noob questions

[Ran-Taro]

Hello all,

I am a relative noobie at this game, and have a couple of questions. I've had a look through the forums and found answers to several of them, but have a few more.

Can anyone advise me on how to get the most challenging game out of the AI in solitaire play? I have just downloaded AIC 3.02, and assume that will help. However is there anything further I can do (for example, particular race AI's etc that might be the most challenging etc).

Secondly, I do not have net access on the computer that I play on - I assume it is possible to save games and email if I wanted to use PBW or email games for multiplayer - however I'm not sure how.

Thirdly, my intial thought about SE4 Gold is that invading planets seems way too easy - meaning the ground combat pick is virtually useless. I would be interested in a mod that makes planets much harder to 'glass', and also makes them much harder to invade, meaning good ground troops have greater value. Is there a mod such as this?

Thanks in advance.

[primitive]

Welcome to the forums.

First for challenging games:
For plain vanilla SEIV, be sure to download the latest patch (1.84) and the newest TDM Modpack. Check out the AI Deathmach thread for info on which AI�s to choose (they are all way better than the standard). Give them a bonus and be sure to post again if that is not challenging
For mods: AIC, Proportions and Devnull should all provide ample challenge.

Secondly:
You need the internet to join games on PBW. Also to upload your empire file and join the games forums (You don�t need SEIV installed on your internet computer though). Once you are set up in a game, everything works fine by Email only. You will get your turn mailed, and you can return your .plr file by mail. Check out the FAQ on PBW, it�s not difficult.

Thirdly: I think some of the mods address this. But as I am a plain vanilla guy I can�t really answer.

[dogscoff]

Ground combat too easy
...
I think some of the mods address this. But as I am a plain vanilla guy I can�t really answer.

For this I would recommend Proportions. Ground combat is everything in Proportions because (a) troops are really hard to wipe out from orbit (b) developped planets are far too valuable to glass and (c) there are loads more troop options - infantry units are available from the start and things like troop shields and weapon choices make a real difference to the outcome of combat. The variety of pricings for these choices mean that you will find yourself designing and building a whole array of different types of troop to be deployed together.

Oh, and (d) Proportions is brilliant.

[Ran-Taro]

Thanks for the help.

[Ran-Taro]

Ok new question though - do AI empires need modification to play AIC / proportions?

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Ran-Taro:
Ok new question though - do AI empires need modification to play AIC / proportions?

Yes, the AI do need their design files altered because of quasi-neutonian propulsion.

The mods include altered design files for the AI's.

Suicide Junkie's Pirates and Nomads mod also uses QNP and he has an AI patching program that alters standard AI files to work with his mod.

I don't know if the same program makes the AI compatable with AIC, Proportions, and Devnull. You'll need to make those changes somehow if you want a standard AI to work with AIC.

[ September 23, 2003, 14:01: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

[Pablo]

You want strong AI - get the monsters from the DevNullMod Gold Other AIs are also pretty tough there if given max bonus.

[Fyron]

AIs tend to be able to build much bigger fleets if you use maps from FQM in your games. You can use maps made with FQM Standard in nearly all mods (generally, they work with non-quadrant type mods ).

[ September 23, 2003, 22:00: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]