Azure Trance
First Post
I didn't know until a second ago they actually released it yesterday. Who has it, and what are the good points / bad points? Can't wait to get my hands on it (Playing Space Empires IV Gold in the meantime) 
Moo 3!
- Thread starter Azure Trance
- Start date
Bugbear
First Post
Lots of discussion at the games official boards
Heretic Apostate
First Post
AzureTrance:
Be warned: There is a rather steep learning curve. This game is not for the casual strategy gamer. I've been following the forums for months, and I have little clue how to play the game.
The problem is, there are a bunch of nifty features (e.g., the development plans, which tell the planetary viceroys what to build), but there's not sufficient documentation. The manual is out of date, there's some info in the readme file, the master notes (in game tips) tell you how to do things but not why, and the encyclopedia is sparse as well.
I know these development plans work, but I don't know how to set them up so that the viceroys do what I want. You see, the computer looks at the world, and assigns two development plans based on the world's situation. You can't look at a world and say, "Hmmm, I want this to be my research world." Nope, the computer looks at it and decides what it wants it to be. You can set up five custom (Player Defined 1 to 5) development plans to override the computer's choices, but you can't tell it that this world is Research.
So, the planet is affected by two development plans, either those chosen by the computer, or among the five custom plans you have made. It's also affected by the aptly-named All Planets plan, where you set your empire-wide emphasis (do you want to concentrate on research? then put Research in primary). Then go through the forty or so development plans, and decide how you'd like the computer to respond to each situation. Planet in starvation? How would you handle that situation? How about a mineral-rich world? A mineral-poor world? And so on.
It's really annoying because, after spending an hour doing that, you can't save the plans for a future game. But that will undoubtably be one of the first things tossed into the patch.
Some complaints that have so far been solved on the link provided above: There are instructions on how to correctly (the readme file is slightly wrong, so it doesn't work at all) move the music files to your hard drive (it'll still do the copy protection checks, but at least your drive isn't spinning constantly). (Or maybe this one is fixed on http://forums.orionsector.com?) There are instructions on how to change the clunky font. There are instructions on how to get the viceroys to stop building troops ships and army units and start building actual warships (i.e., get your economy off of Peace and Prosperity and up to Total War, and your funding for military will go from a trickle to a nice river).
Okay, enough for now. Just realize, the game isn't for everyone. If you don't have the time to get used to the game, don't buy it. If you don't like leaving a lot of the minutae to the computer (which will do a good job, if you know what you're doing when you design a development plan), you're going to be very frustrated by this game. If you don't want to bother with a steep learning curve, this isn't the game for you.
Heh. I'm hoping someone comes out with a Corion and a PickHack for the game soon. Already, they're figuring out what the cheat codes are (though they don't know how to enter them yet...).
Be warned: There is a rather steep learning curve. This game is not for the casual strategy gamer. I've been following the forums for months, and I have little clue how to play the game.
The problem is, there are a bunch of nifty features (e.g., the development plans, which tell the planetary viceroys what to build), but there's not sufficient documentation. The manual is out of date, there's some info in the readme file, the master notes (in game tips) tell you how to do things but not why, and the encyclopedia is sparse as well.
I know these development plans work, but I don't know how to set them up so that the viceroys do what I want. You see, the computer looks at the world, and assigns two development plans based on the world's situation. You can't look at a world and say, "Hmmm, I want this to be my research world." Nope, the computer looks at it and decides what it wants it to be. You can set up five custom (Player Defined 1 to 5) development plans to override the computer's choices, but you can't tell it that this world is Research.
So, the planet is affected by two development plans, either those chosen by the computer, or among the five custom plans you have made. It's also affected by the aptly-named All Planets plan, where you set your empire-wide emphasis (do you want to concentrate on research? then put Research in primary). Then go through the forty or so development plans, and decide how you'd like the computer to respond to each situation. Planet in starvation? How would you handle that situation? How about a mineral-rich world? A mineral-poor world? And so on.
It's really annoying because, after spending an hour doing that, you can't save the plans for a future game. But that will undoubtably be one of the first things tossed into the patch.
Some complaints that have so far been solved on the link provided above: There are instructions on how to correctly (the readme file is slightly wrong, so it doesn't work at all) move the music files to your hard drive (it'll still do the copy protection checks, but at least your drive isn't spinning constantly). (Or maybe this one is fixed on http://forums.orionsector.com?) There are instructions on how to change the clunky font. There are instructions on how to get the viceroys to stop building troops ships and army units and start building actual warships (i.e., get your economy off of Peace and Prosperity and up to Total War, and your funding for military will go from a trickle to a nice river).
Okay, enough for now. Just realize, the game isn't for everyone. If you don't have the time to get used to the game, don't buy it. If you don't like leaving a lot of the minutae to the computer (which will do a good job, if you know what you're doing when you design a development plan), you're going to be very frustrated by this game. If you don't want to bother with a steep learning curve, this isn't the game for you.
Heh. I'm hoping someone comes out with a Corion and a PickHack for the game soon. Already, they're figuring out what the cheat codes are (though they don't know how to enter them yet...).
Azure Trance
First Post
Thanks Heretic; I'm not sure if I do have the time to spare for that since it seems so intensive ... last year, yes. Now, I'm not so sure. Though I'd like to ask, what are the multiplayer capabilities? They say simultaneous action between up to 8 players, but I gather holding a constant game between you and 7 others isn't the easiest thing in the world. Is there some sort of play by turn or PBEM option?
Heretic Apostate
First Post
Azure Trance said:
I don't play multi (which is good, because I'm an unrepentant cheater
), but I've heard that you can save games. At that point, when y'all want to start playing again, the saved game must be mailed out to all the players (it's a 5MB file, however...). If anyone drops out due to connection loss (aside from the guy hosting the game, unless you wish to risk the online version, which I hear lots o' bad stuff about), the computer will take over their empire. Also, if there's room available, people can join later, taking over an empire from the AI.No PBEM that I've heard of.
Bugbear said:
If you want to call it discussion... It looks like the board of every game I've ever seen that didn't remotely deliver what it promised - LOTS of negative posts (some inarticulate, some thoughtful) being indiscriminately and intentionally drowned out by huge amounts of posts from the local fanboys (with active moderator support), who are desperetely trying to convince themselves that a) The majority of people like the game, and b) The game isn't bad, it's just very deep, you need to spend a week or two getting to know it.
The typical party line of people trying to get themselves to believe that something they awaited for seven years has to be good, aka Episode I syndrome. Kind of fascinating to watch...
Not a happy camper on MOO3 see the other thread...
http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42768
It just takes too long to learn the basics. Maybe it all falls together but so far I am disappointed in the game.
http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42768
It just takes too long to learn the basics. Maybe it all falls together but so far I am disappointed in the game.
Last edited:
TheAuldGrump
First Post
Hmmm, I'm pretty happy with MoO 3, despite the learning cliff (too steep to really be called a curve). It took me about four games and then Bam! suddenlyI understood it. But then I actually enjoy micromanagement and this game is an anal retentive's dream! (Not sarcasm by the way, I really am enjoying it.) They changed a lot of the races around, and turned the Psilons pretty much into what I used to create and play in MoO 2. And I really, really like the starlanes.
This game really is about empire building. Focus too much on one thing, trust your subordinates (the AI) either too much or too little and your empire will collapse like a house of cards. And unlike MoO 2 this is definitely a 'big fleets' game.
On the other hand I can see where a lot of folks might not get into the game, its very complicated and, I think, assumes that the player enjoys this style of play, which may put me in the minority. This is a game where a demo would help a ot of folks figure out ahead of time whether or not they want it.
The Auld Grump
This game really is about empire building. Focus too much on one thing, trust your subordinates (the AI) either too much or too little and your empire will collapse like a house of cards. And unlike MoO 2 this is definitely a 'big fleets' game.
On the other hand I can see where a lot of folks might not get into the game, its very complicated and, I think, assumes that the player enjoys this style of play, which may put me in the minority. This is a game where a demo would help a ot of folks figure out ahead of time whether or not they want it.
The Auld Grump
Tiberius
Explorer
I concur with TheAuldGrump. I really like the game. I love the fact that I can leave the bulk of planetary management up to the computer and focus on diplomacy, research, and waging war/exploring.
It does take a little getting used to, though, and some people do have valid complaints. Just because I don't mind clicking the end turn button frequently doesn't mean that this is not a fatal flaw in the eyes of others.
-Tiberius
It does take a little getting used to, though, and some people do have valid complaints. Just because I don't mind clicking the end turn button frequently doesn't mean that this is not a fatal flaw in the eyes of others.
-Tiberius
Breakdaddy
First Post
I bought Moo3 and havent had a lot of time to play it yet. But it hasnt come to me in the hour or so Ive messed with it. So far I must say I still prefer Space Empires IV but I might be swayed once I get past the learning RIGHT ANGLE.
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