Brand new with questions : )

zeep · #1 July 24th, 2001, 03:23 AM

Hello everybody!
Im pretty much brand new to the game and have just a few questions.

1) Why does the comp build bsy stations? for the repair bonus? am I missing somthing.

2) Does the AI ever develop phased shields?

3)I fire missles at planets... lots of missles. They all seem to miss, even when im in range, Besides killing crewmen, how do I solve this?

4) just what do the fleet and ship bonuses apply to? do they both apply at the same time?

5) just how do I build a ringworld? multiple ships for all the plating?

6) what is this multiplayer site I keep hearing about?
Thanx.. and happy to be playing!
-zeep

Phoenix-D · #2 July 24th, 2001, 03:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by zeep:
Hello everybody!
Im pretty much brand new to the game and have just a few questions.

1) Why does the comp build bsy stations? for the repair bonus? am I missing somthing.

You don't use these? Crank up a few, start turning out ships. They may be slower than planetary ship yards, but sometimes you need all the help you can get.

quote:

2) Does the AI ever develop phased shields?

Yup. Don't ask me when though, it would vary from AI to AI.

quote:

3)I fire missles at planets... lots of missles. They all seem to miss, even when im in range, Besides killing crewmen, how do I solve this?

Missiles do NOT miss. Ever. There are two things that can stop them:
1. getting shot down
2. the enemy moves out of range

Now, I doubt either of these is happening.. so are you sure they aren't doing damage? They probably just aren't playing the hit effect.

quote:

4) just what do the fleet and ship bonuses apply to? do they both apply at the same time?

Same time, and to your attack/defense. So 5% experience for a ship means a 5% attack bonus AND a 5% defensive bonus. Add a 5% fleet bonus and that total hits 10%. This is on top of any combat sensor or ECM bonus you may have.

quote:

5) just how do I build a ringworld? multiple ships for all the plating?

Correct. You need to build mobile spaceyards and then build the proper bases in the same sector as the star.

quote:

6) what is this multiplayer site I keep hearing about?

Play By Web: http://seiv.pbw.cc/

Phoenix-D

Alpha Kodiak · #3 July 24th, 2001, 03:49 AM

quote:
Originally posted by zeep:
Hello everybody!
Im pretty much brand new to the game and have just a few questions.

1) Why does the comp build bsy stations? for the repair bonus? am I missing somthing.

2) Does the AI ever develop phased shields?

3)I fire missles at planets... lots of missles. They all seem to miss, even when im in range, Besides killing crewmen, how do I solve this?

4) just what do the fleet and ship bonuses apply to? do they both apply at the same time?

5) just how do I build a ringworld? multiple ships for all the plating?

6) what is this multiplayer site I keep hearing about?
Thanx.. and happy to be playing!
-zeep

A few answers:

1) Base ship yards can expand your production capabilities, especially early in the game.

2) It depends on the particular AI race. The races that come with the TDM modpack are better at developing higher tech stuff like phased shields than the stock races. If you are not familiar with the TDM modpack, it is a collection of player mods that improve the performance of the AI. The latest Version is 1.75 and you can find it in the scenario and mod section of the Shrapnel Games forums.

3) Missiles fired at a planet go to the upper left of the inner four squares of the 16 that make up the planet. The range is calculated to the closest point on the planet. If you fire a missile from maximum range, it will run out of movement before it hits the target square. Launch from at least a couple of squares closer to ensure a hit.

Others will have better answers than I can give to your other questions.

zeep · #4 July 24th, 2001, 05:29 AM

Thanks for all the advise! Esp the missle info... almost had a convert walk off in disgust at that one (He lost 2 fleets)

About the Bsy... I understand that they add another place to build. However you can only have one que per planet right? thus how does it add to production? I built one to see if it enhanced the build rate, but nothing. Is there a way to build the base without first developing a cruiser to place a space yard on?

Thanx again
-zeep
Redmond, Wa (please dont hate me!)

Suicide Junkie · #5 July 24th, 2001, 05:50 AM

It's actually one queue per object.
With five BSY factories in orbit, you can pump out an additional 5 escorts per turn, or 5 LCs every three turns, depending on tech and prices.

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Magnum357 · #6 July 24th, 2001, 08:48 AM

Ya, SJ is right. Not sure why Phoenix-D said that the BSY component is almost useless (I use it all the time myself). Really helps pump out lots of Escorts and other small ships if you need them in a short amount of time. Although most people think Escorts and Frigates are useless (especially late in the game) I find them very useful as small "Scout Squadrans" or as Auxilaries.

Phoenix-D · #7 July 24th, 2001, 08:59 AM

Where did I say they're almost useless? I asked that he didn't use em, and mentioned them being slower than the planetary yards- which, in most cases, they are.

Phoenix-D

Magnum357 · #8 July 24th, 2001, 09:41 AM

Whoops! sorry Phoenix, guess I missread your earlier statment. Jeez! I hate mondays! :P

Taqwus · #9 July 24th, 2001, 04:23 PM

Another use for base spaceyards is if you need an outpost on a tiny frontier world.

You can build a shipyard first, then have the shipyard build a shipyard base (or ship, if you need mobility at a higher maintenance cost), then scrap the planetary yard and build a resupply depot.

I wouldn't build an extra shipyard base just for the repair capabilities -- a much more efficient 3x3 base (Space Station w/ 3 Repair III) can repair 24 components per turn. A few of those at a mustering point can speed along a fleet refit quite well.

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Saxon · #10 July 24th, 2001, 04:28 PM

I agree with Magnum 357, those little ships can be useful throughout the game, particularly in strategic battles, as my perception is that the AI focuses on the big ships first. Those cheap little ships might not be able to stand up to a big attack ship, but if they are supporting a large, heavily sheilded ship, they don't have to. They just chip away, adding their many small punchs, while the big daddy takes the hits. If big daddy has sheild regenerators and point defense and not much else, it can take a while to knock him out.

Still, they are easy to lose, so I don't bet the farm on them. They just "diversify my portfolio".