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Author Topic:   Playing without "odds confirmation"

AlexDePol posted 10-01-99 11:04 AM ET
Recently I decided to play with the combat odds turned off. This resulted in a more intense gameplay. I found that:
1. I had to use scouts and probes to asses enemies strength.
2. Relied on artillery to soften the enemy before final charge
3. I had to use terrain bonuses wisely.
4. Make extensive use of sensor arrays and bunkers to create strongholds.
5. Ended up designing more types of units so that they could complement eachother, e.g. infantry unit would be accompanied by battery.
and finally, I had to think twice before declaring vendetta.
Do you people play with the odds off and find the gameplay more challenging/interesting?
sandworm posted 10-01-99 11:39 AM ET
If you mean a "these are your odds, do you want to attack window" I have always had it off. I still get a "you can't hope to win this, are you sure..." window when I throw junk troops up against heavy defenders.
Darkman posted 10-01-99 04:11 PM ET
I didn't even know there was such a window. The only time I got any message before attacking was if I tried an attack with less than 1 mv point. It was the hasty assault dialog. Is this something in the options?
NoviceCEO posted 10-01-99 09:32 PM ET
I play with odds on. Military leaders know the chances of their troops win a battle. And even knowing the odds, the result may be a surprise, because the battle system is tottaly random process.
As my coach says: "The best way to go beyond your limits is to know them very well".
Biddles posted 10-01-99 09:56 PM ET
I play with the odds on for the same reason as NoviceCEO, but there still is some randomization to it. If you have the better odds, you don't always win and vice versa. This seems to happen more frequently with native units for some reason.
- Biddles
Krushala posted 10-03-99 12:01 AM ET
Does anyone know the exact way they calculate this. It's all screwed up for psi comabat anyways. sometimes I get like 236 to 128. What the hell does that mean. They could convert it to decimals to make it easier.
LdZpln posted 10-03-99 11:32 AM ET
Krushala, I could be wrong about this, but if you look in the datalinks in the game it explains most formula's, ie: how to calculate # of drones, cost of a new unit.... it may be in there.
I think the reason they don't use decimals is that it may be too hard to read clearly, especially on smaller displays.
You probably already know this, but as I understand it psi combat is dependent more on morale, who the attacker is, and who the defender is.
LdZpln
Krushala posted 10-03-99 09:15 PM ET
yeah I know that but sometimes I get the message: odds are strongly against you... but when I attack I win easily. I usually check both units moral just to make sure.
MajiK6pt5 posted 10-04-99 11:00 PM ET
yes, they also write stupid numbers like 50/100 or even 50/101...why don't they simplify them to 1/2 or just disregard the 1? (1/2 for 50/101)
Compugasm posted 10-05-99 07:42 AM ET
Not including modifiers, the computer calculates basically 4 variabels. Attack and Defense of 2 opposing units. The number you see represented (I.E. 236 to 128) means the first number is your attacking strength(236). The second number is enemys defensive capability (128). This means your attack is twice as strong as the defense. Why alot of attacks fail against superior numbers lies in the defensive units counter attack.
These numbers have already been reduced from much larger numbers and decimals eliminated to keep them whole numbers. Seeing a number like 236,326.236670 to 128,267.2267672672776 would make it even harder to read. Reduce 236 vs. 128 in your head to 2.36 to 1.28 Or 2/1.
What the hell does that mean. They could convert it to decimals to make it easier.
Compugasm posted 10-05-99 07:43 AM ET
sorry, forgot to take out that last line in my post.
Compugasm posted 10-05-99 07:53 AM ET
There are combat stats where it will say 7324 vs 3465. Again you can reduce this in your head to 7.324 vs 3.465 or 7/3.
Realizing that 3 will divide into 7 twice. Your units attack is twice as strong as the units defense.
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Author	Topic: Playing without "odds confirmation"
AlexDePol	posted 10-01-99 11:04 AM ET Recently I decided to play with the combat odds turned off. This resulted in a more intense gameplay. I found that: 1. I had to use scouts and probes to asses enemies strength. 2. Relied on artillery to soften the enemy before final charge 3. I had to use terrain bonuses wisely. 4. Make extensive use of sensor arrays and bunkers to create strongholds. 5. Ended up designing more types of units so that they could complement eachother, e.g. infantry unit would be accompanied by battery. and finally, I had to think twice before declaring vendetta. Do you people play with the odds off and find the gameplay more challenging/interesting?
sandworm	posted 10-01-99 11:39 AM ET If you mean a "these are your odds, do you want to attack window" I have always had it off. I still get a "you can't hope to win this, are you sure..." window when I throw junk troops up against heavy defenders.
Darkman	posted 10-01-99 04:11 PM ET I didn't even know there was such a window. The only time I got any message before attacking was if I tried an attack with less than 1 mv point. It was the hasty assault dialog. Is this something in the options?
NoviceCEO	posted 10-01-99 09:32 PM ET I play with odds on. Military leaders know the chances of their troops win a battle. And even knowing the odds, the result may be a surprise, because the battle system is tottaly random process. As my coach says: "The best way to go beyond your limits is to know them very well".
Biddles	posted 10-01-99 09:56 PM ET I play with the odds on for the same reason as NoviceCEO, but there still is some randomization to it. If you have the better odds, you don't always win and vice versa. This seems to happen more frequently with native units for some reason. - Biddles
Krushala	posted 10-03-99 12:01 AM ET Does anyone know the exact way they calculate this. It's all screwed up for psi comabat anyways. sometimes I get like 236 to 128. What the hell does that mean. They could convert it to decimals to make it easier.
LdZpln	posted 10-03-99 11:32 AM ET Krushala, I could be wrong about this, but if you look in the datalinks in the game it explains most formula's, ie: how to calculate # of drones, cost of a new unit.... it may be in there. I think the reason they don't use decimals is that it may be too hard to read clearly, especially on smaller displays. You probably already know this, but as I understand it psi combat is dependent more on morale, who the attacker is, and who the defender is. LdZpln
Krushala	posted 10-03-99 09:15 PM ET yeah I know that but sometimes I get the message: odds are strongly against you... but when I attack I win easily. I usually check both units moral just to make sure.
MajiK6pt5	posted 10-04-99 11:00 PM ET yes, they also write stupid numbers like 50/100 or even 50/101...why don't they simplify them to 1/2 or just disregard the 1? (1/2 for 50/101)
Compugasm	posted 10-05-99 07:42 AM ET Not including modifiers, the computer calculates basically 4 variabels. Attack and Defense of 2 opposing units. The number you see represented (I.E. 236 to 128) means the first number is your attacking strength(236). The second number is enemys defensive capability (128). This means your attack is twice as strong as the defense. Why alot of attacks fail against superior numbers lies in the defensive units counter attack. These numbers have already been reduced from much larger numbers and decimals eliminated to keep them whole numbers. Seeing a number like 236,326.236670 to 128,267.2267672672776 would make it even harder to read. Reduce 236 vs. 128 in your head to 2.36 to 1.28 Or 2/1. What the hell does that mean. They could convert it to decimals to make it easier.
Compugasm	posted 10-05-99 07:43 AM ET sorry, forgot to take out that last line in my post.
Compugasm	posted 10-05-99 07:53 AM ET There are combat stats where it will say 7324 vs 3465. Again you can reduce this in your head to 7.324 vs 3.465 or 7/3. Realizing that 3 will divide into 7 twice. Your units attack is twice as strong as the units defense.