWTF]

I really appreciate all the help. The strategic depth of this game is awe inspiring. However, the UI is so hard to use that I find myself competing more against the interface than the enemy. I think a lot of the problem for me comes down to the 2D nature of the game. I'm clicking and clicking where my planet, spaceport and several ships apparently occupy exactly the same space (which I think violates several physical laws) in an effort to tell a construction ship to build another research lab. He was automated, so once I "thought" I had control of him I tried to give the order. Nothing happened. I felt my frustration building so I stopped playing. I came back the next day to try again and I got the same result: I couldn't give the construction ship an order. I got so frustrated I nearly uninstalled the game. But at this price, I couldn't bare to do that, so I resinstalled Enless Space and Galactic Civilization II instead. I know, they aren't as deep, don't offer near the challenge, but at least I can click the button I want and have the action executed, even if the action is simplistic ore even a mistake on my part.

Another problem I'm having reminds me of a comment further up in this thread. Someone said I should RTFM. Well, answers to most of the arcane interface questions that all noobs ask on this forum aren't in the manual. I just wish there was more polish. I'm going to give the game a bit more of a rest and try again later.

[DeadlyShoe]

I really appreciate all the help. The strategic depth of this game is awe inspiring. However, the UI is so hard to use that I find myself competing more against the interface than the enemy. I think a lot of the problem for me comes down to the 2D nature of the game. I'm clicking and clicking where my planet, spaceport and several ships apparently occupy exactly the same space (which I think violates several physical laws) in an effort to tell a construction ship to build another research lab. He was automated, so once I "thought" I had control of him I tried to give the order. Nothing happened. I felt my frustration building so I stopped playing. I came back the next day to try again and I got the same result: I couldn't give the construction ship an order. I got so frustrated I nearly uninstalled the game. But at this price, I couldn't bare to do that, so I resinstalled Enless Space and Galactic Civilization II instead. I know, they aren't as deep, don't offer near the challenge, but at least I can click the button I want and have the action executed, even if the action is simplistic ore even a mistake on my part.

Sorry about your frustration [:(]. FYI: you generally shouldn't use construction ships to build at an owned colony. If you want to build something other than a spaceport or a DFB, go into the colony's information screen by double click its details and select the construction yards tab.

[johanwanderer]

ORIGINAL: SundiataCole
...
I'm clicking and clicking where my planet, spaceport and several ships apparently occupy exactly the same space (which I think violates several physical laws) in an effort to tell a construction ship to build another research lab. He was automated, so once I "thought" I had control of him I tried to give the order. Nothing happened. I felt my frustration building so I stopped playing. I came back the next day to try again and I got the same result: I couldn't give the construction ship an order. I got so frustrated I nearly uninstalled the game.
...

The magic key is the Control Key. Select your contruction ship by left-clicking her (pause the game if necessary so she won't move). With her selected, try control-right click on a planet. That brings up the extended menu for you to build most things.

Also, as DeadlyShoe mentioned, on a planet that you own, it is easier to build it from the planet. To do that, slect the planet (left clicking) then control-right click to access the build menu.

Hope that helps!

[Tcby]

Also a minor point: ships being on top of each other doesn't violate the laws of physics. Top down view doesn't account for depth - things overlapping are simply above or below each other. In space, ships could be vertically above or below each other but still a vast distance apart [8D]

[Keston]

The Galactopedia is out of date and the manual is a good intro but would have to be three times as long to be adequate (not saying it is easy). A wiki that expanded off the Galactopedia and had team support would be very helpful for players and in attracting new players. I use forum search often, but not too happy with its results much of the time. Much that I knew or thought I did with early DW is mistaken, forgotten, or changed (mostly for the better).

A wiki with some review/support from the team is the best resource. I would join with others in posting interesting information announced, buried in old posts, or newly discovered, but someone needs to vet the statements (and I realize that games sometimes don't work as designers and programmers think it does).

[SundiataWTF]

Again, thanks for the understanding responses. I'm going to give it another try.

[aaatoysandmore]

I find that FULL AUTO on everything except taxes works for me. Oh and turn off ground army building once you get to 2 or 3k of cost. Let the computer build everything (it will pretty much build the things required and research the things required to get you going) My auto community built 2 contruction ships right off and then a space port (medium) then built several explorer ships and then started building fleets of different type ships like escorts, frigates, destroyers. I fiddle with this a little as I wanted more frigates and destroyers to escorts. Escorts are basically gnats and don't have much power or defense and are really just a waste of resources to me.

My explorers go out and discover prewarp hyperdrive tech pretty quickly and if the computer doesn't do it for you just go into your research tab under high tech and click on the first prewarp hyperdrive technology, then you are on your way to warping into space. Also under that same tab high tech you will find "colonization" tab, click on it also and get the ability to build colony ships underway. From there it's pretty easy. I spend a lot of time in high teching and getting my income up and luxries (for the people and tourist attractions) and being able to colonize other type planets (after colonization is discovered).

Defense is pretty important in Pirates or Shadows but so is Income and Research. The faster you can build up your Income and Research the faster everything else will come. That should be what you do most is piddle with your research and income levels (especially taxes) I run my taxes up until the people can almost not tolerate me to a +1 opinion of me. I keep it this way for a long time into the game and usually am into the 40ish tax bracket. You want to try to get taxes where you are getting at least 90% paying it. As it does you no good to go real high if only 70 to 80 percent of your population is paying it.

But, at any rate FULL AUTO really works wonders in the early game. As you become comfortable with the game you can start taking over other things. One thing I forgot you should not let the ai send gifts to other factions as it will drain you dry giving stuff away. Just have it "suggest" giving gifts to other factions and you decide when an how much. All of this is found under your government POLICY tab. There on the main page at the top right when you have your planetary menu open. It tells you how much you are spending and how much income you have and cash flow and your private citizens income and cash flow.

Hope that helps.

[aaatoysandmore]

ORIGINAL: Canaris_PL

ORIGINAL: Tcby

^ Yes. You are meant to start with partial automation to ease into things.

Im sorry but i have to disagree.
As a veteran 4x/strategy player i have to say that starting with anything on automate is really stupid idea. Everything in this game is related to everything else. Automating some part of the game makes the water muddy and really prevents you from learning how various things relate to each other, how different gameplay elements work etc etc.

Its better to go full manual, go slow ( normal or 0.5 speed ), start at the very bottom i.e. Normal Shadows Empire and simply learn from your own mistakes.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree. That may work for you but that is not the strategy or way to play for "everyone". Letting the game autoplay is the better way in this game because there is too much to absorb at the beginning. Easing oneself into the game is definitely another way to play.

I'm certainly a veteran of 4x games as I've played ALL of them since the 80's. I was playing Reach for the Stars when you were just a twinkle in your grandpa's eyes. lol
Played games like Planet Miners, Andromedia Conquest, Galactic Civilization I & II plus all expansions, Imperium Galactica, Space Empires I - V an on an on. I would always recommend starting out as slow as possible until one understands how that portion of the game works and then move onto the next thing.
I would never say "that your way is a really stupid way to play" though. It's being very rude and also a little insulting to those that do play that way.

[Sirian]

People are different. Some like to full auto everything when learning, some like to full manual everything. The task is to find out to which group one belongs.

[janamdo]

Is there a summarize in excel, of what components are used for the militairy ships?
- at start
-highest time position as possible

[spinkick]

Seems like when you start using excel etc to min max your stuff as much as possible, you are taking fun away from the game. Being human, you should be able to overcome the AI without having to do such things, plus it gives the game more flavor. At least thats my opinion.

[janamdo]

Well i have seen in a lot of games that ships are documented
How you can build a custom ship than..memorizing the design screen components ?
Maybe its me what not fully understand the design screen .. i must look again at it.

[Werewolf13]

ORIGINAL: necaradan666

Didn't really mean anything by it, just gets frustrating helping people sometimes knowing that the information is readily available if they just open their eyes. I had just watched a friend playing an xbox game getting red in the face, screaming mad, had to stop him throwing my controller out the window and all because he couldn't figure out how to do something when right there at the bottom of the screen it said 'press X to equip item'

People learn in three ways:

1) By being told how to (this includes watching videos)
2) By reading how to
3) By doing

All learn by using each of the three together to one degree or another but each person has a primary learning style they prefer.

That said: the folks that ask here are those that primarily learn by being told how (counter intuitive I know - but reading it here is the same as being told) - RTFM is just not their style.

As another poster indirectly pointed out, Asking here serves a number of purposes:

1) Teaches those that learn by being told how to
2) Provides an outlet for those people with a temperament that rewards teaching and interaction
3) Provides a resource for those not temperamentally suited to ask
4) Keeps the forum alive and kicking
5) Indirectly provides useful feedback to developers if they care to read the forum

PS: I can relate to your frustration. Raised 3 daughters to adulthood. Learned very early on that help them with their homework was a bad idea. Like you I found it frustrating trying to teach that which I thought should be easily learned or was obvious. Left the homework help to the wife. Helped keep both mine and the kids blood pressure lower.

[Osito]

The other thing about "RTFM" is that, in the case of DW, the manual is not actually correct in every respect. I think some parts of it relate to a much earlier version of the game.

Osito