What do you automate?

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What do you automate? - 4/6/2010 2:20:03 PM

mightili

Posts: 19
Joined: 4/5/2010
Status: offline

I am thinking how to make the game more interesting and immersing for myself. If I use Expansion mode, it becomes boring very fast, you just sit there and watch, War and Conquer I think would be the most fun for me, but I lose myself while trying to find a way to defend my property.

What would be the best way to navigate? Say I get a message that my gas station is under attack, for some reason automated ships don't patrol at some stations and just 1 pirate blows them up and I watch helplessly how my gas station is being destroyed.

I could probably have some protection to each of my gas station, say couple of frigates at each station and then have a main fleet. What I am failing at is finding where exactly is it I have to fly. Say I get a distress sygnal, I click it and it takes me to the gas station under attack. Do I need to select my fleet first and THEN click on popup of distress sygnal?

Also if I assign some protection to my gas station and after that switch to automate my ships, is it gonna remove those frigates and send them somewhere else? Mostl likely it will. So the only way then to avoid incidents of losing your property is to assign your ships always manually, right?

< Message edited by mightili -- 4/6/2010 2:21:16 PM >

Post #: 1

RE: What do you automate? - 4/6/2010 6:45:55 PM

Interesting

Posts: 120
Joined: 4/4/2010
Status: offline

I was going to make this topic earlier today. heh.

I dont automate anything right now.

Private ships have custom designs with more engines/shields/weapons/behavior so they dont need escorts.

I design a few custom mobile ships with long range radars and add energy collectors on them, then I park then inside a star system near the boarders, so I dont need patrols.

All my military ships have energy collectors, I fuel them and sit them iddle inside systems distributed evenly across my boarders in fleets. If anything needs Military, I have them refueld and ready somewhere close by. They can get there before anything happens (Due to more shields/weapons/engines of my designs and the long range radars give me enough security).

I let every toogle unmarked and the ones that I can ask for advice, I define it to "suggest me". Always interesting to see what the AI "senses" to be the right strategy. Later on when it gets annoying, I turn suggestion off for some areas (I wonder if depending on my race, the AI advisors change, this would then be an awesome learning tool)

Explorers also on manual, I like to have a very organized expansion, to be able to easily organize the military iddling in even distances around my system boarders. The manual refuelling is fixed by designing explorers with more reactors, fuel capacitors and energy collectors. If attacked, I send them manually to deep space while sending military closer to it.

If any pirate or alien is spotted, then I imediatelly send my military there (increase reputation and helps colony development, very important)

Anytime each ship completes a mission, or needs fuel, it informs me with a pop up.

Everytime something needs military I send them. Everytime an explorer finishes a mission, I manually define a new system for them to explore. And already check that system. I pause and study it. Any Colonial Planets on it, I instantly send a colony ship, any luxury resources, instantly send a construction ship build there.

Colonizing is also tight, I build the colony ships before hand.
Ive made construction ship designs specifically for building my mines bases design.

The ships with long range radars are sent moved to the boarders to spot pirates or other races ships, if there is none, I send explorers, if there are pirates/aliens, I send military, if there are other races, I send spies with 1 year long missions to get their maps and start expanding in other direction.

With the current economy, I expand untill I get a bunch of Colonial Ships, then I start building small starports there.

I try to get the Habitat and Construction "blueprints" from other races asap. Then I start I colonizing the Ocean Planets inside my "perimeter", with 330 size ships I retrofit all my ships.

Even on manual, there isnt much to do.

< Message edited by Interesting -- 4/6/2010 6:53:38 PM >

(in reply to mightili)

Post #: 2

RE: What do you automate? - 4/6/2010 6:55:42 PM

ASHBERY76

Posts: 2136
Joined: 10/10/2001
From: England
Status: offline

I leave escorting duties to the A.I and I think it would be unplayable to counter every time you see a threat on the map.If you build enough they will protect your assets.I also have some exploring ships and construction ships on auto.

I have full control of fleets,colonize,agents,ships design,building,diplomacy and some exploring and construction ships.

< Message edited by ASHBERY76 -- 4/6/2010 6:56:40 PM >

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RE: What do you automate? - 4/6/2010 7:37:49 PM

Interesting

Posts: 120
Joined: 4/4/2010
Status: offline

For pirates and aliens is manageable to attack then before they attack you (if you have the long ranger radar mobile ships well placed).

For other races, it depends on how manageable is your diplomacy and game setting.

For diplomacy: The idea for this game is not to be at war, not because it would be hard to manually control it, but because the penalties warring results. War to me is something like this: "Spot enemies Colonial planets, biggest GDP incomes" prepare well and attack there. Since you choose well your target and hurt them badly, it will be easy to end the war. If a race comes and start war with you and you are not prepared or cant prepare fast enough to "strike them true", then you made a strategic mistake already and will be punished for it. The idea is that if you play your cards right, you wont end in unmanageable chaotic conflicts.

For the game setting: If you play on "Old" world (with a very young race there will be power imbalances and someone can come and destroy at will) or with "Chaotic" agressivity (wich I find unrealistic and detracts from my long term, live the world, sandbox aspect) then I have no idea how playable it would be if multiple races started wars with you too soon.

But even if you cannot handle it controlling stuff manually, what makes you think the AI would?

(in reply to ASHBERY76)

Post #: 4

RE: What do you automate? - 4/6/2010 10:30:47 PM

Ranbir

Posts: 142
Joined: 3/28/2010
Status: offline

I'll tell you what I don't automate: colonization, fleets and agencies, -some- ship designs.

The rest is on auto or semi-auto.

(in reply to Interesting)

Post #: 5

RE: What do you automate? - 4/6/2010 10:41:40 PM

jnpoint

Posts: 549
Joined: 8/9/2007
From: Holstebro, Denmark
Status: offline

I only automate exploration - but thats only until I know the game, then I'll control everything :)

(in reply to Ranbir)

Post #: 6

RE: What do you automate? - 4/6/2010 11:19:34 PM

idgar

Posts: 15
Joined: 4/2/2010
Status: offline

I currently automate colonization and ship/base building and manual control on the rest. I also control fleet setup and designs. Sometimes I spam some shipyards with ship orders, send the odd colony ship to an interesting planet or build a resort base at some location. Overall I'm satisfied with the way the AI handles those things although it goes a bit light on military ships for my taste. Controlling it all manually would be too much micro for my taste.

For reference I've played around 30-50h total and feel I "get" (and love!) the game now. At the start I had everything on suggest and then I gradually adjusted the settings until I found what works best for me.

(in reply to mightili)

Post #: 7

RE: What do you automate? - 4/6/2010 11:42:56 PM

JonathanStrange

Posts: 114
Joined: 3/13/2010
Status: offline

Fleet control seems to be one of the more fun aspects; I'd think more people would want to get involved there.

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Post #: 8

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 2:25:21 AM

Igard

Posts: 2282
Joined: 3/29/2010
From: Scotland
Status: offline

Pretty much the same as ASHBERY76. Escorts with some frigates and a few destroyers to auto-patrol. And I control everything else myself except colony tax, which I alter if necessary.

I don't change the speed of the game for any reason other than to pause when I'm outnumbered in battle so that I can call for reinforcements.

(in reply to JonathanStrange)

Post #: 9

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 3:12:46 AM

Tree Dog

Posts: 129
Joined: 3/27/2010
Status: offline

I too control everything myself, except for the frigates/escort I let run on automation.

(in reply to Igard)

Post #: 10

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 4:01:50 AM

taltamir

Posts: 1290
Joined: 4/2/2010
Status: offline

i automate all but diplomacy... I manually control things despite the automatation... that is, I will make ship designs, build ships, control ships directly, etc... but i also let the AI control them at the same time... so while I am taking off a fleet to handle one war, the AI can handle the rest of it.

(in reply to Tree Dog)

Post #: 11

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 4:15:06 AM

Malevolence

Posts: 1781
Joined: 4/3/2010
Status: offline

I don't automate anything (even at larger maps), but that said, my favorite 4X game remains Stars! so I don't expect that most buyers (and certainly not reviewers) share my opinion.

I prefer UI's that offer effective decision support instead of automation.

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Post #: 12

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 7:23:32 AM

jam3

Posts: 65
Joined: 11/9/2003
Status: offline

I automate taxes, everything else on manual. I wish I could do that in real life !!

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Post #: 13

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 7:26:01 AM

ilovestrategy

Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline

I'm still learning so I have everything on automate. Right now I'm studying how to make my ships travel without running out of fuel. I'm still lost on that one.

And why the heck do no fleets show up on the Fleet Menu when I hit the Fleet button? I thought ships automatically joined a fleet. am I wrong?

_____________________________

After 16 years, Civ II still has me in it's clutches LOL!!!
Now CIV IV has me in it's evil clutches!

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Post #: 14

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 9:46:35 AM

monsterfurby

Posts: 13
Joined: 8/12/2005
Status: offline

I pretty much automate everything to a degree once my empire is set up. I do mingle sometimes, but most of the time I only take control of one fleet during a war, see if I can make an impact on the great whole that's happening around me :)

Also, ilovestrategy: The fleet AI only assembles fleets when it needs them. It usually keeps those you create, but will try to keep most ships out of a fleet at peace times.

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Post #: 15

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 1:13:57 PM

Joram

Posts: 3198
Joined: 7/15/2005
Status: offline

Exact same as Ashberry, I assign some ships to automation which normally they just become escorts and a couple to exploring and building. Everything else I turn off completely or allow them to suggest only. I will manually control exploration or building from time to time but for the most part I let the computer do that.

(in reply to monsterfurby)

Post #: 16

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 2:00:27 PM

HsojVvad

Posts: 1036
Joined: 3/24/2010
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

I'm still learning so I have everything on automate. Right now I'm studying how to make my ships travel without running out of fuel. I'm still lost on that one.

And why the heck do no fleets show up on the Fleet Menu when I hit the Fleet button? I thought ships automatically joined a fleet. am I wrong?

I tired to answer that for you in another thread. Also go to the AAR section and read the post that is stickied at the top on how to create ships. I learnt alot from that. If you need more help or can't find it, PM me or make a new thread on how to do it and we will try and help.

(in reply to ilovestrategy)

Post #: 17

RE: What do you automate? - 4/7/2010 9:21:34 PM

Gertjan

Posts: 698
Joined: 12/9/2009
Status: offline

Great this kind of help!

(in reply to HsojVvad)

Post #: 18