A Let's Play of SMAX

[Green1]

We steal another tech from Miriam.
 I forgot to screenshot it, but it was one of the resonance armor techs.
The offensive petered off.

Offshore artillery is killing improvements.

A 4th artifact is waiting for a Node.

The defenses at the occupied Education agency are too strong!

Dark days.

[NewAgeOfPower]

Just read all 5 pages.

Yeah, Island start, starting next to Miriam, and not a good location either. Ouch.

I used to lose 70% of my Transcend games, now I win 80% of them. I play a semi-ICS hybrid Zak. I know, it sounds weird, but it works wonders against AI!

Just don't start next to an alien faction. Hell, you can start next to Yang or Miriam, and still crush them (as long as you don't get screwed in terms of location...)

Never let Miriam or Yang out-base you, if you can help it. Drop your own trustworthiness if necessary.

Beeline Industrial Auto, always always always...

Once shooting starts, War Production > almost any other production. Its quite hilarious when you have the tech disadvantage as Zak against Miriam  and you still crush her. Then your tech skyrockets as you switch back to builder mode and have a dozen extra bases that she donated to your research cause.

Along with herself, of course.

[Green1]

Yeah, New Age. I feel it.

I did not screenshot it, but on the offensive push Miriam had 2 crawlers I killed! Might be kyrub's tinkerings with the AI.

Yeah.. I was muttering that under my breath about crawlers. I did not anticipate being way out produced and having to fight so desperately. Most of the wins with Lal on Thinker have been when I get crawlers going. I mean, I am spraying down with chemicals and still they come like roaches faster than I can spray.

Lal also does not seem to handle this kind of stuff well. I would almost had preferred Morgan or Roze! Hell, then again not even Sparta would not have issues with this start.

This is still not over, though. I am hard headed. On the eastern island, I now have three bases and it is near Zak's sea bases. Of course losing weather paradigm and HGP will suck. Then, I am looking at Naval war and a long climb back on my feet.

[Green1]

Planetary Trust has fallen.

I gas the unit that captured it bringing Trust to city size 2.

[Green1]

BUT... our heroic warriors never give up! reinforcements from UN HQ liberate it!

And a foil probe from the eastern Isle steals more tech! Adaptive Economics.

[Green1]

A network node is rushed and a new tech is discovered.

Our liberation of Planetary Trust was hallow as next turn we were crushed under Miriam's machine.

[Green1]

Our intrepid foil probe steals Industrial Automation!

Believing Forces are right outside UN HQ and knock over easily the sole defender.

Brother Lal is awoken by his honor gaurd. They load him, his family and personal aides into a secret transport to the Eastern isle to begin the process of setting up a new base.

Lal vows to return.

[Green1]

Before I press TURN COMPLETE, I wanted to go off on a little nerd rant.

I love this game. Even losing, in my mind this is like a space soap opera. A political drama, as you will.

On my hard drive, there are certainly more attractive games. I could crank up WoW. Eve is still there, too. I even have a few FPS games and other TBS games modern and classic. But THIS game is deeper than those.

Now, do not get me wrong. There are some things that could make this game better. For one thing, like Buster's Uncle, I read too much space forums and tech sites. I do not think ANY game modern or classic has ever gotten Low Earth Orbit, interplanetary (I am talking earth-moon or earth/mars), or space programs right. I will elaborate one day in another thread.

BUT.. the theatre of the mind... I am not an ego person or would give up. But this game is a novel.

[Green1]

Foil Probe has stolen doctrine: Initiative as UN HQ falls and Miriam gains control of the Weather Paradigm and HGP!

[Green1]

UN Commerce committee has fallen.

Plus a bit of a look at eastern isle.

We got a lot of building to do to recover.

[Green1]

Equality Village is now down. Very shortly, I will be kicked out of the landmass with Miriam.

[Green1]

We are officially kicked off our lawn...

[Green1]

Going along, trying to rebuild... then big transport..

I stand no chance...

[Green1]

I am going to go ahead for this AAR and conceed defeat.

Funny thing, I have never seen an AAR or LP except one where the player lost.

Yeah... only one. There is a guy on youtube called GrimithR that one time did an alien xfire game with 2 of his custom factions. He got stomped by Marr.

But, if you always won, would it be any fun?

Lessons:
1. Starting on an island next to Miriam sucks.
2. IA probably was needed a bit quicker.
3. Never give up. Sore losers really suck in games. Its the reason I rarely multiplay these TBS games. I played with some real emo ragers several times with other TBS games. Not to mention quitters.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Do not worry. I am hard headed. I might start another AAR so you can laugh at my noobishness!

[sisko]

Hope you enjoyed it.

it was an ejoyable experience, even though you lost to the AI.
looks like kyrub did a great job at boosting their abilities. 
thanks a lot for taking the time to write ac2's first AAR.  i hope there are many more to come!
we need content in here and this is definitely content.