EEE
Version 1.3 (TDM) 
Date: 05-02-03
SEIV  v1.84G

Description 
This is my version of the EEE for SEIV G. A race I chose for my very first SEIV game due to their unusual shipset (still like those bubbles) and their decent research abilities. I tried to carry over as many of their original qualities as possible (they are still a forgiving race) but was unable to keep the "Ancient Race" trait. There were too many short-range Colonizers on long range missions, meeting other races and getting easy prey. 
This faction of the EEE should work in any environment (at least they did in my tests), but they prefer the low-tech-start and a bonus (even a small one). 

History (sort of)
Version 1.1
(Quotation from the protocol of the 216911th General Assembly of the Council of Elders)

After evaluating the results of the most recent Strategic Simulations (also known as AI Dead Match Contest) the Council of Elders has concluded:

1.)
New combat strategies must be developed to reduce the losses of ships and especially crewmen. We accept that this may lead to more fights ending in a stalemate without destroying enemy ships and/or planets but to preserve the lives of our brave crewmen is of much greater value.

2.)
Our mine laying and sweeping ships need more defensive qualities.

3.)
The construction queues for vehicles have to be optimized.  

4.)
Relying only on fighters for planetary defense is unsufficient. Additional weapon platforms using advanced weapon technology are to be developed and integrated into the planetary construction queues. 

5.)
The usefulness of Defense Ships was rated too high. This approach didn't fulfill our expectations at any moment. All Defense Ships have to be integrated into Attack Fleets while keeping their original weaponry.
  
6.) 
Based on new knowledge about Stellar Manipulations and Monolith technology our research activities have to be altered. The facility construction queues must be adjusted accordingly particularly regarding storage capacities.

7.)
We wanted to make this quadrant a hospitable and peaceful place for everyone. Our great achievements in Stellar Manipulations technology, our efforts to build and maintain the ships capable of creating suns, destroying storms, nebulaes and black holes were dedicated to this honorable purpose. We used vast amounts of resources for that. It was our hope by giving this example to convince all those cruel and bloodthirsty races out there of the benefits of peace and cooperation. We failed profoundly. What we received was our stellar manipulations ships being destroyed and their crews killed. We are not willing to tolerate that any longer.
It is decided now that the EEE will use stellar manipulations ships in the future. However, their purpose will be destruction, not creation. 

8.)
Our new point of view regarding the use of stellar manipulation technology does not and will not effect our striving for peace. Peace remains the most honorable goal to be achieved. We will honor our allies and treaties in the future like we did in the past. 
However, any race who shed the blood of our people will be repaid tenfold. 
We learned our lesson: Sometimes the striving for peace is not enough, sometimes you must fight for it.

sgd. Lihun
(General Secretary)
EEE Consortium


Quotation from the protocol of the 196902nd meeting of the Standing Committee for Defense

I'm pleased to announce that we accomplished all of the duties given to us by the most honorable General Secretary after the last assembly of the Council of Elders. Our steps and proposals were evaluated by the Elders and discussed with our allies. I'm not willing to talk about details here in public but you're most welcome to see for yourselves.  
Yes, I know, we are still far from being perfect but I can assure you: We are much better than we were two months ago.

sgd. Lojat
(First Secretary)
Ministry of Defense
EEE Consortium
 
Version 1.2:
Quotation from the protocol of the 196908nd meeting of the Standing Committee for Defense

Further simulations lead to the following modifications:

1. We are to modify the weaponry of our Attack Ships, Interceptors and Scouts. Combat 
   Strategies must be adjusted accordingly.
2. We have to develop and build Weapon Platforms much earlier. 
3. Our efforts to gain more resources from trading are to be increased.
4. We must optimize several designs (especially for ships using a Quantum Reactor).
5. The last problems regarding resource storage have to be solved.

sgd. Lojat
(First Secretary)
Ministry of Defense
EEE Consortium

PS:
Once more I'm pleased to report that the modifications described above are fully implemented. 
sgd. Lojat 
(First Secretary)
Ministry of Defense
EEE Consortium


Version 1.3 (If you like a rant, go on. If not, skip the following paragraphs):
Forced to change ship designs and strategies, facility and vehicle construction, colonizing and research because of the newest patch (v1.84) which automatically let the AI use Master Computers after computer tech is researched. Unfortunately the EEE did this quite early and had to pay for it. From that moment on expansion is getting much slower, ship building rate is decreasing but to mention something positive: maintenance costs (particularly organics) are reaching the stars. 
Well, why not researching computer tech much later? The EEE were, are and will be a race of scientists, they cannot avoid one of the most promising tech areas which allows access to beneficial facilites like robotoid factories or central computer complexes. Stubborn as they are, they just want to know as early as possible. 
Researching computer tech when battle cruisers are discovered is the best compromise they found, it was impossible to do it earlier (as it was in v 1.2).
They sadly remember the times when their ship designers in cooperation with experts for strategical combat wasted so much energy and time for developing quite satisfying tactics for encounters with psychic races using Allegiance Subverters. During this process the support from the Gron Hive (a psychic-religious race and a close ally) was of invaluable importance. 

Hopefully the EEE will remain a challenging opponent for AIs, against a human player using CVs while avoiding MCs (besides several other advantages), well, that's - unfortunately - a different story.

Thanks:
To Malfador Machinations for this wonderful game and the great shipset. SEIII was great but SEIV is even better. Well, at least until v.1.84... No, that's not true. One flaw does not outweigh the whole.
To the contributors/creators of the TDM-Modpack. I found their races an incredible help. Those files are full of great ideas and knowledge about the AI in general. Without them my EEE would still fight with sticks and stones...
Special thanks to Mephisto for answering a lot of questions.
Special thanks to Master Belisarius for creating and carrying out the AI Dead Match Contest. It led to a lot of "aha experiences" and paved the way to these - IMO - more challenging versions of the EEE.

Contact:
Any feedback (Do they work fine? What should be improved? Flaws in ship designs, typos, whatever you want or dislike) would be greatly appreciated. 
Please post your findings, comments at the forum or drop an email to:
rg_schulze@yahoo.de