[cerveza_fiesta]

Ganoes Paran, on 10 December 2013 - 12:41 PM, said:

How much science do you have?

if you were asking me in relation to my research plans - I have enough with resource conversion to afford flux missiles and gluons (provided I put FMs on the bottom track)......*just* enough.

[Morgoth]

cerveza_fiesta, on 10 December 2013 - 12:41 PM, said:

@ Morgoth


So what's the plan for next round here. One of us should for sure grab those missiles. I am happy to do it, but I almost feel like they'd be of more use to you sitting on the front lines. It's a cheap tech for either of us and can make a pretty big difference in a fight.

I can afford that plus gluon computers this round (even though it basically drains me of resources), and I'll make an influence action to switch around some production on Spica for more materials. If you grab the missiles then my resources will probably go into monolith research + some more physical defenses or somesuch.

Or are you looking for some different tech in your first choice?

I've been thinking about this a lot, but can't say I am entirely sure where I should go. You do however need a strong computer. Much more so than monoliths. You can research them later when you know it's safe to do so.

We're kind of safe, but would benefit from some military mobility in your camp too. If nothing else to use as an implicit threat, or to aid in the defence of my systems if it becomes necessary.

So, I think your first priority should be a computer. If you get the chance to pick up an energy Source later that would be good too. As of now however, even with the antimatter cannon, your starbases are too weak to function as an efficient defence.

Right now I reckon I will go for adv.robotics and missiles, but I may change my mind when we see what is available. Most likely I will take them though as they're an effective defence against Tapper's interceptors.

[Tattersail_]

Khell it should be obvious what you need to get!

Other people are mentioning them and Twelve has his fingers crossed you don't get them but Gluon Computers are a must for you. There are 2 on the track and one coming out. CF or Morgoth is sure to grab one, you should grab another. D'rek is going for artifact key I think. She couldn't afford the computers anyway.

100% you go for the computers. It's a shame that won't stop Twelve from getting his paws on them.

[Morgoth]

When that is said. I am not entirely sure that we really need the missiles. Both of us getting +3 computers might be the most advantageous option. I'll fire before Tapper's wasps either way.

[cerveza_fiesta]

Morgoth, on 10 December 2013 - 01:00 PM, said:

When that is said. I am not entirely sure that we really need the missiles. Both of us getting +3 computers might be the most advantageous option. I'll fire before Tapper's wasps either way.

Oh no worries, gluons are on my must-buy list for sure. I've been able to delay it until now, but gluons are going to be the first or second action I make this round. There are only 2 available as of now (I think), and D'rek wants them too, so if you're grabbing them then I'll have to get the other one right after you.

My worry with the Flux Missiles is that tapper researches next after us. If we don't get those missiles, there is a very good chance that he will.

With no improved hulls left, they are a super-effective defense against him and are better off in our hands. On the converse, we have imp hulls and FMs are weak, but he also has AM splitter. That + flux missile tech is a very dangerous combination. It means he gets to fire a barrage of 1 point missiles first, then the initiative bonus means he gets to fire split AM cannons before we ever get our cannons warmed up. We don't really have a defense against that.

RE monoliths, I won't research it until I actually plan to build one. The argument for monoliths concerns the amount of rounds remaining. I won't have the production to do more than 1 per round, and I don't have enough materials to do any this round (even if I pick up the tech) - unless we do some major territory swapping. With us in round 6 now, that means I'll only have 3 more rounds to produce materials and build them and catch up my point deficit. Military-wise, I can only get 3-5 additional VPs through territory capture (ie tapper's homeworld), and I get a traitor card for my trouble. Fixed VP assets means I might be able to build 3x monoliths and get 9 points.

That said, Mobile ships aren't the worst idea ever - and you could use some help in the frontier Tier 1 territories to be sure.

This post has been edited by cerveza_fiesta: 10 December 2013 - 01:19 PM

[Morgoth]

Yeah, I had forgotten about Tapper's lack of improved hull.

[Morgoth]

I can afford to get the flux missiles and the computer. Still, we don't know what else will be available.

Or what my tile gives me.

[cerveza_fiesta]

Morgoth, on 10 December 2013 - 01:42 PM, said:

Yeah, I had forgotten about Tapper's lack of improved hull.

I agree though, wait for the tech layout before deciding, but those FMs should be in one of our hands. Preferably your hands since you can get both those AND the gluons in one go, leaving me to get the remaining gluons.

[Tattersail_]

cerveza_fiesta, on 10 December 2013 - 01:54 PM, said:

Morgoth, on 10 December 2013 - 01:42 PM, said:

Yeah, I had forgotten about Tapper's lack of improved hull.

I agree though, wait for the tech layout before deciding, but those FMs should be in one of our hands. Preferably your hands since you can get both those AND the gluons in one go, leaving me to get the remaining gluons.

If you do this then Khell can grab the last Gluon's, he can afford them and needs the computers. He has firing power but he doesn't hit often. I just want to keep them away from Twelve

[cerveza_fiesta]

Are there 3 gluons available then? oooooooooh. I didn't count the one in the "future techs" area.

Still, it doesn't look like they'll make it around the board this round. Morgoth, you and I should definitely grab em.

[Tattersail_]

cerveza_fiesta, on 10 December 2013 - 02:17 PM, said:

Are there 3 gluons available then? oooooooooh. I didn't count the one in the "future techs" area.

Still, it doesn't look like they'll make it around the board this round. Morgoth, you and I should definitely grab em.

Twelve has been hinting at them for the last few rounds, he is 100% on the hunt for one. Khell hasn't responded to my mention of him getting them. If I could afford one I would.

[Imperial Historian]

So my upkeep, properly this time:

influence 204 and 108, claim discovery tiles

Upkeep -17

colonise two advanced materials planets and the grey planet in 108 for money.

Bankrupt 204

Upkeep -13 income +10 bank £ =0

£=0 (3+10-13)
S=2 (+2)
M=15 (+15)

VP between 23 and 27 depending on if I take those 2 discovery tiles as vp. I don't think i got improved vp from reputation tile draws...

Played a 5 player game of eclipse on the weekend. I played as draco, and had comfortably the best start I've ever had. By turn 5 i'd taken the galactic centre and had all but 1 of my cubes placed on the board.

Of course everyone then proceeded to attack me with everything they had, managed to hold off the hordes with a few hex losses by building all of my ships (aided in part by a lack of neutron bombs). Lost the GC in the final round after a series of unlucky rolls (2 rolls of 6 dice with me only getting 1's and 2's... i hit on a three). But won the game comfortably in the end. Game was very odd as only one neutron bomb came out the entire game. Meant a couple of epic victories left players then unable to take the resulting hex.

[cerveza_fiesta]

Imperial Historian, on 10 December 2013 - 02:38 PM, said:

Played a 5 player game of eclipse on the weekend. I played as draco, and had comfortably the best start I've ever had. By turn 5 i'd taken the galactic centre and had all but 1 of my cubes placed on the board.

Of course everyone then proceeded to attack me with everything they had, managed to hold off the hordes with a few hex losses by building all of my ships (aided in part by a lack of neutron bombs). Lost the GC in the final round after a series of unlucky rolls (2 rolls of 6 dice with me only getting 1's and 2's... i hit on a three). But won the game comfortably in the end. Game was very odd as only one neutron bomb came out the entire game. Meant a couple of epic victories left players then unable to take the resulting hex.

I am surprised how tenacious a single player can be even with the whole board ganging up. Twelve was an immovable block last game.

Is it really possible to win as a solo player against alliances (if you stayed solo the whole game and didn't just have your allies leave you in Round 8)?

In game 2 Khell almost did it I guess. I can see it being easiest with a turtle strategy - the other factions just ignore you until it's too late.

[Imperial Historian]

I've won as a solo player against alliances, it's actually quite easy, in a game with two alliances and a single player, the alliances will often see each other as the main threat and attack each other. Leaving the single player to rack up points unmolested and win. Of course sometimes the two alliances will gang up on the single player to grab easy points, but that happens less often.

If you have a choke point it's certainly possible to win against one or two alliances as a single player, but if the board gangs up on you, it's difficult to survive unless you grab a clear lead early on, and people hold off attacking you.

[D'rek]

Hmm, I think I have 19 VP? 8 hexes + 2 ambassadors + 2 alliance + 4 rep + 3 shrines

[D'rek]

Khellendros, on 10 December 2013 - 04:49 AM, said:

Tapper, D'rek, should we come up with some sort of plan-type thing for defending the GC?

To be quite honest, I'm not sure I can provide anything substantial this round. I was thinking research and upgrade for myself, and watch that warp portal back door.

Yeah, now that Gnaw is out of our space keeping our borders secure and not letting any other ships through will be a big part of our success. The GC is paramount, but Tapper also has the other two south WH borders. His 3 interceptors already in the GC is good for pinning, and they're a good defense even on their own, especially if he puts the positron computers back on them. I think the best defense for now would be for Tapper to grab starbase tech and outfit his starbase blueprints with computers and anti-matter cannons, but not build them yet. Having 3 or 4 virtual starbases, each with 2 antimatter cannons, +4 computer and 6 initiative that he can build either in the GC or his homeworld if someone attacks is a great dis-incentive to ward off attacks there.

Which then leaves the warp portal back door. You and me should plunk some ships back there. They don't even need to be extremely strong yet - just having the pinning out there is great because there's not a lot of incentive to attack way out there and have to fight one hex at a time along a single path.

Looks like Morgoth and CF have already decided they are researching 2xGluon and Flux Missiles as their first actions, so we can plan forwards from there. We'll probably still all want to research first, but second action for you khell should probably be to drop a couple ships in the warp portal hex.

[twelve]

So much I want to say.....

No good way to say it.

[Tattersail_]

twelve, on 10 December 2013 - 03:52 PM, said:

So much I want to say.....

No good way to say it.

Ha ha ha, I love you Twelve. Go on, make your pitch for Gluon Computers

[twelve]

Ganoes Paran, on 10 December 2013 - 03:58 PM, said:

twelve, on 10 December 2013 - 03:52 PM, said:

So much I want to say.....

No good way to say it.

Ha ha ha, I love you Twelve. Go on, make your pitch for Gluon Computers

No pitch. Rant would probably be more appropriate. Or going on about how the world hates me or something along those lines all the while calling people names and questioning intelligence levels of people in the game. All very colourfull I might add at least in my head. I should ask Vengy to compose it for me.

[Imperial Historian]

The supernova is going to explode, it is not going to matter