Need a little help please.

from Sins Forums

Hey guys, I was wondering if someone could answer a few questions for me... Someone with experience in this game. I have only been playing for a few days now (the new version/played the first one a few times when it came out) and am completely overwhelmed by the abundance of information (at least for me) that I have to retain. I've read up on enough to get me comfortable in knowing what ships I need to produce to counter other ships, but things have been happening mid to late game that is completely frustrating me. To put it simply, the normal AI is beating me towards the end of the game.

Anyway, here are a few questions I have been having:

1) For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to destroy a previously built logistical structure in order to make room for a new one. How do I do this? I've tried everything and nothing works.

2) Towards the latter part of the game, I keep losing my planets to culture loss. I've noticed that the opposing factions colors comprise most of the travel lines to my planet, is this the reason? I have tried to counteract this by placing broadcast centers in the further planetary systems where my allegiance is low. But even my planets closer to my capital get effected and turn against me. Which leads me back to question "1", I usually don't build broadcast centers in my closer planets, but then it's too late because my logistical slots are filled and I can't delete a pre-existing trade port, refinery, etc.

3) I've been also getting hurt late game by the novalith cannon. Is it imperative that I build and use these first... before the opponent gets it? Is there another way to counteract those?

4) Are starbases more important than turrets and hangars? Does placement of these matter (closer to the planet or closer to the phase-jump line)?

5) When playing with a friend, how am I able to get our loyalty points raised, so we can engage in more pacts? I've tried to give and receive credits, metal, crystal. That didn't seem to work.

6) Can enemy envoy cruisers actually prevent you from building ships if they are sitting in your planet space? If so, how do I counteract this? I know for sure that at one point in a game I was unable to attack it and I think I couldn't build either. But maybe I just did something wrong. It was frustrating.

I'm primarily agitated over question "2", as it is really screwing things up for me! Thanks for any help/advice you can give me!

 

8,622 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

1. There is a button that is red and yellow at the middle top of the lower UI bar. Also you can look at the key bindings menu to see what the hot key for it is as well.

2. Broadcast towers are critical to prevent this. Yes, sometimes you have to scuttle another orbital to make room.

3. AI spams these a lot sadly (and to think us gamers used to beg for them to be able to use them). In game you need to build star bases with Auxiliary Government being placed in them (or whatever racial equivalent there is). You can also edit the game to stop the Superweapon spread. Or just play against Advent as their superweapon sucks.

4. Star bases are better though make sure you back them up with repair bays and hangars. Placement is debatable.

5. Use Envoy Cruisers. Both of you have to use them.

6. Nope.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

1) For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to destroy a previously built logistical structure in order to make room for a new one. How do I do this? I've tried everything and nothing works.
End of quote

To scuttle, there is a yellow caution looking bar below the picture area, bottom center of the hud. By default I believe the hot key is shift+s, but you can change it in the key bindings menu.

2) Towards the latter part of the game, I keep losing my planets to culture loss. I've noticed that the opposing factions colors comprise most of the travel lines to my planet, is this the reason? I have tried to counteract this by placing broadcast centers in the further planetary systems where my allegiance is low. But even my planets closer to my capital get effected and turn against me. Which leads me back to question "1", I usually don't build broadcast centers in my closer planets, but then it's too late because my logistical slots are filled and I can't delete a pre-existing trade port, refinery, etc.
End of quote

Culture is usually pretty easy to repel, having 1 culture center every 2 jumps or so usually works. You might need more if your opponents built a lot on the front line. Also the Advent Superweapon has the ability to spread a lot of culture from where it hits, if you don't have a lot it might cause that after repeated hits.

Also, if you need more time to fortify your culture, capitalships can repel culture away from a given location. Keep a few near planets that are about to be over thrown, it may help.

I've been also getting hurt late game by the novalith cannon. Is it imperative that I build and use these first... before the opponent gets it? Is there another way to counteract those?
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Each race has a starbase upgrade (TEC's is called Axillary Government) that prevents a planet from being lost to bombardment (but not culture) so long as the starbase is alive. This includes from Novalith cannons. As soon as you get the superweapon building warning, build some star base constructors on your main planets to protect them and their expensive upgrades. Usually the AI will waste some shots on the pirate base or something, but still its good to have them ready.

4) Are starbases more important than turrets and hangars? Does placement of these matter (closer to the planet or closer to the phase-jump line)?
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Repair bays are actually the most important defensive structure, combined with a starbase. You might have a hangar or two to keep bombers off your starbase, or if you wish to use their researchable upgrades, but you won't need a lot.

Generally you want to group all of your planet structures together, so that the repair bays can cover them and the starbase can fight off anything attacking your expensive labs, trade ports etc.

5) When playing with a friend, how am I able to get our loyalty points raised, so we can engage in more pacts? I've tried to give and receive credits, metal, crystal. That didn't seem to work.
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You both need to research and build envoy cruisers and send them to each others planets. They are the only thing that can increase relation points above 10. If you have less than 10, other things like sending resources will increase it.

6) Can enemy envoy cruisers actually prevent you from building ships if they are sitting in your planet space? If so, how do I counteract this? I know for sure that at one point in a game I was unable to attack it and I think I couldn't build either. But maybe I just did something wrong. It was frustrating.
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I don't think it was the Envoy cruiser doing that. :S Unless you were using a mod, envoys can only help allies. They can make themselves invulnerable for a period of time, but they shouldn't affect your buildings.

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Ok, this makes sense now. Yes, I think the answer to question "6" was me just getting overwhelmed and clicking wrong buildings. I was probably trying to build my ships from a civic research facility or something! To go off what you were saying, with respect to culture, I am not sure that my faction has the ability to shoot out culture spread. I always use the TEC Loyalists. With that being said, I'm sure I just want to build a plethora of broadcast centers to counteract this? Maybe leave some open slots close to the capital planet so my culture is able to spread a little bit better?

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting kpjohnson21, reply 5
I was probably trying to build my ships from a civic research facility or something!
End of kpjohnson21's quote

I always just click the planet you want to build ships on. If you have the correct shipyards there, you can build units from there and the build orders will be passed on to all factories of that type (including TEC starbases with the remote assembly upgrade).

Quoting kpjohnson21, reply 5
am not sure that my faction has the ability to shoot out culture spread. I always use the TEC Loyalists.
End of kpjohnson21's quote

Yes, only the Advent factions can do that. You however have the much better Novalith cannon at your disposal, as TEC loyalists, you should be abusing your easier access to them and being able to build more of them. :P

Quoting kpjohnson21, reply 5
With that being said, I'm sure I just want to build a plethora of broadcast centers to counteract this?
End of kpjohnson21's quote

Yes, though ideally you should build culture centers every now and then as your building out, before hostile culture reaches your Empire. Culture is actually considered pretty underpowered, so just build enough to get the situation under control. Trade ports are a much better economic structure, especially for TEC.