Anyone enjoying MOO3?

[JadeNova]

I just bought this one but have cast it aside in favor of Freelancer for now.

I'm finding MOO3 quite confusing to play anyone else trying it out right now?

[GHarper]

I got it

and I'm in waay over my head

which I knew going in so that doesnt bother me.

I never played MOO1 or 2 so I cant comment on how its different from then. there's obviously a lot of negative reactions occuring out there over this one. but I dont personally really feel qualified to judge it yet because I dont know what I'm doing. there's supposed to be a new manual in the works and a patch coming sometime in the next few weeks to address some of the problems. from what I've read on their forums the modders are already making headway dealing with the enemy AI problems and other things (again, just what I've read, I dont know yet what I'm doing, but hopefully since I'm off for the next week I can figure this out).

personally I can see potential in the game, so I'm sticking with it and am gonna wait and see how this all settles out.

[pjknibbs]

I've got about halfway through three games so far, and I'm undecided about how good it is. The severe lack of information in both the manual and the on-line encyclopaedia really makes it tough (and I don't mean that in a good way), and I'm sure there are other problems--for instance, I landed a group of infantry on a planet which the game reckoned had no ground units on it, only to be told there were actually 7 of them on there!

And then, of course, you have the interface, which (I'll be quite blunt) is a piece of s**t. You thought the original Battlecruiser 3000AD had a sucky user interface? You ain't seen nothin' yet!

Add to that the fact you spend half your time just clicking on the NEXT TURN button, waiting for a task force to get built or reach its destination--this slow pace may be realistic for a space strategy game, but it sure as heck ain't engrossing...

[EDIT slightly later] Actually, I just had a quick look through the MOO3 forums, and there was one thread which said what the problem might be. Basically, they're saying that MOO3 is NOT designed for the sort of micromanagement which we're all used to from Civ, Alpha Centauri etc.--the idea is MACROmanagement; in other words, you leave your planetary viceroys to manage the planets while you design new ships, set development plans for planets, and move fleets around. Doing it this way makes turns go by much quicker and would presumably make the game more "fun". I will investigate this idea the next time I load the game up--probably tomorrow.

[SteveMill]

I just bought this one but have cast it aside in favor of Freelancer for now.

I'm finding MOO3 quite confusing to play anyone else trying it out right now?

You shouldn't have too much trouble, according to tests the AI doesn't actually fight back due to some oversight. See the Quarter to Three Forums for details.

http://www.quartertothree.com/phpBB2/index.php

[Avis]

[EDIT slightly later] Actually, I just had a quick look through the MOO3 forums, and there was one thread which said what the problem might be. Basically, they're saying that MOO3 is NOT designed for the sort of micromanagement which we're all used to from Civ, Alpha Centauri etc.--the idea is MACROmanagement; in other words, you leave your planetary viceroys to manage the planets while you design new ships, set development plans for planets, and move fleets around. Doing it this way makes turns go by much quicker and would presumably make the game more "fun". I will investigate this idea the next time I load the game up--probably tomorrow.

I never gave the predecessors much time to be honest,
but that's a crying shame the whole reason I play this type of strategy game is for the sake of making my brain warm up a bit by having to keep track of and order about build etc countless units and facilities tweeking and tampering all away for the war effort

then again I'm a lover of Fighting Steel, a ww2 battleship tactical sim thing which can take HOURS for a single engagement between a couple of ships the bizmark vrs Hood was a little longer in my version (14 hours ral time (accelerated ime helps )

[JadeNova]

I've found the AI to be quite good.

I've lost more than one fleet so far to it. The enemies cloak then engage then cloak and run. I certainly havn't found the game easy. Boring maybe but not easy.

[SteveMill]

I've found the AI to be quite good.

I've lost more than one fleet so far to it. The enemies cloak then engage then cloak and run. I certainly havn't found the game easy. Boring maybe but not easy.

What critics meant was it will not counter-attack your positions. The diplomacy AI being screwed. But, i haven't played it and you have so i may be repeating nonsense. Check out that board though, it is well-informed.

[pjknibbs]

I never gave the predecessors much time to be honest,
but that's a crying shame the whole reason I play this type of strategy game is for the sake of making my brain warm up a bit by having to keep track of and order about build etc countless units and facilities tweeking and tampering all away for the war effort

Trouble is, they expect you to macromanage but don't give you the tools to do so--I should be able to say, "Go away and build me 10 carriers, then let me know when it's done", but all you can do is rely on the AI to randomly build you the right ships...

[Avis]

I never gave the predecessors much time to be honest,
but that's a crying shame the whole reason I play this type of strategy game is for the sake of making my brain warm up a bit by having to keep track of and order about build etc countless units and facilities tweeking and tampering all away for the war effort

Trouble is, they expect you to macromanage but don't give you the tools to do so--I should be able to say, "Go away and build me 10 carriers, then let me know when it's done", but all you can do is rely on the AI to randomly build you the right ships...

not good