Alpha Centauri 2

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri & Alien Crossfire => After Action Reports => Topic started by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 11:40:10 AM

Title: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 11:40:10 AM
Last time, I did not do so hot. But as Sisko pointed out, the AI in this particular patch I use is relentless and brutal. At least, to my skill level. Bad start never is good, either.

But, being a glutton for public humiliation, I think I need to try again with another game. Yes, I know. I have a trial to Eve Online sitting there. But, for some reason, I am on a SMAX kick. That's the thing with 4x games. while even the best MMOs can get monotonous, a good 4X is always engaging. Particularly this ancient beast we call SMAX which is fan patched and ready to stomp a noob such as myself.

I keep thinking about the guy that introduced me to SMAC. He played Zak on low difficulty just so he could have his sandbox. But, I have never been that way. I crank up all the way till I can be challenged. Thinker difficulty is my current level. While my former buddy went to Apolyton back in it's heyday and got his spoon fed Zak learned through easy mode play handed to him in multiplayer and never cranked up the game again, I continued because there was challenge.

So first, the map: Huge, abundant life forms, average cloud cover, average erosive forces, 50 - 70 percent ocean.

Once again patch is all official and Kyrubs SMAX patch PLUS.

The rules are posted. Needless to say, I like tech stag.

The rogue's gallery:

Sinder Roze. I will be playing Roze. She has very good tech parity with others and the best probes in the game.

Lal. As an AI, Lal builds. Not as good as the Drones, though. Lal is very unpredictable. Sometimes he goes big army cutthroat. Sometimes he hangs back and techs. Diplo victory is always something to watch for if he gets too big.

Sven. The Pirates are bad about being aggressive and crowding out land masses. As time goes on, with certain techs the navy gets even more powerful with capture abilities. The sea also makes some of thier bases huge due to abundace of food. Sven gets air, watch out!

Aki Zeta. A fairly peaceful builder as an AI. But, go to war and watch your tech lead disappear. She also has really good research almost as good as Zak.

Morgan. Morgan as an AI gets a bad rap. While he is still not considered the smartest AI, I have seen games with Morgan sending out swarms of needlejets and probes. Even killing hard hitters like Yang. Then again, it might be the patch.

Deidre. Deidre is probably the one of the nastiest of this bunch. Spreads like wildfire and builds infrastructure like no tomorrow. IoDs and mindworms are her friends and live to give noobs a hard time.

Yang. Yang is, as I have said before the ICS big army monster. He makes his return for this game.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 11:51:00 AM
And... the start.

On Civ fanatics GotMs, you would have nerds writing essays on starts. No essay here. Just three pods.

I damn well hope this is no island next to someone bloodthirsty.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 11:55:09 AM
I damn well hope this is no island next to someone bloodthirsty.
i'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

what's happening with the colors? the first AAR had the colors right.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 12:01:47 PM
There is a deal with certain Graphics cards, SMAX, and MSpaint. I have to open SMAX then MSPaint the the shots turn out right.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 12:08:23 PM
NVM.. that is backwards. For those having issues... open MSpaint THEN SMAX.. then colors would be right. If you close SMAX, you have to go through the process again.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 12:11:11 PM
Thing is... while I am in SMAX taking screenshots, the colors are messed up. Exiting smax, the resolution is normal again and you see the shot captured correctly.

This is with Intel HD internal graphic family found on most laptops.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 12:13:47 PM
Quote
Thing is... while I am in SMAX taking screenshots, the colors are messed up. Exiting smax, the resolution is normal again and you see the shot captured correctly.
have you tried using some free screen capturing software?

back to the game, it looks like you have a large continent to the south. considering that you're playing on thinker, it's about time you meet someone.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 12:22:16 PM
I will have to look into that when I take a break.

Funny thing is it only happens with SMAX. I did an AAR for another game months back and had no issues.

...and yeah, this IS a large continent.

Research is Centauri Ecology.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 12:29:19 PM
You are right, Sisko... Deidre!

She wants to trade and her power rating is feeble.

Thank god it's not Yang!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 12:34:56 PM
looks like a future ally and she's offering the tech you are researching! if you take it, then you can immediately change the research goal. ..maybe beeline to Ind.Automation since you already have Information and Planetary Networks...
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 12:38:14 PM
I trade Info Networks for Centauri Ecology.

Research is shifted to Biogenics. I am going to beeline IA. I just want tanks first!

I go ahead and sign a treaty with her.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 12:42:31 PM
good. now you can push her border in peace with new colony pods.  ;)

:2c:: you should explore more to the north and west of your bases to avoid unpleasant surprises
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 27, 2012, 12:43:16 PM
[Ninja'd]

Allies are great, but I'd expand to the south as much as possible while I still could...
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 12:48:46 PM
Biogenics is out. Researching industrial Base.

Yeah... I do not want unpleasant suprises.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 12:52:38 PM
looks good so far. no one in vicinity. what's that landmark to the north?
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 12:56:40 PM
Oh my. 2 pods, two earthquakes.

I really should stop with making the network nodes. They are taking forever. Formers would be nicer.

Landmark is Pholus Ridge.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 01:01:52 PM
Worms are eating scouts...

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 01:04:41 PM
too much fungus on the ridge, so it looks like pushing back the Gaians border should be high on your priority list.

that river spot across the lagoon looks like a nice place a for a new base..
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 01:09:25 PM
An artifact... if I can get it back. The wilderness to the north is dangerous.

I concur.

I should be able to rush a node soon. Former, then colony.

But, with these worms, I need troops.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 01:18:06 PM
Node at capital is out. A former is started.

Cities have been attacked three times by worms. I am moving the last unity rover to a point between the two cities. I have been lucky so for and gotten the worms before they got me.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 01:18:13 PM
the former can build roads to the mineral bonus (which is your only priority in terraforming for now), roads that can be used later by the colony pod on it's way to the river spot (if you choose it for a base spot).

a second colony pod should take advantage of the monolith to the west..
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 01:26:41 PM
Former is out and artifact is safe.

I am going to need tanks in the capital. After the road to the minerals, I need farm/solar or trees. Growth is stagnant in the capital.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 01:29:56 PM
I am going to need tanks in the capital. After the road to the minerals, I need farm/solar or trees. Growth is stagnant in the capital.
both the tanks and building a CP can solve that issue. ;)
it's your call.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 01:32:45 PM
also, taking the other way to the mineral bonus square would have spared you some time (building a road in a flat square takes just one turn).
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 01:39:24 PM
And guess who shows up? Sven!

I actually do give him deidre's phone number. With my techshare ability, it is in my best interest folks talk.

I DO trade info Networks for Doctrine: Flex!

Then.. applied physics for biogenics?
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 01:48:11 PM
I get Applied Physics for Biogenics.

I refuse to trade planetary networks even for doctrine Mobility.

I sign a treaty with Sven.

Fortunately, I see no sea cities, only that one foil that drove up and promptly left.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 01:52:14 PM
he comes from the east, it's still early in the game, so you should be able to do some more tech trading in the western ocean if you decide to build some foil.. with tech every 24 turns, you should be looking for Morgan for Ind.Base and Ind.Economics.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 02:01:52 PM
Industrial Base is out! The choices did not give me the next beeline for IA, so I will go ahead and knock out Social Psych.

A pod was popped and the node at Rose function will be out. This means another tech from the artifact next turn.

Tanks are up, and a colony is on the way.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 02:05:33 PM
can you give us a power graph and a 'who's who'? i can't read all the lines in the last shot..
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 02:15:32 PM
Well.. a power surge immediatly knocked out that node... oh well. I will move the artifact to the capital.

It appears Deidre beat me to a colony south.

From graph, she is leading in military and territory.

Worrisome.
Yang has population while Morgan and Aki seem to be having issues.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 27, 2012, 02:17:46 PM
Aahh!  Two tiles west, then.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 02:25:11 PM
It appears Deidre beat me to a colony south.
ouch, that hurts! looks like you'll have to expand north in the long term. and that's a very pink Pholus Ridge.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 02:27:30 PM
Artifact cashed in.. Prog Psych. Why me?

I threw the base up before BU could get his advice out. It will protect versus her annexing the mineral node.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 27, 2012, 02:30:40 PM
I'd look hard at settling her border to the southeast while that's still doable...
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 02:34:26 PM
I'd look hard at settling her border to the southeast while that's still doable...

Looking at it... meanwhile.. lets get that monolith...
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 02:34:35 PM
yep. you have to beat her to the monolith.  :)

what's the production output of the mine? 3 or 4? have you put a farm on top of it yet?
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 02:41:33 PM
Crap... ogre! Blocking the way!

Moving north to get around zone of control. Through fungus, i might add.

This colony war is tense!

Recycling Tanks rushed at Roze function.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 02:53:33 PM
... and she comes calling.

First, she has met Lal. But I will never trade tech for a commlink.

I pick up Doctrine: Mobility for Doctrine Flex.

I may end up getting Social Psch for Prog Psych..

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 02:59:31 PM
We get it. Research is now Non Linear math... No beeline to IA in choices? Damn.

She then babbles about wanting Planetary Networks for free then for a map. Of course that is not happening.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 03:04:21 PM
Monolith is ours!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 27, 2012, 03:07:05 PM
Monolith is ours!
that's a very hard to protect base! you should connect it to the road system as soon as you terraforming resources allow it.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 27, 2012, 03:07:31 PM
There is a deal with certain Graphics cards, SMAX, and MSpaint. I have to open SMAX then MSPaint the the shots turn out right.

I had to talk this over with BUncle two weeks ago, and it came down to my printscreen s/w being pants.

(I don't plug software, but) since I started using "Snagit" it's become a no-brainer. IT preserves colours and gamma settings, stores in a handy "My Screenshots" directory in My Docs, and I get on with the important business of SMACing the opposition (if they won't diplo nice)

With your browser / thread running in the background while you play you'd probably post up in under 10 seconds.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 03:25:29 PM
Davyboy, when I get off my roll, I will check on it :D

I agree with you guys if there are issues, the monolith base is going to be hard to defend.

I am going to go ahead and prototype a recon rover. Also, I am going to hold on Colony Pods after 1 more and go into more former production.

We also have the first colony on the ridge!

That green farm stuff past that is nothing to worry about. The unity rover popped an agriculture pod.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 03:37:16 PM
Been some turns, but formers are out and working.

Had to cope with a spore launcher near the capital that destroyed a farm.

That colony pod is going to settle near the energy resource on the sea.

Build, build, build.

That northern part seems pretty huge.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 03:48:44 PM
Nonlinear math is ours. Industrial Economics is next. I will hold on formers and do some much needed prototyping.

Also, the empire as it is.

Looking south, deidre has a size 6 city! I am impressed.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 03:59:17 PM
Lal shows up through Deidre's territory.

First, he wants me to declare war on Sven when i have no idea where Sven is, and I am under treaty!

Then, he wants Doctrine: Flex for a map! No.

Then, to top it off, Centauri Ecology for free. Double no.

Do not let the door hit you on the way out.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 04:13:11 PM
A lot of building.

I am noticing others working on projects, so I begin Weather paradigm at the base near the mineral node.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 04:17:39 PM
Man.. I wish I would have screen shotted something. Lal wanted a pact of brotherhood for a war with sven and 11 energy... Then asked for Centauri Ecology again. Sigh.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 27, 2012, 04:22:18 PM
...I believe the forum software resizes for width, not for hight - if you'd crop empty black to the sides, these screenies would display larger...
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 04:25:19 PM
...I believe the forum software resizes for width, not for hight - if you'd crop empty black to the sides, these screenies would display larger...

I am thinking that is graphics card. This notebook displays AC in 4:3. It does that with some other older games, too. I will see what I can do.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 04:30:46 PM
The northern wilderness is explored and I think Sven is near now.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 04:40:35 PM
Now, Deidre wants a pact to go against Sven.

Lal was talking no benefits. But a pact with deidre sounds like the right price before Sven tries to camp off my coast.

Who knows, maybe Lal may cheer up, too.

Navy will be out shortly, too.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 27, 2012, 04:43:19 PM
Call up Lal and offer a pact, then - alliances mean EC.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 04:51:03 PM
Call up Lal and offer a pact, then - alliances mean EC.

Next on the list, BU! You read my mind.

But first, the other great thing about pacts is I can see a bit clearer picture.

Lal has a small base on this continent and i believe that to the west is a land bridge,

Also, Sven now has a sea city in the water inlet in the Northern Wilds beyond the ridge.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 04:56:49 PM
Lal did not bite even after giving him Centuari Ecology gratis. Maybe later.

A navy must be built.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 05:08:32 PM
A Nautilus Impact Foil sailed into the harbor of Data Decentral, but was eliminated by my own Impact Foil on it's maiden voyage. I need another seaport over there as the capital is supporting lots of formers.

Meanwhile, the Monolith city launched it's own Impact ship and made some discoveries about that region. It appears Lal must have sent a transport and colony pod at some point to settle that one city below Deidre. His other city I see is on another continent. there is no connection like I suspected.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 05:22:50 PM
Industrial Economics is out. Next is Ethical Calculas to get democracy. IA did not show up.

The Impact Ship is now attacking Blood Point.

Deidre has HGP. I will have Weather Paradigm next turn.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 05:34:02 PM
Lal called up. He has met Yang and wanted to sell a comlink for 70 EC. No.

We then traded, and I got Ethical calculus.

I swich to democracy. Still no treaty. This may take a bit. Maybe when he sees yang is a jerk, his tone will change.

I now have Weather Paradigm.

Industrial Automation is next.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 05:44:43 PM
Deidre called up. At first she wanted Nonlinear math for a map of United nations. No.

However, we traded Non Linear math for Secrets of the Human Brain. As a bonus, Docrine Loyalty was given gratis!

Command Nexus Project has now started and that mineral node is going to boreholed!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 05:52:04 PM
Point Blood is in data Angel hands!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 27, 2012, 06:01:02 PM
Good going!

Do you like the avatar?
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 06:14:58 PM
The avatar is okay. It is a mindworm. Have not given much thought.

Meanwhile...

Point Blood was taken back.

IA is out.

Next is Centauri Empathy for Green.

I need crawlers now.

Also, as i figured, Yang made Lal soften up. We are now pacted.

I have posted the known world. Lal is spread out!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 06:51:00 PM
A bit of a strategy and gaming rant before i continue. I need to quaff more coffee. I am glad I am off today. I was so disappointed of giving you guys a fail AAR, I have stayed up way too long to give you this one.

The thing about the Pirates, and sea bases in particular I have noticed are they are hell to defend pre- Doctrine Air Power. Also, Sven tends to have one or two areas clustered around a landmass or snaking through channels with an odd base or two here and there outlying. I am thinking he is south because that is where I saw two ships come from. I think his main cluster is far away.

He also likes to choke people in. maybe that's whats up with some of the less powerful AIs we have not met. Maybe choke Yang?

The concept of Sven sounds cool. i have heard on other forums he is considered overpowered on human hands. i have only played him once, though.

Everybody hates Roze for some reason. They say she has no ideology. I personally think the concept was before it's time. In 1999, we did not have anonymous, the FreeMans movement, or wikileaks. Deidre was based off the ELF/ALF and Miriam off the SRA folks. If AC2 ever comes out, i think if the "anarchist" angle of Roze is upplayed with a 'We are the Angels! We do not forgive, we do not forget! Expect us!" theme, folks would eat them up. The only anarchists that were hot in 1999 making headlines were the green anarchists.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 07:08:22 PM
Deidre builds Empath Guild and Lal builds Virtual World.

A council meeting. Deidre is governor!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 27, 2012, 07:13:06 PM
A bit of a strategy and gaming rant before i continue. I need to quaff more coffee. I am glad I am off today. I was so disappointed of giving you guys a fail AAR, I have stayed up way too long to give you this one.

The thing about the Pirates, and sea bases in particular I have noticed are they are hell to defend pre- Doctrine Air Power. Also, Sven tends to have one or two areas clustered around a landmass or snaking through channels with an odd base or two here and there outlying. I am thinking he is south because that is where I saw two ships come from. I think his main cluster is far away.

He also likes to choke people in. maybe that's whats up with some of the less powerful AIs we have not met. Maybe choke Yang?

The concept of Sven sounds cool. i have heard on other forums he is considered overpowered on human hands. i have only played him once, though.

Everybody hates Roze for some reason. They say she has no ideology. I personally think the concept was before it's time. In 1999, we did not have anonymous, the FreeMans movement, or wikileaks. Deidre was based off the ELF/ALF and Miriam off the SRA folks. If AC2 ever comes out, i think if the "anarchist" angle of Roze is upplayed with a 'We are the Angels! We do not forgive, we do not forget! Expect us!" theme, folks would eat them up. The only anarchists that were hot in 1999 making headlines were the green anarchists.
;D
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 07:22:11 PM
A bit of a strategy and gaming rant before i continue. I need to quaff more coffee. I am glad I am off today. I was so disappointed of giving you guys a fail AAR, I have stayed up way too long to give you this one.

The thing about the Pirates, and sea bases in particular I have noticed are they are hell to defend pre- Doctrine Air Power. Also, Sven tends to have one or two areas clustered around a landmass or snaking through channels with an odd base or two here and there outlying. I am thinking he is south because that is where I saw two ships come from. I think his main cluster is far away.

He also likes to choke people in. maybe that's whats up with some of the less powerful AIs we have not met. Maybe choke Yang?

The concept of Sven sounds cool. i have heard on other forums he is considered overpowered on human hands. i have only played him once, though.

Everybody hates Roze for some reason. They say she has no ideology. I personally think the concept was before it's time. In 1999, we did not have anonymous, the FreeMans movement, or wikileaks. Deidre was based off the ELF/ALF and Miriam off the SRA folks. If AC2 ever comes out, i think if the "anarchist" angle of Roze is upplayed with a 'We are the Angels! We do not forgive, we do not forget! Expect us!" theme, folks would eat them up. The only anarchists that were hot in 1999 making headlines were the green anarchists.
;D

YES! In AC2, Roze needs a Guy Fawkes mask! Also, instead of the Roze "try to be suave" voice, The voiceover needs to be the female Microsoft Sam for her quotes!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 07:31:33 PM
Well, since Deidre built Empath and in turn called election and revealed all commlinks, it's time for diplomacy.

First Morgan before I go Green and tee him off.

He starts wanting Dotrine Flex for a map. No.

Then he offers another trade. I lowball.. and voila! What a stupid trade, Morgan!

And, sorry chap. No Treaty. I do not want for you  to become a wedge between me and Deidre. particularly when Deidre is right on the same continent and we are getting along so well.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 07:38:30 PM
Next, Aki.

But she demands. No.

Nor is she wishing to trade.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 07:46:22 PM
Then to Deidre...

We Pick up Centauri Empathy and go Green.

Research changed to Ecological Engineering to lift mineral resttictions!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 07:51:57 PM
Oh yeah... as part of the deal because Deidre and I share maps, we now know where Morgan is!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 08:02:52 PM
Deidre snags the Merchant Exchange.

I snag the Command Nexus!

Aki demands money. I tell her where to go, and we are now in vendetta with her!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 08:13:31 PM
A map trade with Deidre and we now know where Aki is and can spy one base of Yang's.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 08:20:21 PM
Sven lands one laser Sqad neer the capital.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 08:30:05 PM
Now, this just makes my day.

That lone laser guy? Well he messed up a forest then died to my garrison.

But the real awesomesauce...

I probe controlled one of Sven's boats for pennies. Then, that boat captured an IoD! To top it off, All these guys run into a transport!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 08:43:56 PM
Bad RNG kills my IoD and cheap ship while attacking that annoying Blood Den. BUT, my spy boat downloads the Pirate's world map!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 27, 2012, 08:50:14 PM
A bit of a nap. When we meet again, this shall continue.

All i got to say is this is a much different pace and luck than the first one.

The AIs seem to be hanging back building. then again, with the exception of Sven or Yang, most of these guys are builders. And, we are keeping pace.

Till then.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 07:40:31 AM
Alright, time to get back to business.

In Velocryrix's guide, there is a passage somewhere about looking at the map like you would each time for the first time. I will be honest with you, towards the end of the last session, it seemed I was pressing buttons to pressing be buttons without concern of what my cities were doing or an indepth look at the empire.

Since this seems to be a bulder AAR, lets talk about empire and city management for a few posts looking at each city in depth. It is a topic not much gone over in any AAR I have read.

So with that. Coffee in one hand and nicotine in the other, lets deep strategize, shall we?
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 28, 2012, 08:01:39 AM
So with that. Coffee in one hand and nicotine in the other, lets deep strategize, shall we?


i'm all ears!

(http://farm1.staticflickr.com/36/104281008_2b2a7a3421.jpg)
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 08:04:49 AM
First off, the big picture. This is the empire as it is now. We have 6 cities and the empire can be logically divided into 2 parts: The lower land below our little "canal" city of Roze Function and the Northern Ridge wildlands.

Earlier in the game, we had a peaceful colony war with Deidre that now is the set up for the lower Empire. There is only one place left unsettled near the Eastern coast a former has been pre-prepping.

We did put colonies in the Northern Ridge wildlands that was fungus city. It was much more inhospitable than it is now. Green has replaced the triangle from Roze Funtion to Ergonomia to Gargoyle Gardens. There is a lot of good land up there with some resources. But we have been a bit busy, I suppose.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 08:23:00 AM
The best logical place to start our tour of the empire is the headquarter, Data DeCentral.

To the untrained eye, it looks like a lot of improvements. But, there are issues here that would make a vet SMAXER lock me up in a noob vault!

First off, for a capital, the growth rate is horrible! Also, the capital is starved for minerals, hurting any major production.

The mineral node with the borehole is out of the question since it is being used by another city.

Crawler was rushed. You bet it is going to that mine tile.

Solutions? Well, there is a spot for another Borehole. That would help. Children's Creche is needed as well as probably a Rec Commons. I also might want to think about plopping a condensor down to the North in the farmland between there and Roze Funtion. Those farms are not giving near the food I would like.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 28, 2012, 08:27:57 AM
I also might want to think about plopping a condensor down to the North in the farmland between there and Roze Funtion. Those farms are not giving near the food I would like.
why not kelp farming?
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 08:32:54 AM
Yeah... I really do need to start harnessing the sea.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 08:41:36 AM
Googleplex is a short rover drive to the west of Data Decentral and is the nation's foremost project builder and industrial center.

But issues are here, too. Some self-created due to my zeal for projects.

For one thing, zero growth due to focusing on the borehole to bring out Planetary Transit. Second, nutrient poor even more so than data DeCentral.

Yeah Sisko.... it is time to commence operation "Let them eat kelp!"

Also..."MOAR CRAWLERZ and MINEZ"
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 28, 2012, 08:52:22 AM
hmm.. all your eggs (secret projects) are on the same basket (Googleplex)  :o

BTW: congrats on becoming a Specialist (200 posts)!  :clap:
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 09:07:20 AM
An AAR will tend to do that. Thanks.

Yeah, the eggs in one basket thing does worry me. If Deidre EVER gets mad, Googleplex is right on the border. I probably should look into fortifying the place like Fort Knox and defense in depth. To my credit I did try a project in another place, but with mineral restrictions not lifted and no crawlers yet, I was getting beaten to things except here.



The Crawl, also known by it's nickname "Monument Rush City" is the most populous city in the nation right now with a size rating of 4.

It is, however, not without it's growing pains. For one thing, a red face has appeared dissatisfied and refusing to work.

Also, while there is food and the city is growing slowly, mineral production is at a near standstill. The crawler will help, but they are taking forever.

In the end, the treasury may have to rush both the crawler and a rec commons to make the Sprawl a city to hold it's own amongst the cities of Planet.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 09:28:46 AM
To the north is the highly strategic city of Roze Function. It is a gateway of sorts. Not only does it allow travel between both sides of the continent for ships without a long voyage around, all land traffic must come through here to get to and from the lower empire and the lands of the Northern Ridge wilderness.

Growth is okay, but it is poor on facilities due to having to continually construct ships. A rec commons, creche, and crawler are needed.



Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 09:45:18 AM
Gargoyle Gardens is on the western central coast in our former wilderness area. It is near a sea energy node which unfortunately is no use right now because energy restrictions have not been unlocked. With that, this would be an economic powerhouse. TWO borreholes await restrictions being lifted.

Growth so far is good, and a crawler will free up a mine so we can work a better tile than that mine. Once again, though a common theme: need rec commons and creche.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 09:59:48 AM
Lastly, Ergonomia which is also the highest point above sea level in the empire because it is located o a feature called Pholus Ridge.

That fungus patch used to be much worse and it was a dangerous place for early settlers. But, formers have coated the land in farms and collectors. Because of the altitude, an energy bank is being built. A condesor and echelon mirror are being considered as well since the terrain is a bit on the arid side.

Of course, as a common theme in the empire, crawler and crche are needed.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: sisko on September 28, 2012, 10:08:15 AM
Googleplex is a short rover drive to the west of Data Decentral and is the nation's foremost project builder and industrial center.
...
Also..."MOAR CRAWLERZ and MINEZ"
you need to relocate the worker on that 1-1-1 tile to a forest+river square. you're losing minerals and energy this way.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 10:17:21 AM
Googleplex is a short rover drive to the west of Data Decentral and is the nation's foremost project builder and industrial center.
...
Also..."MOAR CRAWLERZ and MINEZ"
you need to relocate the worker on that 1-1-1 tile to a forest+river square. you're losing minerals and energy this way.

DONE... thanks for catching that. It will speed up the project by one turn.

Roze has also dropped by the Secret projects office and Lab Status office.It appears both Morgan and deidre are also working on Transit System. But, since I am pacted, i can look in her city and i see i will beat her to it by 9 or so turns unless she gets cash. Morgan, I have no idea. I should really use Roze style and start infiltrating datalinks. It usually does not make folks mad.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 10:33:47 AM
Well, that was refreshing and enlightening. Sven is pretty far away and Aki is pretty far, too. If anything shows up, I can always shift gears and cope. I do not think they have Doctrine : Initiative yet.

I think I need to go on a crawler/creche/rec common cycle.

Then... throw out 5-6 colony pods! Possible targets: Forgot to mark the spot by Roze funtion. more bases would be nice, too. But solving anemic growth needs to be addressed.

Anything in production now, I will let finish.. then the infrastructure/ expand cycle.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 10:52:19 AM
One of my probe foil teams infiltrated Sven's datalinks. We have uncovered what could be a possible plot to land a few impact rovers stationed at Meergard to land in the area east of Ergonomia which are sparsely defended. A transport will be in 8 turns.

A quick few more troops will insure safety in that region just in case.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 28, 2012, 11:03:03 AM
I see a lot of formers, but how many Mind Worms have you got?
There's a lot of suitable exploration turf for them to practice in and provided Sven doesn't get the jump on any of them you could hang him out to dry as he comes through that fungus zone.

Maybe start building to your NW working East?
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 11:13:32 AM
No mindworms... I should get some :) After rec commons/ creche cycle i will :)

Well.. good news, and bad news. Of course, every one wants the bad news first.

Morgan built the Planetary Transit, and we lose a crud ton of minerals. Also, Sven is treatied with everyone except me, and is building up at Meergard.

Good news is, Ecological Engineering is out and minerals are lifted. next, lifting energy!

BTW... little spy foil is on the way to infiltrate Aki.

And the forces at Meergard. Note, I took his minerals with a Unity Rover. Yhat will not last long, though.He brought in a sea former to build a platform!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 11:24:34 AM
Right as you said 'mindworm", 2 of them jumped out and ate a former! I captured one though.

What is this mind/machine interface on my laptop over AC2? If thats the case where are the copters and Cloadbase Academy?

Well.. you are right and this is convienient. A mind worm farm!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 11:31:07 AM
Techshare3... and Roze.... you gotta love it.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 28, 2012, 11:34:27 AM
Right as you said 'mindworm", 2 of them jumped out and ate a former! I captured one though.


Saw it on Post93 !! So you have a +ve PLANET rating, is that why you're not growing so fast (Democracy Green)?

Look after that wormie Green1.... it could help you win the game.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 11:39:48 AM
A visit to a monolith is in order for Mr. worm.

and speaking of Roze and her ways... our elite probe ship found something of Aki's laying around.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 11:45:26 AM
Yep... Dem/green.

I have wealth unlocked, but I wanted to wait for more creches for morale.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 11:52:18 AM
Aki has a foil aproaching. Small one.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 12:01:11 PM
... and unloads a scout rover killing a former..
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 12:08:10 PM
I cannot be responsible for underhanded sneaky stuff that is fixing to go on. Probes are fixing to be mass produced plus this... use imagination :)
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 12:15:00 PM
Coder's Pit founded on the sea Mineral node north.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 28, 2012, 12:20:53 PM
Yep... Dem/green.

I have wealth unlocked, but I wanted to wait for more creches for morale.

Well, it might work..... but I see a potential problem TIME -- it's now 150+ turns into the game and you have what, half a dozen bases?
Your green friend to your south will be running a Planned Democracy with a side of Knowledge/Wealth depending and if she goes 'weird' you'll be toast crumbs. Even if she doesn't, if someone frames YOU - same thing.

It's not meant as a criticism at all, I build all-the-time but I'd much sooner have 10 bases growing than 4-6.
Consider it from a gambler's or a trader's POV, do you bet or risk 1/4 of your productive base against loss or do you risk 1/10th?
The point being that if things get unpleasant - you lose disproportionately.

[In the Huge Planet game I'm currently simming 'Branson' in, where his research handicaps are not unlike Tech Stag, by 2250 he had 23 bases and by 2330 70 bases. Only NOW is he going ICSing.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 12:45:37 PM
Yep... Dem/green.

I have wealth unlocked, but I wanted to wait for more creches for morale.

Well, it might work..... but I see a potential problem TIME -- it's now 150+ turns into the game and you have what, half a dozen bases?
Your green friend to your south will be running a Planned Democracy with a side of Knowledge/Wealth depending and if she goes 'weird' you'll be toast crumbs. Even if she doesn't, if someone frames YOU - same thing.

It's not meant as a criticism at all, I build all-the-time but I'd much sooner have 10 bases growing than 4-6.
Consider it from a gambler's or a trader's POV, do you bet or risk 1/4 of your productive base against loss or do you risk 1/10th?
The point being that if things get unpleasant - you lose disproportionately.

[In the Huge Planet game I'm currently simming 'Branson' in, where his research handicaps are not unlike Tech Stag, by 2250 he had 23 bases and by 2330 70 bases. Only NOW is he going ICSing.

You do have a point. Deidre could really mess me up.

The current plan is for a few turns run econ at 90 percent. I have now switched wealth. Probes are out in force to make up for this temporary lul in research.  This particular tactic I did see once in an AAR. It was with Fundy though. But, I think Roze can pull it off, too. Basically, he slid the slider up and started buying everything.

I hope it turns cool :)
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 12:50:46 PM
Gibson Base is founded near the monolith up north.

Our probes took Polymorphic Software from Aki!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 28, 2012, 12:54:39 PM
Quote
I hope it turns cool :)

It'll be fine, Abundant lifeforms, Random Huge planet, and Gibson base locks Pirates out of exploiting your landmass, nice.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 28, 2012, 12:58:31 PM
Any chance you can raise an isthmus to your west and colonize that while yr latest bases grow a bit?

Ditto to the East eventually -- there's a big landmass you can deny Sven ;D
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 01:10:24 PM
Omega Terminus from Aki Mind Controlled by our now ELITE probes! She loses 5 or 6 troops!

Adaptive Docrine stolen from Aki!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 01:11:52 PM
Raising land, yeah... once some terraformers get free, I will look into it.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 01:27:41 PM
Oh my... that last one was a blur.

First, Doctrine: Initiative stolen from Sven and an updated world map.

Second, Yang demands 350 energy and declares war.

Third, Morgan trades me Eo Engineering for Doctrine Loyalty. Then Optical Computers for Applied Physics THEN declares WAR!

Sigh...
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 28, 2012, 01:30:48 PM
Best watch out for Morganite mining lasers then, I guess.............
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 01:43:51 PM
Indeed!

Well, Diedre intervenes and declares war on Yang!

Lal whines about money.

Yang lands 2 synth Impact rovers between Roze Function and "Monument Race" city. Deidre's patrols enter territory and my rovers are movingto counter this threat.

Omega Terminus is GONE! Did I accidentally blow it up? Oh well... there is another base I want. Aki should have been nice.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 28, 2012, 01:49:20 PM
Quote
Omega Terminus is GONE! Did I accidentally blow it up?

Any of your troops (ex-Conciousness) still around there. Is your Integrity still good?
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 02:02:14 PM
Troops still there and integrity is "noble".
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 02:06:56 PM
Oh well...

Cyberethics stolen from Aki.

Phi Lumier mind controlled costing her 5 units!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 02:26:57 PM
Aki begs for Truce. We refuse.

Psi Consiousness now mind controlled costing Aki 5 units. Hurts her too.. She was building a project there.

A probe of ours catures a Hive Impact foil sent to intercept it, destroys a defending Hive probe, and we see that Yang had an island start.

Sven demands more stuff that we ignore.

The Yang/Aki front:
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 02:52:43 PM
Aki again begs for truce. We rufuse and steal Resonance from her.

From Morgan we steal Adaptive Economics!

The Maritime Control Center has been built by us!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 03:04:32 PM
We steal Advanced Military Algorithms from Aki.

...and you know what guys, I just learned something new just now.

Things were getting a bit bad around Psi Consensus. I had lost 3 of the defenders due to bad luck. But, did you know you can mind control ground troops with a foil probe as long as it is in base? nice!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 03:32:41 PM
With all this Aki talk, it has been a minute since I have really delved into the eastern Sven front. Breaking the back of Aki was kind of expensive and it set us back a bit.

Circle 1

First thing, our little mindworm has had babies and now is 4 mindworms who have all visited a monolith. There is artillery there and a few impact rovers. A former is raising the land to Meergard, and much fun will be had. That is in two turns.

Circle 2

Sven had built Skeleton Key. This is now ours and the ships sent to rescue it have been mind controlled by probe foils.

Circle 3.

It was suggested to raise there to connect landmasses. However, it turned out the game wanted somethimg ungodly like 300 energy and we were in the middle of playing mind games with Aki. Maybe later.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 03:56:50 PM
Meergard goes down easily on the Sven front like a fish out of water.But, Blood Den continues to elude me.

Also, the complete world map:

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 28, 2012, 04:06:40 PM
Quote
Circle 3.

It was suggested to raise there to connect landmasses. However, it turned out the game wanted somethimg ungodly like 300 energy and we were in the middle of playing mind games with Aki. Maybe later.

300 is OTT. Should be very affordable around Point 1 -- yes, it'll take several stages, but the opposition won't expect or be able to counter it.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 04:44:37 PM
My... getting internal server errors. The two AARs also got a mention on CFC... So, must be traffic. I am flattered.

Anyways, I agree that would be a good deal to get over there. I believe the first pic would be the deal.

ALTHOUGH... for that 200-300, we could beach Point Blood. Sven is building these cruisers. They come in occasionally and harass improvements and kill foils. Nothing too threatening, but annoying between what he is building between Point Blood and Drake landing at 2 boats every 5 turns or so.

Thing is, though.. There is a plan I have to take dow Alpha Prime and I need to mind control yet another city on the other front to do this. Aki is almost the bigger threat and if I do not keep her pressured like I am, the tide could swing. preferably before Aki gets Air. Yang, i am not worried with yet. We have a weak Yang this game.

Morgan also needs to learn his place, too. But that will be in time.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 05:34:40 PM
Well, Deidre just called up demanding 50 energy with a mood of non commital and talked about defeating Yang if I would offer "more assistance". I may very well need to beef up homeland forces just in case. I have seen her troops. there are tos at her capital, but not much elsewhere. This needs to be watched closely, as she is powerful and leads tech.

The Aki front is getting bogged down. Circled are decent production centers and where troops are coming. One or both of those go, my captured bases will be harrased less. land invasion would take time. That is some harsh terrain. The captured bases are shoddily developed and shipping transports of troops just is not practical. Another possibility is probe foil around the continent to the one circled on the coast. However, I sent one that way and there is some Pirate movement activity around there.
 
Now, my original plan was to mind control that Pirate base right in the channel between Yang and Aki. (The #1)A few turns ago, it had a sweet cruiser transport and a bunch of marines and would have been ripe to mind control then put right on top of Alpha Prime. However, they are not there anymore. I think I know where they went. lal lost a coastal base a short bit ago. Plus, that channel is beginning to be heavily patrolled by Yang, making sea probe actions risky.

Oh yes, we also now have Sythetic Fossil Fuels. Doctrine Air Power is next!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 06:01:18 PM
Setback in the Aki front. Aki liberayes Psi Consensus, stealing industrial Automation!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 06:42:50 PM
Aki Zeta asks again for truce. Not wanting a further advance on our gains and the fact sea patrols have made ocean probe actions less reliable and reinforcemet logistics questionable, I agree. Then, the shocker. She wants a treaty. I agree to it. It will give me a chance to solidify holdings and get infrastructure and troops in that region in case things flare up again. Yangs still down there. But I will just keep a close eye.

That taken care of for now... homeland defense, expansion, and our seeming deadlock with Sven.

We have two new additions to the empire. Alphaville and Safehose City. New formers in planning will develop the land a bit more later.

Some happenings of note.

Area 1 I have raised and connected the mainland to that formerly small island east.

Area 2 we are beginning the work to connect the west as well in stages.

Area 3 I have brought artillery units to bear on that stubborn Blood Cove.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 28, 2012, 07:05:28 PM
Quote
Area 1 I have raised and connected the mainland to that formerly small island east.

Area 2 we are beginning the work to connect the west as well in stages.

I think it's your best bet - the direct approach is always fun - but a sneak attack ... well,

Who has the Datalinks? I saw Zeta-5 building a while back, no developments?
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 28, 2012, 07:22:48 PM
Datalinks- We mind controlled that city she was building it first at. She finally did get it though at Pi Complex.



While we are on the topic of homeland, let's talk operation "Diedre Flips Out". For this, i have zoomed into the 4 bases closest to her borders.

As sisko had mentioned, the most valuable target that would have to be defended AT ALL COSTS is Googleplex with ALL my secret projects. This city would also likely be the first to be attacked if Diedre freaks. the area approaching Googleplex is a bit of a rocky gully in places that could provide defense for enemies sieging the place depending on where they siege.

Second thing to go would be the Crawlers. These things are what make the bases productive. I would hate to have tons of stuff, lose several crawlers the possibly have stuff disbanded for lack of minerals. The crawlers are not arnored either and are considered non combat.

Also, the region is poor on actual troops and there are even some old scout patrols walking around like the Swiss Gaurd walks around the Vatican. I am sure the tourists love seeing old time uniforms, but a tree crazed backstabbing Deidre would not be stopped.

Third, is there is an isthmus directly to the capital where deidre could technically launch a two pronged assault.

Fortunately, there has been some work done. All those bases have perimeter defenses now and there is a great network of sensor arrays. I am begining to build anti air res sentinals since the era of air is approaching.

But still... more fast responce rovers, probe teams parked in vylnerable cities to counter enemy probes, and a troop or two right on border as a gaurd is needed.

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 28, 2012, 07:26:57 PM
Also, try to keep Deidre as happy as is possible, feasible and free...
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 08:15:23 AM
Also, try to keep Deidre as happy as is possible, feasible and free...

That is the plan. Although some turns ago she was not as friendly as she has been in the past and demanded 50 energy. I gave it to her because I was in the process of weakening Aki and did not care for issues then, but I did have a revealation.

However, more forces there will not hurt. Just a build rotation or two, then back to what we are doing.

If she does come to bear, I have looked at her troops. I would be pressed at first, but I could eventually out produce her. Plus, she has been building a ton of projects.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 08:27:53 AM
Speaking of projects, there is an elephant in the room that threatens the Roze way of life.

Through sharetech 3, we now have Pre-Sentient Algorithms which gives me a cov-ops center in every base. It also opens up the nasty Hunter-Seeker Algorithm that hurts probe play. At least it is not the massive shut down of probes in SMAC, but it is powerful none the less.

No one should have this but me. Notice everyone is working on it. I may be able to beat them on it at Googleplex as I have checked screen on all those AI bases that are working on. But, it is going to take some doing like assigning crawlers and buying outright when I get it affordable at massive cost to the treasury.

I also must do this without bringing back my Econ/Labs slider towards Econ the way i did earlier to mess up Aki and throw down improvements like I did a while back. Doctrine: Air Power would give me a huge boost until the others got it as well and could cope.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 08:48:59 AM
We steal Bioadaptive Resonance from Sven

Crawlers combined with the treasury converge on Googleplex to finish Hunter Seeker Algorith. God, that has got to hurt everyone else's minerals!

Bunch of little fungal pops over the last few decades, but Chiron locusts have been showing up!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 09:13:02 AM
We steal Superconducter from Morgan. So what is this, starting to get real weapons now besides laser rovers?

Another fungal pop this time near Googleplex. This time 3 spore launchers and 2 mindworms which the newly minted homeland defense takes care of.

Diedre asks again for 50 energy. We give it.

A volcano appears south west of Deidre!

Also, Yang and Sven are putting the hurt on Lal. I might should see which base I can send troops to. I want to keep him around for the trade income.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 09:38:04 AM
Doctrine Air Power, bioches! It is fixing to be ON! My playstyle tends to go heavy air. Fusion Power is next.

Let's see what's going on North with the Sven deadlock.

As you can tell, we have raised quite a lot of land. This program will continue near point 1.

Circles are new colonies to solidify our control over the area and 2 more colonies are on the way.

Point 2 is where Sven had captured a sea base from Diedre.

Point 3 and the yellow lines is where marine troops are going to cross and march through hopefully 3 Nautilus bases.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 09:56:11 AM
Then later, according to plan, Point Blood is siezed.

Sven demands Air Power, then wants truce. No on both counts.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 10:28:42 AM
Fusion Power is ours. Many troops are upgraded. Next goal: Orbital Spaceflight.

The war goes well and two more Pirate strogholds have fallen. First, Drake landing in the northern circle by IoD attacks. Second, the former Deidre sea base of Deidre's fishery by same IoDs joined by a cruiser.

Meanwhile troops are amassing near Roze Function to board the IoDs who will double back to pick them up to begin the assauly on Lal's former island. Where the "1" is, the Virtual World awaits capture, sparsely defended.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 29, 2012, 10:40:18 AM
I notice you are being credited with Mil superiority, Lady D knows this because she's Governor??
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 10:44:39 AM
Yes, I would assume so. I have needlejets, marines, rovers out the wazoo now.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 10:51:17 AM
Yeah... she has NO air... I could CRUSH her, but it would be a fight... plus, she is doing passive aggresive stuff like this:

She has not done crap except take 1 base of Yangs in the sea and sit there project whoring. Now, she wants to "invade" after I have weakened the Pirates hold on the Virtual World before my troops can get over there.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 29, 2012, 10:55:30 AM
My experience is that it being a bad idea to attack you never stops the AI.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 11:12:37 AM
Oh yeah.. and this passive agressive BS! For the 3rd or 4th time! After mind controlling UN HQ from Sven to get Virtual World! I am tempted to tell her to shove it and swarm her with needlejets and probes. Then all her projects would be mine..

Yeah, BU... She does have AMA to build anti air ground units.. but there is no way if I shifted focus she would be able to redirect in time before I swept in and took 2-4 cities.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 11:26:35 AM
Oh yeah.. stop sniveling. I refuse and she feels insulted. I feel insulted, Lady D? What about me?

Oh... and this just pours salt on it... I mean, really, D? Who has been going up against Sven and his Pirates the whole time while you just sat there and only intervened when you saw one opening!  You have been CARRIED, D!

I need to talk with my council about possibly backstabbing. If I am going to do it, it HAS to be now.

Oh yeah, did we mention Roze has materials of a questionable sexual nature of D cuddling up to Morgan? Yeah.. they are pacted. In fact, lets have a come to reality talk with D.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 12:00:26 PM
Well... after a talk with Deidre where she refused to stop associating with known folks who do not like my empire, I threatened to break pact and she told me she could care less.

So, I have.

Aki calls me up for pact right after. Now, she is in bed with Yang, so I am just "using" her to replace the lost trade income.

Diedre now has Chaos weapons. I think she just got it. But, I feel confident with an initial probe blitz and then troops arriving, I would have crippled her.

Here is the plan. The main target is Flowers Preach. This gets captured, Xenoempathy, Citien's defense force, and the Empath Guild.. gone! And.. it is lightly gaurded.

Secondary target is Song of Planet with Aesthetic Virtues and the gateway to the southwest of her nation.

Third is her capital itself with HGP and Merchant exchange.

Oh.. and those IoDs are still heading to UN HQ for Virtual World :)

Backstab? Well, I AM Roze!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 12:48:16 PM
First, I send a probe team into steal a tech and try to frame Morgan! Unfortunately, this fails. Diedre declares vendetta! Morgan already I am at war with.

I open up with more probes, stealing 3 techs: First Sting Theory. That means Chaos weapons incoming. Then Centuri meditatio, then Advanced Ecological Engineering!

Song of Planet falls! We have the Aesthetic Virtues!

Meanwhile, we catch Yang's forces by surprise trying to get UN HQ from Deidre!

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 01:06:54 PM
The second round!

Our probes steal Planetary Economics, then her World Map. I have all her tech and currently have world tech lead!

The Flowers Preach Falls! We now have the Xenoempathy Dome, The Citizen's Defense Force, and The Empath Guild.

Deidre asks for 50 energy! No. Deidre asks for truce. No.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 01:38:32 PM
AAA troops for Deidre are coming out and some aircraft are shot down.

Greenhouse Gate falls after 2 probe teams sabotage production of Anti-Air troops and destroy her Perimeter Defense and rovers roll through the gates unmolested.

Oh yeah, and that new seabase down there in the circle is not you hallucinating, its a sea colony pod we hijacked from Yang!

Meanwhile, Marines have treked across a landmass and swam a channel to sneak attack one of Sven's sea cities and on the way to the next with new settlers coming in to try a hand at fontier life.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 02:01:19 PM
We have Orbital Spaceflight. Next up, Nueral Grafting to hopefully beeline Mind Machine Interface.

Three more Deidre cities fall and soon, we will be sieging her capitol and her most populous city on the southwest coast.

This has, however spread me a bit thin. She is putting up a strong defense and I am starting to feel the casualties. Even the guys sitting outside UN HQ after killing Yang's little invasion team are looking at the sky going "WTF? Where are those damn jets?"
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 29, 2012, 02:09:27 PM
Quote
My backside hurts...

But I bet Lady D hurts more...........
(It doesn't have to be 'blitzkrieg' -- pause while your troops recover/reinforce and shoot her up in the open if you can.

I'm sure you're dancing as fast as you can.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 29, 2012, 02:34:35 PM
...And I'd say once you have all her secret projects and best bases, don't be afraid to let her swear a pact to serve you. Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 02:47:25 PM
Quote
My backside hurts...

But I bet Lady D hurts more...........
(It doesn't have to be 'blitzkrieg' -- pause while your troops recover/reinforce and shoot her up in the open if you can.

I'm sure you're dancing as fast as you can.

Well.. THIS is the reason we have had to Blitzkrieg!  :D

As a ragtag group makes their way around all the needlejet crashes surrounding  Gaia Landing , new prototype Interceptors shoot down a squadron outside Greenhouse Gate. But the capitol is ours. We now have the Merchat Exchange and HGP!! Another Gaian needle jet plunges into the industrial areas between Monument Race city and Googleplex and takes pot shots at Crawlers to try to hurt production. A counter offensive from 2 hidden mindworms to try to retake Memory Of Earth but are held off!

If we had not have moved quickly, this could have turned into a long, nasty war! This is still not over. Diedre is a crafty AI. She even had a crawler somewhere before the invasion from peeking in her city screen.

BU... this aint over yet!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 29, 2012, 03:04:34 PM
Ahhh

She's toast.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 03:29:00 PM
Ahhh

She's toast.

Yeah, it would appear so. Her futile counterattacks seem too little too late. Her lone interceptor valiantly tries to protect the airspace of her most populous city of Velvetgrass Point, but eventually falls under crushing masses of Data Angel airpower churning out from the industrial powerhouse of Googleplex. Silverbird park falls as well. She expected air and had AAA troops, but it was little help against rovers coming from Gaia's Landing.

She offers a bribe for peace, I turn down expecting capitulation. however, she vows to continue fighting from various scattered colonies and holdings.

Meanwhile, Sven reveals an airforce, as well!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 29, 2012, 03:34:43 PM
Quote
Meanwhile, Sven reveals an airforce, as well!

Hmmm, a Nautilus/Gaian axis could be problematic on a bad day..
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 03:52:51 PM
Quote
Meanwhile, Sven reveals an airforce, as well!

Hmmm, a Nautilus/Gaian axis could be problematic on a bad day..

OH.... MY....GOD! That is the least of my worries.

last turn I saw a flash of blue needlejets just wipe troops out of Lal and Diedre's colonies. I wondered where they came from. A sea colony off the southern coast with like 10-15 needlejets!

Obviously, this has been happening for a bit. As I always saw those small bases with no one in there.

The hunter-seeker of AIs had bid his time and revealed himself! Yang is here!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 04:27:27 PM
We begin to start producing anti-air units. Hopefully, they can get out to cover my backside before Yang decides to stop playing with Dee and Lal to start messing with me.

Till then, the fronts still continue.

The Pirate airforce simultaneously attacks the siege crew of UN HQ (and, Diedre's last project The Virtual World) and UN HQ itself in a 3 way battle for dominance! However, freed from the task of invading Gaia homeland, needlejets arrive to support to the relief of the last remaining sige troop- a artillery rover! IoD ships more troops for the invasion of Lal's former island!

Up north, the Marines have taken Dry Dock, revealing open sea towards the main clusters of Pirate operations. However, with no transports and limited naval support with all available air units currently either repairing or off on missions in other theatres of war, they hole in where they are.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 04:49:02 PM
Alot going on as I read the reports coming in from the field.

#1
First, the last hold out, a Gaian sea platform off the coast housing a lone Needlejet of Dees that was sniping my crawlers has been taken.

#2
Air units are coming back into service to pound the seaborne air platform city Yang has constructed in the middle of all this clustermess!

#3
The Virtual World and UN HQ is ours!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 05:28:57 PM
Fierce air battles over Lal's former home island between Pirates and Data Angel fortress.

Infiltrator reports Sven is building a Planet Buster north of here. We cannot have those shennanigans.

We have 34 turns to stop it.

No screenshot, but north, we have held off two counterattcks on Dry Dock. Also, we have about 10 needlejets giving Yang's little base no quarter.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 05:48:20 PM
Massive nonstop aerial assaults were too much for Yang's lone sea base air attack platform being located so far from his homeland.

An IoD takes Sea Hive while the remainder of the massive Angel air presence continues what Yang started.. the continual pounding of Dee's fledgling outlier bases.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 06:23:11 PM
We have launched a sattelite and reveal whole map. Funny. The whole southern hemisphere is completely untouched!

As Angel jets head west to hit other Yang sea bases, Yang lauches 3 or 4 missiles obliterating needlejets that were repairing, leaving sea hive dangerously undefended.

Battles continue on the Sven front with constant dogfights. However, the guns on our aircraft outmatch his. We take the secont city on Lal's former island
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 29, 2012, 06:30:06 PM
I hate island-y maps like this, but I'd send a colony pod south and let the south build from there...
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 06:50:34 PM
I hate island-y maps like this, but I'd send a colony pod south and let the south build from there...

Yeah.. It is a logistics challenge particularly when the theatres of war get spread out like this.

Still... the south. I play Morgan too. If I saw a huge place with all those goodies right next to me and nothing but death and Pirates and Dee and Yang to the north, I would be there in his shoes. Instead of turtling, Morgan's AI could be a bit better. Even running market, it is possible to expand. I mean, Aki's AI does it and she likes market, too.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 29, 2012, 07:10:01 PM
Oh yeah... It is time to take a second to think about victory conditions.

The easiest would be get governor next election then attempt to declare myself supreme leader. DIPLOMATIC VICTORY.

I could just conquer everyone. The world is spread out, and once Sven goes it is just a matter of a lot of time mopping up. That is, unless someone like Yang or Aki want to go nuke on me or something - which is a slight possibility. But, once the threats are nuetralized, not sure how good of reading that would be. CONQUEST VICTORY.

I can corner the market eventually with enough bases and putting slider all the way up on ECONOMY. But, it would require me to at least weaken Sven more and watch Aki. All factions get a chance to try to stop you. ECONOMIC VICTORY.

Of course, there is transcendence. Basically pump labs while maintaining pressure on the others or knocking out who I can till I tech myself up and become one with an alien god. TRANSCEND VICTORY.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 29, 2012, 08:05:00 PM
I always play for Transcend, but Conquest would probably be the most theatrical for an AAR.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 01:03:26 PM
I wake up ungodly early like I usually do and had plans to go out and get on my bike. But, it is a rainy morning where I live. Looks like more installments of this epic game. Sometimes, I get these deep games like this that last DAYS. This one appears like this and I apologize if for some, it is too long. I just view it as a miniseries.

I have also been thinking about victory, as, barring a series of major blunders, I am confident in my current position.

I have decided against diplomatic. Just does not seem like Roze's style. Roze, like many hackers and anarchists would always need to subverting things and controlling things.

Barring that condition, I am going to play on and see how it goes. Once again, my alphax.txt has only one modification. Mandatory Retirement year is like in the 4000s. I HATE time limits in ALL 4x games. SMAX is no exception.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 02:08:17 PM
Our war is going smoothly.

The marines take a transport cruiser foil that was rushed and make a hike across a small island to grab Land Lock. Land Lock is the gateway to the Pirate Sea and the center of Pirate production. A few newly minted Needle Jets have arrive and are begining the first sorties. However, any main conquest must wait on naval support which has been risky due to Svens uncanny ability to take over ships he attacks and turn it against us.

Barbary Coast, a sea colony of Svens sitting above a uranium rich small island which was building a Planet Buster has put an end to Sven's last resort nuclear ambitions.

The battle for Lal's former island home has been bloody as the bulk of the Nautilus airforce is around there. However attrition is taking a toll.

West and south, our aircraft take out a force attempting to take the Lal holding UN Education Agency.

We also take a small sea colony right off the coast of Morgan Lands.

However, all this fairly good news is tempered as infiltration report hits Roze's desk. The capital city of the Hive is attempting to build a Planet Buster! Plus, Yang is far more likely to use it! Not to mention, unlike taking Barbary Coast of the Pirates, our forces are nowhere near that part of the world and it would a substantial amount of planning and logistics. Also, remember, Aki is in bed with Yang. So using her bases to launch an assault is not without potential peril.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 30, 2012, 02:39:58 PM
I take it all back..

You risk having a Grand Alliance at your throat brokered through Cyborg tech,
Hope your covert troopers can keep them off balance.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 02:54:02 PM
The main body of Pirate territory is dense. Having taken the small base of Ulrik' Hideaway, we view the situation. Soon, Port Svensgaard and the popluted sea metropolis The Anchorage will be under siege. Conquest is slow, though as we get further in areas of the world far from out homeland as reinforcements sometimes take several turns to join the fray. Also, Sven has not given up on nukes. He merely moved it further from the front lines. Also, Lal's island continues to be a meatgrinder for troops on both sides. I feel sorry for those that that graduate then get papers going there.

On the southwest front, things go even more slowly as the war is limited to air and sea. However, once we amass more ground this will change with time.

Deidre seems almost willing to cave. Before we destroyed a cruiser ship on the way to capture the undefended sea city of Sea Cradle, she offer tech for truce. However, capitulation is the only words we want to hear.

Surprisingly also, Yang has declared war on Aki Zeta. So, Cybernetic fighters now join the air and sea battle. :danc:
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 03:03:34 PM
I take it all back..

You risk having a Grand Alliance at your throat brokered through Cyborg tech,
Hope your covert troopers can keep them off balance.

Fortunately, Yang messed up and declared war on the Cyborgs.

BUT... Sven and Yang are Pact Brothers!

As far as covops, we have been having some issues with Sven's navy. He sees a probe foil with a ship first, it is automatic subvert due to Sven's Marine detatchment ability! I have lost 5 like that! Of course, I have Hunter seeker, so he lost some using it against me. But, still. AND.. even for all this stuff happening around Sven's area... he has ships in places you would not expect ships. Infiltration only tells me what is in each city and what is being produced and supported.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 30, 2012, 03:16:41 PM
Quote
Fortunately, Yang messed up and declared war on the Cyborgs.

BUT... Sven and Yang are Pact Brothers!

Best news you've had all day, (well the 1st part).
Any of your ships have the Marine Detachment bolt-on? That tends to upset Sven.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 03:42:57 PM
Quote
Fortunately, Yang messed up and declared war on the Cyborgs.

BUT... Sven and Yang are Pact Brothers!

Best news you've had all day, (well the 1st part).
Any of your ships have the Marine Detachment bolt-on? That tends to upset Sven.

Getting there. Been having to go AAA, though. Tons of Air about and no MMI. But, that is fixing to change.

Some good news: We have Nueral Grafting!! Mind Machine Interface is next up.

And, Diedre caves:
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 30, 2012, 03:46:25 PM
 ;o ;o ;o ;deidre;
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 04:35:25 PM
A little nerd rant before I upload the happenings of the last round or two.

I am allowed one short nerd rant per AAR! LOL!

Oh by the way, for any regular AC2 members or lurkers, if it seems slow posting, it is because I am making sure everything looks right and making sure the pictures are something clear (AND- useful) and I am gradually getting a system for this. It is not that I am reloading games over and over so I will look cool. I could care less if I win or lose. It is the story, not ultimate ego. I also may want to tab out between editing to do other things and lurk places like a ninja. Plus, late mid  game like this point, it really takes a sec.

I do think after this one ends, I may do another one after a break. I do not want to desensitize the readership, though with too many. I have one idea actually inspired by sisko's avatar. I used to watch Deep Space 9. It was actually one of the deeper Star Treks of the 90s with rich storylines that carried episode to episode. There was also a character known as Miles O'Brien. He was the chief engineer despite being only enlisted, not an officer like most Star trek main characters. The thing that Miles O Brien and an AAR have in common is that every few episodes of DS9, they would write "O'Brien MUST SUFFER!" episodes where HORRIBLE things would happen to O'Brien. So much so, it was an internet meme!

I was thinking for a next one after a respite, taking our buddy Lal who was captured by Miriam and psi-gated to hell! Of course, Yang is in hell. He is always there. But, also there would be 2 Marrs and 2 Him'Lees!

Yes... LAL MUST SUFFER...

(which BTW, if you do something like have multiple aliens, are they allied or are they permanent war with each other regardless of if they are clones of each other?)

but oh well...

Lets get back to an epic deep logistical challenge map game!

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 04:56:57 PM
It is really hard to display with pictures how slow the battle with Sven is coming.

For one thing, in these areas of Pirate territory, the bases are close together and compact. I forget what the actual SMAX community specific term for this kind of defense.

On top of that, he has an amount of interceptors that can give air trouble and a ship or two with marine detachments to cycle quickly between bases.

The only thing that would make this harsher would be if he had the tech Advanced Military Algorithms which would allow him to rush AAA garrisons and be hard to uproot.

That, and I had to prototype and upgrade my navy which took a bit and then sail them halfway across the globe.

Well, fortunately, the first of those have arrived!

The marines on that northern island have taken The Anchorage finally after an air battle above.

The combined marine and aerial assualt on Port Svensgaard was suffing as Sven had veteran defenders that hurt my marines and interceptors to pick off my needlejets. Fortunately, though, a pod was popped revealing a monolith! Now, the marrines can assault, go back heal, and assault again!!!

The south is a bit worse. I have the surviving air after eventually establishing air dominance  but no navy for miles and none coming until the next batch leaves the drydocks in various locations in my homeland. Nothing irritates the pilots that actually survived back during the bloody takeover of that area as looking at empty enemy cities that no one can take and playing whack-a-mole with any new sentinals that pop up.

Well, at least all of Lal's island is ours even if I am having some of the same issues Sven has with aircraft swooping in on defenders. Also, Yang has been sending shipments of missiles to aid his Pact Brother. UN HQ was hit by two missiles and the other two cities were as well. Even a brief scare was had when a Nautilus Cruiser and needlejet came dangerously close to retaking Barbary Coast after a Yang missle attack. Fortuately, more needlejets from the homeland arrived in the nick of time to foil Sven's counter attack!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 05:28:25 PM
A bit of headway on the Yang front. A probe foil team took attacks of opprtunity against Yang navy unit. Yeah, these ships are old scool missile ships, but as far as securing sea bases while our pilots decimate defenses, it will do till more AAA Chaos Cruisers enter the theatre and troop transports arrive.

The Sven battle continues to be a logistics nightmare. BUT.. I did not think earlier about the link from his production areas to the south near Lal's formeer island. Or a great way to get it. Fortunately, Port Svensgard fell in part to the marines discovering the monolith. Also, Safe Have is a connecting way stop between the two theatres of Sven influence. Take that, and the south falls for Sven quickly. Good thing is that Port Svensgaard and Safe Haven are off shore of the same landmass. So, my marines ca just head south to get it and the airforce already in the south ca assist. Good thing, too. We discover he was massing troops but afraid to take transports due to all the air power down there. Probably should have used infiltration to check that city sooner, but hell, this is A LOT of stuff!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 05:56:17 PM
But.. pound on anything enough, with the correct tools, and the Nautilus shell begins to crack!

Parrot Landing and Sextant Cove fall in order as the Pirates now struggle to keep up after losing so many troops. I imagine in my mind those red faces in Sven's other bases his popultion worried about the encroaching Data Angels. Also the Hologram Theatres which are stupidly being built an attempt at propoganda romaticising the Pirate way of life.

Sven's backside is revealed.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 06:49:11 PM
Back around 2000 or so there was a Dungeon master who ran games in our extended circle. He was famous for never allowing players to do cool stuff that did not meet his vision. I still remember in my head him saying, "No,No,No...No, NOOO!" For years even after he disappeared, former friends of that day still imitate him to get a shared laugh.

Well, with the latest screen shot, I begin to say NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!

But seriously, an AI gets Cloudbase Academy, you may have issues!

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 07:06:35 PM
Cybernetic jets scrambled to assist recently emptied sea cities I had captured from Yang from persistant missile attacks as artillery fire from on shore defended precious sensor arrays from naval bombardment of the combined Cybernetic and Angel forces.

However, we all CRAPPED when this happened unexpectedly!

Yang launched a PLANET BUSTER! He must have gotten money to rush it. Pi Complex, a size 14 city and Cybernetic industrial center ERASED from existance! Even Yang's pact bother, Sven was forced to break pact and declare war at this horrible atrocity!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on September 30, 2012, 07:15:39 PM
Fission version then.

"How to Win Friends and Influence Factions"

     by Shen-Ji Yang
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 07:21:07 PM
Yeah.. that hurt her. She lost Planetary Datalinks (sharetech3)!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 07:47:10 PM
The pirates continue to lose ground as Angel forces sail and fly through dense sea settlements. The next in line, Red Sky falls easy and the other Chaos Cruisers speed towards other targets unmolested by dwindling Pirate air.

Safe Haven fared better, but with elite marines attacking from the north, continuous Angel sorties, and reinforcements from Pirate production areas at a standstill will fall by next round.

The Yang front has heated up. But blunders may end up costing Yang. The first of the Angel invasion troops arrived on a land based small Island with a Hive settlement called Hole of Aspiration, the last island hopping gateway to Yang's home island that would put his homeland under increased air pressure. They destroyed a cache of 3 of those irritating missiles that were probably heading to kill my needlejets.

The ancient misslie cruiser scored a huge victory by single handedly destroying a Hive transport loaded down with troops to invade somewhere.

Also, the first Angel missiles hit Hive HQ.

The lone pirate outpost in the channel between Cyborg and Hive lands has been captured by one of the AAA Cruisers.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 08:03:02 PM
Looks like the rum has worn off after losing Safe Haven and seeing his production areas preparing to fall in rapid sucession!

Rather than backside hurt of Dee, Sven chooses to get wise with some of his backside intact!

But, you got to give it to Sven, it was a long, brutal fight. He at least leaves with a somewhat decent empire left. More so than the paltry collection of far flung bases Dee has.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 08:37:32 PM
Mind Machine Interface, arguably one of the most prized of the techs in SMAX is ours.. 

Which brings us to the question of the little project called The Cloudbase Academy. For those lurkers who may not know, Cloudbase Academy is POWERFUL. Particularly for big air/big space style players. It provides an aerospace complex in EVERY base.

Now, Aki had gatten MMI before us, which raised Rozes eyebrow a bit.

Now, I had been keeping track of this situation, because I do have infiltration. She was going to have Cloudbase in 8 turns! Fortunately, though I had been working on Nueral Amplifier, a minor psi project and could redirect to Cloudbase. In a way i also owe Yang a favor, since he did nuke Aki's original attempt to make it.

Unfotunately for AKi, I have the cash and minerals to instabuild it!

You see, Aki as an AI is one of these very deceptive AIs. Yang, you know it's on. Miriam, well... we know that lady. But Aki is the person that is everyone's buddy.. till the end of middle game.. then she goes nuts! Maybe it is Kyrub's mod. Maybe it is an ancient attempt by Firaxis at late/middle game drama.

Well, Aki was pissed at losing Cloudbase... because while this is all happening, I deal huge blows to Yang (which I will go into).

Pact Sisters we are no more!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 30, 2012, 08:38:33 PM
Sven's backside is revealed.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 08:41:42 PM
lol!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 30, 2012, 08:59:09 PM
 ;)
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 09:06:21 PM
Yang's backside is now revealed as well.

You see, Yang has a big bang but should not have blown everything with his only shot. Although, I must say Aki and myself were pressing. I would have had 2-3 nukes before doing that. Then again, Aki air was hurting him.

You see, a mass of AAA Chaos Rovers and Mindworms of Roze's landed at Fecundity Tower and took it easily. Then one of the rovers drove casually over to The Hive itself and took over unopposed due to Cybernetic airpower depleting sentinels.

Making this backside invasion worse, a probe was stuck up in Seat of Proper Thought, Mind Controlling it and making him lose 5 units and the base being under the banner of the Angels!

Not to mention offshore bombardment of other cities and air preparing to come down on more.

It was a Data Angel and Cybernetic backside sandwich!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 10:21:59 PM
Cloudbase Academy is ours! Aki switches to the other MMI project, the Cyborg Factory which we will be racing against for.

Aircraft from 5 empires were taking it's toll on Yang. In one city off the coast of Yang's island, there were Gaian, Nautalis, Peacekeeper, Cybernetic, and Data Angel jets stationed.

With yet another transport of AAA chaos rovers landing and a Cybernetic transport waiting to land filled with troops seeking blood for the nuclear attack on Pi Complex, Yang decides that the backside hurt is too much to bear!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 10:33:17 PM
Which by the way, I do not think anyone will have a problem with me grabbing free energy by doing this...

Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 10:59:09 PM
So.. whats up, Aki Zeta? She seems to be massing troops over at the city near where we took over from the earlier war. I now have 4 cities over there.

From infiltration, the rest of her cities are not well defended, but i notice in support screen she has unhappiness from troops statioed out of territory due to her running Free Market.

No copters, though. I can have copters in 2 turns. I could decimate her.

Morgan? Pathetic. Only reason I have not messed with him is because he has done nothing. He is like one of the little barky dogs that bark a lot but do nothing.

So.. even though rounds earlier I was considering against it, I dare think it would be in every leader's best interest to bow before me as Supreme Leader!

Fotunately, (for them at least) no one dares challenge this. Only a vague whimper from Morgan and Aki.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 11:04:41 PM
Oh yeah.. for those that actually care about numbers..
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Green1 on September 30, 2012, 11:24:41 PM
Post Mortem:

The game, I am sure looked easy, but there were actually some spots things COULD have gone wrong.

Early game was one of them. In fact there are those that say early game decides victories. If I would not have kept Deidre from aggressively expanding or blocking me in, this could have been a different ballgame.

If Dee would have gone Doctrine Air before String Theory, There would have been no way for me to backstab her like I did without huge consequences. But, having air versus someone else not having air and only beginning AAA troops makes your empire fall in mere turns.

Yang could have been even more of a factor if it had not been for strange pacts with Aki then war with Aki, then a nuke that did nothing but hack everyone off.

If Sven would have sided with the Cyborgs with Cyborg tech, that would have been a grand Alliance which would have given me a REALLY hard time, maybe even a loss mid game. The sole reason Sven dropped was tech disparity. R-Laser Jets vs Chaos Jets is no match even with interceptor on them. Instead he sided with Yang, who made fatal mistakes.

Morgan...WTF???

Lal.. I expect better. But he had a bad start, must have gotten a unity foil and spread out his settlements too much. Pirates really put the hurt on him.

Still.. feels good to give the AC2 guys and lurkers a win. Yeah, I was thinking no diplo, but I was secretly hoping for the "theatrical" deal of Aki defying! Since I do not restart.. I guess it will do. But, this is not a bad AAR for those who like tactical talks anyways.

Aki? Aki did what Aki usually does. I just got too powerful towards the end. A Pirate/Dee/Aki axis would have been her best and only choice. But, Aki's AI is a pacifist usually until late game when Future Society stuff comes.

Hope everyone enjoyed :)
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 30, 2012, 11:33:54 PM
Hail to the King, baby! :clap: :win: :salute: :1st:
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: NewAgeOfPower on October 01, 2012, 12:24:06 AM

Early game was one of them. In fact there are those that say early game decides victories.

Yep. In almost any 4x game, if a human wins early game, he is almost guaranteed to crush AI opposition. Right now, I feel I could possibly fight every enemy combined. Even if Deidre and Miriam magically backstabbed me.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Davyboy on October 01, 2012, 06:55:34 AM
Congrats on your well deserved win  :D

Quote
The game, I am sure looked easy, but there were actually some spots things COULD have gone wrong.

The non-linear lure of SMACX semi-random gameplay. The reason why it's always different when it's the same old same old.

Well done. Good demo for noob lurkers and everyone else. Entertaining too..  ;lol
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Flygon on October 01, 2012, 07:17:05 AM
That was quite entertaining! I quite enjoyed this!
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 08, 2012, 07:14:41 PM
Yang's backside is now revealed as well.
;buttdance
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: JarlWolf on September 11, 2013, 08:00:11 AM
This needs to go in the AAR subforum. Been reading it but took a while to find it.
Title: Re: My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 11, 2013, 08:11:05 AM
Thanks!
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