Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Yes, the rematch ended the same way as the first one. You're right BG, the blockade did slow down my expansion quite a bit. Note to self: don't let the homeworld be blockaded... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Everyone starts off with a loss or 2.
Fortunently for me, my first 2 one-on-one losses were playing 1.49 KOTH matches, so no-one knows about them. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif
Good luck, and you might as well join the KOTH games.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Slynky vs Geoschmo Ratings Challange 7

Well we met finaly around turn 25. We used a medium randomly generated map and for once it seems to have done a fairly good job of spacing us out.

This will indeed be a great challange and test of my ability. On top of being a highly skilled player and a fast expander, Slynky has chosen to play a religous race in this game. Being that we both had so much room to expand he has had plenty of time to develop the talisman. I expected it, and had it confirmed in our first combat this turn.

This will be a good test of those theories we developed for dealing with a talisman race. No allies to rely on to gang up on him this time.

Geoschmo

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Geo vs Slynky (that would be me):

Yes, very interesting map/matchup. In fact, one of Primitive's map preferences ("choke-point boy").

You can see the map (altered by me to hide warp links) that shows the point of contention...in the middle of the map. I am on the left and he is on the right (a slightly bigger portion...the pig!). There is another connection point that I am aware of (on the south) but that's it for now.

Funny part is that I was 1st place the whole game till we met. RIGHT after that, he swooped into 1st place. Been building everywhere I can and have LOTS of ships off the line but can't change position. So, is it the Talisman vs "brute force"? Throw in a mixture of strategy and skill and who knows.

One thing I DO know: Never take Geo for granted.

Glad I have over 100k in research; glad I have lots of resources; glad I have the Talisman (I think I will need it).

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1065029625.jpg

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Primitives Challenge 2:
Well so much for me being in first. The organic scum has overpopulated his side and moving into my side http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif
We are still flying same size fleets at each other.
I have been killing DNs in Groups of 20.
He has been killing base ships in Groups of 15.

edit: turn 52

[ October 01, 2003, 20:14: Message edited by: parabolize ]

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Beware the hoardes! Though primitive, they are brutish! To have joined in a game with the likes of him shows bravery at its best!

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

SE4 Rating Games VI has ended by, quite surprisingly, a victory for the Arcadia League. (That is to say, my side) This time, training and sensors weren't forgotten. *Winks at Geoschmo*

We both had economical problems in the early game, but Loser was more efficient on this field in the short run. (He was first until turn 50 or so) However, in the long run, his initial edge wasn't enough. His strategy would have worked as he tried to invade my worlds, if it wasn't for a minefield deployed two turns before. I am not sure though what would have happened if I did need to commit what little forces I had by then. (A few Light Carriers with the mighty DUC)

After turn 50, my economic was in a much better shape, including enough research centers to... erh, research at a good pace. Not much happened then, until turn 70 or so when I launched a few skirmishes against his worlds, protected by minefields. My attacks were delayed a bit as I waited for minesweepers (three or four times enough to sweep any minefield), and during this pause, Loser built a warfleet in a border system while also trying to steal some of my damaged ships in his worlds. (The stolen ship was "recovered" nevertheless by an interceptor built for speed, only one sector away from the closest Space Yard. But this ship wouldn't have given much, only Fighters technology)

As one would have expected, the first and only main battle took place in the turn 85 or so, at a warp-point when Loser tried to invade my worlds for the second time. And although I had both a technological edge and a tactical position, the combat was a close one, leading to the destruction of a good portion of my fleet stationated there. But it also meant Loser had only a few warships available after this battle, and certainly not enough to fight off on multiple fronts.

As for the maps, there were quite a few exposed systems in both our sides, meaning defense was a problem. And I would tend to believe the map was gentler with me than with him, as there were not many breathable planets available in his side of the galaxy, and no moons.

Still, it was a close game, especially at the begining. Thank you for the game Loser. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

That's about how it happened.

I made the Mad Five Base Budget Busting Colonization Push at the beginning of the game and paid for it. I didn't find _any_ breathable mineral worlds within four systems of my homeworld and foolishly did not consider the More Smaller Mineral Colonies possibility to get me by.

Instead, a couple of years in, I started breaking down the Research Centers on the homeworld to make room for more Mineral Miners. I didn't have any research colonies at that point so research actually came to a halt. That's not a Success Strategy, I am thinking.

In the more minor battles earlier in the game, Alneyan's Fighterless Light Carriers trounced every one of my ships they safely made it to, only defeated, really, by Planet Sector Mines.

He beat me, but I can't help thinking he could have beaten me worse if he'd included some Fighters.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

I didn't use many fighters because they were expensive to build in the early game (every mineral counts when your storage of minerals is only a three-figures number, usually 120 or so), and later on I was eventually replacing my old Carriers by Dreadnoughts. But still, I had fighters during the Battle, although I believe they weren't launched during the fight and I didn't launch them manually before. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Still, I should have built more fighters instead of weak Carriers here and there. Even if fighters are rather slow compared to the rest of my fleet. (Only a speed of 7 for a common design with 2 DUC, while even baseships were travelling at a speed of 9. And baseships aren't what you would call the fastest hull available) They weren't many PDC around, a dream for fighters, especially against these planets.

And yes, there was a shortage of mineral planets in this game. The only ones really suitable were asteroid fields, (read, remote mining and/or Stellar Manipulation. Yes, I even researched Stellar Manipulation to transform these 275% huge asteroid fields into planets, hopefully breathable planets) and the occasional uncolonizable, unbreathable tiny planet here and there. Sure, a planet with 0% mineral isn't going to help much when you lack mineral.

I was even lacking radioactives, but that happens when you are building a hundred heavy mount PPB at the same time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Edit: oh, one of your ships managed to actually destroy one of my Carriers in the skirmishes. It was a capture ship which took over a Carrier with no supplies left. Erh, well, perhaps it isn't an exploit. However, your ships were rather strong, as the final battle resulted in heavy losses on both sides.

[ October 02, 2003, 15:49: Message edited by: Alneyan ]

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Geo V Slynky, turn 48

Things have stabalized along the border Slynky mentioned in his map. The southern choke point that he briefly mentioned was actually a main point of contention and he was building up for an invasion while playing it all cool like in his post here. Of course I knew this because I had snuck in stealth ships and was watching him assemble his fleet. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

I sent small raids in the south and at one of the north warp points to give him something to think about and do a little damage to his collecting fleets. Wiped out both and then withdrew to lick my wounds as despite being victorious I suffered significant damage in both assaults.

A bit later he discovered my spy ships and destroyed them. At that point I decided defending two warp points in the north was not worth the couple of rinky dink planets in that system and withdrew so I could concentrate my defenses on one. I plan to keep him fairly harrased though because I don't want him to build up too comfortably in that system.

In the south his large assault came with around 30 light cruisers and cruisers attacking in force. All were captured or destroyed. The defenders are holding fast and receive reinfocments all the time.

So the situation is static for the moment with us facing off accross the two warp points. If either player is able to break through in either spot I expect them to be able to do significant if not fatal damage to the other.

[ October 02, 2003, 18:08: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

SE4 Ratings Game VII: Slynky -vs- Geoschmo

Turn 60-something.

Just a quick message to update the game ("We got trouble, right here in River City!"), looks like I've been invaded in stealth. Citizens are crying for help ("Awwww, to heck with them, let's go invade the enemy turf instead!").

GEO: I sent you an email explaining I would get a turn in later (due to chores I promised I'd do) and didn't want you to think I was one of those players who start losing a game and then losing interest in it. As usual, I sent you an email but it was rejected (like about half of them that I send to you):

Failed to deliver to 'dayton_dragons@yahoo.com'
SMTP module(domain yahoo.com) reports:
connection with mx1.mail.yahoo.com is broken

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

No problem Slynk. You've been doing 4 to 6 turns per day, I can't complain about that. If you need to contact me try a Shrapnel PM. That should get to me ok. Not sure why you are having so much trouble emailing though.

As far as the game goes, it's about over anyway. My stealth ships are a nuisance at best. Perhaps if I had had another 20 turns to assemble a proper sneak attack I could have done some real damage. But I saw your ship opening warp points and and knew my days were numbered so I threw everything at you I could.

The real difference in this game is the Talisman. I have always been of the opinion that the Talisman is not unbalancing, but I think I am convinced now. At least for two player games anyway. I still think you can gang up on a religious player in a multiplayer game, but in a two man game the talisman just makes up for too many dificencies otherwise. Case in point that warp point battle in the south. I had you outnumbered better then two to one and equal tech otherwise and most of my ships were trained. And I think I only managed to lightly damage one ship. I figured I would get hurt there but counted on damaging you in return. Losing my southern fleet and not even slowing down your ships is a blow I cannot recover from.

I will continue the game until I see how bad my stealth ships can hurt you, but the game will be over soon.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

SE4 Ratings Game VII: Slynky -vs- Geoschmo

Turn 60-something.

I wonder if you're baiting me with the "things look bad" comments. Or perhaps you mean it. I dunno. I know one thing...the Last turn took me an hour! The next will take a while. I figure I'll have to scramble hard to bring this one home, I don't know about you. Actually, you've outplayed me on this one. (don't worry, I'll complain about my starting position later... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif )

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

I don't know that I have outplayed you. I can say quite honestly I don't know how I could have played a better game myself. My starting spot was decent, but not great. My economy has been clicking well and I have been producing mass numbers of ships and research. Maybe if I had waited in the south for your ships to attack I could have done some damage and I might still have a chance in this one. Or if we had been close enough that I could have attacked you before you got the talisman. But as fast as you expand that would have been quite difficult.

The no mines has been interesting. Of course it has helped me in that it made my stealth attacks possible. But it's also helped you in that it's tied up most of my forces defending the warp points instead of allowign me to press you a little harder.

I wouldn't mind a rematch onces this one is over. But no talisman and no Stellar manipulation. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">The way I figure it, in the south, we both had so many ships neither of us could have pulled off a good victory letting the other have first fire. And certainly worse for you with the sats I had there. I would have stayed and used the hole opener to go around you; I never would have attacked there like I did before.

Outplayed me? Sure you did. I failed to remember the mining absence and you took advantage of it...not once but twice. You also took advantage of ship capture (I won't tell everyone how). So, though I have the Talisman, I'm afraid to confront you at warpholes (and I'm "holed up" so to speak http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ).

And there's the matter of your 51 ships wandering around http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif .

I got Ice tech to go with my Rock tech and failed to look around before doing so at how sorry the minerals were on them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif .

You control the bigger half of the map.

And I see you have some BCs running around now, too. With 150 ships, I'm still in second place. I was in second place even after killing 30+ ships of yours in the south. That's scary http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif .

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Actually you killed 60 ships in the south, and you're still in second place. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif But not for long.

As far as the map, actually it's alomst exactly down the middle. My side looks bigger, but the systems are more spread out. In actuality I only have two more system then you do. Of course until we both see both sides it's difficult to say who has more planets available. I expect that will be close though.

It really does come down to the Talisman. You say you are afraid to try the warp points. And likely your fleets would have been banged up pretty bad if you tried them. But even if all your ships were destroyed my fleet woull have been too damaged to take advantage of the victory. On teh other hand your southern fleet obliterated 60 of my top ships and only got a few paint scratches to show for it. Actually my small sattelite group did more damage to your fleet when they came through then my 60 ships did 2 turns before. And even then I only damaged one ship. Now yoru fleet of 30 is free in my southern space.

My 51 ships in Dertran are hardly wandering. There is only one planet there I can get to. I can see that both warp points out of that system are well defended by your ships and sattelites. Or had you forgot about my stealth ships for a third time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

The only way I can win this is if my remaining stealth ships can do enough damage to you to collapse your ecoonmy before you can stop them. I seriously doubt that is possible. They have only managed to take out about 15 planets thus far. At best I may have managed to cause you to pause some of your build queues. And only temporarily I am sure.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Well, at least you finally realize that the Talisman is not balanced. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Slynky, don't spend an hour doing this turn. I surender.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I have never denied it's powerful. And in a multiplayer game it is still possible to team up on a single religious player. But it's just too strong for one on one play. It does too good a job of compensating for deficencies in other areas. The Talisman player can play a so so game and unless the other player is playing their "A" game they will still win, and sometimes even then. I guess I have just never had an experience like this where I faced a player had such high skills in other areas as well as having the Talisman.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I have never denied it's powerful. And in a multiplayer game it is still possible to team up on a single religious player. But it's just too strong for one on one play. It does too good a job of compensating for deficencies in other areas. The Talisman player can play a so so game and unless the other player is playing their "A" game they will still win, and sometimes even then. I guess I have just never had an experience like this where I faced a player had such high skills in other areas as well as having the Talisman.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Long message coming...(OK, so everyone else will be bored to death, but what the heck http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif )

PS: While I'm typing, my PW is 3939. Take a look at a turn back.

[ October 04, 2003, 22:44: Message edited by: Slynky ]

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

I think you played a heck of a game! I was on pins and needles the Last 15-18 turns. In fact, not sure you should have surrendered. I glanced at your position and know one reason why...your new BCs.

But, your fleet of 47 ships would still be hold two of my fleets at bay. I considered sending the one in from the west where I had about 20-25 ships left (sent 10 away). BUT, that fleet held THAT one and the one at the warphole on the north at bay. I couldn't leave either hole and wasn't sure either fleet of mine could stand up to yours in a "fair" fight (me not getting first shot at a warphole you flew through). So, they had to wait.

Take a look at my rioting! 1 third to 1 half my planets. My mineral production wouldn't support my fleet but for 2 more turns (then scrapping begins). Also, take a look at my ships (invading fleets) and you'll see they don't generate enough supplies to continue much further. I figured letting them run out of gas (and causing planet death and hopefully rioting on the way) was a desperate attempt at winning. The only hope I had was to get satellites up BUT, if you discovered my ring of mining ships with one of your invaders, you could have killed what production I DID have. You were one system south of it.

As to starts, I was on the back row! And the immediate systems around me sucked. To make it worse, my home system with 2 homeworlds was the one on the back row. I was surprised you hadn't taken more of the map as far as I had to go to get to the middle. (you'll notice I burned the hole to that system to keep your ships out).

I did manage to retrofit some BCs with optics 2 and panels to go hunting (especially in those systems where I couldn't build a sat). But, the rioting was killing me.

I think you played a heck of a game and took advantage of the lack of mines.

As to the Talisman, I feel kind of "cheap" taking it but I know you to be dangerous and I was risking points. One thing I DO know is that I'll never take Religion in a KOTH game! Amazing that I was able to get to the Talisman. Had we been closer together...a different story. And you were up on the other tech I had to rush to get. Having to lower my agression ALMOST made it like you had the talisman as well.

As to a re-match, I enjoyed the thrill of that one so much, I'd be willing to do it again. No Talisman and no Stellar. So, toss out some game setting suggestions... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Cool. I did better then I thought. Had a bunch of you planets rioting. Your econ really was teetering on the brink of a total collapse. A few more turns and I might have pulled it off.

This game really was a close one. It could have gone the other way if a couple of things had happened. If you had been a little slower getting the stellar manipulation ships in play. I had a good plan I think. I was going to send some small cloaked fleets into your space. Instead of just a handful of single ships and deeper behind your front lines. And I would have sprung the trap when my ships were in position to do maximum damage instead of just reacting to your opening warp points. You would have been forced to either pull your fleets back to get my raiders or go for broke yourself and make a run through my full strength defenses. Either way I think would have made things very nice for me.

It was fun as long as it Lasted anyway. I am up for a rematch if you are.

Geoschmo

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

I ran a test and my fleet got pasted tryign to run either of those warp points. SO my only chance would have been to fall back and try to catch your fleets in my space. Even then I would have had to catch them at a warp point to beat them. The timing would have been too hard to accomplish. I suppose the best I could have hoped for would be a stalemate of sorts dragging out the war for another 50 turns or so while you got your econ back on line. But I don't think I could have pulled it off.

I hadn't counted on your ships running out of fuel. I saw you had the tech so I figured you had some solar panels in your fleets. If I had known that I might have held on a biut longer, but it wouldn't have mettered in the end.

My latest BC design was a sheer desparation move. About ten turns ago when you finally caught me in score I started pumping them out jsut to get back on top. I wanted you to think I was too big for you to try attacking. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Just re-read my post...ugh...boy do I RAMBLE and not make much sense (was hurrying since wifey was pulling lasagna from the oven).

Yes, sometimes, the game could have swung widely given a couple more (or less) turns to get something prepared.

For example:

(1) The stellar ship I build was a planet creator. I built it while waiting on the next step so I could build an opener. I agonized over that "waste" of refitting (about 80Kt of minerals and 40Kt of rads) but finally clicked to build it because I figured the 4 turns wait would haunt me (that's how scared I was of your ships).

(2) I studied APBs (but forgot they don't really pay off till around APB 9 or 10 over the PPBs). What a waste that was. I wanted them on medium platforms.

(3) I held off on optics ONE and got burnt, then held off on optics TWO (for only 62500 research points!) and got burned again! Even worse http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif .

(4) I had JUST started building platforms on my bigger planets a turn or two before you sneaked your ships in. Though you avoided bigger planets on your first attack, you hit them later when they wouldn't have had time to be built if I had waited longer. In fact, some were still being completed (the ones without shipyards) as you attacked.

So, as I said, I think you outplayed me. You used the parameters of the game better than I did. Maybe you didn't expand as well as you could have...only thing I can think of. But, a couple of decisions and choices in this game could have made the differece either way. My way of saying that the Talisman didn't give me a win, it helped me win, sure.

So, as I said, it was a good game and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Well, the BC trick worked. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

As I said, your fleet of 47 ships would have held an equal number of ships at bay. 20-something on one side and 20-something on the other. I couldn't release more to rumage through your systems...what you see running around north and east was all I could spare. Down south, the big fleet only had one support ship. It couldn't have gone much further. So, I was sending new ships to get your invaders, some ships into your area, and the rest holding.

So, I was serious when I said earlier that the game was a tossup (and I felt more like 60-40 your way).

SOoooo...I made the suggestions Last time. Other than no S-Manip and Religious race, what are your suggestions for a rematch?

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Actually I think I expanded at pretty near breakneck speed. My homesystems were almost on the right hand edge so we really were about as far from each other as we could be in this game. I ended up with 30+ planets and 10-20 colony ships enroute by turn 20 and had used up almost all the rock planets on my side of the quadrant by turn 50 and had to research gas giants. I might have gotten another couple systems deeper into your side of the map if I had sent all my ships in that direction only, but I had no idea you weren't right above or berlow me at the time.

As far as game settings for the rematch, I think no mines, no stellar manip and no Talisman would make a good game. Would make for some good long campaigns and should keep either of us from running away with it. Maybe 2000 racial points instead of 3000? And if you don't want intel I am fine without it. We both had enough just to prevent the other guy from trying anything in the Last game, so it's really a non-issue. I like the 3 good planets. That gets things going good early.

I set the he game up. Slynky v Geo, Part Deux
You can be player 1 this time.

[ October 05, 2003, 00:40: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

OK, same kind of map, 2,000 points, no intel, no mines, 3 good planets, no "Stellar" and no Religion.

I'm ready to work on my race, then.

Let's have some fun!

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I'll have to call you on this one a bit. From my nearest homeworld to where we first me, Detran, it Detran was my 8th jump (not using the new warplines I made). Detran was your 3rd jump from your nearest homeworld. We finally settle with you getting Fezzran (which was the 4th jump from your nearest homeworld and 7 jumps for me). So, at my best shipyards, the homeworlds, I had 6 jumps to make it to the front (and worse considering 2 of my homeworlds were one jump further back while your 2-homeworld system was nearest). Soooo.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Well, it felt damn fast to me. I see what you are saying though. I did have about the same number of planets at the point we met, I just hadn't spread out as far from my home systems. I guess I have more improvement to make in that area yet. I have a few ideas that might help me in that area for this time around.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

primitives challenge 2: turn 69

primitive just wasted 90 BBs and 60 base ships with 100 DN and 100 base ships (i got about 90 of his ships first shot)

i think its safe to say he wins.

that had to be the funist pbw game i have ever played http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

bump
slynky update my Ratings agian

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Thanks to Parabolize for a great game.

It seems like we both enjoyed it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I would recomend trying this setup to anyone. If anybody is interrested I can host the game.

Full tech, 5 planet start on this map:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1064142026.jpg

It would work great on Low tech games also http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

(bump)...and

Game update: Geoschmo vs Slynky: Challenge Part Deux 2406.3.

Geo controls a slightly bigger part of the galaxy than I do (though I don't know how many are "worthless"). With no mines in the game and no stellar manip, it's very important to control vital points http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif . I've been pushing him back in a few places but it's scary. There are 4 defensive/offensive areas of much importance on the map.

I've nearly reached the "two" stage of the game: Nearly 2 million points, over 200,000 research, and over 200 ships.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

primitive or anyone else: could you please make a map like the one below with 1 good home world for my koth game (i dont want to take ancient) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">No problem, It's time for bed now, but I can do it tomorrow.
Same number of systems or a bit smaller ?
What about a third "back door" ?

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

the size was good
but make sure both can make it to the middle
a 3rd back door is cool
send the map to asmala

[ October 14, 2003, 04:20: Message edited by: parabolize ]

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

Slynky,

I have started a new rated game, running Devnull mod against Alneyan. We'll be running this on our own until PBW comes back.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">That sounds fine. What I wanted to avoid was people reporting a game that they had done by PBEM that “never really happened” if you know what I mean. When it’s on PBW, I can check them out to see if they are really being played. I do spot checks sometimes. Not usually for KOTH games or multi-player games but some of the others (what I call "pick up" games).

Good luck!

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

I see Slynky, I didn't think of such a possibility, but it does make sense. And yes, I agree for this game to be rated.

Re: How good are you? Find out...
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">2408.3 - Geo Surrenders.

Looking hard to find this thread ( http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif )...

After years of training and preparation, I decided to move on the offensive on 3 of the 4 fronts I mentioned above. Killing a few "watcher" ships here and there as I approached, I received the surrender notice. I was surprised as the fleets I had enroute were somewhat outdated ships (though fully trained 20/20). My plan was to "test the waters" with these 3 fleets of around 30 ships (or so) each. My REAL fleets were to follow behind...my biggest push to be in the center and try to join 2 of my fleets. In the background (the follow-along fleets) were 3 almost totally battleship (fully trained 20/20) fleets (around 100 battleships total).

After looking over the surrender...I think one of the statements I made above came out much in my favor and not at all in Geo's favor...about how he controlled over half the system but not knowing how many were worthless ones. Well, he got his share (and part of my share ) of "dead" systems. In a little less than half the systems in the galaxy, I had 7 worthless systems...he had 13.

Though his surrender was a surprise, I suppose it was called for as these were some pertinent figures (as best I can tell from the surrender totals...me in the first column):

Score - 3.2 - 2.1
Resources - 1.0 - 0.6
Colonies - 200+ - 150+
Ships - 320+ - 180+ (over half of mine were battleships)
Research - 310+ - 180+

So, I guess he had a feel for the way things were going. What surprises me is that he hadn't used all the colony types. We both had mineral problems...he was pulling around 75K from remote mining and I was pulling around 110K from remote mining.

But it was a big map and a long game (separated by PBW downtime) and there are other fish to fry, right, Geo?

Thanks for the game...you pulled some surprises in that one, too, if I didn't mention it. Your position sucked a bit, though... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

PS: Posted this to summarize the game, give you some info, Geo, and bump this thread to the top again...as I had a new player ask how he should go about getting into rated games. You started this thread with that purpose...as an avenue for rated games.