Do Comm Channels work?

[Space_Umpire]

In my current game, I sent a request to a player's empire whom I have a partnership with. He was having troubles with an AI empire that I hadn't yet made contact with. My request was for the comm channel to this empire so that I would have a line of communication and/or ability to initiate sabotage attempts.

He complied and sent me the comm channel (it appeared in 'view gift') yet I gained no access at all to the AI empire. I couldn't see them, couldn't speak to them, and couldn't sabotage them. Did we do something wrong, or is sending comm channels to other empires useless?

[dumbluck]

Umm...
I doubt this is the problem, but there has to be a direct connection between your empire and the AI for a comchannel to exist (ie there has to be an unbroken chain of warppoints between one of your colonies and one of it's colonies). But if you have a com channel with your partner, and he has a com channel with the ai, then there should be an unbroken chain there.

Unless, of coarse, I'm wrong about how this all works....

Edit: Then again, maybe not. If there is a break in the chain of systems, but your partner has colonies on both sides of the division, He can talk to both you and the AI, but you can only talk to your partner. The AI would be unreachable by you.

[ 11 February 2002: Message edited by: dumbluck ]

[Space_Umpire]

If I can't communicate because I don't have a direcet link to the empire, then what is the point of being able to give/trade comm channels at all?
If I'm understanding you correctly, the only way I can use a comm channel someone else gives me is if I get it myself. Why would I need someone to give me what I already have?

[Phoenix-D]

Not exactly. You can have an unbroken chain but no contact; for example at the start of a game.

Watch. Here's a linear map of some systems. E is a system the AI owns, A a aystem your ally owns, and F a system you own.

F-F-A-A-A-A-A-E-E-E

Unbroken chain, but unless you have seen one of the AI's ships, you won't have contact. Here comm channel transfer would work.

Whereas

F-F-A-A A-A-A-E-E-E

is a broken chain. Transfer wouldn't work.

That's theoretical. I haven't checked to see if it works that way- but I do know that if you have contact with an AI, then loose it, it's because something broke the warp chain between your systems.

Phoenix-D

[Space_Umpire]

okay. Think I got it now. So getting a comm channel isn't useless. Getting a comm channel from someone you have a partnership treaty with is useless.

[Phoenix-D]

No, your treaty level wouldn't effect it at all.

Basiclly, if you could send a ship to the AI without using stellar maniulation (opening a new warp point), comm channels should work. If you can't, it won't.

Phoenix-D

[Achernar]

This would make sense, given a notion that communications travels via warp points from system to system.

Gotta have that telephone line to reach out and touch someone.

[Space_Umpire]

The game I'm playing in has all warp points connected. The AI empire in question had its entire forces squirreled up in one system that I hadn't yet visited, and my partner had only visited prior to our treaty. He'd encountered their race. I hadn't yet. I thought by getting a comm channel from him, I'd be able to communicate with that empire.
But I didn't get communication with them, until I actually sent one of my ships into their system.

So I'm still fuzzy on this. Explain to me exactly why the comm channel didn't work before, and of what use it is to me, if I have to physically enter the system first.

[geoschmo]

Space Umpire,

What you are describing should have worked. Something didn't happen the way it was designed. I have not seen that in any games I have been in. Possibly it was a fluke. If we can recreate it we can send it to Malfador and have them check it out.

Geoschmo

[Arak Koba]

quote:

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Originally posted by Achernar:
Gotta have that telephone line to reach out and touch someone.

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Yeah, but whatabout cell phones?

Dial 1-800-INTRGLCT-C for all your intrasystem collect calls, and you'll save a bundle!