[ISPG] Interactive SinglePlayer Game

[Artemis]

I started reading this thread and was concerned it might die off with little input, glad it is picking up!  I will try to get the patch installed (though I have a game running with just the GOG version, I guess that would cause compatibility issues with that save?) and load up the save tonight to see what it looks like on a bigger screen.

[Mart]

... maybe to Build/Explore, ...

Priorities set.
And the bar is now yellow. In 2123 we will have some build tech.

2119



Colonial colony pod moved SW, as shown. Thanks to copter scouting, even in fog of war, it is possible to see it.
Maybe it will establish a base somewhere to the west.

- Formers performed their actions already.
Road from AH to MM completed!
Next projects:
a) road towards west and area of planned third base
b) road north from MM
c) forest on some next tile along the road
d) ... something else proposed

- Scout "blocking" is scheduled to hold this position, but maybe someone has another idea. It could serve for the third base later.
- Proposed to hurry colony pod in AH for 31 ec.
- Eastern scout, proposed to explore till next colony pod arrives, if we send one there soon.
- Mining laser, will escort our cp, as planned.

Any other proposals, modifications of plan?

Reminder, password is a single key:
<SPACE>

[Akritedes]

Can't see any needed changes. I would hurry the Colony Pod, you can recoup the cost faster if you get it out and start up a new base. Where are you planning on putting the new colony? I know it had been suggested that it be placed near the west coast nutrients and sea minerals, is that still viable or are you planning to place it nearer to Mechanic's Marvel?

[Mart]

The west region is really where we would need to place a base very soon, as you suggested.
And I thought builder-style, From MM:
W-W-NW-NW
It will catch nutrient, and the mineral will be in some next base radius. Nutrient is more important anyway, just we forest it and have 3-2-1 tile. And this will effectively restrict Colonials from UNS Unity region.

[Artemis]

I was able to load up the game.  Probably a no-brainer, but north of the Unity wreckage it looks like there is a river running east-west and some green squares.  That would probably be the next good spot for a colony, after the site southwest of the wreckage. 

[Mart]

That location could use cp from MM base, cause Recycling tanks may be hurried as soon as they have 10 minerals.

[Akritedes]

Just north of the scout patrol and next to the Xenofungus, huh?

First thing you'd want to do is get garrisoned and then get out Formers to clear the fungus I guess.

[Mart]

Yes, that's the tile. This scout will most likely garrison the base.

We will have to see its capabilities after establishing, but foresting that nutrient seems the best way to bring it up to large productivity.
We could either:
a) start Recycling tanks, hurry it then make former.
b) start former, then recycling tanks.

[Mart]

2120

Completed forest near MM.
Completed colony pod in AH.



Marked are 3 locations for new bases:
- West, we were talking about this region as the most important. Cp is ready in AH and can reach this location in 2124. And in 2125 we have third base there.
- North, proposed recently by Artemis. We will have to still scout the area for exact base spot, but could hope for some very good ones. Colony pod will be made by MM base.
- East, this is to block Colonials from that expansion direction, however, the area is more than average, with a good river tile, mineral sea bonus and 2 unity pods in vicinity. Next AH made cp can reach that location in best scenario in 5-6 turns.

Other proposals:
- We can make two roads in west and north direction (forest them later), forest near AH, where crawler resides on the picture.
- Crawler can speed up population recovery in AH, we need to rehome it though, but MM is good now with that forest. Also, there is road now if a need for yet again rehome is needed.
- Copter recovers, will be very helpful for colony pod crossing fungus.
- However we could enter fungus with that scout, which holds position observing Colonial border. Should we use it instead?
- ... anything else?

[Akritedes]

Off-hand I'd say no changes, everything is falling out relatively according to plan. I would only build one leg of the proposed road at a time, and keep the second Former either on Fungus Clearing (if available) or building improvements to speed base growth.

I would consider a slow military build up. As planned, cutting the Colonials off from further expansion will trap them and their only option will be to try to expand seaward or take Apollo territory, and a short war for territory is less time-consuming for them. They're also, if I recall, more militaristic expansionist than exploratory, which may prejudice their decision. You won't need the expanded military for a decade or three, but having at least the defenses to bottle them up would be wise.

[Mart]

Off-hand I'd say no changes, everything is falling out relatively according to plan. I would only build one leg of the proposed road at a time, and keep the second Former either on Fungus Clearing (if available) or building improvements to speed base growth.

Yes, having 2-3 formers per base would be nice at this time, but we seem to plan a few more bases first.
It is good on one side, but hopefully we do not stretch too much too early.
Typically we would have population of 2 in a base for some time, so having 2 good tiles will be sufficient for some more time. And forests spread! Hopefully they spread over fungus. Am I right, that actually fungus is overgrown preferentially in early game? Or it has no impact?

I would consider a slow military build up. As planned, cutting the Colonials off from further expansion will trap them and their only option will be to try to expand seaward or take Apollo territory, and a short war for territory is less time-consuming for them. They're also, if I recall, more militaristic expansionist than exploratory, which may prejudice their decision. You won't need the expanded military for a decade or three, but having at least the defenses to bottle them up would be wise.

I agree here. 10-30 turns may be quiet. We also do not know how many bases Colonials will be able to place. and they may even do ICS, if there is some natural landmark. They did 3rd colony pod faster than us! They are expansionists, or maybe have very good terrain.
Colonials are like Spartans - to be feared. We might try to get military technologies soon.

[Artemis]

If you think putting colony B that far north would be injudicious due to fungus and distance, we could instead use the earlier proposed location on the coast and then expand there once it is scouted and fungus cleared. I tend to try to spread out further and then fill in, but I've been playing on Librarian with average native life so the risk/reward analysis might pan out differently.

[Mart]

If you think putting colony B that far north would be injudicious due to fungus and distance, we could instead use the earlier proposed location on the coast and then expand there once it is scouted and fungus cleared.

Yes, we can do it. This is good suggestion, as colony pod would be shorter time in transit and we can select location on scouted terrain, knowing surroundings.
However, the location closer on the coast is not so good. We most likely would have to make the base on that unity pod. I had another thought - to place base closer (no gaps between bases) and later rise terrain to the east. Another base would be coastal farther to the east.

I tend to try to spread out further and then fill in, but I've been playing on Librarian with average native life so the risk/reward analysis might pan out differently.

We play on Transcend, but with council of now three players and our pace of a turn every several days, we play quite efficiently. So placing a base on better terrain and river but somewhat far away could in the end give us better result. But this is only my guess, and without any strong conviction which one is better. 

[Artemis]

You mean like directly north of the scout in the above screenshot?  That would give it a few moist tiles overlapping with MM to work, and MM can concentrate on the tiles south of it, which are better quality.  Then raise the coast where the pod is? 

It makes me nervous having the border so close to our headquarters, but I guess there's nothing to be done about it.  Could we bring the copter back east to scout along the border?  I'm not up to date on all unit positions, I didn't get a chance to load up the most recent save this weekend so this may not be feasible right now.

I agree top priority is western colonization site, then HQ can send the next one east.  MM can colonize northward. 

Edit:  it looks like we'll end up crossing their territory to colonize east without a transport foil.  Can we do it without angering them?

[Akritedes]

Unless their territory expands I think an eastward expansion can cheat around their borders using diagonals.

Regarding spacing, given the difficulty level and native life I would favor caution. Especially now, as Apollo does not have a large military and if there's a surge of native life or foreign aggression the further away the endangered base is the more likely it is to just get swarmed under. In particular because base three is either going to have to spend time and production building its own garrison, unless we're willing to station the Mining Laser there and give up a mobile offensive force.