Question Thread.

[Tom_Holsinger]

Some script questions:

Are scripts randomly assigned to empires at startup? Is there a weighting process in which some races are more likely to be aassigned a given script and, if so can this weight be modded by players?

Are all scripts always available to all empires, or are some scripts limited so that only those empires with a specific starting race can be assigned them? If the latter, can players mod which scripts are available to which empires?

[Ntronium]

Your use of the term "scripts" is a little confusing. There are currently no scripts of the form "Do action A on turn 27". What there are is a set of strategies for the AI, which set its priorities for research and production, and a few other weightings. These are in an XML file that can easily be modded.

If you create scenarios, then you can specify what strategies each player can choose from, and the game will pick one randomly. You can of course give it only one choice.

[Tom_Holsinger]

My mistake. I think it was someone else (Sean maybe) who used the term, "script".

I am talking about "strategies" aka AI priorities, plus the game "win" definitions, aka "objectives" for a given empire, and here refer to those, collectively, as "strategies". Since there are racial-specific techs, it is likely there is a mod-accessible "tag" which associates a moddable file (which includes these "strategies") as useable only by a certain race. I hope.

Are initial AI "strategies" randomly assigned toAI empires at startup? Is there a weighting process in which some races are more likely to be assigned a given initial strategy and, if so can this weight be modded by players?

Are all initial strategies always available to all empires, or are some strategies limited so that only those empires with a specific starting race can be assigned them? If the latter, can players mod which strategies are available to which empires?

ORIGINAL: Ntronium

Your use of the term "scripts" is a little confusing. There are currently no scripts of the form "Do action A on turn 27". What there are is a set of strategies for the AI, which set its priorities for research and production, and a few other weightings. These are in an XML file that can easily be modded.

If you create scenarios, then you can specify what strategies each player can choose from, and the game will pick one randomly. You can of course give it only one choice.

[ypsylon]

OK I will hit with few torpedoes from entirely different side.

Is it possible to switch between different form of governments, hire advisors (*cough* MOO2 *cough*)?

Is corruption represented in the game?

Is ship tactic faction specific? This question is based on Star Trek Birth of the Federation where you had Federation ships, average in everything which made them very universal in every combat situation. Klingons massive frontal offensive potential but not too maneuverable and with rather weak shields, Romulans sneaky, cloaking with devastating disruptors salvos, but with average shields, and slow firing plasma torpedoes and finally Cardassians with ships suitable only for flanking attacks with relatively poor frontal armament.

[SeanD]

Is it possible to switch between different form of governments, hire advisors (*cough* MOO2 *cough*)?

This is not included, but I should add that there are plenty of fine tune options included with the "AI Auto Manage" feature for colonies. You can dictate the fiscal policy of your governors, and each colony can have an overall objective/directive. This isn't exactly a government or an advisor but it's along the same lines.

Is corruption represented in the game?

Yes but it's abstracted. Every colony has a "bureaucracy" factor that harms happiness/efficiency. Corruption can be grouped under this factor naturally.

Is ship tactic faction specific? This question is based on Star Trek Birth of the Federation where you had Federation ships, average in everything which made them very universal in every combat situation. Klingons massive frontal offensive potential but not too maneuverable and with rather weak shields, Romulans sneaky, cloaking with devastating disruptors salvos, but with average shields, and slow firing plasma torpedoes and finally Cardassians with ships suitable only for flanking attacks with relatively poor frontal armament.

Absolutely. I mentioned this elsewhere in the forum but I can't remember where exactly. But yes, some ships are just really good all-around fighters but there are many ships with specific roles to play (missile cruisers that pack a punch but have weak defenses as opposed to small quick and resilient cutters that are good for caracole formations and flanking).

[Ande]

ORIGINAL: SeanD

...
Absolutely. I mentioned this elsewhere in the forum but I can't remember where exactly. But yes, some ships are just really good all-around fighters but there are many ships with specific roles to play (missile cruisers that pack a punch but have weak defenses as opposed to small quick and resilient cutters that are good for caracole formations and flanking).

is that caracole as in a rolling hit and run or as in doing a pincer maneuver at an enemy thrust?

[ypsylon]

OK, a bit disappointed about toying with governments (try to conquer galaxy with same race as a Bloodthirsty Empire, Cybernetic Republic, Collective Hive Mind or as a Free-Market Democracy, it would be nice). Anyway I have one more question.

Will player be facing super powerful enemies appearing out of nowhere? (again small retrospect with BotF where one Borg cube smashed easily 50 or 100 ships and eradicated entire star systems along the way)

And one more about corruption. OK, it is abstracted. So I assume it still works that like this: star system on the edge of Empire won't be as happy/efficient as core star system, right?

Oh and another 2Q I just thought of! It can't be helped, I love good 4x, although I'm more like 2X with emphasis on Explore and Expand with Exploit and Exterminate always used as a last resort. [:D] Because of that I'm more interested in bureaucracy, form of governments, corruption, scanning range, wormhole theories than Slave labor camps, eradication, biogenic weaponry or using Mass drivers against civilian targets. [:'(]

Is losing Capital = end of the game or you can switch Capital between star systems? If it is possible to move Capital, will it affect the population of a planet which lost/gained "Capital" status?

[martok]

ORIGINAL: ypsylon

Is losing Capital = end of the game or you can switch Capital between star systems? If it is possible to move Capital, will it affect the population of a planet which lost/gained "Capital" status?

I second both questions, plus a follow-up on the first one (as to whether or not it's "game over" when you lose your capital): If you can continue playing even after losing your capital, do you at least suffer a penalty for it (like in BOTF)?

[SeanD]

is that caracole as in a rolling hit and run or as in doing a pincer maneuver at an enemy thrust?

From the manual: Caracole – When in the caracole formation, ships will form a
vertical ring and continually rotate around. The advantage of this
is that the enemy can not concentrate its fire on any one ship
and any damage from shooting at ships in a caracole will be
spread out over the entire group. Each of your ships in turn fires
from the same point, and if the enemy is not in a circulating
formation, most likely at the same enemy ship. It is often best
when several caracoles are used side by side, as it allows a lot
of firepower to be concentrated. If used individually, enemy in
line can concentrate their fire on front ship. The disadvantage to
this formation is that only one ship in the formation can fire at
the enemy at any one time. This formation is best for very fast
but weak ships.

Will player be facing super powerful enemies appearing out of nowhere?

In large games with many players and large galaxies it's very possible that one turn while exploring you run into a race that you haven't encountered that is way more advanced than you. There are no "special" superpowerful races but the type of situations where you never know when you may run into another player that will create a serious problem are definitely there.

So I assume it still works that like this: star system on the edge of Empire won't be as happy/efficient as core star system, right?

Is losing Capital = end of the game or you can switch Capital between star systems? If it is possible to move Capital, will it affect the population of a planet which lost/gained "Capital" status?

If you can continue playing even after losing your capital, do you at least suffer a penalty for it (like in BOTF)?

I actually don't know if that comes into the calculation. I'm not sure that you actually have a "capital" per se. Humans in one scenario start off on Earth but other than a high starting population I don't think there are political bonuses, etc. Losing your starting colony is a big deal because it will most likely have the highest population of any colony you found for many turns (100+ easily). And, more importantly, this population is of your native race so they won't make trouble as readily as foreign races. I'm fairly sure there aren't victory conditions surrounding your starting planet but since it is your starting planet it's generally the largest, most advanced colony so you want to hold on to it. You can keep playing even if you lose it, I believe.

[Tom_Holsinger]

Sean, could I please have responses to my questions about AI strategies aka objectives?

ORIGINAL: Tom_Holsinger

Are initial AI "strategies" randomly assigned toAI empires at startup? Is there a weighting process in which some races are more likely to be assigned a given initial strategy and, if so can this weight be modded by players?

Are all initial strategies always available to all empires, or are some strategies limited so that only those empires with a specific starting race can be assigned them? If the latter, can players mod which strategies are available to which empires?

[Tom_Holsinger]

Followup questions for Sean based on his statement that an empire's home world tends to have greater population than any newer colony world for "many turns (100+ easily)."
 
Is ability to produce the larger warship hulls dependent to a significant extent on a colony's population?
 
Roughly how many turns will it take before the populations of some indvidual colonies of an empire start to exceed the home world's population?  I'd like your guess as to range, with "150-200 turns" being an example.
 
Same question, but in terms of hours of play.  How many hours of game play does it take, on the average, before the populations of some indvidual colonies of an empire start to exceed the home world's population?  I'd like your guess as to range, with "15-20 hours" being an example.
 
When you (Sean) are playing a game and, in your opinion, have a pretty good-sized empire, about how long does it take you to enter the average move and fight the average number of battles for that game period?
 
This will definitely give us a feel for the game's pacing.

[Iceman]

ORIGINAL: ypsylon

OK, a bit disappointed about toying with governments (try to conquer galaxy with same race as a Bloodthirsty Empire, Cybernetic Republic, Collective Hive Mind or as a Free-Market Democracy, it would be nice). Anyway I have one more question.

Oh, another LE:I fan [:D]

Will player be facing super powerful enemies appearing out of nowhere? (again small retrospect with BotF where one Borg cube smashed easily 50 or 100 ships and eradicated entire star systems along the way)

Let's just say that the Unn for example, can get you into trouble with their raiding. [;)]

And one more about corruption. OK, it is abstracted. So I assume it still works that like this: star system on the edge of Empire won't be as happy/efficient as core star system, right?

They'll get penalties, like Sean mentioned. You can increase Happiness/popularity by the normal means (in the game) though.

[ypsylon]

ORIGINAL: Iceman

ORIGINAL: ypsylon

OK, a bit disappointed about toying with governments (try to conquer galaxy with same race as a Bloodthirsty Empire, Cybernetic Republic, Collective Hive Mind or as a Free-Market Democracy, it would be nice). Anyway I have one more question.

Oh, another LE:I fan [:D]

Is it really so obvious from just this one sentence??? [:'(] Turtling & 5000 planets galaxy FTW! But IIRC MOO3 also had various government types. Played only few times (simply horrible interface), but I think my memory serves me well here. [;)]

Anyway I tried today to install MOO2&BOTF [to get myself into proper mood] under W7 64b with no luck. Really gutted. [:(]

[Aroddo]

ORIGINAL: ypsylon

Anyway I tried today to install MOO2&BOTF [to get myself into proper mood] under W7 64b with no luck. Really gutted. [:(]

Download DosBox. It will be fine.
The DOS version of MoO2 is more stable than the windows version anyway.
And you can also get Armada 2525 for DosBox.

[AminMaalouf]

And you can also get Armada 2525 for DosBox.

I have never used dosbox until now.

What are the steps to mount armada 2525 on dosbox?

[Tom_Holsinger]

Does space combat involve any sensor and jamming issues (ECM & ECCM)?

[Aroddo]

ORIGINAL: AminMaalouf

And you can also get Armada 2525 for DosBox.

I have never used dosbox until now.

What are the steps to mount armada 2525 on dosbox?

pretty easy if you have DOS experience. Dosbox basically creates a virtual machine with vga graphics and soundblaster soundcard. You install that thing, assign a folder on your hd for dosbox to browse in and copy the game inside that folder.
then you start dosbox and run the game.

it's pretty well explained on it's homepage: http://www.dosbox.com/

ADMIN: DELETED - Please no abandonware sites.

small warning: the original game has a somewhat antiquated control scheme.

[AminMaalouf]

Thanks, it runs on vista 64.

[ypsylon]

Oh dear forgot about DOSbox completely. Of course, simple. Working perfectly.

But still BOTF without support for wide screen LCD is a no go.

[martok]

I've been meaning to ask: How are the "non-standard" factions like pirates and corporations working out? I'll admit to being rather intrigued by them.

Are they fun to play against? Are they fun to play as? (And for that matter, *can* you play as them, or are they AI-controlled only?) How do they work -- are their mechanics for colonizing and building fleets any different from regular factions?

ORIGINAL: ypsylon

But still BOTF without support for wide screen LCD is a no go.

Damn, that sucks ypsylon. Can you still play it at all, or is the game's display too small on your screen now?