multiplayer roles

[zespri]

Guys, where to read what multi-player roles (normal/helper) mean? Thanks!

Decided to try a game with a buddy (for the first time) and we actually can't start the game for whatever reason. The roles dropdown contains two items: normal and helper. We both choose "normal" and the game does not start with "all people have to select role other than none". Also it seems strange that when I select the role (was: Normal now: normal) the tickbox in front of his nick get cleared. Feels a bit wonky.

The game started when he chose "helper", but then I would like to know what's the difference.

[Draco18s]

"Helper" is effectively a spectator, but they do have the ability to give commands to other players' units.

I forget how it works exactly.

The Lobby now has a "role" dropdown for each occupied human player slot. The only options are Normal and Helper, but that makes it possible to have someone join from the start as a Helper. A few notes:

    At least one human player has to be in the "Normal" role for the game to be started. This does not have to be the first player (i.e. host).
    Helpers cannot select homeworlds (and are not given any units or planets at the start of the game).

Only useful info I can find.

[Diazo]

I'll note that on my game (latest patch and all expansions) the drop down has:

Normal
Helper
Champion
Normal+Champion

So I'm wondering if the champion selection options are messing with games that don't have Ancient Shadows installed?

However, that page defaults to role:normal, so can you try starting a new game, but without touching that drop down for either player? I think that would get you two going.

D.

[zespri]

However, that page defaults to role:normal, so can you try starting a new game, but without touching that drop down for either player? I think that would get you two going.

That what we did to start with, it's when it did not work we started to mess with the controls. Yes it's the base game, no expansions.

[Gudamor]

Do you click the map to select a homeworld, or let the game randomly pick for you? If you pick, did both of you pick homeworlds?

[zespri]

Do you click the map to select a homeworld, or let the game randomly pick for you? If you pick, did both of you pick homeworlds?

We did not pick.

[zespri]

Further inquiry.

What is the recommended way of playing non beta with a steam purchase and non-steam purchase? steam is currently at version 7.001 and non-steam is at 7.000 so they are incompatible. I don't see a way to upgrade 7.000 to 7.001.

[Tridus]

There should be an updates button on the title screen. The 7.0 person should be able to use that. (The 7.01 person could too, but it'll upgrade them to the beta version that's going on now.)

[zespri]

There should be an updates button on the title screen. The 7.0 person should be able to use that. (The 7.01 person could too, but it'll upgrade them to the beta version that's going on now.)

Nope, only beta update button appears.

[Aeson]

There's only one update button. However, if there are x official updates and y beta updates, that button should say something like "Update Available: x official (y beta)" (when no official updates are available, it only lists the beta updates). Clicking the button will then download the x official updates and perform those updates, patching the game to the latest official version. You would have to click on the button again after restarting the game to get it to install the beta updates if there are both beta and official updates available.

[zespri]

There's only one update button. However, if there are x official updates and y beta updates, that button should say something like "Update Available: x official (y beta)" (when no official updates are available, it only lists the beta updates). Clicking the button will then download the x official updates and perform those updates, patching the game to the latest official version. You would have to click on the button again after restarting the game to get it to install the beta updates if there are both beta and official updates available.

Nope, as I say above there is only beta update button. No official updates, same button or not. Clicked it, got updated to the beta.

[TechSY730]

It seems that you just uncovered a pretty nasty bug. The "update to latest official, but not beta" functionality is broken.

Sadly, we already have some beta changes, so short of rolling back funny buisness, we can't really get a new official now.

You can manually update to 7.001 by downloading the correct update package. There are instructions somewhere around here on the forums.

[ZaneWolfe]

You both could update to the "beta" version. Despite the name, the game is VERY stable. It is just that things are in the process of being tweaked and fiddled with. (Like the OMD changes) On the plus side, you would get to place with the new hacking mechanics and those are VERY fun. (And !FUN! depending on how far you take things.)

[zespri]

You both could update to the "beta" version. Despite the name, the game is VERY stable. It is just that things are in the process of being tweaked and fiddled with. (Like the OMD changes) On the plus side, you would get to place with the new hacking mechanics and those are VERY fun. (And !FUN! depending on how far you take things.)

Well that's what we did to start with, a I described above: updated to beta, and could not start the game as per the original post. The next step for us was to try non-beta in case it works in the non-beta build. But we can't. And yep, if I could find manual 7.001 update package that would work too, but I don't know where it is.

[doctorfrog]

This is a good example of how some people who want to play the most stable version of the game, without committing to a more experimental beta version that might leave them in the lurch, are left behind sometimes.

I've been in that situation myself, prior to the latest .0 release. Yes, I understand that living on the ragged edge is "fun" and that Arcen's edge is less ragged than most, but as an intermittent player, I often just want to play a version of the game that I can trust won't have unexpected surprises. I basically had to wait until 7.0 to really feel free to get into the game again. LordSloth had a petition regarding this not too long ago.