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Author Topic:   Newbie Needs Help

MrSatNite posted 05-03-99 07:20 PM ET
I am at 2234, have defeated and taken over two factions, destroyed another with my pact partner, have no problem with worms in fact they are a good source of energy, my colonies are happy, and I hold military and technological superiority over all. Now I have no doubt this game has future surprises for me, but everyone must be wondering, "Why in hell does this guy need help??" Three reasons; since I started playing this game I have had no sleep, very little food, and no sex.
Is there any way to speed this game up??
Specifically:
1. Groups - No matter what I do, assemble them, move them, I still have to control them one at a time and I cannot get them to attack as a force. Is that just the way that is?
2. Getting a units attention - The AI has a merry old time moving things around and I have a lot of things so I have a lot on alert and doing automatic stuff already. How do you get their attention when you want to change their commands? The AI won't let me in. I try left clicking, right clicking, going to the bases, and finally I get the unit I want. By that time the reason I wanted it's attention can be long gone.. This is especially distressing with units on alert and when formers etc on automatic have collateral damage and I want to fix them. I see the damage as the AI moves them but I don't know what base their from so I have to try and locate them when the AI gives me the chance and the map is jumping all over the place and my visual buffers are not all that good. Is there any way to get a list of who's where so I can cancel the units orders so I can get it's attention? I need info by location not base and the units flash through so fast I can't get their numbers..
3. Queues - Is there anyway to set them to automatic so the queue will keep looping until I decide to change it? Governors tend to build very stupid things without your guidance. It would be nice if I could update a queue list which would automatically update all the bases with that list when new technology is discovered..
If I could do some of the above with greater ease then my only problem will be deciding which one of my needs I take care of first. Anxiously awaiting all responses...
trippin daily posted 05-03-99 07:28 PM ET
No sex... eugh, poor man. Once it comes down to no play, the game has got to go.
Trippin Daily
-get rid of the game and go get some play-
Plato90s posted 05-03-99 07:29 PM ET
1. Not much you can do about it.
2. Try setting the preferences to pause at end of turn. The time will stop and you can pick the units you want to activate and change their order.
3. You can save up to 8 lists of production queues in memory. You have to prep it once, but you don't have to click on every item in every city. After creating a queue, go back to the city screen, right click on the queue, and save it. To retrive it, do the same thing on a blank list and copy a list in.
jgmagnus posted 05-03-99 07:30 PM ET

I am pretty new to the game too, but here goes!
FIRST: You get no SEX but you call yourself Mr. Sat. Night???
SECOND: I've found I get very little sleep too.
Third: If I need a unit or a crawler, all I doo is L-click on it once and a menu pops up to tell them what to do. I have found I need to remember WHERE the heck my units are, but I just press spacebar to pass their turn if I want them to sit around for a while. That way, I will be reminded by the computer every turn about their where-abouts.
Fourth: Yeah, the governor makes REALLY LAME choices! What's up with that?? I have about 30-40 bases and I have to MANUALLY pick all that crap for them??? It takes WAY too long. And if I let the computer do it, it is always ****ing around with useless crap like those Floating WAter Sphere thingies for a city in the middle of a ****ing continent!
I can't help you on the other things however.
MrSatNite posted 05-04-99 01:40 AM ET
Thanks Platos. That waiting at the end of the turn really helps.. It actually speeds the game up. Logical thinking leads one to believe it wouldn't. Things are not always what they seem to be.
I also think I must have a lot more stuff then some do. Without giving away any secrets, I found ways to get lots of stuff. I tried skipping the turn but that takes forever. Like I said too much stuff.. BTW for things not at a base don't use the space bar, use the L key and it will field repair and build up it's reserves.. Good for high combat scenarios especially when you have units standing around watching your needlejets bomb the crap out of an enemy poition. Always a little collateral damage. I love needlejets.. Bomb the hell out of the bad guys and shoot them like dogs when they try to flee..
I have no doubt one of the other factions will have them soon and then the phone will ring with an offer I can't refuse.. That's why we save games... They won't get a 2nd call :-)....
sandworm posted 05-04-99 11:06 AM ET
If you're having trouble finding the units you want to change orders for, start naming landmarks (theres a way to do that, try right clicking the area you want to name?) That way when you see an automated unit, you can also see where its at.
OncFellow posted 05-05-99 01:40 PM ET
I need help too.
How does one use Crawlers to harvest a Borehole away from a base? Do you just move it to the hole, or is there a special command? Can you automate it to go back and forth between base and hole?
GaryD posted 05-05-99 01:55 PM ET
I believe you move the crawler to the hole, then press 'O'.
But bring the menu up (right click) to make sure.
Vinny posted 05-09-99 02:20 PM ET
You move the crawler to wherever you want the resources and hit 'O'. You can only get one resource, so pick the one you need the most. The crawler will then just "sit there" but will convoy the one type of resource each turn to its home base.
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Author	Topic: Newbie Needs Help
MrSatNite	posted 05-03-99 07:20 PM ET I am at 2234, have defeated and taken over two factions, destroyed another with my pact partner, have no problem with worms in fact they are a good source of energy, my colonies are happy, and I hold military and technological superiority over all. Now I have no doubt this game has future surprises for me, but everyone must be wondering, "Why in hell does this guy need help??" Three reasons; since I started playing this game I have had no sleep, very little food, and no sex. Is there any way to speed this game up?? Specifically: 1. Groups - No matter what I do, assemble them, move them, I still have to control them one at a time and I cannot get them to attack as a force. Is that just the way that is? 2. Getting a units attention - The AI has a merry old time moving things around and I have a lot of things so I have a lot on alert and doing automatic stuff already. How do you get their attention when you want to change their commands? The AI won't let me in. I try left clicking, right clicking, going to the bases, and finally I get the unit I want. By that time the reason I wanted it's attention can be long gone.. This is especially distressing with units on alert and when formers etc on automatic have collateral damage and I want to fix them. I see the damage as the AI moves them but I don't know what base their from so I have to try and locate them when the AI gives me the chance and the map is jumping all over the place and my visual buffers are not all that good. Is there any way to get a list of who's where so I can cancel the units orders so I can get it's attention? I need info by location not base and the units flash through so fast I can't get their numbers.. 3. Queues - Is there anyway to set them to automatic so the queue will keep looping until I decide to change it? Governors tend to build very stupid things without your guidance. It would be nice if I could update a queue list which would automatically update all the bases with that list when new technology is discovered.. If I could do some of the above with greater ease then my only problem will be deciding which one of my needs I take care of first. Anxiously awaiting all responses...
trippin daily	posted 05-03-99 07:28 PM ET No sex... eugh, poor man. Once it comes down to no play, the game has got to go. Trippin Daily -get rid of the game and go get some play-
Plato90s	posted 05-03-99 07:29 PM ET 1. Not much you can do about it. 2. Try setting the preferences to pause at end of turn. The time will stop and you can pick the units you want to activate and change their order. 3. You can save up to 8 lists of production queues in memory. You have to prep it once, but you don't have to click on every item in every city. After creating a queue, go back to the city screen, right click on the queue, and save it. To retrive it, do the same thing on a blank list and copy a list in.
jgmagnus	posted 05-03-99 07:30 PM ET I am pretty new to the game too, but here goes! FIRST: You get no SEX but you call yourself Mr. Sat. Night??? SECOND: I've found I get very little sleep too. Third: If I need a unit or a crawler, all I doo is L-click on it once and a menu pops up to tell them what to do. I have found I need to remember WHERE the heck my units are, but I just press spacebar to pass their turn if I want them to sit around for a while. That way, I will be reminded by the computer every turn about their where-abouts. Fourth: Yeah, the governor makes REALLY LAME choices! What's up with that?? I have about 30-40 bases and I have to MANUALLY pick all that crap for them??? It takes WAY too long. And if I let the computer do it, it is always **ing around with useless crap like those Floating WAter Sphere thingies for a city in the middle of a **ing continent! I can't help you on the other things however.
MrSatNite	posted 05-04-99 01:40 AM ET Thanks Platos. That waiting at the end of the turn really helps.. It actually speeds the game up. Logical thinking leads one to believe it wouldn't. Things are not always what they seem to be. I also think I must have a lot more stuff then some do. Without giving away any secrets, I found ways to get lots of stuff. I tried skipping the turn but that takes forever. Like I said too much stuff.. BTW for things not at a base don't use the space bar, use the L key and it will field repair and build up it's reserves.. Good for high combat scenarios especially when you have units standing around watching your needlejets bomb the crap out of an enemy poition. Always a little collateral damage. I love needlejets.. Bomb the hell out of the bad guys and shoot them like dogs when they try to flee.. I have no doubt one of the other factions will have them soon and then the phone will ring with an offer I can't refuse.. That's why we save games... They won't get a 2nd call :-)....
sandworm	posted 05-04-99 11:06 AM ET If you're having trouble finding the units you want to change orders for, start naming landmarks (theres a way to do that, try right clicking the area you want to name?) That way when you see an automated unit, you can also see where its at.
OncFellow	posted 05-05-99 01:40 PM ET I need help too. How does one use Crawlers to harvest a Borehole away from a base? Do you just move it to the hole, or is there a special command? Can you automate it to go back and forth between base and hole?
GaryD	posted 05-05-99 01:55 PM ET I believe you move the crawler to the hole, then press 'O'. But bring the menu up (right click) to make sure.
Vinny	posted 05-09-99 02:20 PM ET You move the crawler to wherever you want the resources and hit 'O'. You can only get one resource, so pick the one you need the most. The crawler will then just "sit there" but will convoy the one type of resource each turn to its home base.