Arcalis

Join Date 08/2010

Lots of n00b Questions

Sorry, n00b questions from a beginner!

Hey there,

I'm new to the game and the forum and was wondering if anyone could help me with a few things about it...

I have tried playing the single player campaign map called 'Point Blank' but cannot get anywhere...the computer player always seems to have an unlimited amount of resources! I have played 3 games now and each time, I have got about 3 hours in and have been unable to keep going any longer- the wave after wave of attacks slowly but surely grinds me down! I only have control of 4 planets as well- I have tried getting more, but I cannot defend them all adequately. It seems to be my upper limit. Likewise, I have tried the tactic of camping out at just a few planets but, as you're aware you cannot generate enough crystal this way and I inevitably end up getting destroyed! haha

This goes onto my second point which I think will help me with the above. And that is, how do you play custom maps?! I have gone into 'Map Designer' created something and then the only option is to 'Preview' it.....how do I save it so that I can load it and play it? I was hoping to create a map with very easy AI so that I can get the hang of playing through an entire campaign so I know what to expect. I have tried reading the manual but all that tells you is what the different sliders etc do in the map designer screen...not how to play it.

I have played these sorts of games for years and I must admit, this is one tough game to crack!

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

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Ryat

Join Date 06/2006

+429

yeah point blank takes some getting used, its mainly a rush map, try other maps that are bigger and give you more time

also, try Normal AI or Easy, those two do not get any extra resources

as for map designer you have to save it then access it from the usual map menu

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Quoting Ryat,

reply 1

yeah point blank takes some getting used, its mainly a rush map, try other maps that are bigger and give you more time

also, try Normal AI or Easy, those two do not get any extra resources

as for map designer you have to save it then access it from the usual map menu

Thanks for the reply!

I didn't notice the 'Change Maps' button previously...clicked it a few times and it cycled through small, medium large etc. so thanks for that, I've now found the custom maps screen.

I have just started a random small map and set the AI to Easy Fortifier...lets see if I can finally win a game.

Wish me luck!!

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GoaFan77

Join Date 10/2008

+629

Quoting Arcalis,

reply 2

Thanks for the reply!

I didn't notice the 'Change Maps' button previously...clicked it a few times and it cycled through small, medium large etc. so thanks for that, I've now found the custom maps screen.

I have just started a random small map and set the AI to Easy Fortifier...lets see if I can finally win a game.

Wish me luck!!

If you are playing diplomacy, make sure to turn the pirates off! Even if you're not, you might want to do that anyways, as they are a pain more often than not. Also if you are the kind of player that learns best by playing the game, but are having trouble staying alive, you can either play a map with no enemy AI players or with locked teams and an ally with you to help take some of the pressure off you.

Also, to make truly custom maps, you should download the GalaxyForge tool from the downloads section on this site. If you turn random positions off, you can make a map that really favors you (player0), by giving you lots of nearby asteroids, starting with multiple planets, extra ships, etc. You can also give yourself a ridiculous amount of extra resources, which can be nice for learning (as long as it is just for one map, a lot of the strategy in this game is how to invest with limited resources).

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Quoting GoaFan77,

reply 3

Quoting Arcalis, reply 2
Thanks for the reply!

I didn't notice the 'Change Maps' button previously...clicked it a few times and it cycled through small, medium large etc. so thanks for that, I've now found the custom maps screen.

I have just started a random small map and set the AI to Easy Fortifier...lets see if I can finally win a game.

Wish me luck!!

If you are playing diplomacy, make sure to turn the pirates off! Even if you're not, you might want to do that anyways, as they are a pain more often than not. Also if you are the kind of player that learns best by playing the game, but are having trouble staying alive, you can either play a map with no enemy AI players or with locked teams and an ally with you to help take some of the pressure off you.

Also, to make truly custom maps, you should download the GalaxyForge tool from the downloads section on this site. If you turn random positions off, you can make a map that really favors you (player0), by giving you lots of nearby asteroids, starting with multiple planets, extra ships, etc. You can also give yourself a ridiculous amount of extra resources, which can be nice for learning (as long as it is just for one map, a lot of the strategy in this game is how to invest with limited resources).

Thanks for the tips!

Here's another question I have. It's about phase lines (I think that's what they're called!)

From what I can gather you can only travel between planets etc where there are phase lines. Why is it that enemy scounts/ships can enter anywhere in your gravity well (ie. a position other than the phase lines).

I have read in various places that a good tactic is to fortify the phase lines coming in and out of your planets yet, in my experience, enemy ships can enter anywhere, thus (usually) negating your defences. Am I missing something?

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GoaFan77

Join Date 10/2008

+629

Quoting Arcalis,

reply 4

Thanks for the tips!

Here's another question I have. It's about phase lines (I think that's what they're called!)

From what I can gather you can only travel between planets etc where there are phase lines. Why is it that enemy scounts/ships can enter anywhere in your gravity well (ie. a position other than the phase lines).

I have read in various places that a good tactic is to fortify the phase lines coming in and out of your planets yet, in my experience, enemy ships can enter anywhere, thus (usually) negating your defences. Am I missing something?

Well, that is half true. Your ships don't have to follow the phase lane exactly, but they can come in from what I am guessing is a 120 degree arch from the direction of the phase lane (I.e. 60 degrees to the left of the phase lane to 60 degrees to the right of the phase lane). If a ship jumps from 50 degrees to the left of the phase lane that ship will appear at its destination planet 50 degrees to the left of the phase lane and so on. To an extent you can use this to avoid defenses, mine fields etc., but it is somewhat limited and a many players just opt to defend their orbital structures instead of guarding the edges of the gravity well.

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Quoting GoaFan77,

reply 5

Quoting Arcalis, reply 4

Thanks for the tips!

Here's another question I have. It's about phase lines (I think that's what they're called!)

From what I can gather you can only travel between planets etc where there are phase lines. Why is it that enemy scounts/ships can enter anywhere in your gravity well (ie. a position other than the phase lines).

I have read in various places that a good tactic is to fortify the phase lines coming in and out of your planets yet, in my experience, enemy ships can enter anywhere, thus (usually) negating your defences. Am I missing something?

Well, that is half true. Your ships don't have to follow the phase lane exactly, but they can come in from what I am guessing is a 120 degree arch from the direction of the phase lane (I.e. 60 degrees to the left of the phase lane to 60 degrees to the right of the phase lane). If a ship jumps from 50 degrees to the left of the phase lane that ship will appear at its destination planet 50 degrees to the left of the phase lane and so on. To an extent you can use this to avoid defenses, mine fields etc., but it is somewhat limited and a many players just opt to defend their orbital structures instead of guarding the edges of the gravity well.

Thanks for the information. I will have a play with defensive structures soon. Today I have been playing in an attempt to build a good, balanced attack squad and I'm beginning to have some success! I can't believe how detailed this game is sometimes!

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GoaFan77

Join Date 10/2008

+629

Quoting Arcalis,

reply 6

It certainly is sometimes. Just keep playing and asking questions, and you'll figure it out.

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