Gameplay Questions

[Marcuso]

Hi all.

Just bought the game. So far, so good. I have a few questions that I couldn't find an answer to in the Galactopedia or the manual that I'm hoping you kind people can help me with.

1. When I automate my fleets, is there any way to take manual control of just one fleet? I like to have one fleet that I use to respond to pirate threats; however, if automation is on, it seems like when I take manual control of a fleet it will either follow orders and disband OR disband midflight and stop moving. I have a feeling it's the fleet automation being goofy.

2. In addition to the above, is there any way to re-automate a fleet or a group of selected units? I've tried selecting a group and pressing 'a' - but I can't automate the whole group! I have to select each unit individually.

3. Is there a way to scrap ships directly from the ships screen? I was having a budget crisis and I decided to scrap all of my exploration ships. The only way I could do this was to go to each ship individually, right-click on it, and scrap it. There isn't a way to do this from the handy menu?


I truly apologize if I just didn't see something in the manual. I hope someone can answer these questions. Thanks for your help!

[elliotg]

ORIGINAL: Marcuso
1. When I automate my fleets, is there any way to take manual control of just one fleet? I like to have one fleet that I use to respond to pirate threats; however, if automation is on, it seems like when I take manual control of a fleet it will either follow orders and disband OR disband midflight and stop moving. I have a feeling it's the fleet automation being goofy.

Select the entire fleet (either double-click any ship in fleet or select fleet triangle when zoomed out) then manually assign a mission to the fleet - this will turn off automation for the fleet (all the ships in the fleet). Hit the A key with the fleet selected to re-automate if you wish.

This manually controlled fleet should no longer be touched by the AI - it shouldn't disband it or assign missions to it.

2. In addition to the above, is there any way to re-automate a fleet or a group of selected units? I've tried selecting a group and pressing 'a' - but I can't automate the whole group! I have to select each unit individually.

Don't select each ship - select the entire fleet (as described above) then hit the A key to automate

3. Is there a way to scrap ships directly from the ships screen? I was having a budget crisis and I decided to scrap all of my exploration ships. The only way I could do this was to go to each ship individually, right-click on it, and scrap it. There isn't a way to do this from the handy menu?

Can't currently do this from the Ships and Bases screen sorry. Good idea though - will add that to the list [;)]

For now you'll have to right-click each ship in the main screen to select the Retire mission. At least the Ships and Bases screen can help you find the ships you want to scrap.

[Marcuso]

ORIGINAL: elliotg
Don't select each ship - select the entire fleet (as described above) then hit the A key to automate

This doesn't work. It works with a fleet, but not when you just click-drag a group of units.

I'm not sure how I feel about fleet automation. The AI keeps grouping like 14 - 18 of my ships and sits them idle at my home planet while my outer areas get raided by pirates. The AI doesn't seem to know how to divide forces. It tends to build a huge fleet but ignores patrolling problem areas.

Another question:

1.) I setup 17 computer opponents and automatically generated them. I'm playing on a 700 system map and I've yet to see anything besides pirates and the occasional independent alien colonies. Is this normal? Did I miss something?

Thanks for the immediate support!

[hadberz]

1.) I setup 17 computer opponents and automatically generated them. I'm playing on a 700 system map and I've yet to see anything besides pirates and the occasional independent alien colonies. Is this normal? Did I miss something?

The auto gen is random, I've had empires share the same system with me when starting a game.

[Marcuso]

ORIGINAL: hadberz

1.) I setup 17 computer opponents and automatically generated them. I'm playing on a 700 system map and I've yet to see anything besides pirates and the occasional independent alien colonies. Is this normal? Did I miss something?

The auto gen is random, I've had empires share the same system with me when starting a game.

I should have probably noted that I've been playing for about 5 hours now and I've explored about 55% of the galaxy...

I just realized I hadn't downloaded the patch yet for the first savegame, and I updated/loaded the old savegame. Maybe this caused some sort of issue, even though the patch didn't really specify whether it will invalidate old savegames.

I started a new game. I'll post any updates I have.

[Erik Rutins]

This doesn't work. It works with a fleet, but not when you just click-drag a group of units.

Hm, I've had it work if I'm selecting a group and then right click and choose Automate all ships. Does that work for you?

I'm not sure how I feel about fleet automation. The AI keeps grouping like 14 - 18 of my ships and sits them idle at my home planet while my outer areas get raided by pirates. The AI doesn't seem to know how to divide forces. It tends to build a huge fleet but ignores patrolling problem areas.

I've seen it do both on a regular basis. It likes to keep a good strong fleet in being for major operations, but it will use a lot of ships for regular patrol and escort missions too. If you are handling ship building, try building more Escorts and Frigates, those will tend to be used more for anti-piracy.

1.) I setup 17 computer opponents and automatically generated them. I'm playing on a 700 system map and I've yet to see anything besides pirates and the occasional independent alien colonies. Is this normal? Did I miss something?

Just random, believe me, they will show up.

[HsojVvad]

Patch? There is a patch for a game just released today?

[Erik Rutins]

Yes, as announced before release, we have an at-release v1.01 update. Use the "Check for Updates" link in your game menu or go to the Latest Downloads in our Products section to download it.

[Marcuso]

Update: I'm ten minutes into my new game and I've already encountered two other races. I'm beginning to think that I may have accidentally unchecked the button next to the auto-generate feature. Maybe there should be a a warning if you are about to play a game with no rival races.
 
P.S. All of this is constructive criticism. Please don't take it the wrong way.
 
Another question:
 
Is there a way to keep track of all of the navigation coordinates that I discover at random wreckages/artifacts/ruins? I know they flash on the map but they're kind of hard to see.
 
 
Thanks!

[hadberz]

Is there a way to keep track of all of the navigation coordinates that I discover at random wreckages/artifacts/ruins? I know they flash on the map but they're kind of hard to see.

The envelope button at the top tracks all messages, when you click a message just click the go to location button.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: Marcuso

I just realized I hadn't downloaded the patch yet for the first savegame, and I updated/loaded the old savegame. Maybe this caused some sort of issue, even though the patch didn't really specify whether it will invalidate old savegames.

The patch hasn't bothered previously saved games for me. Saved games are what I have been using since the patch came out this morning.

[RViener]

In new game setup is there a limit to the number victory conditions?
Bob Viener

[shinobu]

Just wondering- I see you can rename planets, stations, ships... Can you rename stars? If so, it has escaped me how to do it...

[elliotg]

ORIGINAL: shinobu
Just wondering- I see you can rename planets, stations, ships... Can you rename stars? If so, it has escaped me how to do it...

You can rename whatever you own - your colonies, ships, bases, troops, etc.

But the only way to rename stars is in the Game Editor. The button for this is underneath the scrolling message list at the top of the screen, at far right.

[Marcuso]

I'm convinced - the fleets are not functioning as well as they should. They don't respond well to attacks. For instance, in a game I just created, the AI created a fleet of about 5 ships at my home colony within the first 10 minutes of the game. A mining station in my home system got attacked by a space monster and the fleet stood still - stationed in the same system - just stood still. However, the non-fleeted ships responded to the threat. Unfortunately, only two ships responded and this space monster was really tough. The mining station didn't survive.

I know that I can send the fleet on a mission to destroy the space monster - it's just really dumb to see my fleet doing nothing when it's nearly in shooting range. This can get even more annoying when the game is full of activity.

All in all the game is really great, but I *really* hate micromanaging all of these ships to respond to individual threats. I understand that escorts/frigates respond better to pirate attacks or space monster attacks (and they typically do this well). If this is the case, the AI should be very liberal with leaving PLENTY of extra ships before it decides to form a fleet. In addition to this, the automated fleets need to be more responsive to immediate threats.

Just my two cents. The fleets really aggravate me. Otherwise, the rest of the game is fun.

[elliotg]

I hear you there Marcuso. I'm sure there'll be plenty of things to fine-tune in DW based on feedback.

Fleets do tend to let other ships handle smaller things like space creatures and pirates.

One thing you could check: you're saying that the fleet in question is automated, but to be sure you could take a look at each ship in the fleet. Select each ship and in the Selection Panel at bottom-left, if the ship is automated there should be a blue circular arrow at bottom-right. Is this what you're seeing?

[Marcuso]

Yes, I double checked that. They all have blue circular arrows. In fact, they had to be automated to be made into a fleet, if I'm not mistaken. When this happened, I had not messed with the ships at all yet.

If only ships/fleets were just a tad more responsive to threats...I look forward to this being improved. I will do my best to give more feedback as I play more.