Sensors As A Starting Ability

from Stardock Forums
I can not seem to start a random game anymore without picking up some sensors for the "huge" map size. Starting with technologists and 3 points into sensors and you are looking at 5+ sensors. I've found this to help a bunch in the intial land grab since the colo ship can see about half way across the grid.
My last game I started with no added sensors but +2 speed. Having +2 speed kind of compensated not having sensors but I went fairly early on to get the Eyes Of The Universe.
The only ability that I always pick no matter what is diplomacy. At minimum, I've always had 40 diplomacy to start the game, anything less is truly masochistic.
379 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Sensors are indeed good because you have no way to increase them in-game except eyes of the universe. I still prefer +speed. Using an extra scout (or even survey ship on bigger maps) gets a lot of the map uncovered for relatively cheap.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Using an extra scout (or even survey ship on bigger maps) gets a lot of the map uncovered for relatively cheap.
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I like to build two scouts as soon as possible and send them to a corner of the galaxy and have one go horizontally and one vertically until the galaxy is uncovered. Of course, the survey ship helps as well, and sometime on larger maps I use multiple survey ships.
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
A tip on uncovering space, try moving the ship diagonally in a zig-zag pattern, the optimum length of each leg is determined by the sensor range. For the standard scoutship it is 3, so by moving 3 NE then 3 NW, you uncover a strip that's 3 LY wider than going in a straight line. This can be very usefull in the early game, when finding nearby planets is important.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
try to use some cheese mate!!
Save, uncover, download, play!
we are welcome! LOL LOL

P.S. and there is no need to spend valuable points on sensors, better use them on diplomacy/planet PQ/morale/economics more valuable features in the game!
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Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Save, uncover, download, play!
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Yes, I do that too, but then my feeble brain forgets where the goodies are (:( (:(
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Save, uncover, download, play!
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Sometimes I go even further. I don't play, and say 'I have won'. I then pat myself on the back.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Sometimes I go even further. I don't play, and say 'I have won'. I then pat myself on the back.
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Quite right, some of us are so good, it's a foregone conclusion before we start ;)
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Save, uncover, download, play!
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Yes, I do that too, but then my feeble brain forgets where the goodies are
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have a sheet of paper, draw sectors and habitable planets! Easy done!
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
sheet of paper
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Pah, old technology.

BTW I've often thought it would be very useful and brain-numbingly simple to program a integrated persistant text scratch pad into the game, then you wouldn't have to fart about with bits of paper. It could even automatically make notes of start and duration of trade deals etc.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
And record colinization events. I like to write them down. Gives my planets character.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
have a sheet of paper, draw sectors and habitable planets! Easy done!
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Now this is good idea, especially if you want to work at wining as opposed to just enjoy playing an utilizing your brain to develop the strategy. Even better would be to paint little white-out spots on the monitor so you don't forget :D LOL :D LOL :sniff!:
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
And record colinization events. I like to write them down. Gives my planets character
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That's in the planet details. The year, and manner, in which it joined your empire.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
If you are going to do that, why not screen capture the uncovered map? Then you can load it up and look at it in Paint, IE, or whatever graphic package you may have installed on the game?

Of course, you could do like that old vet did... just set sensor range on all colony, survey, and scout ships to 99 parsecs and then not worry about it. (What was that players name? I just don't recall...)