Alpha Centauri 2

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri & Alien Crossfire => Command Nexus => Topic started by: Misotu on February 05, 2016, 10:15:51 PM

Title: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 05, 2016, 10:15:51 PM

So here is your first turn   :)

Settings are:

Huge map
Average everything
Transcend difficulty
Technology stagnation
Blind research
No random events
All victory conditions are on

Best of luck and ask anything you like. This is a learning game, so it's fine  :)  and I am not out to get you.

Honest   :)

You can choose your starting location. The world map is not visible.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 05, 2016, 11:10:23 PM

First Unity pod, I take a bit of a risk and trigger xenofungal bloom, of course. :D

Off to great start already. :danc:

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 06, 2016, 11:17:58 AM

And ... yes! My colony pod hits the sea. So just the six turns back in the other direction then ....    ;lol

Don't forget to rename my turn "Gaian" rather than "Spartan". Otherwise things get confusing  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 06, 2016, 02:32:24 PM

Right, makes sense.

No major disasters this turn.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 06, 2016, 08:01:03 PM

Xenofungus outside your HQ should be enough disaster for a while! Back to you.

You'll see from the commlink that we can actually contact each other, but the convention for MP is that we don't contact using the commlink until we actually meet in the game ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 06, 2016, 08:07:14 PM

Actually, I went for another pod with a colony pod (hey, can't be bad 2 times in a row, right?) and it was actually infested with mindworms of course.

Fortunately I survived.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 06, 2016, 10:24:00 PM

Gulp.  You are braver than me! I'm very poor at escorting my colony pods mind you ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 06, 2016, 10:37:01 PM

Next.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 06, 2016, 10:49:20 PM

And back to you ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 06, 2016, 10:53:24 PM

At this rate I might actually get a base down next turn. :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 06, 2016, 10:57:58 PM

I won't  :)  But for a couple of turns I thought I was on the teeniest island imaginable ...   ???

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 06, 2016, 11:02:44 PM

Next.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 06, 2016, 11:08:24 PM

Onwards ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 06, 2016, 11:12:23 PM

Turn 8.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 06, 2016, 11:18:35 PM

Second base down ... but I think I *am* on a tiny island. Gulp.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 06, 2016, 11:24:35 PM

Hah, another colony pod successfully defending itself against mind worms.

Also seem to be on a small island.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 06, 2016, 11:30:41 PM

Good!  At least we're both similarly afflicted then   :D  Difficult with blind research/tech stag. I keep hoping to find a little bit more land, but all I get is more sea ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 06, 2016, 11:45:17 PM

Sorry, misnamed the last save.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 06, 2016, 11:52:24 PM

No worries on the name.

One thing I should mention: the in-game notifications don't work well in multi-player. As I understand it, only one player gets to see them so the convention is that if you see a notification, you post it on the board.

I just got my first breakthrough (somewhat jammily) and was told that the University made Planet's first breakthrough in 2109.

It's particularly important for the projects - people generally post on the thread when they are one turn from completing one, or when they get a notification that an AI project is "nearing completion".

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 10:21:58 AM

Ok, will be looking out for those.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 12:36:23 PM

Back to you ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 03:59:34 PM

I most definitely seem to be on a small island. If we both are and this an "average planet" somebody like Yang or Miriam probably has all the land. Our small human alliance seems doomed. :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 06:52:12 PM

It's called "giving the AI a fighting chance". Look on the bright side  ;lol

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 07:22:12 PM

Another fungal bloom :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 07:36:11 PM

Blimey!  Well, I'm out of pods and no sight of a mindworm so far except one that sprang from a pod and promptly died. That first capture is a long time coming. Not that I have anywhere to send it of course ...

I have one last corner to explore and if that's sea too then the Gaians are in deep trouble. It's looking horribly flat over there ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 07:43:01 PM

Next!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 08:02:22 PM

Bated breath ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 08:09:42 PM

Got 2 artifacts. I predict 50 turns before I am able to use them both. :P

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 08:21:58 PM

I think your tiny island is either considerably bigger than mine or carpeted in pods.

:sob!:

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 08:34:34 PM

...I don't have 2 artifacts anymore.

I am also in the possibility of losing Sparta Command to mind worms next turn. It's an island alright.

Not going too well.  :danc:

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 08:41:44 PM

Um. Well, when I hit end turn it came up with my turn next (!)

And when I looked at the commlink, you weren't there any more. So I think you lost your HQ unfortunately. Bummer! This gives us a couple of options:

1.  Go back a turn or two to a point where you could put a unit in your HQ and avoid the problem or ...
2.  Start a new game!

Either is fine by me as nothing major happened at my end - no pods to pop or battles to be had so I can just repeat what I did easily enough. What would you like to do?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 08:45:47 PM

Lol, that went great. :D

I vote new game. Two islands does not sound like good fun.

Can we keep it in the same thread?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 08:48:36 PM

Of course. Bear with me, I'll set one up. Although two islands would have been quite a challenge! Back shortly.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Buster's Uncle on February 07, 2016, 08:54:31 PM

You can change the thread title to something like "Maeldun's (Second) Stand" by editing the OP, Misotu.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 08:57:37 PM

That would be unkind BUncle. We're regarding the first few turns as a dress rehearsal    ;lol

Shame as I quite like islands. But in all honesty that one was really much too small!

OK, here it is. Forgot to mention that spoils of war are on, as requested, and I have turned random events off. Because I hate them   :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 09:10:27 PM

Things are looking much better at Sparta Command for now. :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 09:14:10 PM

Glad to hear it   :)  Given the way things are going, I'll be losing my HQ to the Believers in around 15 turns   ;lol

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 09:22:34 PM

Really, you've made first contact with Miriam already?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 07, 2016, 09:30:07 PM

No, thank goodness.  But I know she's out there.

Gaian intuition

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 07, 2016, 11:00:30 PM

Ok, site's back up.

That could be something lingering from the last game - I resigned in game to get the timeline thing, and well, she was in the island next to you, to your NE.  ;lol

Funny thing is it was all islands. It was a mostly oceanic planet, not average.

In recent news - I seem to be on an island again. No major disasters so far though.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 08, 2016, 10:18:11 AM

You beat me to it - when the site went down I thought I'd play the game a little, just to see how it would have panned out. Imagine my surprise when I found Miriam's HQ about 9 tiles away from mine   ;lol   What a shock. So close on a huge map but of course not much of a problem as her island was even tinier than mine.

The "average" setting can deliver up to 70% sea and I have had maps that seemed to have way too much water in them in SP. It's possible that I clicked the wrong setting of course! but I really didn't think so.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 08, 2016, 10:41:43 AM

Things are shaping up nicely on my apparent island.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 08, 2016, 11:54:34 AM

Not such a good start this time, sadly. But we soldier on  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 08, 2016, 05:02:51 PM

Second base down.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 08, 2016, 07:25:14 PM

Ditto. My first tech is not the requested colour. As usual   :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 08, 2016, 08:36:40 PM

That was pretty fast. Can't see doing a breakthrough anytime soon with the Spartans.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 09, 2016, 12:43:12 PM

No, no, I haven't had a breakthrough yet (I wish!)  But with blind research if you press F2 it doesn't show you which tech, of course, but it does tell you which flavour. And mine is *not* the requested flavour   :mad:

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 09, 2016, 05:15:19 PM

Over to turn 8,

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 09, 2016, 05:34:30 PM

You've posted your turn - I did try loading it in case, but it's definitely not mine  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 09, 2016, 09:26:02 PM

Ups sorry, my bad.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 09, 2016, 09:33:45 PM

No worries, it's easily done.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 09, 2016, 09:41:35 PM

9th Turn.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 09, 2016, 09:52:25 PM

Back to you ..,

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 09, 2016, 09:59:05 PM

Back again.

Finally got the courage to open a pod next to the HQ - got 75 credits. Could have been worse.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 09, 2016, 10:04:26 PM

Well you were very unlucky with xenofungus last go round! I'm having trouble posting now, and am also being nagged to watch a film  :)  So if I can get this up that's me done until tomorrow ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 09, 2016, 10:16:31 PM

No prob. We'll pick up when we have time.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 10, 2016, 10:11:59 AM

When is good for you? For these early turns, we could try to be on-line at the same time and play through a few if that's possible?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 11, 2016, 05:56:29 PM

Hey, sorry - my schedule has been pretty erratic these past few days and it seems I'll be pretty busy in the coming days as well.

Best bet right now is Monday evening for a longer session - perhaps around 18h GMT?

Will be more active in the meantime though so I'll keep squeezing in turns when you will be able to send them.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 11, 2016, 08:26:14 PM

Absolutely no problem, real life always takes precedence otherwise PBEM becomes a bind rather than a pleasure!

Monday around 18h is fine for me but if it doesn't work out it's not an issue, I'm enjoying the game and the later turns are always a pleasure although they take longer  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 11, 2016, 09:41:38 PM

Actually had quite a bit to do this turn - rushed some production, moved my rover into a pod that didn't explode into fungus and also got my first tech - formers (yey).

The game said however that them Gaians already got their first breakthough in 2109. Damn hippies.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 11, 2016, 09:54:03 PM

Hippy hippy shake   :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Buster's Uncle on February 11, 2016, 09:55:23 PM

 ;hippy

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 11, 2016, 09:58:31 PM

Lol. Next turn.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 11, 2016, 10:09:25 PM

It was just our famed "efficiency". But don't worry. We are not getting the colour we want  :mad:

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 11, 2016, 10:13:05 PM

Off for the night. See you tomorrow.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 11, 2016, 10:50:39 PM

See you tomorrow, RL permitting  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 12, 2016, 10:44:20 AM

Got a battle ogre mk2 from a pod. I hopefully have the best military on Planet right now.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 12, 2016, 12:37:06 PM

Gulp. My fungus trawling has produced zip so far ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 12, 2016, 01:25:40 PM

I've attached the turn above, but thought I should do a separate post covering a few things about PBEM which you might not have come across:

There are standard forum rules for PBEM - it's a FAQ pinned at the top of the Command Nexus. It's worth a read just to make sure that we're on the same page and also because they are pretty much standard across most games, in case you decide to play more. There are quite a number of "exploits" ruled out - if you're like me you won't actually have realised most of them existed   ;lol  but it's good to know what they are.

Some Special Projects are routinely ruled out  In CMN games they are destroyed before the game starts but obviously in a game like ours we just have to agree. I don't know how you feel about this but the two that come up most are the Empath Guild and the Cloudbase. I have mixed feelings about the Empath - it's only really like Planetary Governor but of course it's easier to get and it's permanent. Infiltration is terribly powerful in SMAC. The Cloudbase I do understand. It's not so much the air complex in every base but the additional movement for aircraft can be terribly unbalancing in MP.

What are your feelings on this? It's our game, so we can agree what we like. If there are any other SPs you feel strongly about, just say.

Limiting choppers.  This is a big grey area - people are generally in agreement that choppers are so over-powered that reaching MMI early is pretty much game over. This is particularly true in blind research of course, where MMI can be astonishingly elusive. The solutions vary and include: a limit on the number of attacks a chopper can make per turn; prohibiting choppers from attacking a base; a limit on the number of moves a chopper can make before attacking.

I'm not very experienced on this - when I played MP many years ago we just played the game as it was and put up with the lack of balance! So what do you think?

We're a long way from war (well, I am. Maybe you're not given your ogre 'n all) or later SPs so now is probably a good time to ponder these things.

What time zone are you in btw, I forgot to ask. I'm in Portugal at the moment, so it's GMT around here.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 12, 2016, 05:17:44 PM

Ok, Thanks for the heads up.

I knew some of the tricks (more like exploits) and they all seem pretty reasonable. Pertaining to overpowered SP's, I probably would have added Hunter Seeker Algorithm to the list.

However, since this is our first game and we're starting out as allies against the AI I don't really think we should impose limitations at this point. Honestly I'm kinda having second thoughts about my ability to hold my own against the Transcend AI. :D I am pretty successful in single games but I have been known to reload saved games when things don't go as planned - so this style of play is kind of new to me.

For now, I'd propose going ahead as allies against the AI and using any sort of advantage we can (sans common exploits) to see how things are going (and in my case, gain a bit more experience). In later stages, once we have (hopefully) eradicated all of the AI factions we could turn on each other to see who comes out on top, just for the fun of it (or not, however we feel like it). We can over the rules again then.

For now I would ally and coordinate here (or using the in-game comms?). Does that sound OK with you?

I am in Romania, so it's GMT+2 over here.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 12, 2016, 06:44:13 PM

Sounds fine  :)  I agree with you on the Hunter Seeker too, although of course with SMAX it's not quite the probe game ender that it was in SMAC. We'll see how it goes.

And I hear what you say, I know transcend is a step up from what you're used to. Most important thing is to have fun.

I've got a little bit more to explore round where I am, but it's looking very much like a small island again! I've been trying to steer towards flex but blind research is playing its usual tricks. Are you on an island too? If you are, given Spartan morale, you should be ok against the AI for now. The AI is on transcend but even so, two human players should walk it ... I feel like we ought to at least find each other in-game to start comms and so on, just to make things interesting and give the AI a chance (!) but if things are looking tricky we could combine forces earlier. I don't want to lose my partner before the game really gets going  :)

Does that sound ok? If we ally against the AI so early we would be so formidable that it might not be so much fun.

Have you run into an aggressive neighbour yet?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 12, 2016, 07:27:15 PM

No neighbors so far.

I seem to have landed an a (sort of island) connected by a tiny isthmus with what seems to be a kind of peninsula at least - could also turn out to be an island, but at least it's not as tiny as in the last game. Doing fine so far, no probs. We'll see how it goes.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 12, 2016, 09:54:13 PM

OK, well let's see how it goes. Just confirmed that I *am* on a tiny island. Not quite as small as last time and it will be ok. Let's just hope Flex isn't too long coming!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 12, 2016, 11:17:14 PM

I believe this is our longest game so far. :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 13, 2016, 12:11:42 AM

And long may it continue  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 13, 2016, 11:19:58 AM

20th turn.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 13, 2016, 11:47:31 AM

Morgan is doing well, isn't he? You're right up there militarily though   :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 13, 2016, 12:28:27 PM

Yeah, Morgan, what the hell.

I'm used to seeing the University in front, but not Morgan.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 13, 2016, 12:34:15 PM

I bet he's in the jungle, with a big red sign reading "Probe Me for My Tech" written on him   ;lol

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 13, 2016, 01:02:46 PM

No sign of anybody so far.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 13, 2016, 03:37:19 PM

Nothing over here either. And not a single mindworm in 22 turns  ::)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 13, 2016, 10:24:36 PM

Over to the Gaians.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 13, 2016, 10:35:03 PM

Back to  ;santi;

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 13, 2016, 10:39:30 PM

Found a fungal tower.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 13, 2016, 11:22:17 PM

I haven't found a single mindworm! But to be honest, my island is too small for a fungal tower, so I'm glad to be spared.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 14, 2016, 08:31:20 AM

It's ;deidre; time.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 14, 2016, 10:13:24 AM

Back to you - it's lovely weather here so we're going walking and catching up on various stuff but I'll be checking in from time to time today ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 14, 2016, 12:23:03 PM

Sure, have a nice day. :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 14, 2016, 02:41:52 PM

We did, thanks. Lunch on the beach  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 14, 2016, 07:24:35 PM

Very nice. Being in Portugal I guess you're always more or less close to the sea. :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 14, 2016, 09:47:53 PM

That's right. It's a pleasant 20-minute walk to the beach from here so we make the most of it when it's sunny!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 15, 2016, 08:27:52 PM

Weather's unnaturally warm around here too last couple of days. Despite this I've however manged to catch a cold. :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 15, 2016, 09:03:58 PM

Well we have storms and winds and rain around here. I send you a swift recovery   :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 15, 2016, 09:12:16 PM

Thanks, see you later tomorrow most likely.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 15, 2016, 09:18:21 PM

Hope you're feeling better. Have to say that this is the one PBEM that I don't dread opening at the moment!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 17, 2016, 04:27:23 PM

It's not to early for things to go downhill here too, you know - just look at the previous game for me, lol. :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 17, 2016, 05:08:37 PM

Always with the negative waves, Moriarty Maeldun, always with the negative waves.  :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 17, 2016, 05:12:13 PM

At last, got a fungal bloom. :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 17, 2016, 05:23:37 PM

Please tell me it's not right outside your HQ   ;lol

In other news ... we appear to be in a mindworm-free zone.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 18, 2016, 12:33:36 PM

Hi Maeldun, just to say that the links are down site-wide after a storm last night here so we're without internet temporarily ... am sending this from a coffee bar downtown. Apologies for any delay - they usually get problems sorted reasonably quickly.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 18, 2016, 10:26:54 PM

Hey sorry to hear that. No problem for me however - things have been pretty busy for me so I've had less time to play the last few days.

Maybe when the internet is restored we could find a few hours of more intense gameplay.

In the meantime - Morgan has already started the Human Genome Project and it seems I'll soon contact the University - one of their Unity scout choppers (!) got into a fight with a mindworm near a territory I've previously discovered. Things are starting to take off.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 20, 2016, 07:02:16 AM

Well, it's back up butso busy with people trying to catch up that it's taking forever   ;lol  Hopefully this will work ... *

* It didn't. I wrote that around 7.30pm yesterday ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 20, 2016, 07:56:29 PM

Sorry to hear about that.

The thing about being in Romania is that we apparently have the best average internet connection speed in Europe and something like top 5 worldwide (in terms of performance and reliability). Almost everything else is [poop] but at least we have the internet to keep our minds off that. :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 20, 2016, 08:09:57 PM

I am envious  :)  To be fair, I think the Portuguese do all right on the league tables generally. But the system just here at this site is *terrible*. So terrible, in fact, that they can't charge for it. Free is good of course - but I would so much rather pay for something that actually works!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 20, 2016, 08:14:28 PM

Hey at least it's not crap AND you're paying for it. :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 20, 2016, 08:33:43 PM

My thought exactly  :D  They used to charge, apparently, but were confronted by angry people demanding refunds ...

OK, tried and failed to upload three times. Have zipped file - it is now *tiny* by comparison. I hope you don't mind - if it's a problem just say and I'll keep trying with the unzipped file.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 20, 2016, 08:48:56 PM

Actually, that's a good idea. The 500 kb files we keep uploading here add up (~30 mb so far) and zipping the file (if you are bothered to do so) will actually make quite a difference to the poor webmaster's hosting costs as well. (Hats off to you gentlemen or ladies if you are reading this.)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Buster's Uncle on February 20, 2016, 08:59:48 PM

I'm not sure about the server burden, but I was tempted to post to express approval of .zipping saves last time.  Thanks.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 20, 2016, 09:03:25 PM

I didn't know that. Well that's a double-benefit then. Still very quiet over here - I really need to get off this island!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 20, 2016, 09:16:36 PM

I am starting to hate mindworms. Morgan has now the best military on Planet. :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 20, 2016, 09:29:48 PM

I haven't seen a single worm in 36 turns I don't think - unless I popped one from a pod at some point and have forgotten.  ;lol

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 20, 2016, 09:40:49 PM

My battle Ogre is no more. Now I have an artifact running down across the continent by itself. I hope he makes it, but I doubt it. :P

I've also now witnessed another University Mining Laser battling a mindworm close my positions.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 20, 2016, 09:46:28 PM

"Running down a continent" ... the stuff of which dreams are made   ::)  Pity about your ogre. That not healing thing is a bummer.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 20, 2016, 09:54:06 PM

Moving up some colony pods. :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 20, 2016, 10:12:00 PM

Gaian researchers discover Secrets of the Human Brain ... first! Things are looking up a bit  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 21, 2016, 06:34:40 PM

Uau, congrats. Did not think any of us were going to make that. Feels good to rob the University of that advantage too.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 21, 2016, 07:48:39 PM

It's unusual for the Uni not to have it well before now. But I now have the means to leave my island. Finally!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 21, 2016, 11:14:15 PM

Yep, you're right up there with the Uni and Morgan now, while I'm stuck in the back with Yang and Miriam. :P

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 22, 2016, 10:19:45 AM

Never fear my militaristic pal. Now ... all I have to do is build a little navy and find you.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 22, 2016, 11:19:17 AM

I already have 3 port cities waiting for you... Maybe I should build more inland in case those get wiped out quick by marines. :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 22, 2016, 11:32:48 AM

The key thing is whether you have ships in your ports. If you have, then our chances of finding each other before the Uni transcends are quite high    :D

One thing is for sure - if you have marine trouble, they won't be *mine*! We're allied against the AI, Friend GunNut! And the Lady's word is her bond   O:-)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 24, 2016, 10:43:56 AM

Right, right, no worries.

Did not get Doctrine flexibility yet, but I'm gearing for it.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 24, 2016, 12:53:30 PM

And we've finally seen our first mindworm. And captured it. Hoorah!  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 24, 2016, 09:22:48 PM

Back to you.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 25, 2016, 02:28:58 PM

Still quiet here ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 27, 2016, 10:21:29 AM

Hello, sorry for the low rate of updates lately. I'm back in the game now.

Found the Unity wreckage in game and will probably move closer to it.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 27, 2016, 10:36:01 AM

Hiya, no worries Maeldun.

Unity wreckage? Great news for us  :)  At least you'll know which direction to head off in so we can join forces!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 27, 2016, 11:01:59 AM

The Unity wreckage seems to have already been plundered by the University - this accounts for the chopper and mining laser I saw earlier and kind of explains why they're ahead right now.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 27, 2016, 11:38:20 AM

Dammit. You did mention it before, but I forgot   :(  Well, you never know. You might end up acquiring their map one way or another :)

Or we might just stumble across you anyway.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 27, 2016, 12:00:57 PM

Yeah we'll get there no worries. :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 27, 2016, 12:23:25 PM

At least I know I'm close if I see a Unity chopper in the vicinity   :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 27, 2016, 12:28:37 PM

Zhakarov's started building The Virtual World, right on schedule.

And I'm just standing over here trying to build a Command Center. :P

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 27, 2016, 01:58:19 PM

 ;lol  Sounds about right ...

I haven't met anyone at all around here.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 27, 2016, 05:18:53 PM

Another University Battle Ogre got fried close to my borders. Still no contact with them however.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 27, 2016, 05:47:11 PM

Was it native life that did for the ogre then?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 29, 2016, 04:04:09 PM

Human Genome Project is nearing a major breakthrough for Morgan. :(

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on February 29, 2016, 05:57:00 PM

It won't save him from us   :D

I have encountered the Peacekeepers. They are friendly, but not very helpful.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on February 29, 2016, 07:36:30 PM

You've met them by sea? They've joined the build The Virtual World bandwagon apparently.

Also, you're first in Tech now. The University leads in all the rest.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 01, 2016, 09:59:38 AM

The PKs are quite close to me, but separated by a channel of water. I managed to trade for one tech with them but that's it for a while.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 01, 2016, 10:31:36 AM

All quiet around here as well.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 01, 2016, 10:39:53 AM

Back to you, Colonel  :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 01, 2016, 02:48:15 PM

Miriam's doing Weather Paradigm and Morgan's close to completing The Genome Project... again.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 02, 2016, 10:57:25 AM

Well on that subject, what do we think about the various SPs? You mentioned the Hunter Seeker and I feel the Cloudbase probably should be out. Are we ok with the Empath Guild? Thing is that I could kick that off shortly and that would mean that we could communicate in-game without finding each other. It is a powerful project in MP because human players are so very hard to infiltrate. But given that there are only two of us it probably isn't a big deal for this game?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 02, 2016, 12:09:11 PM

Fresh of the Human Genome Project, Morgan's going for the Weather Paradigm as well.

To be honest I don't really know about the projects - probably because I lack MP experience. As I've mentioned before I think we should just keep it simple and use every advantage we have against the AI (so no projects off limits) and once we have the planet to ourselves we could just discuss the rules then, if and when it comes to that - I am ok with losing either way, it's not going to be much of a discussion on my part. :P

Also, besides trading tech is there a good reason we need to set up commlink contact quickly?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 02, 2016, 12:25:35 PM

Well, after conquering Morgan's bases your position will probably be looking rather different   ;lol

I'm not desperate to build the Empath - I just thought maybe you were finding it frustrating not being in contact! Anyway, I still couldn't get it up that quickly so maybe we'll run into each other before then  :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 02, 2016, 12:55:51 PM

Heh, the University took a nose dive and you are now in front overall my friend (also in front in pop and tech).

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 03, 2016, 10:01:54 AM

I think that must have been a temporary blip! Zak leads in tech, military, territory and overall. Situation normal then   :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 04, 2016, 11:50:57 AM

Damn, lost my front advance settlement to a double mindworm attack. :(

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 04, 2016, 07:33:55 PM

We feel your pain  :(  Sorry for the delay, we have been without internet for around 24 hours here  ::)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 05, 2016, 10:45:55 AM

Hey,  no prob. Just got back in AC as well.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 05, 2016, 11:21:28 AM

And in a stupendously cunning feint, the Gaians move their sea former right next to an IoD that they knew was there.

Sometimes I despair   ::)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 05, 2016, 11:47:37 AM

I'd like to have a sea former in the first place to be able to lose it. :P

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 05, 2016, 11:56:58 AM

There is that of course   ;lol

Well, it died of course. A memorial service will be held in Autumn Grove. All are welcome.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 05, 2016, 01:40:45 PM

I would attend but I'm afraid I can't make it over the ocean.

All is quiet on the spartan front except for the occasional disaster.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 06, 2016, 11:18:04 AM

Planet has sent 3 mindworms and 2 IoDs to attack me at 4 different points   :(  Does she not realise that I am her One True Friend???

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 06, 2016, 01:15:05 PM

Granted she was doing just fine by herself before we showed up.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 07, 2016, 11:43:02 AM

Depends how you measure it. We Gaians have *standards* you know. We think Planet can do better.

And the latest mindworm damaged my battle ogre a *lot* more than it should have done, given we attacked with 6-res when it was sitting in forest.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 08, 2016, 09:10:08 PM

Yeah, I hate mindworms.

Right up until you start using them against your enemies. :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 09, 2016, 10:21:22 AM

 :D  I thought rovers were more your thing, Colonel?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 10, 2016, 11:21:17 AM

They are, but sometimes you need the odd mindworm to crack open up a tough nut. :)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 10, 2016, 12:00:02 PM

I do so agree     :D 

We have met only one other faction. They are mildly friendly. Otherwise it's very quiet round here. Long may it continue  :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 10, 2016, 02:24:14 PM

All quiet here as well. Almost too quiet.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 10, 2016, 02:52:54 PM

Oops, I forgot to mention that the Gaians kicked off the Weather Paradigm, last turn. Not that we have a chance of making it I don't suppose. But we just felt that we ought to do something appropriately ambitious. And the WP has a nice ecological feel to it ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 14, 2016, 05:47:08 PM

Hey I'm back!

Best of luck with the WP, I'll probably hop on it too, soon - no real chance of getting it but I need to start stacking minerals on some SP to be able to switch over to something I can complete eventually - maybe even the Command Nexus. Gosh I'd be such a happy Colonel!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 14, 2016, 06:35:03 PM

Hey Maeldun!  Good to see you   :)

My thoughts exactly - stack some mins and see what comes up ...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 17, 2016, 06:34:34 PM

Hello, I've unfortunately had to replay the turn as I've loaded it up previously but was forced to pull out of the game unexpectedly.

You'll probably get some notifications of this (?).

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 17, 2016, 07:40:59 PM

No worries, reloads happen from time to time   :)

If this happens again, you can interrupt a turn part-way through by choosing the save option when you exit. When you reload that saved turn, it won't generate a reload message and it just puts you back where you were. It's not obvious, but it is ok to do that. To see what I mean, load an old turn, you can find your way through the menus. The game makes it appear that you are doing something dramatic, but in fact it's ok to save.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 29, 2016, 08:41:28 PM

Well, this took me a whole lot longer than I expected.

But I'm back. All is fine, just been kinda busy and not in the mood for AC.

Let the game recommence.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 31, 2016, 10:06:47 AM

Welcome back Colonel  :)  I have found Morgan, reasonably close to me. He doesn't like me at all  :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 31, 2016, 10:17:24 AM

You're already doing Green Economics or is it just your face he don't like? :P

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on March 31, 2016, 10:32:13 AM

My whimpering Green economics will be the End of Planet. Apparently   ::)

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on March 31, 2016, 03:51:21 PM

We then might have war on our hands soon.

Let me know if you wish me to send over my two commando scout patrol units - I'm sure they would single-handedly destroy Morgan by themselves.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on April 01, 2016, 11:44:49 AM

Fantastic. It'll be over by tea-time   :D

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on April 04, 2016, 11:44:56 PM

I now see that I've forgotten to upload my lastest save.  :doh

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on April 06, 2016, 11:12:55 AM

Sorry for the delay - the site here is making some changes to their internet system and it's being very variable at the moment   ::)  It is free though, so it seems unreasonable to moan too much!

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on April 12, 2016, 09:39:38 PM

For some reason I've stopped receiving notifs from this thread. Re-subscribed so I should be better now I guess?

Back to the game.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on April 15, 2016, 01:24:04 PM

Hi Maeldun, no worries and sorry about the delay. Combination of internet problems and glorious weather   8)

Gaian scouts have located The Hive - who have declared war immediately. Ho hum.

Still no sign of Spartan settlements, though our scouts continue their exploration efforts.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on April 17, 2016, 10:31:25 PM

I'm still not getting any notification emails for some reason.

No major issue though, I'll put up a reminder to check on this thread every now and then.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Buster's Uncle on April 17, 2016, 11:20:51 PM

Hmm.  Notifications are working - I got a new member notification early this afternoon from the new email address.

Perhaps the notifications need to be fished out of your junkmail folder and marked legit?  If you haven't checked for that, do.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on April 18, 2016, 07:55:16 AM

Well, I just entered this thread from a mail notification I've received from your post, so I don't know what's going on.

Perhaps I'm not getting notifs just from Misotu's posts?

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Buster's Uncle on April 18, 2016, 01:10:28 PM

I think it wasn't fixed when she posted here last...

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Misotu on April 20, 2016, 12:41:27 PM

Sorry about the delay - we keep having heavy rain overnight and it really disrupts the internet service ... Plus the weather is so nice during the day  :)

In the meantime, I am now at vendetta with Morgan as well as the Hive   ;lol  So far a blow has been struck by neither party, although the Hive slaughtered an innocent scouting mindworm last turn.

Title: Re: Maeldun's First Stand
Post by: Maeldun on July 12, 2016, 04:51:23 PM

It has taken me 2 months, 22 days and a couple of hours or so, but I'm finally confident I have made the best possible turn.

Sorry it has taken me so long. :D



In all seriousness, if you still have the time, I'd like to restart playing this multiplayer game - sorry I took off on short notice back there. :)

Nothing major happened, just did not find time to sit down and play this. Hope you're still up for it - but it's fine if you're not as well.

Thanks!