I'm new..

and already tired of the computer

from Sins Forums

so, I bought the game a few days ago, and have played quite a few matches against the computer. As games go, this one is rather brilliant, but the  ai is stupid. I've read on the forums that one might try to play without starbases, etc...and that feels wrong.

so, of course, I grabbed the biggest mod I could find. Distant Stars, which is, by the way, excellent. Played that for a while, discovered that I could still cream the AI players. I get a third of a way through a game and discover there's just no threat...

so I'm looking to play online some. However, online play seems to be dominated by massive team organizations and high high speeds, both of which have me afeared.

So my problems are: I can play in teams, but would rather not..or at least not large teams. I've no compunction to adding AI, so long as there are people actually competing. Teams of a player and an AI, anynone?
I can play fast games, but would rather play games where resources and construction are slow, and ships are fast.  Make constructed ships that much more valuable.

I understand wanting to do something other than big alliance battles probably means I'll have to play with friends...but I figured I could make friends.

So, I'm looking at mp because while the AI might be challenging at times, I can tell it is stupid, and want a smart opponent. Anyone else want to play something with a nub who needs his lumps?

multiplayer
6,686 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

You should mention what version of the game and what time zone you play in.

Most MP players dislike altering the relation of the speeds because it messes up game sense.  Games are played on fast or faster because when you're used to that, normal speed crawls.  There are fast games on the second expansion as well as faster games though.

Not all the games are vast 5v5s, and 2s and 3s are often much better games, anything bigger often suffers from drops, and rushes become more of a factor.

If you are playing FFAs versus the AI they can be misleading, as fighting two AIs in a three-way FFA is easier than fighting one.  However, human players tend to be much better.  I hadn't played for a while until recently, but if you know when you're likely to be on we could set up a game sometime. 

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Well, I'm playing around a college schedule in -5 gmt, which is north American east coast, but that basically means I can be on at many times, excluding my early morning. I've picked up Trinity, so that's Diplomacy with Entrenchment.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Thats the most popular time zone, you shouldn't have too long a wait to get a game.  PM me next time you're going to be on.  How are you faring 1v1 against the AI?  Hard is a good level to stop playing AI and take up multiplayer.  The levels beyond unfair aren't much use, then you're relying on gaming the AI, rather than developing skills.

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

The good news is that you have Diplomacy which is where most of the PvP action is.  The bad news is that at 2.5 years after the original game's release there just aren't that many people left playing the game PvP in online multiplayer.  However, you can still find 4v4s and 5v5s.  Sadly, we just don't have the player counts (thousands of players online at once) needed to support non-standard game settings (such as fast speeds and slow construction rate) and custom maps and mods.

The benefit of the faster speed setting and quick start is that they reduce the amount of time it takes to play a game online, which is important when games can take over 1 hour to complete.  (I think most 5v5s take between 1:15-1:30 now.)  You'll get used to it eventually.  You might even end up liking 5v5 games eventually.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Team battles in many multiplayer games end up more about target calling and coordination than individual brilliance.
I bring this from a twitch based fighter(think dog-fighting) sim, but the principle remains the same. If one player can build two ships, two can build four, and five can build ten. thats 10 on two, given correct organization. Enough to take a world, and shlep off, fend off a strike. Of course, the opportunity to group up in FFA matches is why games get set to equal two matches, which relieves so much pressure on covering borders. Move a fleet across the system, or even all to the far side of an empire, when there's three blokes around you who might take the advantage, definitely not.

A furball isn't a furball with two people. Two teams are the same...

So, I'm looking for games on tricky settings, with strange expectations of people. I'm worried I'll leave the game after a week, which really means I can't afford the game and should have stuck with my pirated copy. Couldn't have discovered the multiplayer like that..Catch twenty two.

I'll go beat the game against a team of two unfair AI.

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top