A Let's Play of SMAX

[Green1]

Yeah, BU, I have been going big military. I am also a huge proponent of large air. Now my previous roommates that introduced me to AC were TOTALLY different in strategy. One was a Zak specialist who built and built. The other was a Yang ICS monster.

The sea, I was not too worried about. It is a formidable barier between me and Miriam. For now... Although i have seen AIs like Yang raise land to come get you. With Miriam's suppoert rating, she probably has swarms by now.

However, expansion will play a part in it because even when the invasion comes, I have a feeling it is going to last till Doctrine: Air Power.

Research now is Ethical Calculas to help with Lal's one weakness: ineffeciency. Planetary networks opened up the first economic choice, Planned. But, that is not what I had in mind.

I am definately going to sneak a colony onto that Island above New Jerusalem as a future airbase.

I am also looking at that landmass to the east with the minerals. Two cities have broken off to throw out colony pods just for that purpose. Impact rovers are being prototyped and a prbe foil will be cooking soon.
 

[Green1]

More incoming. Get real. A recon rover and an impact infrantry?

Not doing so hot Naval front. Laser Foils just are not cutting it against Miriam's plasma armored impact foils. Luckily I will have some of my own out.

Oh yeah... Sea Lurks are annoying.

[Green1]

Not to ressurect a dead internet meme..

But yes, really.

I do upgrade a lone scout patrol gaurding planetary trust in case that rover has ideas about skating around UN HQ.

[Green1]

Lost a synth laser infrantry against an impact squad in athe forest outside UN HQ. Had to use the ogre and it got damaged. Ill deal with the rover shortly.

I do not like Miriam infrantry outside of bases because of Miriam and infrantry's bonus to attack.

[Green1]

Zak now has Virtual World.

Artifact #2 is cashed in, but only gives me Projenator Pysh... a fairly worthless tech.

Two Plasma Impact infrantry have landed at my staging area at Humanity Base in the south. I have a bunch of syth laser squads there. Yeah, this is going to hurt.

That rover just sits there.

Come on Impact prototypes!

I may want to start building stuff with nerve gas.

[Green1]

The battle for UN Humanity base is brutal. I lost 4 Laser Squads. I moved a former in to buy time and hurried the first Impant Infrantry, who then hurt one of them severely before being destroyed.

Miriam's two heavily armored Impant Infrantry are looking hurt. Unless more lands, I should hold out.

Fortunately, next turn, an Impact Rover from Planetary Trust should be out.

I have decided against spreding south and a transport foil is en route to pick up 2 colony pods to take to one of the landmasses to the east.

[Green1]

Ethical Calculus is out. Not changing civics just yet as cash is low and I am having to rush things.

Next up will be Gene Splicing to get rid of nutrient restrictions.

Defenders at Humanity base are now a skeleton crew. But, the calvary is coming!

[Green1]

A lone laser foil exploring far east discovered a Probe Team of Zak's. Unfortunately, sunspot activity prevents talking. I would love to hear from him to see what's up. Also, his techs!

Miriam did indeed land more troops which were dispatched by the Impact Rovers in the nick of time!

I also think I see borders of something on the eastern landmass. I may go Northeast with colony pods,

My luck.. It would be Yang! If Miriam is not bad enough.

[Green1]

Oh my.

Sunspot activity ended and I was able to talk to Zak. I sell the commlink of the Drones for a little chump change. He then asks for Proj Psych as a favor. I thought I could earn points by giving a worthless tech like that to him, so I did. However, Zak was pretty condecending and refused to trade tech and called my researchers whiney.

I talked to the drones. They offered a map for Doctine: Flexibility which i refused. At this point, I am shaking my head. DumDum Domai? Most folks would have had that by now. He also offers a treaty I turn down.

THEN.. Miriam calls up and asks me to help fight Zak even though I really have not seen any of his bases! She even offers to declare truce if I give her 50 credits. No thanks as a newly minted plasma impact foil destroys a transport of hers loaded with Impact Rovers headed to my lawn.

Sorry for no screen shots... all this diplomacy happened so fast.

[Buster's Uncle]

That last screenshot, just east of the island - that's where I would have been aiming a colony pod all along.

When you said "I moved a former in to buy time and hurried the first Impant Infrantry", I initially read that as "Implant Infantry".  Oh the jokes.  Good lord, the jokes. 

[Green1]

That last screenshot, just east of the island - that's where I would have been aiming a colony pod all along.

When you said "I moved a former in to buy time and hurried the first Impant Infrantry", I initially read that as "Implant Infantry".  Oh the jokes.  Good lord, the jokes. 

Yeah, BU. I have city borders set up that displays red. There is something over there. But, I do not think it is Yang. I am thinking the mass to the Northeast. In fact, next turn a base will be there.

Wierd thing is this is SUPPOSED to be a low sea level map. But, so far, this is one wierd little map. Not complaining. The exploration between fighting off the Orange hordes has made things really interesting.

My keyboard on this laptop sometimes messes up. The "N" key for one. It leads to strange misspellings. Implant Infrantry lol.

[Green1]

A bit better picture.. Which, by the way, I know where University Base is.

What's strange is to the north of University Base is where I saw probe teams heading somewhere... that mass where Zak is may loop around.

Being this is a low sea level map, Miriam, myself, and Domai may be just some large sea that is the biggest on the planet!

I do need to see what's there. A halfway competent trading partner could turn the course of the war with Miriam.

Or it could be Yang....

I also do not know what is up with Sparta or Planet Cult.

[Green1]

Ladies and gentlemen, I should really keep my mouth shut. Remember when I talked about AIs raising terrain to build bridges to get you?

Well, take a gander...

Miriam had like 4 formers raising the Terrain. She was also offshore artillary bombarding the main force.

I can expect swarms soon...

[Green1]

Zak called up and a round of diplomacy. At first he wanted High Energy Chemistry for a map of Drone territory. I almost spit up my coffee laughing.

Then, we agreed to trade High Energy Chemistry for Docrine: Loyalty. Might be useful for Perimeter Defenses. Bad trade, but worth it. He then offerd a treaty.

Now usually, according to some guide writers, it is not good to contact a faction twice, but I felt if I was to offer to coordinate battle plans, I might get a map out of the deal for free. But, to my shock, he wanted a pact!

So pact brothers now, we are. And... better maps.

Still no Sparta, Planet Cult, or Yang.

BU.. that red line was a sea colony of Zak's. But, that land mass is smaller than we thought. A colony is northeast, though.

[Green1]

Yang somewhere has the Command Nexus.

And, the lone Laser Foil has located a small base belonging to Santiago. It did not go well. She demanded money, then declared vendetta. At least now I know where the University probe was going.

And, oh yes.. The heathens have come calling...