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SmooveB
SmooveB
Join Date 06/2003
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My first post of questions

newbie stuff

March 9, 2008 10:20:37 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Hi everyone - my name is barrett and I'm fairly new to the game.  LOT to love about it though - think this was the space game I've been dreaming of since I was playing my c64...

So a few questions after I've been playing for a bit, in no particular order:

1. what are some good strategies for dealing with pirates?  Do you have to have pirates on all the maps that come with the game (except the random no pirates ones)?

2. how do artifacts work?  I've searched a large number of planets for something, but have yet to find anything - is it percentage based chance?

3. how do I view a recorded file downloaded from stardock?  think it's a .record file I got last night, but i didn't know where to put it.

4. is there a good list somewhere of exactly what all the UI toggles do?  I've been using trial and error to slowly figure it out...

Thanks everyone!  Look forward to learning more about this great game.

Barrett
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SmooveB
SmellyTerror
Join Date 03/2006
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Reply #1 March 9, 2008 1:07:49 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums
1. Some maps don't have pirates - just check the descriptions or play around with some. Gateway is a fun one that has no pirates.

With a bit of practive you can send the pirates after the AI pretty much all the time (remember to sell stuff on the black market if you need quick cash). IMO pirates make a game easier, against the AI anyway.

If you do get hit by pirates, the best defence is just a big clump of turrets on the planet edge closest to their entry point. Pirates just blunder straight into them. Don't bother with hangers, just lots (15+) of turrets. Also remember that the pirates attack the first system they come to, so just put the defences in the border worlds.

2. I think they're randomly assigned at the start of the game (15% of planets? something like that). The easiest way to find some, if you want to see what they look like, is to wait for another player to find one. The planet will get a triangle under it, and the pop-up for that planet will say your sensors detect an artifact. Now go invade that planet, and explore for the artifact.

3. Dunno. Never had time.

4. Also dunno. I just switch everything off by default. I'm not an eye-candy sort of player.
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SmooveB
SmooveB
Join Date 06/2003
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Reply #2 March 9, 2008 1:57:41 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Thanks SmellyTerror, I appreciate the wisdom!
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SmooveB
SmellyTerror
Join Date 03/2006
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Reply #3 March 9, 2008 2:03:36 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums
Welcome.   

Oh, and a note regarding turret defences against the AI: as you lose turrests, build more behind the line. The AI doesn't target builders or turrets in progress unless they're closer than the current target. In this way, even if you're surpised in a system with only half a dozen turrets, you can still hold out for a very long time as long as they don't bomb the colony off the planet.

Obviously players aren't so easily fooled, but it's fine for nailing AIs, and that means pirates even in a multiplayer game.
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SmooveB
Sykonaut
Join Date 02/2008
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Reply #4 March 9, 2008 2:07:22 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Yeah. Turrets are very effective against AI in general. Don't use hangar defense against Pirates, it's a waste.

The bigger the galaxy/system, the more artifacts there are likely to be. On smaller maps, you may have 1 or two, plus some other bonuses(Like better mining ability, etc. These aren't artifacts, and don't alert anyone when discovered.)

Best advice I can give on UI is hover your mouse over the button, and trail and error. I guess check your manual too.
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SmooveB
Baron Zinq
Join Date 03/2007
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Reply #5 March 9, 2008 2:17:25 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums
Will just provide my thoughts on your Pirates question. This is when playing against AI only.

I initially hated them butnow believe they can be your best ally.

Early game - make sure they go and annoy one of your opponents by outbidding.

Mid game - I sometimes let them fight me, mainly so I can get my Capitals experience up. I got my first 10 rated ship by doing this.

End game - outbid for them to go to your opponent and soon after invade the pirates have left to fight them you can go and invade your opponent, or even the pirate's home if you are looking for fun. I like to take the pirate's home and make it my capital base. Be warned though, they could have 100s of ships as well as defense guns.


Zinq


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