Gameplay tips & tricks

[Alneyan]

The same reasoning goes for Light Carriers, which are cheaper to research than Light Cruisers, have 420 more hitpoints, the same speed, a slightly improved weapon mount (though you might wish not to use it actually), and an adequate cargo capacity. They do lack the +10% defence bonus of the Light Cruisers however, and are somewhat more expensive.

And of course, being able to add or remove fighters to your fleet at will is always nice; drop the fighters if they are fond of PDC, and put them back once they become lax with PDC.

Incidentally, would a little something about Stellar Manipulation be helpful to anyone reading this thread?

[Rathar]

I am into your tips Alneyan, always something useful in them.

Plus, I need all the advice I can get in order to killllllllllll you in jjpear.

mumbles something about stupid star destroyers eating his pretty little fleets...

[LGM]

TurinTurambar said:
n) If you're in a PBW game with anyone who posted useful information in this thread, withdraw.

Not all players use the same name in PBW and this forum, myself included.

[LGM]

geoschmo said:
A cargo ship is 300Kt, half of which must be cargo spaces. So basically you have a the same amount of room as an escort (150kt) for weapons etc PLUS you have 150Kt worth of cargo components that help to absorb a few extra shots in combat. All else being equal such an armed cargo ship should win a large majority of 1 on 1 fights against escorts, and will hold it's own against frigates. The longer you can Last in a fight the better off you'll be. The main drawback is the 5 engine limit on cargo ships. Sometimes speed can be a decisive factor.

Do not forget that escorts do have a 40% defense with a 0% defense for Freighters. However, until Point Defense Cannon II is reached, ships with Missile 1 and Max Range/Don't Get Hurt orders win over Depleted Uranium Cannons (Except at Warp-points where it can go either way). Defense has no effect on Missles, so the defense does not matter. A ship with 5 engines (Freighter) moves 3 in combat, the same speed as a ship with 6 engines (Escorts), unless you have the Propulsion primary trait.

I have seen many novices fall in the early game to myself or others that did not research Mil Sci 1 as their first technology and PDC 1 and 2 after that.

In the early game you will not have many Com Channels to acquire the technology in trade, so going for something else is extremely risky. If you disagree, speak up, I'll come looking for you sometime in the early game.

[NullAshton]

Mineral planets are the best.
Beware of strange warppoints.

Thats all I know

[TurinTurambar]

I've tried research patterns in so many different ways, I don't even know if I have a decisive method. I think I kind of base it on how stable the Quadrant is and who my neighbors are early in the game (turns 1-20). If all the treaties, borders, and trade are courteous; I'll try to get the jump on Construction/Mines and Physics 2/Phased-Weapons&Shields as fast as I can. If there are tenuous treaties and arguments over colonization, I'll follow a more conservative course.

Turin

[TurinTurambar]

Not all players use the same name in PBW and this forum, myself included.

OK, well that's cheap. I would never play against you, Alneyan, Slick, Fyron, George, or Aiken.

Makes me wonder who "King Bio" was in the Celestial Spheres game.

<sings> "Honnnnnnnnn-es-tyyyyyyyyy. Is SUCH a lonely worrrrrd....." <quick fade>

[Alneyan]

Not sure if that was your point, but only a small minority (if any player at all) uses different aliases on PBW and this forum, without making the connection between the two obvious. Imperator Fyron, Geoschmo, Aiken, Slick and myself all have the same nickname here and on PBW.

And of course, some players are more ruthless than the ones you named, but should I give names if that will only encourage you not to play with them?

And yet another edit: I now recall that LGM posted about a few games at PBW, so he is not what I would call anonymous, since you can figure out the link if you want to.

[Slick]

TurinTurambar said:
I would never play against you, ... Slick, ...

Slick.

[Fyron]

Slick said:

Slick.

Indeed... damned experience.