255 and 500 systems? Where?

[Wade]

I just purchased SE4. I've been reading many posts and have seen mentions of games with 255 systems and one of 500 systems. These must be mods because the "official" large quadrant size is about 100 systems.

Normally I'm only interested in "official" patches and expansions but more systems would be nice. I don't want a mod that alters the game AI/rules/mechanics.

Where can I get these mods that offer more systems ? They do not seem to be included in the deluxe edition mods. Do they alter the game AI/rules/mechanics? How does the "official" AI handle more systems?

-Wade

[Suicide Junkie]

Data\Settings.txt
Change max systems line from := 100 to := 255

255 is the highest maximum you can use.

[Wade]

Ohhh...my bad. Thanks!

How does the "official" AI handle more systems?
Why didn't Malfador just make it setup with 255 on a large quadrant?

-Wade

[Suicide Junkie]

255 is a lot of systems...

As far as default settings go, having a more reasonable number of systems mean new people don't get swamped and scared off.

[Kamog]

The official A.I. works fine with 255 systems, just as good as it works with 100 systems.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Which is not very well. Welcome to the forums.

[Renegade 13]

I've never finished a 255 system game AI usually ended up kicking my arse, since I used TDM AI's (much improved over stock) with a high bonus. I don't like fighting baseships with battlecruisers.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Wade said:
Normally I'm only interested in "official" patches and expansions but more systems would be nice. I don't want a mod that alters the game AI/rules/mechanics.

Well, mate, then you're missing out on at least half the fun. Stock is not terrible per s�, but there are some issues, mainly to do with balance, that most people find annoying. In most (widely-used) mods, you will find no Quantum Reactor-type component, or if you do, it's a lot harder to get both research- and construction-wise. Stock AIs don't really fare very well against human players, seekers and fighters are next to useless in the late (often even late-middle) game, population is much too easy to scoot around (up to several dozen million in a medium-sized transport ship), et cetera et cetera. There are plenty mods that adress this, as well as many mods which change gameplay entirely - and for the better. In Fyron's masterpiece the Adamant Mod, you get to select whether your race is a "normal" technology-based race, an "organic" race using biological ships and such, or a medieval-age magic using one, and last I've heard, Fyron was working on adding Machine and Energy races. PvK's Proportions Mod radically improves the importance of homeworlds with their massive established infrastructure and makes population management highly important as even large transports can carry only a few M pop, and so on. Suicide Junkie's Carrier Battles Mod makes fighters a lot more important and forces you to build combined-arms fleets with a good mix of all available weapons, ships and fighters. And these are just the most well-known examples; there are many other fine mods out there. So, if you only use stock, you're really missing out

[Suicide Junkie]

Think of it this way:
- You've purchased the ability to play 10-20 great games. Why would you then insist on playing only the least refined one of them all?

Pretty much by definition, mods improve something. Aside from the little "joke" mods that you don't hear about much (Like the Rock-Paper-Scissors mod), Somebody spent a lot of time making the game *better*.
Better in their opinion, yes. But if they like it, and a lot of other people do too, shouldn't you see if you like it?

Spoon's Fantasy Empires Mod is a good one to add to the list. It has been consistently popular for years, according to my server logs. You may or may not like the whole elves and dwarves thing, but the mod is very well done and looks great. In case you were wondering, yes indeed, the game plays out on the surface of a planet, with swamps and forests and deserts and blizzards and people running around with swords and spells.

[Renegade 13]

Another very good mod that is definitely my favorite is the TDM Modpack.

It's a mod created by Tampa Gamer, Daynarr and Mephisto that makes the AI's a whole lot 'better'. It does not alter anything except how the AI's perform, but they act in a much more intelligent manner and are a much better opponent than stock AI's. I like the fact that all the technology, etc are exactly the same as stock, but the AI's are tweaked to use the stock system as best they can.