1v2 isn't fun.

Neither is 1v3.

from Sins Forums
I'm going to quit playing free-for-all games against the computer with three or more players. Every time I end up having a better economy (though not necessarily a bigger fleet), they'll start coming after me. It's really crappy when the computer teams up and won't attack each other, but all three will go after me. And with the lousy way to earn a faction's trust (I'm not sending a fleet of ships on a suicide mission on the other side of the galaxy just to destroy five tactical structures, thank you very much), finding a reliable alliance is difficult.

This last game I stopped playing because, despite having double Novalith cannons going, my opponents kept harassing me with their fleets. Green and Purple would warp in, start bombarding and leave as soon as I showed up, then go to another planet and leave before I could stop them. More phase inhibitors, maybe? All my planets were maxed on defense, with 10-14 squadrons, a repair platform or two, and loads of gauss guns.

Am I doing something wrong when it comes to diplomacy in these FFA games? I've tried several strategies in four or five games already, both 1v2 and 1v3, but nothing seems to work. Anybody have success with the diplomacy? I don't like to waste research time on the pirate/diplomacy bonuses, but if I have to, I guess I'll start doing that. (I prefer to play as TEC, so it's not really an option anyways.)

I still love the game, but I think 2v2 and 1v1 are just more fun...
14,296 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
I agree the diplomacy can suck. No reason why we should be forced to go on suicide missions (or rely on pure luck) to get people to like us.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Are there pirates??? Cause if there is USE them hardcore. On 3 FFA I find that expanding close to your home planet quickly then setting up defenses and two massive fleets works best. One to protect he other to attack. As long as you're patient and keep a fleet at home all you have to do is wait for the enemy then sen dyour second fleet to their planets to flank them. This is also the only time you should consider forging alliances. I usually don't start an alliance until I have my two main fleets, and the mission being offered is a resource donation mission. It's easy and gives you a good jump on the alliance. All you need to do it reach >%50 happiness level with a faction to get a cease fire which is damn good. After that just try to keep them at around 50%, you don't need to leroy it every mission, feel free to skip one but not two in a row.
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
You could also lock teams so that it stays a complete ffa and no one can work together - that's what I do.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
To #3: How does locking teams work? I haven't heard of that before (I usually just select a map (medium random, usually), choose my faction, and hit play.)

To #2: I used pirates aggressively. Only once did the pirates come for me, and that was because I missed the sound queue that they were about to launch. Someone should create a mod that flashes a big warning sign in the corner of the screen or keeps a running tally of the bounty on each player visible at all times so I don't miss those things... :P
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
In the screen where you set the amount of resources and the research speed, the top option is lock teams.

If you lock teams, the teams can not possibly change. I.e. a 2v2 stays a 2v2, or a ffa stays a ffa.