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Author Topic:   Impossible Morgan on TI

Bluemax posted 07-25-99 12:05 AM ET
I'm making an attempt to play each faction on Transcend Ironman. Morgan is giving me fits. I've won with him on Transcend, but clicking on the Ironman option has made it nearly impossible.
Usually between turn 120 and 200 it's obvious that Morgan is toast - and time to start a new game. One game, it was turn 270 when the Hive decided to clean my clock, which they did very successfully.
I usually garrison a new city, build recycling, recreation commons, and then a former. The former builds farms and mines. I also try to get the Weather Paradigm as a SP. I also try to do as much pod popping as possible. No matter what though, it seems like Morgan is alway behind in tech, size, and arms.
Since Morgan is a builder and has an economic tilt, am I missing something? Is there a better way to give Morgan a competitive Transcend Ironman chance? Or, is it hopeless?
laurens posted 07-25-99 01:58 AM ET
It's certainly possible to win Morgan on TI, just that you might not be able to win as fast as the other conquering factions in an all-conqueror game.
Play defensively. Put Yang at bay with perimeter defenses and AAA garrisons. If you still want to win the game fast, roll out the speeders and needlejets on routine and leave Yang/Deirdre for the finishing touch.
For me, the most essential component with Morgan is the probe teams. Behind in tech? Steal. You like the city? Buy. You'll be surprised how easy it is.
Alkis posted 07-25-99 10:47 AM ET
Search impact rovers, build them as quickly as possible and attack your neighbours. Make all other factions on your continent surrender to you. This way you will have permanent trade. From then on, play a builder game.
Schoop posted 07-26-99 09:11 PM ET
my technique with Morgan has always been to buckle like a belt. The last thing you need is an expensive war! Build your defenses, yes, but when your neighbors come demanding tech, sell it to them.
laurens' trick with buying cities is the way for Morgan to go conquering. Why?
A) You should have money to spare. If not, you're doing something wrong.
B)Probe teams don't need support, which is Morgan's weak spot in the SE table.
RedFred posted 07-27-99 02:45 PM ET
Bluemax, Morgan is different so you definitely need a slightly different mindset when you play him. Nevertheless, I am surprised you have the most trouble with him and not some other faction.
After a month's hiatus (PC-less vacation), I am resuming my first Morgan TI game on v3.0. Fortunately at this point the outcome is not in doubt but I'll continue to play because I find the victory by Trancendance the most satisfying.
I may have an advantage with Morgan because I am a natural builder. Keep the peace with as many factions as possible, expand, max the supply crawler use and trade but probe only those factions that you can afford to go to war with.
For me the conquerer factions are the hardest to play. My most difficult TI experience was a builder game with the Spartans. I barely beat the Gaians because they were busy building Psi gates when they should have been converting their whole economy to energy to buy Trancendance (another example of A not I). The only faction I haven't tried yet at TI is the Believers and I expect that to be hard for me.
Keep plugging.
-R
Series II posted 07-27-99 02:48 PM ET
I have had some success with the Morgans. Energy + Research is the key. War is not.
sandals posted 07-29-99 03:30 PM ET
RedFred: That exact same thing (Gaians building Psi Gates instead of AtT) happened to me on my last TI Morgan game! They were the only non-conquered faction. They didn't even start that SP. Lame. I guess they were still at war with some of my vassals & wanted to get units there, but they were not a threat to the G's... still... priorities!
ViVicdi posted 07-30-99 03:53 PM ET
Terraform yourself some isolation, use probes, and don't skimp on pod-popping -- technology helps Morgan more than any other faction in the game.
Bluemax posted 07-31-99 12:47 AM ET
As of 7/29, I was successful with Morgan on TI. By the time the end came, I could've won three different ways. I had eleven years to go until the energy market was cornered, but the Hive decided to go on the warpath. So, I just bought the necessary SP's to transcend. I also had about 6 PBs in stock. I could've turned the Hive into glass, but being the kind soul that I am...
I guess in the end, victory came down to three things. First, a little isolation. It's nice to be alone on a medium island that will hold about 12 cities. Downside is the island contained only one Monolith. Second, as suggested by others, aggressive pod popping using two units, one to open the pod and the other to jump on any worms that showed up. Any artifacts obtained were mostly dedicated to completing SP's. Third thing, piece at any price. Never be in first place. After a while, it all came together in a nice technology lead. I was focused strictly on wealth research and was able to trade or buy other techs.
Next challenge...Spartans
Thanks all.
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Author	Topic: Impossible Morgan on TI
Bluemax	posted 07-25-99 12:05 AM ET I'm making an attempt to play each faction on Transcend Ironman. Morgan is giving me fits. I've won with him on Transcend, but clicking on the Ironman option has made it nearly impossible. Usually between turn 120 and 200 it's obvious that Morgan is toast - and time to start a new game. One game, it was turn 270 when the Hive decided to clean my clock, which they did very successfully. I usually garrison a new city, build recycling, recreation commons, and then a former. The former builds farms and mines. I also try to get the Weather Paradigm as a SP. I also try to do as much pod popping as possible. No matter what though, it seems like Morgan is alway behind in tech, size, and arms. Since Morgan is a builder and has an economic tilt, am I missing something? Is there a better way to give Morgan a competitive Transcend Ironman chance? Or, is it hopeless?
laurens	posted 07-25-99 01:58 AM ET It's certainly possible to win Morgan on TI, just that you might not be able to win as fast as the other conquering factions in an all-conqueror game. Play defensively. Put Yang at bay with perimeter defenses and AAA garrisons. If you still want to win the game fast, roll out the speeders and needlejets on routine and leave Yang/Deirdre for the finishing touch. For me, the most essential component with Morgan is the probe teams. Behind in tech? Steal. You like the city? Buy. You'll be surprised how easy it is.
Alkis	posted 07-25-99 10:47 AM ET Search impact rovers, build them as quickly as possible and attack your neighbours. Make all other factions on your continent surrender to you. This way you will have permanent trade. From then on, play a builder game.
Schoop	posted 07-26-99 09:11 PM ET my technique with Morgan has always been to buckle like a belt. The last thing you need is an expensive war! Build your defenses, yes, but when your neighbors come demanding tech, sell it to them. laurens' trick with buying cities is the way for Morgan to go conquering. Why? A) You should have money to spare. If not, you're doing something wrong. B)Probe teams don't need support, which is Morgan's weak spot in the SE table.
RedFred	posted 07-27-99 02:45 PM ET Bluemax, Morgan is different so you definitely need a slightly different mindset when you play him. Nevertheless, I am surprised you have the most trouble with him and not some other faction. After a month's hiatus (PC-less vacation), I am resuming my first Morgan TI game on v3.0. Fortunately at this point the outcome is not in doubt but I'll continue to play because I find the victory by Trancendance the most satisfying. I may have an advantage with Morgan because I am a natural builder. Keep the peace with as many factions as possible, expand, max the supply crawler use and trade but probe only those factions that you can afford to go to war with. For me the conquerer factions are the hardest to play. My most difficult TI experience was a builder game with the Spartans. I barely beat the Gaians because they were busy building Psi gates when they should have been converting their whole economy to energy to buy Trancendance (another example of A not I). The only faction I haven't tried yet at TI is the Believers and I expect that to be hard for me. Keep plugging. -R
Series II	posted 07-27-99 02:48 PM ET I have had some success with the Morgans. Energy + Research is the key. War is not.
sandals	posted 07-29-99 03:30 PM ET RedFred: That exact same thing (Gaians building Psi Gates instead of AtT) happened to me on my last TI Morgan game! They were the only non-conquered faction. They didn't even start that SP. Lame. I guess they were still at war with some of my vassals & wanted to get units there, but they were not a threat to the G's... still... priorities!
ViVicdi	posted 07-30-99 03:53 PM ET Terraform yourself some isolation, use probes, and don't skimp on pod-popping -- technology helps Morgan more than any other faction in the game.
Bluemax	posted 07-31-99 12:47 AM ET As of 7/29, I was successful with Morgan on TI. By the time the end came, I could've won three different ways. I had eleven years to go until the energy market was cornered, but the Hive decided to go on the warpath. So, I just bought the necessary SP's to transcend. I also had about 6 PBs in stock. I could've turned the Hive into glass, but being the kind soul that I am... I guess in the end, victory came down to three things. First, a little isolation. It's nice to be alone on a medium island that will hold about 12 cities. Downside is the island contained only one Monolith. Second, as suggested by others, aggressive pod popping using two units, one to open the pod and the other to jump on any worms that showed up. Any artifacts obtained were mostly dedicated to completing SP's. Third thing, piece at any price. Never be in first place. After a while, it all came together in a nice technology lead. I was focused strictly on wealth research and was able to trade or buy other techs. Next challenge...Spartans Thanks all.