The Annihilators

[Green1]

see how quickly it rolls all the other horribly broken factions.

  My thoughts, exactly.

So far, they are not TOO broken but on the power level I like. But, then again, I am a power gamer. Even when I play DnD I prefer epic level.

[Buster's Uncle]

Just so no one will miss a related post in Council Room:

The Feminine Union and the Texas faction have enough interest bonus to get ridiculously rich in a hurry; you might want to have a look at them, too.

[ete]

Okay, in my tests it's been held back badly by lack of technology, which is hardly surprising given that it takes ten times as much research for this thing to get a tech due to 500% tech cost+Punishment Spheres. It also has.. not good enough Psi combat, and can't use fungus effectively enough. I've made some adjustments and updated the download in the OP.

[Buster's Uncle]

You're talking about The Annihilators?

[ete]

Yep.

[JarlWolf]

Hmm. Could we see some screenshots of it in action? Both AI gameplay and player wise?

[ete]

I've pretty much only been testing them on the AAR map AI v AI (using the trick to get the playthrough to be fast), and not been bothering to save so I don't have any of that right now, but if you don't mind minor spoilers I can take some screenshots next time I do an AI test (probably tomorrow). This version of the faction is entirely not designed for human use or balance, so no tests as human playing it. I'll create a balanced version once the unbalanced monster is perfected .

[Green1]

You are using Punishment Spheres which halve the LABS output of each base, so they are not going to be Zak by any stretch. But, they have enormous research bonus to compensate.

In my playtests, the research was not really an issue except in a few games. I think it is luck of the draw. Factions like this are momentum factions. If they get bogged down, they suffer a bit. But, unchecked, they win.

I will download your new version and see how that goes.

[Green1]

Oh yeah... do not worry about balance for players. You got some crazy people in the SP community at AC2. You just know one or two posters and about 5 lurkers are going to put the Annihilators - UNNERFED and in INTENDED OPNESS - in the regular random rotation!

[ete]

500% research cost is a penalty, not a benefit. It means they need five times as many research points to get each tech.

In the new version it's 250%, which still means they're teching at roughly 1/5th of the speed of a normal faction without any research bonuses if you take Spheres into account. They're spectacularly bad researchers, making Mirriam look like a faction of Einstien clones, but should make up for it by stealing tech (I swapped out techshare 4 for steal tech on base capture to see how that goes, may end up with both).

[Green1]

500% research cost is a penalty, not a benefit. It means they need five times as many research points to get each tech.

In the new version it's 250%, which still means they're teching at roughly 1/5th of the speed of a normal faction without any research bonuses if you take Spheres into account. They're spectacularly bad researchers, making Mirriam look like a faction of Einstien clones, but should make up for it by stealing tech (I swapped out techshare 4 for steal tech on base capture to see how that goes, may end up with both).

Steal Tech is an excellent idea.

God... that is scary. Imagine all that is holding off the hordes is that you have missile weapons while they have impact. After pounding your far base from 3 spore launchers on a ridge and and about 6 3-res impact infantry, your defenses fold and that base falls. Imagine the horror as the next troops on the horizon are now missile rovers!

[JarlWolf]

Thats the Valhallan's in a nutshell: The Valhallans are laughable when they are using those outdated peeny pea shooter rifles against your troops armed with impact weapons.

But then they conquer some weak pissant base or they trade with someone, they get impact and then they get in your base, rape your fields and sow your women with salt.

[Green1]

Ete, I just had my ass handed to me by your Annihilators. Thanks.

AI seemed to be using a Yang ICS and out producing me as Morgan. Also, ninja locust attacks. I had to seriously start counting squares Earthmicheal style just to survive. But  - one mind control on a base I had him bottlenecked on, my empire fell quick.

[ete]

That sounds more like what I'm aiming for! Especially happy to hear it's using Locusts well What faction and difficulty were you playing with?

[Green1]

That sounds more like what I'm aiming for! Especially happy to hear it's using Locusts well What faction and difficulty were you playing with?

Morgan (yeah I know, I am a glutton for punishment).

Thinker difficulty. I can cope with transcend, but I like the feel of thinker difficulty better.

Kyrub's SMAX patch.

I held him off for the longest, though. Thing I did not realize was that locusts also can act as air defense and scramble to defend ground units. i thought I had him since I got air first, but the locusts ate all my needlejets.