How many frig… frigates do I have to destroy to conquer Planet Earth? This is getting really, really tiresome.

I'm sure the number must be given in the resource files.

I started out by salting the planet with four space bombs at a time. This instantly blows away the wave of four frigates, and a new wave doesn't appear until you demand tribute again. (Bug? Feature? Hmmm.) I had enough bombs for eight or nine waves, so I thought I was getting a good start.

My fleet contains two frigates, a Kestrel, a Corvette, a couple extra Lightings, plus my own complement of four Mantas. So my guys keep 'em blowin' up, and I just fly circles to avoid all the torpedoes. We conquered New Sahara in just a few seconds.

But it's been like two hours now, and it's gotten totally mind-numbing. Will this never end?

Ah, the forum filter was limiting the search results.

http://www.ambrosias...=1

http://www.ambrosias...=1

Looks like they are pretty much endless. Probably set at 65535 or whatever. And they'll keep coming even if I leave the system and come back, didn't know that. Oh well…

@potatoswatter2, on 29 March 2011 - 03:44 AM, said in Demand tribute from Earth:

I'm sure the number must be given in the resource files.

Yes.

@potatoswatter2, on 29 March 2011 - 03:44 AM, said in Demand tribute from Earth:

Will this never end?

No.

Edit: Yeah it's probably not worth it unless you want to spent an entire day going at it without sleep like zidagar apparently did. o.0

This post has been edited by Buzzzzy : 29 March 2011 - 04:25 AM

Wait, Earth was unconquerable in original EVC? I know I've dominated it in the EVC ports, and I think I remember doing it in the original, too. And if I did, I know it didn't take an entire day.

<checks old copy of original EVC>

Hmm. The value entered for the defense fleet is 32,765. In Mission Computer, that translates to 2,276 ships in waves of 5. The value 32,765, however, is the largest any value could be (IIRC), if it could even get that high. In Guy's EVC port, the value is the same, yet I know I've dominated the entire Sol system in the port (I'm looking at it in my pilot file right now) and it didn't take me all day. Three hours per stellar, tops.

I suppose the original EVC's engine may translate the value 32,765 into infinity when used for defense fleets, but it seems strange Nova's engine wouldn't do the same. I'm going under the assumption that, if it can be done in Nova with the same values, it can be done in original EVC. It'll just take longer than the other planets, moons, and stations in the galaxy.

This post has been edited by DarthKev : 29 March 2011 - 05:06 AM

@darthkev, on 29 March 2011 - 05:05 AM, said in Demand tribute from Earth:

Wait, Earth was unconquerable in original EVC? I know I've dominated it in the EVC ports, and I think I remember doing it in the original, too. And if I did, I know it didn't take an entire day.

<checks old copy of original EVC>

Hmm. The value entered for the defense fleet is 32,765. In Mission Computer, that translates to 2,276 ships in waves of 5. The value 32,765, however, is the largest any value could be (IIRC), if it could even get that high. In Guy's EVC port, the value is the same, yet I know I've dominated the entire Sol system in the port (I'm looking at it in my pilot file right now) and it didn't take me all day. Three hours per stellar, tops.

I suppose the original EVC's engine may translate the value 32,765 into infinity when used for defense fleets, but it seems strange Nova's engine wouldn't do the same. I'm going under the assumption that, if it can be done in Nova with the same values, it can be done in original EVC. It'll just take longer than the other planets, moons, and stations in the galaxy.

Thanks for the info! The highest numerical value, possibly nonsense, would be 32767. I'm definitely getting waves of 4, not 5. I'm playing EVC version 1.0.5, the last update. The other people here are confirming it's not infinity, anyway, and I didn't play for 3 hours (really, that's a long time for me to be playing a game!), but it sounds like I need to go shanghai some more bounty hunters and fill my fleet with Kestrels, if I really want to do this.

Where is this Mission Computer program? I need to go download ResEdit… I already tracked down a copy of MPW, which isn't easy these days… starting from scratch with nothing but a 9.0.2 installer CD!

@potatoswatter2, on 29 March 2011 - 06:23 AM, said in Demand tribute from Earth:

The highest numerical value, possibly nonsense, would be 32767.

That's right! Thank you for correcting me on that.

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I'm definitely getting waves of 4, not 5.

That's... odd. When I attempt to dominate Earth in Guy's port, I get 5 ships coming out, just as Mission Computer says it should be. Are you sure you're not miscounting? When you kill a ship that's part of a defense fleet, another ship won't come out to replace it until the dead one blows up. Maybe you're counting them after you've killed one but before it's blown up? I haven't gone back to my iMac yet to test how many show up in original EVC, though I see no reason why it would be different.

Quote

I'm playing EVC version 1.0.5, the last update. The other people here are confirming it's not infinity, anyway, and I didn't play for 3 hours (really, that's a long time for me to be playing a game!), but it sounds like I need to go shanghai some more bounty hunters and fill my fleet with Kestrels, if I really want to do this.

Yeah, if you're going to dominate any planet using warships instead of fighters for a defense fleet, you're gonna want all warships in your fleet. If you can manage it and are willing to do the work, I'd suggest trying to capture 6 Confed Cruisers. Short of that, 6 Kestrels is a good start.

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Where is this Mission Computer program?

You can find it on the Add-Ons page here or at the official site for the program here. The most recent versions require Mac OS X or later, though you can still find older versions for Classic at either link.

@darthkev, on 29 March 2011 - 07:21 AM, said in Demand tribute from Earth:

That's... odd. When I attempt to dominate Earth in Guy's port, I get 5 ships coming out, just as Mission Computer says it should be. Are you sure you're not miscounting? When you kill a ship that's part of a defense fleet, another ship won't come out to replace it until the dead one blows up. Maybe you're counting them after you've killed one but before it's blown up? I haven't gone back to my iMac yet to test how many show up in original EVC, though I see no reason why it would be different.

Definitely 4. Definitely, definitely 4.

Quote

Yeah, if you're going to dominate any planet using warships instead of fighters for a defense fleet, you're gonna want all warships in your fleet. If you can manage it and are willing to do the work, I'd suggest trying to capture 6 Confed Cruisers. Short of that, 6 Kestrels is a good start.

More power is better, but both big and small ships work well as the targets scatter out and collect back together.

I've been trying to capture a Confed Cruiser but so far I'm 0 for six boardings. (Fortunately they come by Sol often.) One time the capture percentage was more than 1, but it still didn't happen. I'm not sure what the capture % really means, since I've succeeded even when it is one, but getting even two of these guys will take forever. Do I essentially need to be flying one to capture one? I've got a Rebel Cruiser.

Also, 6 cruisers plus 24 patrol ships would hit the ship limit, right? Really 4 would be plenty. The patrol ships aren't as effective as Lightnings, either, and the Kestrel will be better at maneuvering to follow the frigates as they wander away from Earth. So, maybe the easier way is better .

Quote

You can find it on the Add-Ons page here or at the official site for the program here. The most recent versions require Mac OS X or later, though you can still find older versions for Classic at either link.

Thanks! I'll check it out after some sleep.

This post has been edited by Potatoswatter2 : 29 March 2011 - 09:03 AM

Potatoswatter is an amazing name, but if you're 2, who's 1?

@potatoswatter2, on 29 March 2011 - 08:51 AM, said in Demand tribute from Earth:

Definitely 4. Definitely, definitely 4.

Hrm... That's definitely peculiar, but I'll take your word for it. I'll test that for myself later.

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More power is better, but both big and small ships work well as the targets scatter out and collect back together.

I've been trying to capture a Confed Cruiser but so far I'm 0 for six boardings. (Fortunately they come by Sol often.) One time the capture percentage was more than 1, but it still didn't happen. I'm not sure what the capture % really means, since I've succeeded even when it is one, but getting even two of these guys will take forever. Do I essentially need to be flying one to capture one? I've got a Rebel Cruiser.

Also, 6 cruisers plus 24 patrol ships would hit the ship limit, right? Really 4 would be plenty. The patrol ships aren't as effective as Lightnings, either, and the Kestrel will be better at maneuvering to follow the frigates as they wander away from Earth. So, maybe the easier way is better .

True, but Cruisers are damn hard for the AI to kill. But I see your reasoning. Good luck, however you end up doing it.

heh, conquering earth. there are a few ways to do it and limit the amount.

one was to cheat and max out the system with lightnings, if no ships can spawn, then the game reads it as done. can be done also with kestrel escorts and their lightning fighters (i think it's 24 ships right there, but it requires timing, like you have to engage a cruiser in system so all the lightnings spawn then demand tribute twice quickly) and some of your own fighters, plus you might get lucky and have some fleets in the system.

or you could just fight them all. it doesn't take more than 4 or 5 hours...

and really, it doesn't matter if there are 4 or 5 ships coming out (i remember i had enough fighters once cheating that i thought i could limit the system, but i was one short. i got bored after like an hour because they came one at a time).

but if you really want to do it, you could just sit there and fight them all. or just ######ing edit the resource file.

Thankfully, plug-ins can easily solve this problem.