Alpha Centauri 2 Forum Community Succession Game

[binTravkin]

Gaia launched a surprise attack.

Hate to say so.. but I told you! 

To sum up, we're super hurt by morale, I even considered Power for a long time, however I decided to wait for your opinion.

We should absolutely switch to Power and remain there until we're confident Gaia is defeated and no PBs coming our way.
We should also use Fundy+Green unless there is a good reason not to, like us finishing CBA/CF.
We will probably lose little production due to raised support anyway.

Good work on conquest! 
We should keep it up. Because we can and the countdown clock is ticking (Gaian PB).
We should probably try CBA and/or CF if we can manage - that would help significantly.

[Kirov]

1) Cool thing with those names, thanks. I've never known that. I tend to pick dull but clear names, like '1-2-1 Police', so feel free to change my design of '6-1-8*2 Chopper' to something cooler.

2) I'm not too proud on the conquest, seeing as Sea Collective is going to fall. However, one important thing here - in my experience with super hard situations, risk taking is important. AI tends not to use air directly against bases, very rarely uses probes, etc. so in order to be efficient with minerals, I suggest to behave as if AI never did it. And if it does, just deal with it. It's much better than providing decent AAA coverage and defensive probe for every base taken, etc. There sure is such a thing as taking too many bases in too short time, but I still recommend a reasonably aggressive stance.

3) I think maybe we should complete Aero-Complexes on Wealth and then switch to Power. Then we can make aircraft almost exclusively. At any given moment, 1-2 bases can make crawlers to put them on minerals terraformed by formers in the meantime. "Simple. Efficient. Glorious."

[binTravkin]

2. I think we can save it. We can upgrade garrison + there is a chopper nearby. Didn't look more closely.

3. If we can get CBA, we don't need to build complexes. Should be possible.

[Mart]

... I am not saying this. Miriam is in prison. Undergoes forced basic algebra course from University of Planet Summer School.
Does this satisfy us, or we once again make the faction list ending with number 7?

[Geo]

Does this satisfy us, or we once again make the faction list ending with number 7?

First weaken the Gaians sufficiently, and then break into the University's idea of punishment. 
I wonder if at this stage the game would even find place to start a faction anew.

[Mart]

One-tile island? SMACX can do that.

[binTravkin]

Geo, are you doing it or should I?

[Geo]

Go ahead. I don't feel like playing much of SMACX lately. Too many sealevel rising worries.

[binTravkin]

MY 2146
We sign Pact with Morgan Industries.
We sign Pact with The Hive.
We switch to Power SE choice.

Sea Collective reinforced with 2 <5> defenders
Some mopping up of stray Gaian units.. 

END Turn:
Gaians destroy our transport foil that was used for reinforcement. They must be feeling proud.


MY 2147
People's Endeavour cleared of its garrison (5) for a loss of 1 unit. This was to force to switch them away from Aerospace complex and possibly start drone riots.
The glorious Gaian cruiser, who could barely sink our transport foil sunk in turn.

END Turn:
University and Gaia pledge Truce.
We make truce with Sparta.

MY 2148
Gaian transport complete with marine troops sunk near Sea Collective.


END Turn:
Gaians build Cyborg Factory
We build Cloudbase Academy
NuDawn has finished Bioenhancement Center - we should build military units here, all will be elite! That base also has Command Center and Aerospace Complex (from CBA).

MY 2149
Gaian's got Organic Superlubricant ->Fusion Laster, need to redouble our probing efforts!
Some Fusion Laser units in Port Yang disposed of.

U.N Haven City founded.

END Turn:
University starts Longevity Vaccine

MY 2150
Nothing in particular. We couldn't use our units due to lack of transports.
And no Gaians showed up to suicide on us.


Notes:
The ONLY reason I was not able to mount an amphibious invasion was lack of transports.
We have more than enough troops to take 2-3 bases in a single turn!
I outlined the "amphibious task forces" strategy a couple of pages ago.
Had I had 3 transports handy, the entire island area between us and UNS Unity Wreckage would be ours by end of my turns.
Most of those bases only have 1 viable garrison or none at all.
I could've saved that single first transport by not transporting that defender, keeping only the upgraded one, but foil transports are not fast enough for our invasion needs.

I designed ESCORT Cruiser (4-<5>), MINIMAL Sentinel (4-<5>) and OPTIMAL Transport (5t).
Note that having highest defense value and lowest attack value does not mean it's the cheapest unit.
Often you can raise the attack value somewhat without a cost increase.
And the increased attack could come useful.

There is an OPTIMAL Transport unit in Sea Collective ready to capture Chairman's Burrow and Marine unit who will execute the amphibious attack.
It also has 2 garrisons, so one can be transferred to Chairman's burrow along with the amphibious attack.

There are 3 other OPTIMAL Transport units ready to be used.
One of our bases also has 2 other marine units ready.


Gaians are building a Fusion Planet Buster prototype at The Hive base, listed as 16 turns until completion, so we really need to move fast.

EDIT:
We should probably be designing/upgrading drop units, then we can (partly) skip the need for transports.
I totally forgot about this option. Could've taken 3 bases like this already..

[binTravkin]

And the turn.

[binTravkin]

I feel so silly about the drop thing that I figure I should replay it.

[Mart]

Playing...

[binTravkin]

Oh, well. I was doing a replay..

[Kirov]

I believe we should stick to the rules as provided in MP - no replays for whatever reason, no matter what happens or how hard you screw up.

[binTravkin]

Yes, you're right. I was not paying enough attention in the first place and then was paying too much.

BTW, we can get a new loan from Morgan.