Newbie Help

I'm frustrated

from Sins Forums
Maybe I'm just stupid, but after reading the whole manual and doing the 4 tutorials I still can't get anywhere after about 10 hours on the game in small maps against standard computer AI.

There are just so many variables. Many you don't know what you have to do to address as the popups tells you, you need to research something, but there is no hotlink to what exactly that research is called and where it is on the chart.

Does anybody know of a true newbie gameguide or at least an hour or so youtube video explaining how to play the game on a small map so I can see the menus accessed and somebody explaining why they are doing what?

It's no fun getting into these slow and painful deaths with the CPU.  I was able to get into and grasp Homeworld so much faster.
strategy
4,995 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

Well, I don't know if there's a video tutorial, but my advice would be to try some of the following.

a) turn the CPU down to easy
b) pause the game and read through the tech trees to see what everything does
c) try setting up a game with locked teams and give yourself a CPU ally
d) save a replay to watch later to see what the CPU does
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Thanks. One of the frustrating things is you'll try and build something and it is gray. It will say necessary research not done, but there should be a newbie mode where you can hit a hotkey and it tells you what specifically you are missing.

How can you see what the cpu is researching in the replay (i've yet to use the replay feature)
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
The best tip someone told me - watch the video of the game you played. But instead of watching yourself - watch the AI.

General rules for the first 1/2 hour:

Build Capital Ship
build 2 explorers - map the galaxy
build 4 light frigates
Build Refineries - crystal/metal
Build civic research x2
Build military research x2
Upgrade planet
Build planetary defenses - 2 hangers/ 4 cannons / 2 repair facilities
Expand to neighboring systems - generate more income - credits/crystal/metal

Upgrade military to get stronger frigates LRM's build 6 or so.
Upgrade planetary defenses to let you know when enemies are approaching.

Choose your research items wisely, but choose the important ones early - defenses etc.

I am sure there are better ideas out there, but the above gives you some confidence.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
I am having the same problems as the original poster. I seem to be doing alright and expanding out into the system and wham, I get hit by a huge fleet of enemy ships that takes out everything I have spent the last hour or more building up. It also seems that my capital ships are no match for the enemies even when I have more of them. My question is how does the AI ramp up so fast? When I check the stats they have out resourced, out produced and out researched me by almost 50%.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
"Thanks. One of the frustrating things is you'll try and build something and it is gray. It will say necessary research not done, but there should be a newbie mode where you can hit a hotkey and it tells you what specifically you are missing."

When you mouse over the grayed out icon, look at the infocard on the right. What you need to unlock the research will be in red. Could be more research stations, or a shortage of credits, metal or crystal. Its pretty simple actually.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
You can actually load a map with no AI enemies (just click on the symbol left to the AI settings). You instantly win, but get the chance to keep playing. This way you can find your way around the UI and basic empire management without being attacked.