02-24-2003, 04:18 AM
I'm with you warblade, uncreative is fun, and a good way to skill up.
No idea why people play creative, you never need more than one of the techs on a level, and in M.P. creative races get wiped out well before they pick up research speed... you are essentially giving up 8 points for no gain (one tech + two useless techs per level, but not getting tach any faster than others). Better off if you like the research path is to go + research/artifacts world and pick the techs that are actually useful. But in any case the research races are usually out-researched by those with a building races (unification, + prod, tolerant, subterranian etc.) since those races can pump out far more with fewer civilians so can afford more researchers.
With spies, if you are even in tech, the side that can pump out twice++ the ships will win.
Also assault shuttles are a great leveller if you are behind in tech (esp. warfare tech). But the counter is usually troop pods and security stations (early game)... the +20 to combat is nasty, not sure what the equations are, but a slight advantage in combat rating leads to a mauling. That's why antaran ships with their 100 rating are so hard to capture without mass assault ship fleets or late game tech. Late game counters to assault ships with death ray support is more problematic... but if you have left the game go on that long as a productive race then you have made a mistake anyway (i.e. the research races will womp you).
Anyone that hasn't tried uncreative in moo2 should give it a go, you learn a lot of tactics, both in how to attack/defend/build an empire, and especially in ship design and fleet design. :)
No idea why people play creative, you never need more than one of the techs on a level, and in M.P. creative races get wiped out well before they pick up research speed... you are essentially giving up 8 points for no gain (one tech + two useless techs per level, but not getting tach any faster than others). Better off if you like the research path is to go + research/artifacts world and pick the techs that are actually useful. But in any case the research races are usually out-researched by those with a building races (unification, + prod, tolerant, subterranian etc.) since those races can pump out far more with fewer civilians so can afford more researchers.
With spies, if you are even in tech, the side that can pump out twice++ the ships will win.
Also assault shuttles are a great leveller if you are behind in tech (esp. warfare tech). But the counter is usually troop pods and security stations (early game)... the +20 to combat is nasty, not sure what the equations are, but a slight advantage in combat rating leads to a mauling. That's why antaran ships with their 100 rating are so hard to capture without mass assault ship fleets or late game tech. Late game counters to assault ships with death ray support is more problematic... but if you have left the game go on that long as a productive race then you have made a mistake anyway (i.e. the research races will womp you).
Anyone that hasn't tried uncreative in moo2 should give it a go, you learn a lot of tactics, both in how to attack/defend/build an empire, and especially in ship design and fleet design. :)