Group AAR #2: Fight for the Future

[Mart]

MY 2188

Contacted Madam Atsumi, but she refuses to trade Centauri Meditation.


There is still problem with that 90% damaged Valhallan former...



MY 2189


Satori redirects their effort:

And Technocrats:


New base: Freedom's Foundry, on sensored location.

Valhallan are ignoring our transmissions.
Madam Atsumi has politely declined to speak.

MY 2190



First thing, can Centauri Meditation be obtained from House Satori?


So she had enough extortion...

There is one more thing to do. As Creche completes its tech, it could get something valuable, that Drones do not have.


... one more sonar pod!
New base: Freedman's Park

This completes 15 years of Foreman Mart governorship.
Writing directions for Foreman Domai, so he can continue with policies started recently.

= = = = = * * * = = = = =

So how about Creche?
BlueFlux, shall you try your 15 turns?

[ete]

Ah, your bullying has come back to bite you. I'm fine with you having PTS, it's one of the weaker SPs most of the time imo, though it does have niches (like when I got it for the Annihilators last game).

I think he's out for now, upload the file and I'll play after sleep.

[Mart]

Ok, here is the save, with faction set for Technocrats.

As for the Drones, I set "faction personality" and "faction strategy"
and it will be very interesting to see, what AI does with it...

Yes, Satori already gave me (extorted) Industrial Automation. So thanks to that, I could get PTS. Getting Xenoempathy Dome would be yet another very large benefit.
Anyway, opening a save in 2175 just to see, that the faction is researching Planetary Networks!!!??? ... this tech that late!!! Just SMACX AI...

Diplomacy
For trading tech for a tech - go ahead, I would exchange in any combination.
For EC, we can agree for a price, and probably that would need to be done by scenario editor, unless AI would cooperate (gift technology; gift EC)
Exchanging units - any proposals...
Exchanging bases... if there is some benefit...

[Yitzi]

Anyway, opening a save in 2175 just to see, that the faction is researching Planetary Networks!!!??? ... this tech that late!!! Just SMACX AI...

Actually, more like because I got a lot of techs via trading, but that increases the cost of researching techs, and I wasn't able to trade for Planetary Networks due to the Virtual World.

[ete]

I was pretty careful when trading techs to avoid giving the drones (and everyone else) PN, because I was keen to get VW (<3 free NNs) and know the drones could probably get the tech off someone else and outproduce me.

Okay, thanks Mart. I doubt we'll be swapping bases or units, but will probably do some tech trading if you get hold of techs I'm missing. I'll play today.

[Mart]

Drone penalty of -2 research is very harsh. AI most likely will stay behind in techs.
I hope, though, that Creche AI will return the favor to Drones, after it received all techs from Domai in 2190. I wonder to what they switch... Hopefully not Centauri Meditation.

[ete]

Okay, just uploading images/writing up first post. Mart: Would you agree to trade Intellectual Integrity for Advanced Subatomic Theory? The AI is refusing because it wants the Citizen's Defense Force, but I'll agree not to build that if you we do the tech swap.

Edit: I'd also be willing to trade CentEmp, but would require a similar deal which prevents you from building the Xenoempathy Dome.

Edit2: To clarify, I am not certain I want to do this trade but want to know if it's on the table, I will soon research the tech myself and could likely get the CDF first, but depending on what techs are available next to be I may be willing to skip the CDF in order to speed up my teching.

[Mart]

...Mart: Would you agree to trade Intellectual Integrity for Advanced Subatomic Theory? The AI is refusing because it wants the Citizen's Defense Force, but I'll agree not to build that if you we do the tech swap.

Ok, so you will need to make the change in scenario editor? Yes, let's do it.
I can keep CDF for building. Let us see, if other AI intervene meanwhile.

Edit: I'd also be willing to trade CentEmp, but would require a similar deal which prevents you from building the Xenoempathy Dome.

Yes, I agree to not building XD.

Edit2: To clarify, I am not certain I want to do this trade but want to know if it's on the table, I will soon research the tech myself and could likely get the CDF first, but depending on what techs are available next to be I may be willing to skip the CDF in order to speed up my teching.

How about BlueFlux? He might jump in, if he wants to.

[ete]

Okay, so you're willing to trade for either tech (with Xenoempathy banned if I send you CentEmp)? I'll consider whether I want to go for it while I write up the next post.

And I think BlueFlux is unlikely to rejoin, the Creche Union is not in a very strong position thanks to not having had a human running them much and not having a great start location (unlike, say, Atsumi). Even if he does rejoin I doubt he could beat either of us to CDF.

[ete]

I awake, and rush to check correct the AI's mistakes.


Switching to Police State from Fundamentalist, preparing for Free Market. A lot of military units have been build in my absence, and right now we need to divert minerals away from civic works democracy would demand in order to support them.




Not as bad as last time, it's a more aggressive strategy than I'd take but at least the AI built units which I can attack with. Let's switch to mostly more peaceful build orders, and rush/disband to kickstart things.



Much better.

Now, the powergraph..

The good news is Sepsu is falling back, but at the same time the Drones appear to be outbuilding us.. we are allies, but the drones have never truly understood the need for technical progress. We must be careful to avoid them becoming an overly dominant faction, else the future generations of humanity may never blossom into what we could become if we embraced change and technology.




A brief and uneventful chat with Atsumi, she has no tech to trade currently.







The Creche also have no tech to trade, and though they are in-principle open to selling off territory the price they want is absurd. No matter.


The maps.. are acceptable. The Formers have uprooted a number of forests and replaced them with less productive farms, but enough forests remain to support a few more crawlers.

(click to show/hide)

Highly classified information. If you are playing the game or may rejoin, do not view until the game is over, and do not comment in public.

(click to show/hide)

"Open the encrypted channel. I want this recording kept off all net-connected computers, even the core intelligence unit servers should not be considered sufficiently secure."

"Hello, Mraxis. We'd like to talk business with you."


"No. Our alliance with the Creche is strong."


"We will not be bowed by threats, or intimidated."


"Acceptable. We do not wish for war with you."


"Then make peace with him."




I pause before the next words. I remember the hours of agonizingly weighing up the pros and cons. My actions are not in violation of the letter of any of my agreements, but if my allies found out they would be very angry. This may cause thousands of additional deaths.. but in the end I must think of the bigger picture.

If the Drones continue to develop unchecked, our simulations suggest they will become the dominant faction on Planet. At that point we will be at their mercy, they will be able to demand our technology and we will be able to do nothing but watch as they turn the fruits of our greatest minds into factories and industry, likely neglecting the great changes it could bring to society. The drones have a place in Planet's future, but I will not stand by and watch them become overlords.

Fighting them head on is out of the question. They are too far away, for one. Thankfully there is another option.. but it is a deal with the devil, and one that may ruin nations... but in the end... I have no choice if the technocrats vision is to be fulfilled. They must have an opponent able and willing to stem their growth, and if that means I must create a monster.. I will.





"Here you go. Designs for 6-res weapons, equal to the best on Planet. Enjoy your battles, Mraxis."

The Creche calls back, this time with tech to swap. Not the most important of techs, but AST does lead to some useful things.


My troops are arriving at Sepsu's border in force. A mix of heavy artillery rovers and gatling/r-laser rovers, accompanied by two recently built probe teams. Looks like he wants to talk.. let's see what he has to say.





You wish for a truce now? Now, when I am finally in a position of strength? I have not forgotten the men lost to your rovers, Sepsu. I came here for war.



Ah, but you offer compensation? Very well. This will be put to good use developing my economy. I shall not attack you unless provoked, but I will say nothing of probe activities.




An.. intriguing offer.

I sit back and consider. Sepsu would make a powerful ally, though he is no longer the most powerful on Planet. However, allying myself with him would hurt my diplomacy with Atsumi, Domai, and Ron, unless I arranged a full ceasefire. There is also the matter of his highly objectionable social policies.. but the long game and strategic positioning is all that matters.

Eventually I conclude that my position currently is stronger with war than peace. I have a powerful standing army, and the ability to take fertile land, liberating a population of slaves. I cannot risk the political backlash from my allies, and suspect I could force Sepsu into submitting rather than simply allying if I press the advantage.

"No, Sepsu. We have peace, but there is no friendship between us."





Very well.



My army is assembling anyway. Waiting to attack is probably a sound choice, even if not for the truce.



Those 200 credits sped up the production of the next round of crawlers & probes significantly.



Next turn, and my probe has reached his base. Unfortunately there is no tech to steal, and they returned with only map data.



"I was hoping you'd say that, Sepsu. Order the attack!"




My rovers smash through the three heavily bombarded defensive units without taking any casualties. The Technocrats have seized their first base!



No chance. You bullied me when you were powerful, that will not work now.



I had two rovers with enough move to attack, and had bombarded the next base's defenders down to 50%, but attacking now may have allowed Atsumi to deal the finishing blow and take the base. I intend to keep all the land bought with my people's blood.



Back at home, crawlers are progressing well.






A brief and uneventful chat with Domai.

[Flux]

I think I'll take a turn.
Can I go when you're done, ete? I was about to look at that highly classified information spoiler when I realized I would enjoy playing another round.
Only one round for now.

[Mart]

Ok, then. So you start from 2205, BlueFlux?

[ete]

Alright, I'll try to finish this evening. Progressing slower now there's more stuff going on, but I'll try and reduce my screenshots/turn which should speed things up (I averaged 25/turn for the last three turns >_>).

Do you have any instructions for your AI on handling diplomacy with me, other than just whatever the AI says?

@Mart: Yep. Then you get 2220-2235.

[Mart]

My AI settings should be ok, but when I see in 2205 what Domai was doing, then possibly I could adjust the AI governor.

[Flux]

Alright, I'll try to finish this evening. Progressing slower now there's more stuff going on, but I'll try and reduce my screenshots/turn which should speed things up (I averaged 25/turn for the last three turns >_>).

Do you have any instructions for your AI on handling diplomacy with me, other than just whatever the AI says?

@Mart: Yep. Then you get 2220-2235.

Instructions?
Well, unless there is a really good reason, the Head Designer would never start a war.