First Time Playing Online

from Sins Forums

I've only played but a few games in singleplayer, what are the chances that I'll get owned the first time so badly that I'll be back in single player in a few minutes? :P

multiplayer
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Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

I've only played but a few games in singleplayer, what are the chances that I'll get owned the first time so badly that I'll be back in single player in a few minutes?
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Close to 100%  Given your attitude, I think you expected that answer.

However, don't lose heart.  Almost everyone started out in the same position as you.  It's not that they're somehow superhuman RTS players, but rather that people learn from each other and become better players.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Depends.

Read the forums to get to know the counters and if you start with just vanilla online, you have some pretty good chances. There are a lot of newer players on vanilla and entrenchment is filled with more experienced.

I started on vanilla and it helped make the learning curve much more gentle.

Keep in mind though that MP is almost an entirely different game. It's much faster paced (can be either a plus or minus depending on your stance), much more mentally challenging (single player is physcially challenging in that it'll take you a while, but not hard to outwit computer), and you won't be running around all the time like the computer's little gopher bitch (definitely a plus).

You can also make friends online. Much more rewarding experience, but you WILL get fucked from time to time. All worth it in the end imo. You can get better at a game, but you can't make an AI human.

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

You could see if you can find a Humans VS. CPU match, that way you can learn the tricks of the game without being on the recieving end (hopefully). :)

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
I agree with Kerrick that online multiplayer is a very different game and that you're going to get beaten up when you first start out regardless of how much single player experience you have.
That having been said, I do think people should play the game in single player for about a month first.  You want to be very familiar with and very comfortable about all of the mechanics of the game before you come online.  You should also play a couple long games with all three races so that you're familiar with their strengths and weaknesses.  Also, read the Strategy forum and flip through old threads.  Also, consider watching some of the posted replays (though I think most are for Entrenchment) and study what the good players.
One more thing, make sure you understand what a neutral extractor is (an extractor in a gravity well where there isn't a planet that can be colonized) and how to capture them.  Also, get used to starting out with one of the following three capital ships (as your first capital ship) depending on your race:  TEC--Marza.  Advent--Progenitor Mothership.  Vasari--Evacuator Mothership (aka the Egg).  Practice playing without building more than one or perhaps two captial ships as well.  Also, when you start out, build enough military labs first (before building any civics labs), at the beginning, so that you can make your LRM ship (TEC needs 2, Advent needs 3, Vasari needs 1).  Also, if you have Entrenchment, I suggest getting used to the "Fast Start" game option and play the game with all speeds set to fast.
Once you feel comfortable with the single player game then it might be time to venture online.  Definitely learn the online game because it's so much fun and it can get boring playing against the AI, which really isn't very challenging.  One major differencet that you'll have to get used to in order to be a team player is that in the team game, you try to do whatever you can to help your team even if you personally are being beaten.  In single player you would probably just end the game and start a new one, but that's the wrong thing to do in the online multiplayer locked teams game.  After all, if your team wins, you win too regardless of whether or not you personally were beaten. 
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks for all the great info!

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

Keep in mind though that MP is almost an entirely different game.
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I agree with Kerrek, and Jixra.  SP is all about Econ (because the AI cheats at econ).  MP is all about Fleet, and rush, rush to superior numbers, and units.

That's one my biggest gripes about the balance of Multiplayer.  Economic upgrades are just too trivial or insignificant!  You'll get yourself overrun by superior military, before any of the economic research pays off.  (Unless there is a large distance between yourself & your enemies).  And this also applies to most of the armor, health, shield upgrades too.  It takes up to 80 ships for the measly 5% upgrade to pay for itself.  You are better off just using the money buy 1 more ship!

Altho, I do have to admit that Entrenchment has finally made some of the defensive enhancements worthwhile, and a person can lean more to economic strategy, with the right defensive strategy.  And even potentially win without having a #1 ranking in fleet category throughout the whole game.

The final thing I want to mention is "feeding".  Many noobs don't realize the reason they got beat, is because their opponent had been fed.  It only takes a couple 'extra' ships in the early game to overwhelm an opponent.  As a noob, you probably won't be trusted with feed, and therefore sit at a significant disadvantage to a experienced cooperative team.

Rant completed.  Here are couple links to good and current conversations on this subject. 

Online strategy

List of Tips

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

I'm new to pvp on vanilla, so if you are up for it, we can dance round or handbags until the AI pawns us :-)

I have a couple of days free if you are interested