After a significant hiatus after DA, I got the bug to try out TA. I was even inspired to upgrade my 7 year old computer that was having trouble with the ships last time I played. (Well, there's also the fact that I'm anxiously awaiting Left 4 Dead!) The improved performance alone makes it a much better game, but I must say that I'm loving TA 2.0 so far. It's hard to pull myself away from playing to write up a report, but I enjoy reading them so much that I figure I'll try to contribute a bit. I don't have a big backstory or gripping narrative, but I do have game settings that seem uncommon; so I was hoping to share my experiences. I'm nowhere near finishing my game. I'm 2.5 years in and can easily see playing out another 10 years before victory becomes a matter of cleaning up. I have plenty to write about now and shouldn't have any trouble keeping things moving.
The defining characteristics of the game are star and planet density and short range. I wanted to play a game where every planet was crucial, so I set Stars and Planets to Occasional and Habitables to Uncommon. A bit of testing showed that combination to yield enough planets to work with while not becoming overwhelming. I also wanted to increase the role of starbases and create real zones of control, so I modified the races to each have a range penalty. A bit of testing showed -200 to reduce travel to a reasonable bubble around my planets. Life support and starbases should actually turn out to be pretty useful.
Here are the galaxy settings:
I also set Extreme Planets to frequent. I always thought Extreme Colonization was a bit of an afterthought, so why not see just how important it can be with the new update? Also, you can't see it, but I chose 9 random Major Races with a difficulty rating of Tough. No bonuses for the AI . . . yet. I'd like to try these conditions on nominally even footing for now.
My race:
I decided to go for the Yor since I haven't played them up until this point. I also ran up against their Super Isolationist ability last game and figured it would be a nice defense against agressive civs. Their Barren World Colonization also might just pay off under these conditions. I beefed up my economics, morale, and research and took Federalists for the econ bonus. I thought that fewer planets would mean I needed to squeeze more out of them. Looks like I'm ready to go.
Starting galaxy:
Two things: First, I did Ctrl N once. I normally take what I get, but I got stuck up in a corner with no planets in range. I just wasn't ready to deal with that. Second, you probably noticed that the map is actually a six month picture. Well, I forgot to take a starting pic, and you really didn't miss much. These settings turn the colony rush into the colony crawl. A couple starbases and a handful of colonies pop up, but no explosion. I managed to find a PQ 9 world just NE of Iconia, at the edge of my influence. I also scored a bonus in a PQ 12 barren planet on the edge of Drath space. Go Super Isolationists! Other than that it's constant disappointment with PQ0 and extreme worlds. At least the other civs seem to be going as slowly as I am. I did manage to pick up a research resource. It was kinda nice to snatch a resource and not feel like I was shooting myself in the foot by not making another colony ship. I actually end up with 4 extra colony ships with nowhere to go until I research some Extreme Colonization techs.
For research, I started along the Efficiency Studies line. It's a Yor specific tech that provides an economic boost at each level. ES 1 and 2 rack up a tidy 15% bonus. ES 3 gives more bonus and allows construction of Efficiency Centers, for a one-per-planet 25% economics bonus. By this time I'd run into the Snathi and Drath Legion, so decided to climb up the diplomacy tree with Xeno Comms, Universal Translator, and Diplomatic Relations. I decide to rush for the Diplomatic Translators to gain an edge in negotiations.
6 more months go by . . .
The blue line shows my range - the limit of my explorations. Looks kinda like a face, huh? Neat. Letting out my inner 5 year old give us . . .
A green haired, pointy eared, range-monster ready to consume the galaxy. Notice how the Drath are right in the maw?
Ok, I'll keep the 5 year old in check from now on, promise. Anyway, my flagship and my 4 extra colony ships have visited every solar system in range and report no additional worlds that can be colonized at this time. There was a juicy PQ9 world just outside my range in Korx space, but they finally scatched it up before I could get a constructor over to increase my range. Peeves me just a bit, but I find out before too long that the Korx may be my best friends . . . but for now I'm worried about colonies. Within my range are 11 habitable worlds that break down like so:
4 worlds given to major races (Iconia, Iconia V, Dratha, Dratha VI I think)
1 world given to minor race - the Snathi
1 PQ 9 world that I managed to snag
5 extreme worlds - 3 toxic PQ 14,10,7; 1 aquatic PQ 9, and my barren PQ12.
Wow. I'd say Extreme Colonization will really shine in this game, with nearly half of worlds extreme, being 5 of the 6 worlds that didn't come with a race attached. I control 4 planets and the Drath control 2, having been stuck on their original worlds. I have an important choice at this point - do I research Extreme Colonization and snag those extra planets, or do I go for Space Conquest and try to knock off the Drath before they have enough time to make themselves a pain?
First things first. Noticing my slow population growth, I looked for anything I could research to combat it and found Advanced Population Acceleration! Another Yor specific technology, it addresses my problem directly. I get that and the subsequent Spark of Life Enhancement to add a 15% population growth bonus. With those techs researched I make my decision - Space Conquest. My choice is influenced as much by my disgust with the Drath as it is by the Recruitment Centers that I can build after I research Stellar Fortification. 10% econ and 20% pop growth is to good to put off. I pour my resources into research and developing my colonies to utilize the new structures.
June, 2228:
Slight changes, but enough to reassure me that the AI is in fact moving and isn't frozen. You see the little brown circle on the far east edge? One of the toxic worlds is in that system. I freaked for a moment thinking the Drath had actually researched Toxic Colonization, but it turned out to be just an influence starbase hanging around by itself. Hmmm. You can also see the Drath Legion influence expanding south, where there are no planets. Turns out they have control of 4 resources now - 1 each of morale, military, influence, and economic. Just makes them even more tempting targets!
In the meantime, I finished researching Trade in there somewhere and sent a freighter to the Snathi to boost incomes. I was hoping to adopt the Dark Yor, but I'll just have to make do with these insufferably cute little varmints! I'm thinking they're worth more to me as a stable trading partner than a PQ15 planet to conquer. I've got my hands full anyway. Seems - someone - convinced the Drengin to declare war on me in May. I have a sneaking suspicion that my Super Manipulator (read Super Worm) neighbor the Drath had a hand in it. They are so dead. I've researched Beam Theory and Kinetic Streams I, and also Interstellar Construction, so I can make some ships to hold off the Drengin and clear out the Drath's pathetic resistance. I'm almost done with Planetery Invasion, so Transports aren't far behind. My spies tell me the Drath are ripe for conquest while my saboteurs keep their research efforts down and try to glean some tech for me. Nothing left now but the build up . . .
Jan, 2229:
More slight change. It seems the Iconians are expanding in the southwest. I worry a bit about them and the Torians, who control a large space, but it will be a while before it comes to anything. My relations with the my neighbors to the west, the Korx, are improving. My expanding military keeps them in check, and they've sent a freighter my way. I haven't seen anything from the Drengin yet. Looks like the range issue stymies them thus far. I've reinforced my research starbase with Battle Stations MkI, as it's in the direct path from Drengin space to my domain. It should be able to handle the current batch of fighters and give me enough time to mount a response.
Speaking of starbases, the UP voted this year to limit starbases to 2 modules. Permanently. Totally disgusting. The upside is that there are an obscene number of resources on this map - I've found 4 in Drath space and 5 in mine. You can see on the map that I've grabbed 2 more north of me - 1 military and 1 econ. There are 2 more military resources in the northwest of my range that I'm working on. If I get those and clean up what the Drath have, I'll be in good shape.
It seems the Drengin are doing something, after all. I'm getting reports that they're strong arming the Terrans, Lentzlandians, and the Jessuins. They also got stuck with just their 2 original planets, so they can't be that awesome, but I guess they got those super dominator corvettes by declaring war on me. Bully for them. They'll be dealt with in their time.
I received a transmission from the Carrinoids, the second minor race I've encountered. I realized somewhere along the line that I neglected to give the minor races the range penalty, so they're cruising all over the galaxy while the rest of us struggle to get around. Oh well. Those guys need all the help they can get! It's better than the last game, where I screwed it up so that only I had the -200 range penalty! I didn't even realize until after the game. Wow.
Jun, 2229:
It's done. The Drath have succumbed to my military. If it seems like I skipped something, let me assure you that I didn't. I finished researching Planetary Invasion and started building transports. I continued researching Planetary Bombardment to get the soldiering bonus. It took 29 weeks or so, but I had plenty of time before I would have my fleet up and running, plus the travel time which turned out to be about 20 weeks by itself. During the flight, I managed to steal Remedial Engineering from the Drath. I think it's one of their race-specific techs. It doesn't lead to anything for me, but it gives +5% research, so that's a good bonus. Oddly enough, the Drath contacted me within a couple weeks and offered a trade for . . . Remedial Engineering! I have no idea how that works out, but they offered me Xeno Economics, which gives +10% econ, so I couldn't refuse! I had to conclude they were just too stoopid to be allowed to live. Along the way I researched or traded the Snathi for Planetary Improvements (+10% mil, soc, and research), Sensors I, Xeno Engineering, General Life Support, and Propulsion up to Impulse Drive MkI for the 10% bonus.
When my forces finally arrived at Dratha, it was a slaughter. My pair of Phoenixes (yes, I'm using the pre-disigned ships) cleared out their ships fast. They had no weapon or defense technologies even researched. My 6 Transports were able to clear out both planets with about 2.6b left over to populate the planets. I spent the money and used Information Warfare 3 times for the extra pop. What a pushover. I'll be in the red for a few turns, but that's no biggie. I still have 4 more transports en route to beef up my planets, so I'll be well on the way to recovery.
That's where I left it last night. I was starting to wonder if the AI will be able to handle these conditions. My experience tells me that the Drath are almost always a pushover, but this was pretty lousy. At least they were smart enough to get the Drengin after me. My doubts were somewhat assuaged when I started up tonight and decided to push the turn button:
WHAT?
Oh, that's what!
So it seems I was right to be worried about the Torrians and Iconians, and those pesky Altarians too! I'm now at war with half of the remaining civilizations, 3 of which have formed a dreaded Axis of Good against me! And wait, what's this . . .
The Drengin built a starbase encroaching on my space! Am I expecting visitors?
This is what I meant when I said the Korx could turn out to be my best friends. Getting them on the view screen gives me a bit more hope. They've colonized 7 planets - more than the 6 I now have - and have researched Extreme Colonization, Barren World Colonization, and Radioactive World Colonization. Wow. I think I'll have to continue good relations with them and perhaps even support them as a buffer against the AoG. I don't know what to do with the Drengin yet. I'm pretty sure I could steamroll over them, but it would take time and money. I want to focus on snatching up those 4 resources the Drath left behind and colonizing my extreme planets. As much as it offends my sensibilities, I'll have to sue for peace with those warmongering ape-lizard things.
Blech.
That's the story to date. Guess I'll sit down and see how the next few months sort out. More to come . . .
[URL=http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=galaxysetupqu2.jpg][/URL]
Preatty cool. What's the difficulty levle?
I love AARs like this. Great job.
Tough. I'm pretty sure I could bump it up a notch at this point, but I just wanted to test the waters.
Thanks for the positive replies. I'll be sure to update ASAP.
Lovely AAR so far fella
6 more months gone by . . .
A little investigation into the Drengin threat shows:
Influence base? Not my first choice, but . . .
Still a threat if they decide to follow it up with fighters. I dispatched some Phoenix class corvettes to clean up, but another constructor showed up. I worried for a moment that they might reinforce their starbase. I don't have anything right now that can deal with even Battle Stations MkI without suffering unacceptable losses. Luckily, they decided to build another influence base right by the first one, both of which ended up flaming wrecks before too long. The even had a small fleet of 2 fighters and a corvette on the way, but no longer had the range. A shame, really. A reinforced military base would have upped the tension considerably. A few weeks after I cleaned out those influence bases, Lord Kona came to his senses and offered me a peace treaty, no strings attached. He said something about more pressing concerns. Good riddance, for now.
I upped espionage on the Torrians to max to keep tabs on them. They're to top civ right now, so it's good to know what they're up to. I also received a hail from the Terrans, only to find that they'd snatched up the Drath's old influence resource. I quickly bought constructors on Dratha and Dratha IV to get the others before the Terrans or maybe even the Thalans got greedy, and had no problem grabbing them all. Even the Snathi had sent a constructor on down, but score another point for Super Isolationist! I had no trouble beating them to it.
For research, I got Stellar Streams (Yor only, +10% speed), Basic Miniaturizations, Xeno Biology, and ended up 1 week from Extreme Colonization. I gave the Terrans Space Weapons, Sensors, and Impulse Drive for Basic Logistics, Xeno Industry, Fusion Power Plants, and 121bc. Maybe not the best trade, but I'm not particularly worried about the Terrans, stuck on Earth and Mars as they are. Lots of races seem stuck on only their original 2 planets. Tough conditions, for sure. I later trade the Snathi Planetary Invasion for Duranthium (useful, since Drengin are developing Mass Drivers), Advanced Trade, Advanced Computing, and 312bc. Planetary Invasion is precious, but I'm not worried about the Snathi gnawing my ankles any time soon. Having Tech Brokering off means I don't have to worry about them spreading it around to everyone else, either. I love that option.
Somewhere along the line, I built the Restaurant of Eternity. It should have been in the first report somewhere, but here it is. To improve relations, I gifted the Korx and the Snathi 100bc each. And lastly, I sent some freighters toward the Korx. I had to build a starbase to increase my range. I built an influence base, since it's parked right next to 2 isolated asteroid fields I figure I may be able to bring them to my side.
My influence now dominates the asteroid bases. Wouldn't mind stealing the from the Korx and Drengin.
An ethical choice at the end of the year. I'm not a nice guy . . . or, zombify all you want, we'll make more.
The UP brings up starbase modules again. Huh? We vote it down, and I check the old laws. Seems I was wrong. The old restriction wasn't permanent and has lapsed. Eeeeexcellent.
Jan, 2230. I've marked all the known resources with their color. The light blue circle is my influence base by the Korx.
My economy is the envy of the galaxy. What, with 2 economic resources, efficiency studies, Federalists, +20% racial bonus, Recruitment Centers, and Efficiency Centers. My current racial bonus is around 115%, and with +35% on each planet I'm looking at +150% economy. I've been at 100% production with money left over for espionage and petty cash. I'm getting a bit worried that the game is going to be a cakewalk, but I'll play it to the end and see. I'm pretty sure I could steamroll another civ, if not 2, just as things are. I've got 5 or 6 transports leftover from the buildup to the Drath invasion that could ship out presently. The Drengin are usually pretty hard, but I bet the Terrans would roll over just like the Drath. Considering my good relations with the Korx, that might just be the next course of action. For now, however, I'm looking to colonize my extreme planets and maybe build up a better fleet. In the mean time, I'm going to develop and build a long range scout/survey ship to explore the rest of the map and contact the Thalans and Korath. Maybe have a look see into what the Axis of Good actually has so I can place some agents on their planets.
Until next time . . .
Cool! I'm still wondering what the difficulty is.
The difficulty is set to "Tough" Max AI ability, but no economic bonuses. I've been at the point where I could go higher than that, but I've kinda been balking. I think after this I'll bump it up at least one notch, if not two. The game is developing nicely, but I'm just not feeling threatened anymore.
Here's hoping for a nasty surprise!
Jun, 2230:
Another six months and progress is smooth. Having research Extreme Colonization and Toxic Atmosphere Reductor, I sent out my remaining colony ships and transports to claim and populate the 3 toxic worlds in my domain. My further explorations reveal another prize:
2 uncolonized extreme planets in Terran/Thalan space! And one is toxic . . .
Shame on them. Really. Trapped in the corner and they make no move to claim the planets right in the back yard? They'll pay for that mistake - my last colony ship is en route to provide me a foothold in their space. I'm pretty set on leaving the Thalans be at this point, but the Terrans had best watch themselves. The Korx, however, are true to their nature. They have no military, but have established trade and good relations with all their neighbors. They have also effectively research the Extreme Colonizations techs, getting Advanced Barren and Advanced Radioactive, which they used to colonize 1 barren and 2 radioactive worlds. The Terrans should take a lesson.
A few interesting events pop up:
Ah, it's the Krynn and not the Korarth. So many shades of gray.
Hypersensors. Makes a big difference. Exploration is going so much faster now.
There was also a tourism boom. Wonderful. I actually forgot about this until now. My influence is huge, the highest in the galaxy. No wonder my income has been so high lately.
Quite a few ethical choices pop up. One on each of the 3 toxic planets I colonized, and one random choice. Imageshack is being a bit wonky right now, so no nice pics. Of course I pick the evil choices. Twice I clear out some ancient ruins to make room for my colonists and net +28% and +8% pop bonuses on those worlds. Once I exterminate some bugs caught up in a civil war. That's right, bug wars. You can't make that stuff up. The only benefit is no penalty. The random choice is to install Solar Slammers on my home planet Iconia. It's evil again for a 15% research bonus at the cost of 20 or 30 million population. Say it with me - zap all you want, we'll make more.
I research Colletive Manufacturing I and II to enhance my production, then move to Soil Enhancement to boost my colony PQs. My spies tell me that my military is antiquated and falling further behind, so I trade the Dark Yor Kinetic Streams I for Advanced Deflectors and Space Defenses + 128bc. In order to further increase my military for eventual domination, I also need to increase my research. I pick up Computaional Matrix, which unlocks my research tree. At this point, I can only build 1 research structure on each planet that generates 12 points. I picked up the ability to make a technological capital via trade, so I'm going to get it started on my new PQ 14 planet.
I also look to boost my research through treaties. The other races are finally starting to offer them, so I snatch up what I can. From the Akilians I get both research and economic treaties. From the Krynn I trade Extreme Colonization for research. From the Thalan I trade Extreme Colonization and Kinetic Streams I for economic, research, and Xeno Medicine (+10% pop growth). I later run into the Scotlingas and trade them Basic Miniaturization, Planetary Invasion, and Extreme Colonization for economic and research treaties +462bc.
Other than that, things are just moving along. The Drengin continue to thug minor civilizations, and the Dark Yor paid of the Torians. Not like the Torians can even threaten them, as the Dark Yor are on the southern side of Thalan space. The Carrinoids gave me 4 heavy fighters to use against the Torians. They're actually better than my current batch of corvettes, and my military rating got a little boost. The biggest hassle is that foreign agents started popping up all over in April and May. I've neutralized a couple, but still have 4 or 5 running amok.
Finally, before the review, I have planet counts for all the races now that I've met them all:
Thalans: 3 Torians: 5 Altarians: 9 Terrans: 2 Krynn: 3 Drengin: 2 Iconians: 7 Korx: 7
I have 9 planets myself now that I've colonized the toxic worlds.
And lastly, the map:
Actually April, but not much changed by June.
I marked the resources again. I actually missed a military resource in the north on the last map. The research resource with the purple arrow actually belongs to the Akilians. Go long range minor civs! The circles are all uninhabited extreme planets. Well, they were all uninhabited until recently. The 3 light blue circles in my space are the toxic worlds I colonized.
I've decided on a course of action for the game: destroy the axis of good. I'm going to let everyone else decide which side they want to be on. I'd like to keep good relations with the Korx, Krynn, and Thalans. The Drengin and Terrans can choose their own fates. I'll probably adopt the Terrans if they don't screw up, and relations with the Drengin are warm right now. I figure I'll solidify my relations in the build up to the war so everyone doesn't freak out and attack me, then clean up with an alliance victory when the dust settles.
See you in 6 months . . .
July, 2231
Just over a year has passed. Hostilities have broken out all over the galaxy, sparked by the Torians declaring war on the Dominion of Korx. Earlier I had been disappointed at what I perceived as some of the other civs being unable to adapt to the many extreme worlds, but that has changed. Some of the races were too busy preparing for war! If not for fortunate circumstances, the Dominion of Korx, who had no military whatsoever at the outbreak of hostilites, would have taken serious losses.
One year ago . . .
June, 2230
A newly designed long range survey/trade vessel, dubbed the FarSeer, was commisioned and sent out to explore and contact the remaining civilizations. Equipped with twin Impulse Drive engines and 3 general support modules, it sped toward Korx space to probe the far reaches of the range provided by my new starbases. By mid-June it had come to the edge of Torian space, which became the front line in a newly declared war. The crew watched helplessly as the Torian transports approached, until they remembered the trade part of their mission. They had in the hold a rudimentary particle weapon, to be delivered to the Korx as part of a technology exchange. It took a great deal of time and a bit of luck, but they were able to mount the weapon onto their cargo hull and route power from one of the engines to operate it. Thus the FarSeer became . . .
The WarSeer. I Upgraded to drop an engine and add the weapon. Not going toe-to-toe with anyone, but it served beautifully to pick off unescorted transports.
The WarSeer had already picked off 2 transports. It bagged all five in total before being forced to flee by the Torian fleets.
October, 2230
That was a lucky break. If the FarSeer went a different way or I got there a couple weeks later, the Korx would have lost one of those planets and maybe both. As it was, the Torian offensive was stalled, but not stopped. My fleets were already on the way prior to the war, but they didn't stand a chance against the Torians, who still had the highest military by far. I lost most of my warships and my economic starbase covering my trade routes with the Korx. Unable to press the offense against me and lacking any targets in Korx space, the Torian fleets turned around. I receive an unexpected bonus in the form of additional trade routes with the Korx. First they cancel trade with the Torians, then their extra freighters fled the Torians and opened 2 more routes with me.
In the mean time, the Torians declared war on the Dark Yor. I figure they were trying to squeeze them for money to fund the war effort and the Dark Yor told them where to stick it. Good on the Dark Yor. I also realized that it was high time for me to move toward war research and production. I climbed up my research tree a bit with Charging Stalks (enhanced morale/farm structures), Collective Research (allows building of Research Centers), and Synthetic Ingenuity (+5% research). That set me up nicely to establish a research capital and catch up in the arms race. I then grab Alliances to cement my relationship with the Korx.
Having not played for some time, I forgot that they needed Alliances, too. Frustrated that I couldn't ally with them, I thought maybe it was the fact that I was at war with 3 races that made them not want to ally with me. As much as it hurts to admit, I made peace with the Altarians. I sent an envoy to the Iconians, but they demanded outrageous tribute. Lucky me, I finally remembered that both allies need the technology and sold it to the Korx for 347bc. We then formalized our alliance and then I traded him my research and economic treaties along with Sensors, Planetary Invasion, Kinetic Streams I (that rudimentary weapon on board the WarSeer), Impulse Drive III, and 600bc in return for Advanced Barren World Colonization, Advanced Hulls, Enhanced Miniaturization, and Medium Scale Building. A heavy trade, to be sure, but that one transaction was a huge step forward for my ship-building capabilities. I immediately start work on a basic frigate to bolster my drained military.
Just to spice things up a bit, I then gifted or sold Alliances to every other major race, depending on my relation with them. The Axis of Good paid, everyone else got a gift except the Drengin, who already had it. Let them do as they will with it.
January, 2231
More fireworks. The Torians, frustrated with the lack of progress against the Korx and Dark Yor, turned their mighty fleets against their peaceful neighbor the Altarians. The Axis of Good was broken. It was inevitable. The galaxy's military powerhouse bordered by races who didn't bother to build any warships whatsoever. Disgusted with the Torian treachery, the Iconian Refuge declared war upon them. The Carrinoids joined the bandwagon and gifted me with 4 more heavy fighters to use against the Torians.
Those heavy fighters couldn't have come at a better time. The Iconians actually made a play for my newly colonized toxic planet while my attention was elsewhere. Suddenly a transport was invading my isolated planet! I held against the invasion and sent the new fighters in search of any additional invaders. I allowed myself to think I was safe, but the Iconians built a starbase to increase their range. It was undefended and fell quickly after I discovered it. Just in time, it turned out, as an Iconian warfleet which included another constructor was fast approaching. The Carrinoids then gifted me an additional 4 heavy fighters for use against the Iconians. Thus armed, I felt that my southern borders were safe.
My first frigate was finished and ready to go. It wasn't much with its outdated armament, but it would form a core for my fleets heading into Korx space. My remaining fleets were massing for what would be a long drive to carry the war to the Torians at long last.
April, 2231
More events pop up . . .
Even more money! I was already pulling in almost 1000bc surplus. The surplus reaches nearly 2000bc as the economy picks up.
Terrans rule the galaxy? I'll believe that when I see it! Anyway, I don't have time to deal with them right now.
So the Terrans went and declared war against the Dark Yor. Guess they're all juiced up about their newfound awesomeness, or something. Having not seen an Iconian for months, I decided to spite the hairless monkeys by supplying the Dark Yor with 8 of the Carrinoid's heavy fighters. The fighting is taking place in my space, right by the planet the Iconians invaded, so I enjoy a ringside seat.
The Terrans have a lot of fleets, but they're pathetic. The Dark Yor trash their starbase next to my planet, and the fleets can't move out to attack. The few battles that occur inflict losses on both sides, with the Terrans seeming to take the worst of it. We'll see if the Terrans ever build another base or if they just wallow in their corner.
The galactic war has widened. Someone paid both the Drengin and the Krynn to attack the Thalans. I'm on the receiving end of the Thalan's research and economic treaties, and I have a lucrative trade route with them. I don't fancy the idea of them being conquered - by someone else - but there's not much I can do for them at this point. I think I'll just enjoy the show and see where things go. The Krynn also declared war on the Scotllingas a little earlier. The Scotllingas are actually withing range of the Krynn, so they may be busy for a while.
Finally for this quarter, I realized that I'd need to build quite a few starbases to actually reach the Torians, at least 3 or 4. I also realize that my constructors need to move faster. I can't wait 20-30 weeks for each constructor to reach the front. I send the engineer-bots to the drawing board and they come back with a fast constructor:
I researched up to Warp Drive to create this baby. Trucking along at 11pc/week(7+4), it will reach the front in acceptable time.
I use my surplus economic might to buy some for immediate deployment and put in a standing order for more. I was a bit distressed about how long it would take to build them until I realized that I had been running at 90% research with 5% each in social and military. I need ships, but I need technology more, so I set it to 80/10/10 and plan to lean on my economy to speed things up.
PS - I forgot to mention that foreign agents have been popping up like weeds on my planets. I neutralize them as fast as I can, but I must have 14 or 15 of them active right now. I have 8 spies gathering info on the Torians and Iconians, but with the glitch I can't remove them. I use my agents as I get them.
The Torians are defeated. They just don't realize it yet.
My fleets finally completed their long journey to Torian space and began the assault against them. It took 4 starbases for me to finally be able to reach them, the last being a tricked-out miltary starbase that was very conveniently located:
Preparing to strike . . .
You can see that my fleets are upgrading there. I forgot to mention that I didn't just give the Dark Yor those heavy fighters. Nah, I traded them for Shields II, which works nicely since the Torians are using Lasers. I also researched up to Kinetic streams II. I wouldn't have been able to do it, but the Torians made peace with the Korx, which apparently extended to me through the alliance. I had a couple extra safe turns to do it, and I'm glad I did. Those upgrades doubles the strength of my fleets. I was cautious before, but now it's gonna be ugly . . .
It sure starts out ugly. No Yor casualties so far.
and it continues ugly. Toria had a Fleet Defense Command, or whatever allows orbital defenders to fleet. That cost me 2 of my upgraded fighters, but the Torians are now broken.
Toria and Toria IV fall. It takes 4 of my transports, but I still have 4 left to populate the planets and carry on the war.
I stole Lasers III and Scientific Method Implementation. I'm not sure about Lasers at this point, but SMI gives a +5% research bonus. I researched Enhanced Logistics and Advanced Logistics and am now working on Kinetic Streams III. The future of the galaxy looks dark indeed.
Until next year . . .
Nice one mr-KUTGW
This is a great, great read! Please continue...
Thanks. Unfortunately, this is where it ends. It all went downhill after the Torians fell. I steamrolled the Altarians and even wiped out the Drengin in short order. It was right into mop-up mode after that, and I called it a game so I could move on to another round.
I've actually finished another one since then, with -150 range on crippling difficulty in a gigantic galaxy. Maybe I'll start up another AAR for the next game . . .
please do, it was a lot of fun to read. It actually inspired me to slow my games down and enjoy them more...
Yeah this was a cracking good read-do another one for us please
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