Well, my first game vs the AI with 1.3 was disapointing; it did the same terrible stuff, or worse if you ask me. I tried another today, same settings (but random AI), and it was the best game I've ever played vs the AI. It did not retreat, and in fact, I had to retreat my first encounter with them. And my second. But not my third. They did retreat my third attack, but I would have too given the odds. They also did an end run on me once, which really shocked me (since I was use to watching TV and glacing at my monitor every so often when playing the AI usually). I had to turn of my TV and pay attention after that. Unless it was just chance, I also think they made counters to my fleet type.

I keep wondering if it's the AI "type" that needs tweeking; perhaps my first game, the aggressive AI just was not working; not sure what one I got the seond game. I wonder why they don't just have a "Normal" type, one that does not go full steam with tech, eco, or agression. It sure does sound from what I've read to be hit or miss.

Yeah, so was mine. The AI kicked my ass. That is whay i call dissapointing. Destroyed me before i had a good working fleet going. I guess that's what i get for taking a couple days off for some Half Life 2. I got soft.

You should try going online and finding a skilled player who would be willing to play wit you and give you ingame tips. Sounds like you really need them. My friend's first game ever was me and him vs 2 hard bots. It was not even close, the bots had no chance, and my friend performed well. Of course he was sitting right next to me so i could give him a bunch of tips, but sounds like that's seriously what you need.

PS, playing against AI = pointless.
that's just my opinion. Games with real people are so much better, and there are people out there who aren't assholes. If you want to play an online game, just lemme kno, any time, I'll give you some tips and it'll be a load of fun. My username on sins is the same on this forum. Or just pm me.

Thanks for the offer, but i actually enjoy AI games. I am EXTREMELY slow at Sins (as well as any other RTS) and that doesnt typically go well online. It is just the style i like to play; extremely defensive to a fault until i see the right time and then i strike furiously with everything i have without having to worry about my back. This kind of play is perfect for AI and bots because the AI and bots don't typically react well to a COMPLETELY maxed out fleet of hundred sof ships. They just melt away...and so does my CPU and GPU for that matter, but thats not the point.

I am a vet of quicker games like starcraft and the original C&C's (and World in Conflict but thats not old) so i am not saying i can't play quickly, i am just tired of fast paced games and enjoy playing week long games against players who are always there to fight me. That is why i bought Sins and it has not let me down. And i realize that there are people out there who arent assholes, lol, although i would never have known that playing Halo online. YOU GOT OWNED!!! YOU GOT PWNED!!! YOU GOT SERVED!!! its so freaking stupid. but thanks anyways CommanderAdama, its good to know someone out there in the online community is not a complete pain.

I love the changes and this game is so much fun Ironclad / Stardock. Keep up the great work and if there is anything I could wish for with this game it would be a free campaign mode to flush out the back story. All in all I have had this since day 1, I love it regardless of not having a campaign (though it wouldn't hurt) and I defiantly gotta give this game a 4 out of 5! Lastly thanks for the updated mod support makes things a lot easier for us!

I have to say also the new game version is very challanging. Also I am very impressed that even version 1 was completely solid and bug free, very unusual for today's software! I see every update from now on as a free bonus above and beyond the call of duty. Many Thanks!

First, I want to say that this is an excellent game and the devs have done an amazing job. This game has single handily gotten me back into playing games on the computer.

I have some feedback on the black market system in the 1.03 patch.

Personally, I think it's broken in it's existing state. I saw the purpose of the black market as a quick way to get a small infusion of resources when needed. However with the current structure it becomes the primary source (at least for TEC). I played a game last night and it was pointless to even build extractors and dump researching to mining research because it was more cost effective to buy on the black market. I just filled my logistical slots with Trade Ports and had a massive credit income.

Ideally, you're mining operations should be your primary source of materials and the black market should augment that production. A few ideas that might help balance this:

- A saw a post on this thread that suggested a finite amount of resources that then very slowly went up. I like that idea and players selling resources for credits could have those values applied back to the available resource piles. This way the black market has a finite amount of material and as stock of a particular resource dwindles, it's price skyrockets. This would encourage players to focus on mining instead.

- Bring back the price algorithm from 1.02. There were times when all the players were picking up crystal and I really didn't want to pay 1200 credits for 100 crystal. However, when the price never goes above 600, it's a no-brainer. Maybe bring back those price algorithms.

- Maybe put a set of game options in place to control how the market operates? A supply heavy option (like how it works in 1.03) or supply light option (more like 1.02) or even race supplied (where amount available is only provided by the various races and there is a small increase rate).

- Pirate raids could steal raw materials that get dumped into the black market coffers.

This was mentioned a few posts back and I would like to mention it again, has anybody got the maps created in Galaxy Forge to be recognized in version 1.03?

Nice post pjhanson3,

I agree with you. I hardly ever build extractors as the first thing after colonizing a planet, it's most often a tradeport. I hope their so called "statistics" they gather reflect this!

Yeah, a "more closed" economy would be just fine by me. Forces players to actually find and protect the resources they need to make their fleets. Right now you just focus on credits and buy resources.

just two things that I have not particularly seen mentioned:

one: you can now research up to three techs in parallel (military, civic and fleet). this has quite an impact and should be pointed more to in the patch notes.

two: is it just me or do the fleet research tool tips not adequately reflect the fleet size customization option? what I mean is that even when I have low fleet sizes and a starting fleet of 75 points, the tip still displays it as going from 100 to 250 and so on. pretty confusing.

Power to the ships! :LOL: 

Does anyone know why, after installing this update (1.03), whenever I quit from Sins, Windows Media Center started without my initiating it? I have no interest in WMC and found the starting of it without my consent very irritating. I spent quite a large amount of time with System Restore / Uninstall / RegCure / Restart / Finding out how to disable or uninstall WMC / Re-install / Re-download the update etc.

I was really irritated by this. Surely there is no need for this kind of 'stealth' initiation of WMC? Why couldn't the software have asked me first? This is really quite improper.

It's not the game doing it. It sounds like something in your registry's been corrupted. I've had weird stuff like this happen throughout the years of using Windows and it's always a pita to fix.  If you have a recent system restore point, that may be the quickest way to fix things.

I've heard of this problem before and the solution then was to check out your shortcut that's launching the game. The previous person with this problem had an additional command after a hyphen that was launching the Media Center.

Can't guarantee that is your issue, but at least it will only take a second to check to see if your command line is clean of any extra modifiers.

I can't get Sins of a Solar Empire to run. I have plenty of computer power and I run on Windows 7 64bit.

I can install the game but after installing it just won't run; the screen goes blank. Some one suggested it was a firewall problem but how can that be the case when I can update the game through Impulse but still it won't run!

First of all, this is a three year necro on a patch that is no longer avaliable. Second you should post in the technical forum with your specs so that the Stardock support people have a better chance of seeing it.

Wow, patch released way back before Impulse, back when people could easily pirate and patch the game.