Alpha Centauri 2

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri & Alien Crossfire => After Action Reports => Topic started by: ete on October 14, 2014, 03:21:06 PM

Title: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 03:21:06 PM

I have fun games sometimes, and I'd like to share them, but doing a full turn by turn AAR slows gameplay too much for me. I'm going to be experimenting with a style of reporting which gives mostly text based updates, plus the occasional map/picture, with only a handful of updates per game. I'm also moderately likely to call a game as won once I get ahead by a certain amount, since once I'm established and on par/above AIs very rarely provide an interesting threat. Though maybe some of these factions could :) .

For my first game, I'll use a random high fungus mid sized map with a couple of edits to make all landmasses connected since AI really can't do sea invasions. I've got a few minor alphax mods, mostly depowering strategies the AI does not use properly and make the game too easy (copters have halved movement rate, for example). My opponents will be:
Antimind - Scary earlygame, and often oddly quick to air power too. Massive planet and psi bonuses.
Annihlators - Yea, let's throw these guys in. I managed to impact rover rush them last game somehow, but if they catch you off guard.. you die. Even harder than to the AntiMind. All bases HQ, large Psi and Planet bonus, Techsteal and Techshare, I think indust too?
Exterminatus - Green1's monster. +3 indust and robotics facil, massive morale bonus, but planet penalty.
Crimson Comrades - Always a solid faction, can hold its own against basically anyone in the AI's hands thanks to that morale boost. Possibly ally due to SE compatibility.
Advent Pilgrims - The AI seems to handle these really nicely, and with a high fungus map they should do well. Will hate me for using PS.
Believers - Probably the most threatening of the official 14 early on, given that I don't really want yet another alien. She'll hate me for using PS too.

And me.. I'll be the Hive. Not too high research rate so I can't just slam everyone with impact right away, but enough of an indust bonus to stop me being rolled by worms too early, hopefully. I also like that they've got a fairly different playstyle than my main factions, variety is nice.

Oh, and Transcend difficulty of course.

Feel free to comment in this thread, and suggest what factions I should play with next game.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 03:39:13 PM

I also did a bit of light forest seeding around AI start locations, they never plant enough forests and it really stunts their mineral production otherwise.

Anyway, start location!

(http://i.imgur.com/VZf6hG8.png)

Looks like I have Mt. Planet pretty nearby and have two relatively defensible chokepoints if I run into someone scary early on, though I'd not have much land left if forced onto my island. Access to water will be good later on. Let's hope I get a monolith from one of those pods.

Rest of the map is really well joined together, which is always good.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 03:43:35 PM

Not great pod pops, nuts on a rocky square, worms, and a unity rover. Almost lost a colony pod and was delayed by worms when sending stuff towards mt planet.

(http://i.imgur.com/zgwxtmB.png)

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 03:47:12 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/4CFZ19s.png)
Gotta get formers.

(http://i.imgur.com/lrEJtd1.png)
There's some luck. New Sargasso, and first pod cleared most of the fungus. Got to mt planet, and have a monolith in range. Looking up.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 04:01:22 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/6mPK4re.png)
Got a data pod with cent eco, and going for speeders next for faster exploration.


(http://i.imgur.com/dIrykFs.png)
First contact, and it's the Annihilators. I had hoped for a bit more breathing space...

(http://i.imgur.com/EzhG4sx.png)
Going for rec tanks.

(http://i.imgur.com/Zu504Ai.png)
Two formers from each base, then switching to colony pods. Exploring in different directions, but taking some damage from worms.

(http://i.imgur.com/fdFllCT.png)
arg, lost a colony pod to worms, and my rover exploring northwards. At least not much Annihilator activity..

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 04:06:40 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/svkiuEE.png)

Got hammered by the worms, lost a former and a bunch of roads, plus my transport. And worse.. The Annihilators are right there.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 04:23:46 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/k6DjarH.png)
Finally got PS/Planned. If I can not take too much damage from the Annihilators in the next while maybe I can stabilize.


(http://i.imgur.com/QPZgesb.png)
That is.. odd. Maybe they're getting beaten up by someone else?  I think I'll say no anyway, I want to probe them.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 04:31:59 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/owpEs8V.png)
Nice.

(http://i.imgur.com/VE6cFow.png)
Handy, more techs to probe.

Also got Prog Psych and Field Modulation at the cost of a couple of probes.

(http://i.imgur.com/eTRz1Co.png)
hmmm

(http://i.imgur.com/32lZRpS.png)
Handy.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 04:41:35 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/GNakHzq.png)
Lost a probe to locusts. Rover fell through a gate. Powergraph is fun.

(http://i.imgur.com/ElBSftF.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/HxGs3RG.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/IgVCS7Y.png)
yay, contact and tech trading! He's not built many bases though..

(http://i.imgur.com/Ym9x4mr.png)

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 04:44:08 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/hkmSLBb.png)

yay lategame tech!

(http://i.imgur.com/WF14GTW.png)
Time to get some decent weapons.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 04:48:31 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/eADryDE.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/nEwhnXg.png)
Wow, was not expecting them to go down that fast. I guess this explains why the Annihilators were not focusing on me.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 04:52:26 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/8kAzBAL.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/gkW0xri.png)
Got their map.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 05:00:10 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/zKnZLSq.png)
Someone was saving too much in their energy banks.

(http://i.imgur.com/woir5Ds.png)
New base, with two rocky+mineral bonus squares. This'll be my main SP base I think, until I can use mt planet properly.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 05:05:50 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/wI4c7H8.png)
Peace? Shocking.

(http://imgur.com/709oDzY)
I'm getting a bit lucky here, with the heavyweights hitting each other.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 05:12:29 PM

(http://imgur.com/LqJqh6v)
Infiltrated.

(http://i.imgur.com/Al63Wpj.png)
Stolen.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 05:19:00 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/VdSKLWE.png)
One of the Hive's most important techs, no drone problems from here on in with a mass upgrade to police infantry.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 06:44:38 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/q5Ifqz5.png)
Taking Exterminatus HQ.


(http://i.imgur.com/ZA5miiE.png)
Loads of impact rovers being produced, crushing through exterminatus. Bases getting infrastructure set up too. Sunspot so no comms which is annoying, I'd like to do some trading and have an election. AntiMind still neutral to me, and Annihilators have not backstabbed yet.

(http://i.imgur.com/k3jMNRe.png)
Taken the other Exterminatus base, this is their second restart.



I'm feeling very stable now, I don't think the annihilators are enough of a threat to be scary now with only 4 bases (even if each has like 10 defenders), and antimind is a long way away. I doubt anyone can hit me hard enough to stop me getting a bunch of major techs and SPs if I switch to infrastructure, and I doubt anyone can overrun more than 1-2 bases if I focus on units, and they'd die to the counterattack. Vaguely tempted to call it, but let's keep going for a bit more. Maybe the Believers+AntiMind can give me a good fight.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 14, 2014, 07:44:26 PM

 :clap: :clap:
 ;popcorn
 :clap: :clap:

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 07:54:42 PM

While I'm away eating, opinions on my next steps? Possible plans:

1. Attack Annihilators - I think I can beat them if I keep pumping Impact Rovers for a while, they've got loads of defenders but will fall eventually, though it'd slow my development.
2. Go for SPs - Almost all good earlygame SPs are available, and I've got a good chance of grabbing most if I stop making rovers and focus on them.
3. Go for waterbases+loads of energy -If I make a bunch of seaformers and sea CPs, I can tech very fast.
4. More landbases?
5. Try and attack someone else? - They're a bit too far, unless I want to betray CCs, but I could probably take some of Mirriam's bases if I really wanted to.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 14, 2014, 07:58:33 PM

I'm generally biased in favor of growth and development - expanding, researching and hogging the SPs pays off in the long run, provided a little breathing room (time).

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: sisko on October 14, 2014, 09:01:28 PM

I vote for option 1. While you're busy with the Annihilators, the others will have more time to grow.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 09:09:10 PM

Alright, let's split between SPs and water bases and try to stay at peace until someone attacks.

Will play a bit more before bed.

Said ete every time before he stays up 'till well past dawn.

But probably not today.

Edit: while writing this, sisko posted. Now we have a split vote.

I'll stay at peace for now, if we get another vote for war I'll do that.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 09:29:28 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/efsBknY.png)
Couple of new bases (sea one and bottom left), switching production to sea formers and SPs for bases with basic infrastructure. Energy running low, need to get some energy bases going to pay for all these facilities.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 09:34:39 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/GisBcFJ.png)

Sunspots ended, Mirriam declared war when I sad no to attacking the Annihilators.

(http://i.imgur.com/Q9AKdZR.png)
Pilgrims were more friendly, and we got a treaty after some tech/map trades. He wanted me to attack antimind, I refused.

(http://i.imgur.com/HEf3Cyr.png)
CCs offer pact and a few ECs to fight Annihilators, I turn down.

AntiMind also contacted me angry about my scouting locusts, but no war.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 09:42:19 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/gsQh531.png)
Just the SP I need to deal with my energy problems.

(http://i.imgur.com/fP0JDDn.png)
Forced to declare war on one of them, I pick the further away one.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 09:52:54 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/jFD47Cj.png)

Some heavy fighting with the antimind here, lost a few rovers and my locusts.

(http://i.imgur.com/nRBfvHP.png)
no to that
(http://i.imgur.com/TQpXcD4.png)
but okay to that. I'll handle war much better in a little while.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 10:09:07 PM

(http://imgur.com/lAi7DLm)
(http://i.imgur.com/jn2gkq7.png)
There go two SPs. Luckily not crucial ones for me right now, but still unfortunate.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 14, 2014, 10:24:45 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/Mptn9jv.png)
And CN. This will help a lot against all those psi factions, and reduce energy costs.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: JarlWolf on October 15, 2014, 04:40:46 AM

The CC's aren't doing so good in this one  ;lol ;lol

I think its because you out expanded them. As for option to vote on, I say focus on getting rid of your enemies first.. keep the pressure on, especially with Command Nexus now. You can always colonize and grow later once the war is over. Or do it while the war goes on.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: Green1 on October 15, 2014, 07:07:50 AM

Your Annihilators are very formidable. Unlike Antimind which has an insane early rush, the Annihilators build and build and build. I have beat them, but it is luck and constant pressure.

One of the weird things with them is that for 3 horrible games after eliminating every one but me and my bases all being scattered ocean bases, they go for economic victory of all thing! First time I ever saw that.

Unfortunately, my Morgan is having issues....

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 02:08:17 PM

I think I'll finish this game today, now I'm healthyish again. I'll go for a mixed strategy then, not diving into war, but taking it soonish anyway, and building a few SPs/seabases as I go.

Next game?

All aquatic?

All land?

Tiny map with someone horrible early (yay morgan. morgan early vs crazy things is the main way i've lost games recently though, so maybe i'd use less monster factions. it's no fun being antimind rushed when you just can't deal with that. though i once managed to beat marr as morgan on an island with only mt planet+4 squares... it takes too many scout patrols to beat a battle ogre..)

I'm vaguely tempted to try the pilgrims (-1 indust/econ, no fm, +1 planet and fanatic, cent eco start, free hypno trance) on very large a low native map vs mostly builder factions and some monsters, maybe with something making most of them hate me from the start. They have large enough penalties to slow me down, but not large enough that it'll just be super annoying to play. Would be fun to have a mid-late game challenge rather than just an early one with mid-late being cleanup.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 02:47:39 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/umL8W25.png)
Pilgrims are out. Maybe I'll free them later.

(http://i.imgur.com/4G8NqfQ.png)
No peace with Mirriam.

(http://i.imgur.com/oLdwr4C.png)
Just what I need :). I'll switch over my most advanced SP producing base to this.

(http://i.imgur.com/4GC0G0m.png)
And up my nut production at sea, while opening the way for tree farms (and hybrid forests soon after). Supply crawlers are kinda unfair vs comp so I usually avoid them, unless I'm in insane situations, to up the challenge. Knowledge would be nice, but I'm keen to get tree farms asap.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 02:59:09 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/pb8fI3l.png)
Maybe I should take some of these peace offers and focus on annihilators?

(http://i.imgur.com/fStQsBl.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/p21Jwa2.png)
Knowledge, yay. No effic bonus for yang, but research bonuses are always nice.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 03:07:10 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/DsE3dsh.png)


I.. really want to accept, but the fact that I've lost a lot of impact rovers defending that base up north from mirriam and antimind, and annihilators have a significant army in my territory, makes me wary. I'll join you in the fight later, comrade, when I have a larger army and industry ready to back you up.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 03:12:47 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/Us9se82.png)

Mirriam's getting serious, sending battalions of impact/plasma steel troops at that base. I've attached it to my road network, and am trying to clear out the fungus to remove the defensive bonus, but it's still draining my army somewhat given that only a couple of bases are producing rovers right now. Looking forward to PEG and plentiful energy for rushing.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 03:22:38 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/tbSJVyl.png)
yeaaaa, there we go. No more energy worries for a while, and when the sea bases/hybrid forests get going, loads of energy.

(http://i.imgur.com/PhPcocE.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/xeglxon.png)
Less good. Ah well, let's fight then >:D

Any bets on how many turns they'll last? I have only 10 impact rovers right now, and most are dedicated to fighting mirriam (top of the powergraph) and antimind (same level of powergraph power as me). Current year is 2222.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 03:29:25 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/yy5SNEE.png)
establishing in the ocean. clearing out the annihilator stragglers.

(http://i.imgur.com/rUe1s06.png)
It's nice when you can triple your energy reserves with one probe action.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 03:35:48 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/JVweRD3.png)
Not enough votes available to buy to win it :(

(http://i.imgur.com/JDLccs0.png)
And.. aaaaaaaa. They blew up my probe with a probe, then MCed the base I was holding most of my defenses in. That will actually be really annoying.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 03:43:59 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/excbn3i.png)
Infiltrated, not too bad. Only one tech to steal, but oh well. Mass producing probes, one as defense is not enough for frontline bases.

(http://i.imgur.com/ZTkL2vf.png)
Got cent emp, killed a rover. Redirecting the force I was going to attack annihilators with to here.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 03:50:24 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/BihuUg5.png)

Killed a large stack of believing troops, should be able to retake base in a couple turns. Not sure if I want to though, current position lets me defend more cost-effectively due to lay of the land and defensive terrain.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 03:58:23 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/hwCxpeM.png)
Believers take an okayish SP. Would've been nice for a sea base, but hard to make SPs at sea due to lack of mins.

(http://i.imgur.com/aYJnf4A.png)
.. huh. After being killed twice, the Exterminatus is still able to take a base off the powergraph leader. Impressive.

(http://i.imgur.com/8yzdqFM.png)
And excellent. Now I can get 4 nuts per sea square with aquafarm, and grow some serious bases.

(http://i.imgur.com/aak9dhW.png)
Why not double my weapon power?

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 04:08:34 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/JwvWmiv.png)
My old base has only one defender, and I have four impact rovers, but the current layout is much easier to defend without losing much. I'm going to focus on the Annihilators for a few turns before coming back to mirriam, possibly with chaos weapons.

Also: Draining 700+ ECs from a faction in one turn is fun.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 04:15:25 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/w7u9jxu.png)
yay VW. Far less important to yang than most, but it's always nice.

(http://i.imgur.com/WBqUZuL.png)
First pop, and before I start my tree farms too :)

(http://i.imgur.com/LOf33Lw.png)
Not.. quite sure where all those defenders are hanging out.. but almost undefended base, cool. Even came with a free AA.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 04:20:37 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/NUYmpAi.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/NJGMCKV.png)
Checking out the Annihilator's last two bases, looks like going for the top one will kill a whole lot of units by cutting off support, despite the base only having a few defenders. The lower base has a very large number of defenders, so I'll go for it last.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 04:24:38 PM

Got another fungal pop at the same base as before. Maybe should slow a bit.

(http://i.imgur.com/7e7C2ji.png)
Stole off the believers.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 04:57:31 PM

I'm not going to report every tech and minor SP from here on, more stuff's happening. Will switch to reports every few years.

(http://i.imgur.com/faHMkIS.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/pNpbNHn.png)
No, let's have war mirriam. Chaos is on the way.

(http://i.imgur.com/mUjiT2v.png)
When I get this, one from Tree Farms, two from Hybrid Forests.

(http://i.imgur.com/2epKRee.png)
Last Annihilator base. Full to the brim with mid level defenders. Let's wait till next turn when I can hit you with level 8 weapons :).

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 05:09:56 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/cpTI1WO.png)
nnnnope.

(http://i.imgur.com/75RGp2H.png)
Took it down to only a few defenders, then

(http://i.imgur.com/75RGp2H.png)
No more Annihilators! That was.. disappointingly easy honestly. I think the AI screwed up in a few major ways. Not attacking me early, not making anything like enough bases, not teraforming at all (though they can kinda get away with that since fungus gives 3 min/1 nut for them), and only building defensive units.

25 turns, despite some major distractions.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 05:24:40 PM

Let's take a moment to do a quick review of the state of each faction.

(http://i.imgur.com/JTu2ZpQ.png)
Exterminatus: Not really sure, but not dead despite being next to mirriam. Probably not doing great though.

(http://i.imgur.com/eH3CcRx.png)
AntiMind: Expansive empire, some forests from my seeding.

(http://i.imgur.com/1cKvIQO.png)
CCs: Never made a second base. Unsurprisingly are doing badly because of it. They have loads of good places for bases too with all that forest... :(

(http://i.imgur.com/E33poR7.png)
Mirriam: Decent forming, plenty of bases, plenty of forests from seeding.

(http://i.imgur.com/ntaNVgY.png)
Me: Here comes the energy! :D

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 05:30:19 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/2UTXpYx.png)
AntiMind is becoming more of an issue, designing some anti psi rovers.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 05:35:58 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/T0h5EzI.png)
That base as too isolated and low on defenders to handle the AntiMind! Ah well, back to more defensible locations.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 05:43:09 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/s5ZHNkb.png)
The Ascetic Virtues has one of my favorite quotes from SMAC, because it came from the leader I otherwise least agree with (other than mirriam), and helped me understand why that form of philosophy is appealing. I still think Yang's a monster, and freedom is vital, but I do actually agree with many parts of his moral foundation.

Quote

Learn to overcome the crass demands of flesh and bone, for they warp the matrix through which we perceive the world. Extend your awareness outward, beyond the self of body, to embrace the self of group and the self of humanity. The goals of the group and the greater race are transcendent, and to embrace them is to achieve enlightenment.

It's also a very handy project. Just as my sea bases were getting a little big, I can now control 9 drones (would be 12 if doubling police power was correct) with three cheap 1/1 police, who all get supported for free (plus a sea former), while any other faction would be struggling with drone control facils and psych costs.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 05:47:56 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/7WGqXWs.png)
Took a base with a couple of, at this point, fairly unimportant SPs. Only one impact rover down on my side, 8 units down on hers in the last couple turns. And keeping bases well stocked with probes this time :).

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 06:09:59 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/jkFIrkB.png)

As much as we may complain about the AI's other major faults, like it's deeply flawed build prioritization (not enough facils, not enough rovers, waaay too many defenders, not enough probes, almost no crawlers, often not enough colony pods) and lack of teraforming, I personally find the greatest weakness is it's absolute lack of tactical ability. It makes even battles when you're outnumbered 5:1 not just winnable, but almost certain once you've got decent weapons, rovers, and selected the right places to fight.

Anyway, Mirriam's dying fast. Monolith OP.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 06:25:20 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/HfbISfD.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/H2Vzyl4.png)
naaaa

(http://i.imgur.com/jaRK9g9.png)
I think this war is going fine.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 06:37:19 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/RghY7fE.png)
Some fighting.

(http://i.imgur.com/DljyOno.png)
Some base taking.

I think I'll call it when mirriam and the exterminatus are decimated, and antimind is at least losing a few bases/clearly not making progress against me.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 06:42:49 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/AW0ns3N.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/pMM1SpJ.png)
Few more bases in nice places getting developed.

(http://i.imgur.com/X521g7l.png)
The couple of mirriam bases I left between the antimind and where I attacked as a buffer are getting worn down, which is fine and not surprising now they're getting zero support.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 06:48:00 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/xwTHgns.png)

Did a fun trick to take this base. It's got no roads leading to it, and all squares are forested or fungus, and it's defender was an impact/plasma infantry. I had only one rover in the area, and it was two turns from building a second impact/plasma infantry. I put a probe team next to the base and moved the rover to a different next to base square, luring the AI to hit the probe (AI are so predictable when you've played a lot, they will _always_ hit your probes if they can), letting my chaos rover kill the defender then take the base directly before the new defender could be built.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 06:52:46 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/hh8liko.png)
Found the nexus! Nobody's claimed it yet.

(http://i.imgur.com/Oh5BjW1.png)
wow, no less than five techs I'm missing... I'm going to have to probe these guys.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 07:09:10 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/jEp82hg.png)
There we go :). The war effort will suffer a bit while I switch almost my entire productive power towards tree farms, but Mirriam has only sea bases and one heavily besieged by the antimind on land and the Exterminatus has only one base I can see. Antimind is not hitting me yet so this is a great time :). Better yet, energy restrictions lifted=massive boost to seabase energy, my two size 15 bases are now getting 4 energy per square, and the others building up get major boosts too. Tech time!

(http://i.imgur.com/ccT5zOs.png)
It's not optimal over air, but I really like not having to deal with probes and keep probe defenses up. And air war is kinda boring/oversimiplified anyway, plus, like many things.. AI's not great at it, so worth avoiding where possible.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 07:30:06 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/UpuprpC.png)
Wiped out a minor AntiMind base.

(http://i.imgur.com/ergpt2K.png)
Missed out on a SP which would've been nice, but far from vital, and would have been hard to make at sea where I wanted it.

(http://i.imgur.com/WwTBiSU.png)
It's so convenient that AI places so many sea bases on the coast. Makes them easy to take with amphibious rovers, much cheaper and quicker than building actual sea units.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 07:36:12 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/cM50qPy.png)
One of the few things I prioritized over more tree farms.

At this point I had.. not a crash, but a bad interaction between win 8 and SMAX which made me unable to access the window. I would have lost a huge amount of turns, but thankfully the autosave feature exists. If you don't know about autosave, it saves your last several turns automatically. I've set mine to save 20 turns, knocking the oldest off with each turn I play. Still lost most of one turn, eh.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 07:38:38 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/LtNOBC4.png)
And on replaying that turn, Mirriam surrendered. I accepted, not worth the hassle of chasing her down for a few underdeveloped seabases.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 07:47:01 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/MQd4CWn.png)
May as well make myself governor.

First tree farms finishing up (no rushing, focusing energy on developing seabases since they can't build with mins), moving on to hybrid forests.

(http://i.imgur.com/gbN7d8L.png)
Again D:AP is probably strategically a better choice, but air vs AI without air is a universally horrible curbstomp. Fusion is kinda similar, but.. less.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 08:14:34 PM

Got fusion, going for Xenoempathy Dome next.

(http://i.imgur.com/MCt8CFE.png)

Exterminatus MC'd a base when I sent most everything towards antimind, soon to be retaken. This time I'll finish them before leaving.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 08:33:38 PM

Played a little longer, smashed through Exterminatus. Loads of tree farms are coming online and quite a few Hybrid Forests too. The sea bases are mostly size 16 and have every research/energy facil up to Fusion Labs. I've been more than holding my own for the past 10 turns or so despite building hardly any military units, and although AntiMind will probably take some smashing, once I start making empath chaos rovers from everything they are just going to die.

On the other hand, each turn takes way too long right now, and I'd rather play something which requires more thought than cleanup.

(http://i.imgur.com/mNLZT7u.png?1)

I'm calling this as won. AI don't come back from that. gg, monsters.



I'd like some feedback. Any and all kinds.

My current plan for next game is to play Pilgrims on a big builder low native map against some serious builder factions (mostly jarl's) and give each opponent a SP which helps them a lot in their HQ (e.g. Uni gets VW, CCs get CN) plus the usual forest seeding. Then see if I can keep pace. Suggestions and ideas appreciated, especially which factions to put in and how much water to have on the map.

I like the idea of not having too many aliens this time since it leads to more interesting politics, but may include one or two. Most likely choice currently is Procyon. They'd do well with the MTC from the start.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: JarlWolf on October 18, 2014, 08:57:32 PM

Builder factions huh?

Here is my suggestion. Sigma's Genome Syndicate and Leviathian, my Imperium, Sons of Oceanus, and if you want a good militarist or two in there, try my Fascists.

Storywise the Genome syndicate is probably at odds with the Sons of Oceanus for the fact the Genome Syndicate is all about perfecting the human code and using genetics to benefit humanity, while the Sons of Oceanus are basically Brave New World with a genetic slave system in a sense.

Leviathian and Imperium would definitely be at odds because they are two conceptual opposites of the mob- one is for the benefit of the mob and trying to be egalitarian to all of it, while the other is only the hardest and strongest of the mob rise to the top to rule the rest.

And as for the Fascists? Always good to have a hardcore conqueror in there to boot down the others...

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: ete on October 18, 2014, 09:58:28 PM

Mostly seems good, though I'd prefer all foes to be at least very competent builders+not rushers, having one guy smashing the others will slow them down which is not my aim. Maybe Machine Mandate, they're pretty awesome when they start making SPs and I could give them something like The Bulk Matter Transporter for bonus minerals at every base?

I did think Leviathan are a bit low level for this, but The Telepathic Matrix really would compliment them brilliantly. GS could have The Cloning Vats? It's maybe a bit much, but very fitting. I'm also not sure about Oceanus vs Procyon, will have to think about which would be more fun..

Any ideas for SPs to start the others with?

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: Green1 on October 19, 2014, 03:22:15 PM

Congrats on your victory. I wish I could have done better, but ran into horrible luck. Plus, Morgan would not have been my first choice for that.

However, I have a suggestion for both YOU and Jarlwolf. We need a FINAL AAR before Civ BE. We need FINAL DOOM!!! jarlwolf and I have been talking a concept for an AAR that would be done via saved games in scenario editor. I think it would work best if we did X number of turns then turned over to the next person. It is almost MP, but none of the hassle. Kind of like succession games, but multiple factions.

Thoughts?

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: JarlWolf on October 20, 2014, 12:58:22 AM

I like your idea, but it won't be the last AAR hopefully for Alpha Centauri... at least for me. I still have plans for this game.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: Green1 on October 21, 2014, 10:29:32 AM

I hear you guys. For me, it will not be like I erase AC from the hard drive. But, I would enjoy digging my teeth into something a bit more modern and wisecracking about it for a bit.

I do love though with AC I can add monsters. Although sometimes I wish for a more modern AI.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on June 18, 2015, 05:05:04 PM

I've seen Ukrainian IPs twice this morning that Who's Online claims are moderating in this thread - I wonder if attempted hacking, or bug, or what?

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: Metaliturtle on June 19, 2015, 05:49:49 AM

Just read through this good stuff.  Interesting to see how someone plays on a non-newb difficulty.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on June 20, 2015, 05:15:18 AM

No doubt of that.  Everyone loves a good AAR.

Another Ukrainian (or bot?) "moderating" right now.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: Geo on June 20, 2015, 01:31:53 PM

Quote from: BUncle on June 20, 2015, 05:15:18 AM

Another Ukrainian (or bot?) "moderating" right now.

Does it do anything with the profiles of the Russia-based members?

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on June 20, 2015, 02:00:05 PM

I have no way to know unless Jarlwolf's profile changes -but Who's Online would indicate it was looking at the profile, not moderating here, so not that - and he's hardly the only Russian here and this is hardly the only thread posted in.  Weird bot stuff, no doubt.  I used to ban IPs I noticed fooling around too much in suspicious way, but I dunno that even the server burden justifies, no hack attempt has ever seemed anything to worry about, and I once banned Google bot for a few weeks that way, so not a great idea.

Title: Re: ete's mini AAR thread (or how ete accidentally did an AAR with lots of pictures)
Post by: Buster's Uncle on June 21, 2015, 11:52:42 PM

Siiigh.  Again.

I wonder if I should revisit that IP ban thing - this is definitely bot-up-to-no-good action...