The Planet Rising - May2014 GotM scenario for the Pirates

[Davyboy]

Enemy's Fundamentalist doesn't do much to your PTs, if that's what you meant.

No, I phrased it poorly.
It's going to cost me to subvert anything, if I try such stratagems. (+2 PROBE for the Fundamentalist afaik)

Because of that, PTs have a pretty high attrition rate too (first one infiltrated and pegged out)
Really am going to have another bash. Hell, I knew it was going to be humbling before I d/ld it!
D
(Might just play from 2141 to study the "Boy's" strategy. It's reminiscent of a 2001/2 scenario that I played loosely based around Uni (USA) versus Believers (Al Qaeda). Except Muuuuuch more unbalanced and challenging)

[Davyboy]

Then this came up on the reload.
With Cha Deirdre about to stiff me and the Morgan survivalist corporation covering her back.

(Well you have to laff)

[Kirov]

Davy, it's true that when the Locusts come, pain usually follows. I think the trick here is to play a couple of reloads (even within the same game as long as you don't submit it) to see what works and what doesn't. For instance, I noticed that you can score a few hits if you use formers as bait and kill attacking LoCs with Empath 2-1-2s or whatever their design is (I'm quite sure you don't need SAM against LoC, but can't check it right now). Another thing - in my game I didn't build a single sea former/sea crawler, as they have the life expectancy of fruit flies.

[Kirov]

Guys, are we waiting for any other submission for any of the above levels? The deadline is just over but of course we'll give some more time for anyone who still wants to give it a shot. If we don't hear it within a couple of days, I guess we can wrap it up.

[Kirov]

All right, I believe we announce the results!

In respective categories, the winners are:

1. Light - Vishniac - completed in MY 2292.   :win:

2. Normal - no submission, I wonder why. 

3. Hard - Dio - completed in MY 2170.  :win:

I would like to congratulate both of you guys, you officially receive the Badge of Cool. BU, please be my guest. Further, I'd like to thank all our participants and players. Please provide your feedback out of spoilers now, I'm really looking forward to it. Remember it's my first scenario, so any critique is most welcome. Just round it off with praises if possible (I'm sure you can think of something). I hope you all enjoyed it and see you again in the next Game of the Month, whenever that's gonna be! 

Below: artist's depiction.

[ete]

I'm going to play this on normal, then probably hard. Not submitting, since late, but still.

[ete]

First two games I got swarmed by LoCs before I had anything like a chance to prepare. Third was very different, no attacks until.. well, not late, but not 7 sitting on me immediately. I got WP pretty early, and rushed to probes while building a bunch of bases, but I think I got distracted and slightly clogged my economy with inefficiency Bdrones from planned, and too many formers+too many sea formers. I don't feel this is close to optimal on reflection, but am well on the way to getting the VW anyway. Next time I'll try for police based drone control, since it's probably more energy/mineral efficient.

I feel vaguely comfortable still and did snatch that WP which made me very happy, so don't really want to quit.. but also feel like my next game will go better if I don't get LoC rushed again. Must be an inconsistent AI issue.

[ete]

I can't raise terrain despite having the WP.. Not sure what's going on. It's giving me the you need the right tech message, but having WP should override. Saves attached if anyone feels like taking a look.

I was kinda depending on that for my strategy, which was to build a landbridge between the strip and the main island and probe hard.

[Yitzi]

It has nothing to do with the WP; even if you have the actual tech (I tested with the scenario editor) it gives the same message.  Not sure if it's a bug or raise/lower has simply been disabled for the scenario and the message is simply bugged.

[ete]

huh, I guess that would explain it. Annoying, I find landscaping one of the most interesting aspects of AC.

[sisko]

..Raising and lowering terrain is impossible....

It's in the OP. I'm sure Kirov had a very good reason for this.

[Kirov]

Yes guys, if the message claims that you need certain tech, it's wrong. I disabled raising/lowering in the scenario editor for good. Shortage of arable land is one of the most important features of this scenario and raising is the first thing that comes to your mind to work around it.

Have fun, ete, I'm looking forward to your feedback, here or in the CMN section once you're done playing and can look at this scenario in the editor.

[ete]

Alright, missed that. Makes sense.

Thanks, and yea, will give you my feedback. Not sure if I'm going to retry this before or after my next AAR though. Probably this week anyway, too much free time.