More impressions from a newb..

yeah me again...the newb...

Published on February 6, 2008 By Tekkor In Single Player

Heyas all.

Been playing the game a few days now. Have been learning more and more with every game. I have played like 4 games so far. Well actually 2 games and then 2 half games I guess is more accurate.

Anyway....I just finished a game. I played the "Cynosian Rift" scenario. I played this time as the Vasari and played against a easy economic TEC ai. In comparison to my last game this game went faster so I guess im getting better and learning more. This game took 2:02 for me to win. This in comparison to the random small map game I did yesterday that took 3:53 I think it was.

Im pretty much up to speed now on all the planet development and just general economics part of the game in regards to getting population up to cut costs and getting trade ports going etc. I generally get up to 3 capital ships and make 2 "Battlegroups". One with 2 capital ships and lots of support which is my main "raiding" group and then a second battlegroup with one capital ship that sorta floats around main choke points to defend off any surprise attacks etc.

Worked well on this game. I was able to outbid the other ai on the pirate raids for all but one. The one raid actually attacked my home planet but my secondary battlegroup was able to fight them off no pronblem. I was able to progress through taking the other planeets from my enemy without much trouble really. The only trouble I had was early on I was a bit short on cash and crystals for a while but after 20 minutes or so of focusing on getting planets up to speed and trade ports running...I was fine.

Probably my biggest hurdle as a new player right now is just learning the research trees. I really honestly dont know what 2/3 of the stuff is on them. I just sorta start a game and I know I need to research to get some of the Cruiser ships and to get the trade ports and colonize ice planets etc....but most the other stuff I really dont know whats there. Im sure some of that other stuff is very useful I just need to like sit and read all of them I guess lol.

So far though I love the game. I dont have the problem with Pirates many new players have but I usually make it a point to always have the high bid at least early on. Sometimes once I have a good force up and if I have a battlegroup near my home planet Ill lax on one pirate raid to just save a bit of cash. I think the speed of the game is wonderful (I play on normal speed) and it just plays great. Im thinking about trying to move up to a normal ai on my next game and then if that goes well maybe move up to a map with like 2 or 3 other ai's.

A few things I dont like so far or wish would be changed or explained better to me.....

- The planetary defense cannon things seem usless. I mean your limited on them being close to the planet. I mean the one use I would have for them would be to set them near the lane entry points to take out scout ships etc....I just think they are under utilized in the mechanics of the game or something.

- I do wish that at least he frigates moved around a bit more in combat. I could see the capital ships and maybe even cruisers sitting still but if they could make the frigates be a bit more mobile it would spice the battlefield up some.

- They need to add a option on the frigate factorys of "ships built add to ctrl group 1". I typically have like I said 2 battlegroups of various ships. I would love it if I could pick a frigate factory and que up 5 ships and they would automatically join group 1 and then fly to wherever the group is. I have seen discussion on this issue but I would still love to have it.

- Id like to see them spice up the other ai presentation a bit. What I mean is say for instance when the ai pirates or ai enemy message you...have those instead pop up in a little window with a character pic etc. Maybe even have an option for you to then click and send them a threat back or go into pirate bribe or negotiations screen (whicher appropriate). Would be cool too to have the enemies send you a message when you begin assault on thier planets i.e. "You Vasari will pay for attacking a TEC federation planet!!" Just little stuff like that.

Comments (Page 1)

Crazythunder83

on Feb 06, 2008

Im a new player too, and i agree with pretty much everything you said. I just stated (like 3 hours ago =P) a new map, random medium with 4 players!!! Wow have i been busy! On normal, the AI really keeps you on your toes, so step up the diffculty for some real action.

I've found that getting your culture spread is so very important with games of more than 2 players, it's amazing how much that can hurt your alliegance and ultimately, credit income.

As for your comment about defenses, i DO agree that there should be some sort of update, in fact i made a comment about that in another post and got a good reply, apparently that was a hot topic in beta, but the devs didn't want there to be too much turtling going on. The best thing is to do, only build real defenses on planets that are vulnerable, not asteroids or anything. Secondly, if you build a Trade post near your guns, pirates in particular will automatically go for that post, thus lured into your ring of fire!

I don't really understand the entire Trade Port and refinery concept. Got any advice?

Tekkor

on Feb 06, 2008

I don't really understand the entire Trade Port and refinery concept. Got any advice?

Well if your asking how the trade ports work...basically they are just another good source of money. You set them up at each planet and then trade ships start flying back and forth making you money. You can see the effect hovering over your money up on the top right. You get 5-6 setup going good distances and the income is pretty good.

Refinery advice? No idea. I know you can research the advanced refinery thing in the trees but never really stopped long enough to understand all of it. Im lost on much of that stuff like the repair bays and all that stuff. I just havent learned what all of the stuff on the trees are yet.

Tekkor

on Feb 06, 2008

oh and btw...I did post my review over on Gamespot as I said I would on a pst the other day hehe.

Gamespot Sins Review by Tekkor

Rydar

on Feb 06, 2008

just a fyi if the ships did move around in combat it really wouldnt matter to much. most races dont miss

Dr.Gonzo

on Feb 06, 2008

just a fyi if the ships did move around in combat it really wouldnt matter to much. most races dont miss

It's entirely cosmetic... the battles do seem a bit dead.

Crazythunder83

on Feb 06, 2008

Well i can say this much, with more the 2 players in a game, i hardly have the time to sit back on watch the ships float.

Do you have to build a trade Port at every planet for the "long trade route?"

KarimG

on Feb 13, 2008

I'm a newbie too, is there a way to select which race you want to play as in the single player scenarios? I couldn't find this.

Bubb9

on Feb 13, 2008

I'm a newbie too, is there a way to select which race you want to play as in the single player scenarios? I couldn't find this.

... Should I even entertain that sentence with an answer?

Thomas Bloxham

on Feb 13, 2008

My advice to new players is that, for now, you should set any large skirmishes you play to fixed teams. The diplomacy AI right now is a bit nuts, and the last two games I played with fixed teams I could actually enjoy the game, and do things I wanted to as opposed to rushing around being attacked by 7 allied AIs.

Also, in a big map, be first to any spare star systems. So your research target should be the tech that gives you inter stellar jumps. Another useful tech is anything that makes your ships regenerate health, shields and antimatter faster. With the current defensive bias, 5% more health is more useful than 5% more damage especially since it adds regenerating hull points too.

KarimG

on Feb 13, 2008

Yes, I genuinely couldn't find this, might have been cause I was playing at about 2am and feeling a bit 'out of it'.

Mtn_Man

on Feb 13, 2008

- The planetary defense cannon things seem usless. I mean your limited on them being close to the planet. I mean the one use I would have for them would be to set them near the lane entry points to take out scout ships etc....I just think they are under utilized in the mechanics of the game or something.

I disagree with this. I've found three or four of them placed close together near my planet to be invaluable in slowing down attackers and giving me enough time to bring in a fleet from three or four jumps away.

rayredlab

on Feb 13, 2008

defences for the planet are for slowing down the enemy fleet to get your fleet there
not for defeating enemy fleet

Voztron

on May 07, 2008

I'm a newbie too, is there a way to select which race you want to play as in the single player scenarios? I couldn't find this.

Yes, there are a few buttons for each Player/AI in the load out screen. I am at work at the moment so this is off the top of my head, the first changes race the second is for the AI to control the it's play style (Aggressive, Explorer, etc). I hope that helps.

Defences are great, and work a treat for keeping pirate attacks a bay. The planetary defence cannon is great for killing siege frigates that come in close to the planet while the Defence Hangar takes care of the rest of the enemy.

Trade ports give 1 credit per second once built. There is also a bonus for the longest route, that is, each planet that contains a trade port between the two furthest points in and unbroken path within your controlled space will be worth 0.075 to income. So if there are 5 trade ports along the route you will earn 1.375 at each trade port or 6.975 overall per tick, thats almost 2 free trade ports! Also note that if an enemy destroys a trade shit they will recieve 50 credits, these will auto respawn after 25 seconds. More details

Refinery's are another story, each faction use these differently. A refinery is based on your resources on planets you own one jump away. The TEC Orbital Refineries for example adds 0.06 to metal/ore income if they are player owned points or 0.08 to captured netural extractors. Here for more info

Wow thats a lot to learn, http://www.soasewiki.com is a really useful resource!

redwingdw28

on May 08, 2008

Hiya ,

Just to say to the OP that is a pretty good post. I am a newbie as well but it seems to me like your getting the idea fast, one of my faults was I was so paranoid after reading about upkeep that I would only go to 2 cap ships but I am aiming for 3 or 4 now. The whole attack defense fleet thing I do as well and I know experianced players which do the same. Like someone said about the gauss guns they are really just to hold the enemy up but the hangars can do some dmg to enemy ships.

What maps have you been playing on? (Just curious

as I havent really settled on any one map yet)

Cheesenium

on May 21, 2008

Probably my biggest hurdle as a new player right now is just learning the research trees. I really honestly dont know what 2/3 of the stuff is on them. I just sorta start a game and I know I need to research to get some of the Cruiser ships and to get the trade ports and colonize ice planets etc....but most the other stuff I really dont know whats there. Im sure some of that other stuff is very useful I just need to like sit and read all of them I guess lol.

What i do is whenever i finish a game,keep playing it.Dont quit to main menu.Take your time to read the info cards for each research for the race you are playing.It helps me to understand the tech tree faster.

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