l2circle the grav well?

if you a loosing to lrf's with carriers you are doing it wrong

you don't have to alienate them...as I said earlier, if that is what you want...then play a small map with resources turned up to fast.  Or even a medium map.  Now I do agree that there are things that need to be tweaked within the expansion itself...just don't agree with the OP's general rant about the game taking too long.  That is one of the main aspects of this game.  And you can play longer games online, you just need to put out more effort to coordinate with a group that will actually get back on and play the same saved game again and again until it is over.

Some peeps just want a glorified hurry up and click as fast as you can to pad your records and stats and not enjoy the true meaning of the game.  I am in three seperate groups right now playing varying versions of the game and have had a blast in all 3.  And they have all 3 been long games.

I think it would be fantastic to alienate them if the alternative is to turn Sins into some kind of RA3 rushfest.  Err on the side of strategic and tactical depth, not quick games.  They can crank the speed up and play small maps if that's what they want.  Could probably even have options to start with more money/research.  As long as it doesn't make the game into something where golden path build orders and spamming win the day like most online RTS games.

EXACTLY!!!

SD/IC is all about being out of the norm and doing things different and they have done an excellent job so far in doing that.  I certainly hope that they don't forget this and get off the beaten path to please a few guys that want shorter and shorter games where everything is spam and click.

I believe in what SD/IC is trying to achieve and think that they are in the process of changing what the future of PC gaming is going to be like in the coming years

Taking it even further, i would like to see homeworlds start with defense structures free.  That would prevent some rushing (i think).

I agree with tkins. I use to think the other way but after getting use to fast it is not a clickfest. It is very much strategic and if you play someone with equal talent then your game can go on for hours. 2 hours is getting to my limit as if you go that long its intesive and very fun but I get tired lol. I like team games and unfortunately u can only play them on larger maps so it takes a long time. But seriously its so much fun online everyone should at least try it and not worry about winning but havin fun.

 Before sins came out, i always wanted a game where empire building actually felt rewarding. You know, not just constantly bombard your enemies with the "max units", but to use real world strategy that most people forget goes into real wars. Once i tried my first 5 sstar map against multiple unfair AI, i was hooked, NOT when i finishede quickstrike on easy with 10 cobalts. So, there's something to be said about a sense of accomplishment. Also, what feels better, seeing your 16 cap ships destroy the enemy capital planet while your hundreds of other frigates finish off the structures as a nova bomb closes in, or seeing your lonely bomber frigate bomb the planet with 10 lrfs watching? I think you all know the answer, or at least i hope you do.

pce, fingerz

"bluer skies await"

didn't read anything other than title but they are still making two expansions...so it's not done and as stated...this is a beta...i believe the two expansions revolve around diplomacy and military and a campaign in there somewhere.

it seems to me that those who are in favor of faster games are missing the point... any type of ultimate game ender, must do this to win, rushing, spamming, etc. destroys the purpose of the game. the point is to explore different strategic depths, and have multiple ways of playing viable. i think what Ironclad was trying to do with Entrenchment was good; namely, end these spam tactics, especially LRFs. the mines, i think are especially good for this, although a limit is needed. obviously the balance still needs work, but a balance can be struck between all the units and other aspects of the game. the next expansion will be on diplomacy, i believe, and hopefully it will revamp the diplomacy system so that it becomes a viable way to play the game. for those of you who don't like diplomacy, fine, dont use it. but the point of an RT4X, as this game was billed, is to build a true empire, not just spam specific units if you want to win.

I would like to do this.  Real-time Civilization in space!

The mines are great imho, they are like walls in Age of Empires...

I just bought it today, and having awesome fun.

Perhaps the dev team can have options for which tech is enabled or not, or an option to turn off Entrenchment ?

Personally I rather have an option to choose the techs (like SupCom did).

pure fighter spam is NOT FUN

OMG you don't like fighter spam, you're a rediculous person!!! 

If you want my professional Photoshop skills for a low low price of (American money) $100 an hour don't be afraid to pm me but please only have projects that have to do with spam or the UFC as that is where I specialize in.

i dont have the entrenchment beta, but i thought that ironclad said that you could shut off entrenchment for multiplayer if you wanted

yeah, i think in the final version you should be able to...or at least during multi, it would autmatically turn it off if you were playing someone without entrenchment.

that was it

You don't have to play team games exclusively on Large maps.  Sometimes medium and smaller maps are more fun with a group of peeps...it reaaly speeds things up, but like I said earlier...that's takes away from the true meaning and beauty of what this game is supposed to be.

To each his own, however.