Too many micro manage variables?

Why crystal AND metal?

1
from Sins Forums
    I'll admit, I'm an RTS fan, specifically a Homeworld fan and am bit of a newbie (maybe 10 hours under my belt)

But why Crystal and Metal?  They don't seem to add anything other than you have to constantly do a buy/sell minigame to get what you need.  Personally I'd prefer money only, but if it needs more, than say Crystal Only.

Next, Why do I have to build a crystal and metal harvestor?  I've got 100 things going on at the same time to remember to jump over to that planet and figure out if everything is being mined.

Is there a fast way to figure out from the map what planets are under developed?

Why aren't all ships "searchable?"  What if I want to find my Siege Frigates without staring at a million little icons and shift clicking?

I know you can set a rally point within a planet gravwell , but is there any way to say, all ships made at this factory, go to spot X on the map, even if its on another planet?  I hate when I'm trying to quickly build a fleet to have to jump around all these planets as ships are built to tell them to go do something useful based on a press I want to make.

Speed, why isn't there a speed jump mode in single player that accelerates time by a factor of X until you stop it.  Sitting and waiting for my ships to make a 5 planet jump is painful

Is there any ability to move your ships on the Z axis?  Seems rediculous in space to have everybody flat with each other.

Thos whole culture thing seems like another variable that is a PITA.

I guess what I'm saying is are any of you mod-boys working on turning this into a true RTS and less Sim City?




17,981 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
I'll admit, I'm an RTS fan, specifically a Homeworld fan and am bit of a newbie (maybe 10 hours under my belt)But why Crystal and Metal? They don't seem to add anything other than you have to constantly do a buy/sell minigame to get what you need.
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If you have to "constantly do a buy/sell minigame to get" the materials you need, you're doing something very, very, very wrong.

Personally I'd prefer money only, but if it needs more, than say Crystal Only.
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Races use credits, metal, and crystal very differently. Having all three adds a lot of depth to the way the different races exploit the galaxy's limited resources.

Next, Why do I have to build a crystal and metal harvestor? I've got 100 things going on at the same time to remember to jump over to that planet and figure out if everything is being mined.
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That explained your first problem. When you settle a planet, click on the little mine build buttons immediately. They're cheap, and if you don't have enough resources to build them right then and there, it's because you haven't been building them right then and there!

I know you can set a rally point within a planet gravwell , but is there any way to say, all ships made at this factory, go to spot X on the map, even if its on another planet?
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Yes. Click on the little rally point button for either a factory or a whole planet, and put it ANYWHERE you want. I often put it on top of a capital ship, so that all built ships join up with the flagship, no matter where it is.

I hate when I'm trying to quickly build a fleet to have to jump around all these planets as ships are built to tell them to go do something useful based on a press I want to make.
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Learn to use the icons on the side bar, instead of zooming all over the map. Seriously, learn.

Speed, why isn't there a speed jump mode in single player that accelerates time by a factor of X until you stop it. Sitting and waiting for my ships to make a 5 planet jump is painful
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There is. Try the + and - buttons on your keyboard. Yay!

Is there any ability to move your ships on the Z axis? Seems rediculous in space to have everybody flat with each other.
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Yes, but you have to set a key to do it, since one doesn't come assigned, for some reason. Go to your keybindings and set it to what you want.

Thos whole culture thing seems like another variable that is a PITA.I guess what I'm saying is are any of you mod-boys working on turning this into a true RTS and less Sim City?
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If you wanted a standard RTS with no "Sim City" aspects, you bought the WRONG game. Thankfully, many of us bought the right game, and enjoy the heck out of it.

Any other huge complaints/questions that can be solved by one sentence answers? ^_^
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Here's an answer to your last question.

This is not supposed to be an RTS.
Wrong game.
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Odd..In normal paced games I find myself with many periods of waiting for things to do after I've queued up my galatic orders. This is the time I usually take to refine my tactics and re-evaluate my strategies.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
Ignorance of the game mechanics and a desire to not manage resources does not equal "too many micro manage variables". It equals "play the game or ask nicely about them rather than dumping hate on the game about things that are already implemented".
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
This game is FARRR from overwhelming. In fact, it's a little too slow paced and hands-off.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Really man, check to make sure you're playing Sins...cuz dang.

Just dang.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
One thing you can do while waiting for your ships to jump five times is to do all that micromanaging you don't have time for. :)
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
I respect and understand your points and thanks for clearing alot of key things up.

I know to some extent I'm playing the "wrong" game although it is becoming fun, it's just that I have 4 kids and own my own business so the idea of each game being hours upon hours just isn't realistic.

The problem is nobody seems to be making the "right" game for me, i.e. a homeworld sequal. That thing is tied up in legal no mans land and nobody else seems to think there is a market. instead, we have 50 people competing for the same land based RTS market and I don't know how they all make money.

There have been 2 or 3 attempts but all got crushed based on the reviews.

Also, the fact that there is no "campaign" like homeworld, means the learning curve was huge because you aren't really working yourself up to more and more complex scenarios as in homeworld. Instead, you have everything on your first game and it took forever to figure out why the computer was crushing me.

Also, one fair bitch, comeon stardock, hire some professional voice talent. The TEC are bad enough but the races sound like a struggling high school actor. Listening to the Repair frigate announce its coming to life sounds like a bad Young Frankenstein parady.

Also add in a "radio filter" like homeworld so it really sounds like they are communicating.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
Micromanagement...Wow. I have not seen any. I think the game is oversimplified and would benefit from more variables to manage. Sadly, this would be to the detriment of the AI...and I'll have to admit that a good AI is more important than a more satisfying building and conquest experience (up to a point). Weeks of building an empire against hostile pressure before the final war is what I enjoy. I'm working on modding the game to slow it down now. Adding new variables to control is beyond anyone but the developers, and even I would not mess with that in this game if I were them.