FTL - Hyperspace/Hyperlanes

[PaulMClem]

In the few hours I've played in the lead up to Utopia/Banks I'd just stuck with Warp (as this is recommended by the Wiki and in-game). Works fine. Fairly slow and has the cool-down periods. However, I thought I might try the next one up (this is how it seems to be presented Warp-Hyperspace-Wormhole). Had a quick session and it definitely seems quicker with Hyperspace. Main issue is of course that the Hyperlanes can be known to anyone who has access to the map, that and issues cross voids where there are no lanes.

I think I'll probably give Hyperspace a try. It's just that searching old threads there wasn't a lot of love.

 

[General Retreat]

One thing that can be a lot of fun is hyperspace only games, as all those bottlenecks make for strategic points that can be fortified.

It also means the late game development of jump drives is a bit of a nuclear bomb moment for the galaxy. The first person to develop it can wreak absolute carnage until their rivals catch up / reverse engineer it.

Mixed in with the other FTL types, hyperlanes are pretty disappointing though.

 

[PaulMClem]

One thing that can be a lot of fun is hyperspace only games

That was another thing. As you can't change FTL (until Jump Drive is available) it seems a huge disadvantage to the human player to allow the AI to have Wormhole while they stay on Warp. Think for now I'd rather everyone in the galaxy had the same FTL.

 

[Kahless]

One thing that can be a lot of fun is hyperspace only games, as all those bottlenecks make for strategic points that can be fortified.

It also means the late game development of jump drives is a bit of a nuclear bomb moment for the galaxy. The first person to develop it can wreak absolute carnage until their rivals catch up / reverse engineer it.

Mixed in with the other FTL types, hyperlanes are pretty disappointing though.

I do enjoy hyperlane only games though because it does bring back memories of traditional space games such as Sins of a Solar Empire. But for know I have been playing warp for the freedom. Haven't tried wormhole yet but I think that might be my second game after Utopia

 

[Slynx]

"hyperlanes-only" are my favorites too. brings more strategy and can create interesting situations.
but there were rumors that AI can't handle hyperlanes effectively.

 

[Anaraxes]

One thing that can be a lot of fun is hyperspace only games, as all those bottlenecks make for strategic points that can be fortified.

I'm also a fan of checking the "everyone uses hyperlanes" box occasionally. Geography matters a lot more with that setup, and the defense stations become a more likely option to actually spend some resources building.

Hyperlanes aren't entirely outclassed in a mixed FTL game, but you will have to work to take advantage of its advantage, which is largely the short cooldown period. Hyperlane ships can usually sneak deeper on raids into enemy space than warp ships because they just touch the outer rim of the border systems briefly before moving on, rather than sitting there a couple of weeks waiting on their drives to cool down. Warp ships can of course just cut across the hyperlane corners. So that becomes a war of faster ships having to take the long away around, versus the slower warp ships having to plan where they hop to stay away from their hyper-pursuers, or on the flip side, a lot of quick hit-and-run battles by those hyper-raiders to stay out of reach of their warp pursuers. (This is one reason it can be useful to research hyperlanes even when you don't use the hyperdrive yourself. You can see where your enemy is allowed to move and plan to cut those corners.)

 

[ashbery76]

"hyperlanes-only" are my favorites too. brings more strategy and can create interesting situations.
but there were rumors that AI can't handle hyperlanes effectively.

Yeah that's the problem.They get stuck because of monsters,factions and kills their expansion..I play warp only as its the best for the A.I.

 

[Tavior]

You guy really need to give wormhole a try.

It is somewhat bit more complex and require some practice. But the general idea is to ensure that you have 2-3 backup wormholes. Not just one.

The best part about wormhole is that if you run into a very small empire closing it's border to you. You can leapfrog them and keep going past them.

Later tier wormhole tech upgrade your existing stations to give you longer range jumps.

There was a game where I manage to circumnavigation the entire Galaxy to just "explore a single solar system" for a goal. It was one of those one empire for each 50 stars crowded galaxy map.

Later on the network was still in place when the AI crisis pop up and I used that same network to "mop" up the AI crisis that AI couldn't handle.

 

[CocoCincinnati]

I've gotten to where I only play hyperlane only or warp only games. The Wormholes are really one of the most unique, fun and interesting FTL types I've seen in a game like this but for me, it turned into a game of whack a mole every time I went to war with an empire that used it. I usually play on a 4 arm spiral map so the warp only games ensures that everybody is limited to the arm they start on until they research warp II. It makes exploration and expansion a bit more linear in the early game, only two choices, left or right, but then later, you can start expanding into other arms from your established core. At least that's how I like it. Hyperlanes on the other hand, you can see where the connections between the spiral arms are right from the start and those are hugely important, certainly something worth fighting over early game. I like both types but probably play more warp than hypelane lately.

 

[PaulMClem]

Ok, think my first Utopia campaign will be Hyperlanes only. Give wormholes a try a couple of campaigns down the line.

 

[Tavior]

I've gotten to where I only play hyperlane only or warp only games. The Wormholes are really one of the most unique, fun and interesting FTL types I've seen in a game like this but for me, it turned into a game of whack a mole every time I went to war with an empire that used it. I usually play on a 4 arm spiral map so the warp only games ensures that everybody is limited to the arm they start on until they research warp II. It makes exploration and expansion a bit more linear in the early game, only two choices, left or right, but then later, you can start expanding into other arms from your established core. At least that's how I like it. Hyperlanes on the other hand, you can see where the connections between the spiral arms are right from the start and those are hugely important, certainly something worth fighting over early game. I like both types but probably play more warp than hypelane lately.

I don't play hyperlane primarily because it doesn't make sense to expose the entire galaxy's hyperlane map at the start.

I rather have the lane become more mapped as you go along with exploration.

Endless 2 and SoTS does this part somewhat better.

 

[Slynx]

I rather have the lane become more mapped as you go along with exploration.

ES is turn based. so it's better for you to control multiple scout fleets. and in stellaris you'll have to spend too much time giving orders to the fleets(there are no auto-explore, and even auto-survey comes with a bit of time)
ps:also there is a mod for it. i suggest to try in on fast-fastest speed and see how much more attention you'll have to give to the fleets

 

[mathers]

I play wormholes mostly. I am worried with lanes my expansion will be limited. And that with wrap I am unable to deal with hole adversaries

 

[Tavior]

ES is turn based. so it's better for you to control multiple scout fleets. and in stellaris you'll have to spend too much time giving orders to the fleets(there are no auto-explore, and even auto-survey comes with a bit of time)
ps:also there is a mod for it. i suggest to try in on fast-fastest speed and see how much more attention you'll have to give to the fleets

Micro-managing your scouts isn't the issue.

Human know to rush for chokehold and beat other AI to it. While AI may not be smart enough to do it.

So in a sense it feels like a not fair game playing advantage.

With warp and wormhole FTL style you don't have that problem at all.

 

[Mitchz95]

I don't play hyperlane primarily because it doesn't make sense to expose the entire galaxy's hyperlane map at the start.

I rather have the lane become more mapped as you go along with exploration.

Endless 2 and SoTS does this part somewhat better.

Here's a mod for you: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=701434781

And hyperlanes don't have any cooldown at all, last I checked. Another nice aspect to them. Just wish the charge-up was shorter.

 

[Tavior]

Here's a mod for you: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=701434781

And hyperlanes don't have any cooldown at all, last I checked. Another nice aspect to them. Just wish the charge-up was shorter.

Only problem with mods is do they break the checksum? Because there isn't a way to tell definitely for sure that you can still earn achievement with add on. Otherwise I would have used it.

 

[Slynx]

rule of a thumb - you can't earn achievements with mods.
but there are only 65 achievements... you can earn them fast and continue playing with mods. even on iron man

 

[Tavior]

rule of a thumb - you can't earn achievements with mods.
but there are only 65 achievements... you can earn them fast and continue playing with mods. even on iron man

Ever since I found out about superstructure and Mandate of Heaven. It is hard to play right now knowing about all upcoming QoL changes.

 

[Tatterhood]

I like to play hyperlane only, but the many ways in which the game clearly isn't designed with that in mind annoy me. In particular, distance between systems is computed as straight-line distance (basically assuming warp) rather than the distance of the shortest hyperlane path, which leads to the AI doing weird things with expansion sometimes. And playing in a spiral galaxy you can have one of your guaranteed "nearby" colonizable worlds be on another arm and require going through three empires to reach.

I might do all-warp next time for a change of pace.

 

[scaper12123]

Hyperspace, in my opinion, is only good for hyperspace-only games where you want to take advantage of bottlenecking static defenses. It's also good if you're playing a pacifist empire and plan only to defend your own space.

Warp is good for offensive warrior states that want to fight far-away empires. Same goes for wormhole empires, albeit preferring closer-range empires.