[ISPG] Interactive SinglePlayer Game

[Mart]

I think Colony One population went from 2 to 1, that almost 100% means colony pod. Unless it was mindworm attack or starvation (highly unlikely this last one).
Now the question is, where Colonials are going to send it.

We could use copter to try to track it. It could potentially save some turns of our colony pod travel in case Colonials would push our border.

[Mart]

And there is some important decision to make.
We could theoretically enter Colonial territory with a scout - that one which recovered wreckage, and also fly with copter to block Colonial colony pod path.
AI would probably change intended base location, I had similar cases like that in some of my SP games, as I recall. But the price would be serious deterioration of relations, maybe treaty breakage, but not necessarily.
What we gain? That area west from the wreckage is very good - moist or rainy, two bonus tiles. We potentially can take it later from Colonials, but that would be who knows when. Colonials are militaristic, kinda Spartans.
However, to the north, there may be more area like that.
Any thoughts on this?

[Akritedes]

I would do everything short of provoking a war. While you could probably take them, you couldn't really take their bases at this point and any losses you take now could be crippling down the road. If you can block them at all without having to cut into their territory I'd do it though, and it might even be worth bribing them with maps or tech if you can to pull it off.

[Mart]

There is still chance, AI knows some good location west from Colony One. AI knows all map in this respect (a designers feature). In this case we would have that coast west from Unity wreckage to our settling. Copter, during scouting flight, located a mineral bonus in a bay far in the west, and that location, in case Colonials use it, would not push our borders. And there may be more good terrain to the south, that we do not see now.
It is more likely, Colonials will not plan to enter our territory. I am not sure, there is such AI procedure at all, I do not recall such cases in singleplayer. I mean a sneaky one, when AI plans to attack us and then it can establish a base in our territory. But with our might, this would not happen.

[Mart]

Scout exploring east was not able to enter next fungus tile.
Former will make one more road tile before forest - it is needed for colony pod.

Attack successful, mining laser lost only 10% health and is now 40% damage.

No luck in talking Marshall Basque into loan.

2115



- Scout exploring east found interesting spot for a new base. There is 2 tiles to the north a good tile for worker (2-1-1) and with no terraforming required.
Colony pod from AH could reach the location within 5-6 turns if aided by copter.
- There is a guess of Colonial base far to the west. For us this location is solving our problem, as it does not block our expansion.
- We could pop the unity pod, possibly there would be mineral pod and our Recycling Tanks would be completed.
- Mining Laser would recover its 20% health. Further it could scout a little and later serve as colony pod escort.
- Lt. Fet (our starting independent scout) can attack mindworms approaching MM base.

Reminder, password is a single key:
<SPACE>

[Akritedes]

I would go ahead and grab the pod, although I'm pretty aggressive in just grabbing them as soon as I see them, and hope there's no xenofungus bloom.

For the rest, it seems fairly straightforward.

[Mart]

The unity pod turned out to locate nutrients. Not bad, it will be very useful.
Also moved crawler towards AH, in case another rehome would be needed.
Lt. Fet attacked mindworms with success, +1 morale.

2116



Proposals:
- Mining Laser can scout a bit before providing escort for colony pod.
- AH base can hurry formers, so colony pod would be already with collected minerals next turn. The plan may be to accumulate minerals for 3 turns, then hurry. This way we would have cp departing in 2120.
- Scout exploring east can either pop the pod, or go south. Since it is a bit far away from our bases, we could get bad outcome. Maybe it is not worth to risk this terrain, which is good for a base. I'm a bit concern about earthquake or fungal bloom, these would be very unlucky. We could pop it once our base is established there. My vote is then: go south.
- Copter is 100% health, so a reconnaissance mission would help us see, if Colonials really got a colony pod, and what is more important, where it is headed.
- MM scout going from Unity Command module crash can go towards Colonial border to possibly block their cp.

Reminder, password is a single key:
<SPACE>

[Mart]

Time for something different than strategy and tactics.
A new broadcast from Intergalactic Radio Station (IRS).

This is special ambient music. Maybe a word of caution, it is not intended to create some negative effects, but these sounds are enhanced by sound specialist. If you are interested to learn more, google: "Dr. Jeffrey Thompson"
I recall also to listen to some 1-hour (or so) interview on youtube with him. He cooperates with NASA, as to help astronauts with long-time flights.
This particular fragment is from "Awakened Mind System" So possibly when listening, one can have thoughts/conclusions of importance. However, playing with one's mind may be dangerous and music is quite powerful.

! No longer available

[Mart]

And Colonial colony pod is spoted.
Iteresting direction, it looks like it attempts to enter our territory, my guess would be: Basque plans to establishes the base somewhere to the north, maybe behind our border there.
We can still block it.



Copter can blok it this turn, and scout the next.
Any proposals, regarding other solutions? Maybe let it go?

[Akritedes]

I'd block it as much as you can with the scout patrol and keep the chopper on scouting or emergency blocking. It looks like the scout should be able to block it without entering Colonial territory, which is good, and should avoid major diplomatic issues.

I might suggest making that area a colonization priority though, to avoid repeat issues. It's also looking like a future military campaign to quickly overrun the Colonial Authority may be a good idea when it becomes viable. They're seriously cramping access to further resources without expanding overseas.

[Mart]

Colonial cp went west, as shown.

2117



Proposal, some interesting choice with copter.
- Copter can return to MM for repairs, or
- Copter can block a site, that cp could establish a base later. When blocked from west, Colonial cp could again choose another direction and either go east or south. Both are better for us.
- Eastern scout will go further east. Still there is time before we would be able to send our colony pod there.
- The rest was pretty much planned earlier.

[Mart]

Copter moved to blocking positions. Also, it spoted a Colonial scout, which then moved North.

Endutrn, cp went south! That is quite good for us. Possibly, AI chose some base location south, or south-west, which may not influence borders.

2118



Decisions to be made:
- Eastern scout.
It looks like the area is under heavy fungus. Do we want to scout it? The scout could stay in the area for future colony pod arriving, so:
a) Scout goes south to show coastal tiles.
b) Scout tries enter fungus east.
c) Do we want to try pop the pod? It is far away and on fungus, can be not optimal at this point.

Colony pod should arrive in about 2128-2130, but this is quite advanced planning, we may find need for something else to build in AH meanwhile and also cp might be needed to go elsewhere.

- Copter could risk another turn in field. Do we want to do it? I proposed returning to MM.

[Mart]

Fountainhead in winter

! No longer available

[Mart]

Copter returned to MM, along the path, it spotted both previously seen scout and cp.
And just south of Fountainhead, there is Colonial Formers unit.

Marshall Basque was kind to answer our call. Initially quarrelsome, she offered technology exchange.
I had to make a decision, so I agreed.
She became Magnanimous, and we have Information Networks.
Further, she asked for Industrial Base, but I refused.
Also, we borrowed 44 EC for returning 66.
Basque refused Pact agreement.



And our tech progress bar became red, it means this was the tech we were researching.
We are emphasizing 3 areas: Explore, Discover, Build.
Should we change this?

[Akritedes]

Picking up Information Networks is useful. As to Tech emphasis I would consider narrowing the focus, maybe to Build/Explore, to improve the speed with which you can build up infrastructure. That said, keeping discover on there is viable if you're pushing for a less focused and more advanced long-term plan.