ete's AAR: Powergaming - coming August 2013

[Sigma]

Techs - Weakened by war with Usurpers, but partly recovered during the peace. Usurpers installed faildeadly systems in their bases, which were triggered as Usurper bases were destroyed, decimating their population and technology.

Going a bit further: Technocrats had successfully uploaded their entire population into the vir (virtual universe, cribbed from Hannu Rajaneimi), but the Usurper's faildeadly systems effectively caused the entire digital structure to go down in flames, dragging 98% of their population into cyberspace oblivion. Federov, himself one of the first uploaded minds, managed to escape the dying network and return to the physical world, a pitiful fraction of the omniscent digital god he once was.

The Technocrats still speak of this event as The Spike (Rajaneimi again).

This explains why they have access to the Virtual World project at the start, because it is the foundation of the vir.

[JarlWolf]

Comrades are fine, but if you really want a militaristic challenge go for the Valhallans. They have 4+ Morale and probe bonuses and are murderous early game, or if they match tech with you.

I agree. They will do well. In test games, the Comrades are worse (as far as good) than Sparta. they just made a mistake of starting next to a player who is a Miriam specialist

You mean they are better then Spartans or worse then Spartans? I am confused.

[ete]

@Green1: The way I'm planning it, this new faction will be significantly more deadly than even the AntiMind, so I'd suggest if you're thinking of using it either use a toned down version (I'll make a balanced one) or use a very powerful faction yourself.

@BU: Okay.

@Sigma: I like it! I guess I should move the timeline for their surrender a bit earlier then, to give them time to develop/stabilize that kind of tech. Probably the Progs ran into a human faction or two really early on and rolled them, slammed into the Techs straight afterward, and the Techs offered to become the Usurper's research division in exchange for not becoming the Usurper's target practice/food supply. The Usurpers would have installed a way to take down the Tech's vir at the touch of a button, knowing that the only way to be sure the Techs would not use their technological mastery to rebel would be the certainty of death for their population if the Usurpers fell, and when their capital was overwhelmed it activated. Federov, not one to take death lightly, would have made sure there was a way out for him at least, though there was no time to save most of the others. So he's pretty furious at the Usurpers now for causing mass death, but still not keen to become their next target.

[Green1]

Comrades are fine, but if you really want a militaristic challenge go for the Valhallans. They have 4+ Morale and probe bonuses and are murderous early game, or if they match tech with you.

I agree. They will do well. In test games, the Comrades are worse (as far as good) than Sparta. they just made a mistake of starting next to a player who is a Miriam specialist

You mean they are better then Spartans or worse then Spartans? I am confused.

Better...

@ ete...

NEVER let anyone tell you power gaming is inferior or "compensating" for something like I was told in the RP scene. Those guys just want themselves to power game and not you. I look forward to seeing your monstrosity. As long as it is beatable. There is a difference between power gaming and unfairness like a god  hitting a 9 year old girl. But god vs god is okay

[ete]

I plan to make the foes much stronger than me, since normal Transcend games generally don't give me any actual trouble anymore (it took a really bad start and a foe faction which had constant pop boom, free +1 eng/square, and 50% Hurry cost with only minor drone problems (taken care of by facs/psych) and a Morale penalty to compensate and all the early/most of the mid game SPs, plus being backstabbed by a faction with +4 Morale and Air Power in the middle of a struggle to survive to give me a challenge last game, and I still won). And figure if I'm making them unreasonably strong... why not make them absolutely absurdly overpowered? And if I'm doing that, let's give me a mildly overpowered faction to give me a fighting chance

Not quite God v God, Legendary Hero vs six Gods.

[ete]

Also considering making this a challenge open to other players, would anyone else want to play through it and give their experiences if I post a turn 1 save?

[sisko]

your scenario should have all the ingredients for a nice GotM..

[JarlWolf]

Also considering making this a challenge open to other players, would anyone else want to play through it and give their experiences if I post a turn 1 save?

Yes: Maybe have comparative AAR's or something. I could easily do it on top of my current AAR as for this one I wouldn't focus on creating a story, just posting my gameplay.

[Green1]

Also considering making this a challenge open to other players, would anyone else want to play through it and give their experiences if I post a turn 1 save?

I am down.

But you will need to provide more than just the turn 1 save. We will also need the faction files and your alphax for it to work.

I dare say, I like this Annihilator concept.  Do not worry about balance. I would stick this in WITH Antimind into my little toy box. I am sure you have ideas already, but I would just go with what you think a Prog race that wants to destroy EVERYTHING would have instead of out to make them a beast.

Here are my thoughts:

Starting techs: Applied Physics, Industrial Base, (forget the name of tech for 3-res)

-3 PLANET: Even Planet senses the dark intents.
+3 INDUSTRY: Motivated towards the machines of war.
+3 MORALE: Hardened for Battle
-3 GROWTH: Destroying things leaves little time for creation.

Impunity to Fundamentalism penalties.
Cannot use Knowledge or Democracy. Cannot use Future Society: Eudamania
Free Command Center with tech each base.
Free Recycle Tanks each base.
Alien defenses.
+50 percent attack.
Starts with a Battle Ogre Mk1




 

[Green1]

Actually, Ete.... you have me obsessed. i was at work thinking all night about an alien. If my co workers knew what was in my head, i am sure they would ask me to get professional help.

Having the Antimind only in my toy box is like having Darth Vader but no Luke Skywalker (the Return of the Jedi black figure, not the silly X-wing outfit, Hoth outfit, or original SW)

Antimind needs a playmate. An opposite. The Annihilators.

But, I am not a thief. I may actually have to -gasp- make a faction! you see, I want a 3rd set of 7 that fit storywise. I agree, Crimson Comrades makes the cut. I will find others. But, an over powering Alien.... Do not worry, I will find another appropriate name other than take yours.

Time to crank up Acedit....

[JarlWolf]

I have name for you:

The Liquidators, The Exterminatus, The Assimilators or The Scourge.

[Sigma]

The Exterminatus

That is a pretty good name.

Oh and I finished up the Technocrats' graphics. Enjoy!

[Green1]

The Exterminatus will be born...

I shall escape later to another thread... and watch patiently while ete decides on his madness....

[Buster's Uncle]

Some cursory searching -I'm not done yet- turns up these two interesting shots, probably useful for adaption as leaderheads...

[Buster's Uncle]

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