Re: Challenge Match
 

Taz leans in to admire the map...

...(and grab the 200th post)

BTW nice map - how'd you do it?

Re: Challenge Match
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Taz, you ARE the dude! ( http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif )

Just a screen print, cropped, and photoshoped.

Alas, I am a better narrator than a player http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif .

Re: Challenge Match
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">How incredibly lame... 4/6 religious races in one game...

Re: Challenge Match
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">How incredibly lame... 4/6 religious races in one game...</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Perhaps, but when reputations are on line and newbies want to win, seems like the natural choice. Of course, it's one of the reasons I see games ban Religious trait.

(Edit: And it follows that it helps to take the same trait so it can be traded)

[ May 31, 2003, 04:36: Message edited by: Slynky ]

Re: Challenge Match
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">How incredibly lame... 4/6 religious races in one game...</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey, you talking to me? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

If it were a 6 person free for all game I would tend to agree with you. But this was a special game, so things are done a little differently. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Geoschmo

Re: Challenge Match
 

Sorry, guys, for the delay. Just got back from Kentucky on business and will hop to the turn now.

Re: Challenge Match
 

The Eldonia Clan, RexTorres, sent a fleet maurading into my empire. He bypassed the first system he entered and moved deeper into my territory obviously intent on wreaking as much havoc as possible. It killed 10 - 12 planets before being destroyed itself. We intercepted and destroyed another fleet attempting to move into our territory before it could do any harm. Altogether Eldonia lost about 40 ships. I lost the aforementioned planets. The new problem is the opposition's intel attacks. I'm losing a ship or two each turn to mutinies. I guess that pay raise we gave the military wasn't enough! Damned disloyal traitors! And now there's a new problem. Someone is spreading lies on some of our colony worlds and riots have begun breaking out. The Emperor has declared martial law and we're upping everyone's daily Scotch ration. Hopefully that'll quell the problem. Oh, and did I mention that the head of the IIA (Imperial Intelligence Agency) has been found guilty of gross negligence for failing to foresee the threat now facing the Empire? As penance, we are a theocracy, he will now serve as chief altar boy at the Our Father of the Rigid Staff church until he has absolved himself of his sins.

Re: Challenge Match
 

"Our Father of the Rigid Staff"...

LOL!

Reminds me of the Triple R: Rigid Rod of Reality!
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

So far, though, our plan is working fairly well. Lull them into a sense of false security and then strike! I have assembled a fleet of 37 battleships and sweepers for over 200 mines...I'm ready. Little did they suspect it would be ME, Talisman-less as I am, to be striking deep into territory!

Re: Challenge Match
 

Olden Ones -vs- Black Hole Alliance 2405.1

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1056399393.jpg

Key:

Olden Ones - top of the map
Black Hole Alliance - bottom of the map
Red systems - Shared systems, conflict, borders being discussed
Numbers - More than 1 homeworld in system
Letter T following name - Religious (has Talisman)
Greyed-out system - Nebulae or worthless systems
Orange line - General battle boundaries

General info - Both teams took one ancient race and two religious races.

Update - One month late with the yearly update. What can I say but, "War is hell!"

The Olden Ones have relied heavily on intel attacks against Lord Chane for most of the year. Most attacks were successful. There have been ship mutinys, planet arnachys, resource thefts, you name it. At the same time, there were ship incursions to deal with in his area. Needless to say, it's been tough for Lord Chane.

Elsewhere, Geo has decided he wants a cul-de-sac all to himself (see middle of map and trace the red battle markers... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif ). Some planets were scrapped and others were invaded. Slynky's empire mourns the loss of the loyal population who trusted them.

Finally, on the left, and most recently, small incursions were made against 1FSCAT's empire. A few planets burned and several ships destroyed. Both Asmala and Slynky have invaded.

Score at this turn:

Olden Ones: 2nd, 3rd, 6th
Black Hole Alliance: 1st, 4th, 5th

Re: Challenge Match
 

Question:
Interms of Map design, was the way I layed out the center of the map a good or bad idea.

Re: Challenge Match
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, I will give you an A for concept and a B- for execution. The top to bottom placement of empires with the thin lines of systems up and down gives some quite natural choke points and lends a lot of tension and interest. However, because of the way the empies are shifted around slightly it's ended up being two separate 2 on 1 fights. Rex and I against Lord Chane in the east/center and Slynky/Asmala
against 1FSTCAT in the west.

It's not inconceivable that forseeable future soon this will be a 2 v 2 game instead of a 3 v 3 one. Unless one of the teams is able to get some assistance to the guys currently being attacked.

Geoschmo

Re: Challenge Match
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, I will give you an A for concept and a B- for execution. The top to bottom placement of empires with the thin lines of systems up and down gives some quite natural choke points and lends a lot of tension and interest. However, because of the way the empies are shifted around slightly it's ended up being two separate 2 on 1 fights. Rex and I against Lord Chane in the east/center and Slynky/Asmala
against 1FSTCAT in the west.

It's not inconceivable that forseeable future soon this will be a 2 v 2 game instead of a 3 v 3 one. Unless one of the teams is able to get some assistance to the guys currently being attacked.

Geoschmo</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not quite sure I would agree. Yes, Lord Chane has been assaulted by multiple players but with intel only. Otherwise, only Rex has moved and made attacks with fleets.

On the left (western edge), I have to agree a bit, it has turned out to be Asmala and I against 1FSTCAT. But just recently. Before that, it was mostly Asmala by himself.

And in the middle, mostly you and me, though my few ships have been simulating roadbumps in parking lots http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif . At any rate, it's my colonies you've been bearing down upon.

Re: Challenge Match
 

Oh, heh. I must not be paying attention. I thought those were Lord Chanes colonies in the center of the map. I must be in too many games... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

My main point though is that the placement of the empires makes it a tad difficult for either Rex or I to lend aid to 1FSCAT. And I assumed Lord Chane was having a similer problem. When two of your enemies are closer then either of your allies, watch out. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Challenge Match
 

Yeah, Lord Chane is on his own. Too far away to send ships to, that's for sure.

So, in the grand scheme of things, without help, let's say Lord Chane is lost and 1FSTCAT is lost. It leaves 2 "Talismans" against 1 "Talisman" and wimpy ole me. Asmala has somehow eeked his way into first place, but that alone can't make up for the loss of an empire that can build "Talisman" ships. So, it looks like a bad trade in strategic terms.

In fact, the match looks pretty dim for us (THERE! I said it!). Just hoping some desparate attacks here and there can prolong it a bit.

Re: Challenge Match
 

Oh my, this game went downhill quickly. It's all over but the shouting for 1FSTCAT and myself. Just waiting to hear from Rex how long he wants to drag out the inevitable and this game will be coming to a rather disapointing conclusion.

I don't mind losing, I have become accustomed to it over the years. But I am not familier with getting stomped on the way I have in this game. I am not sure that the AI couldn't have put up more of a fight then I did.

Geoschmo

Re: Challenge Match
 

Olden Ones -vs- Black Hole Alliance 2405.9

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1059327550.jpg

Key:

Olden Ones - top of the map
Black Hole Alliance - bottom of the map
Numbers - More than 1 homeworld in system
Letter T following name - Religious (has Talisman)
Greyed-out system - Nebulae or worthless systems
PINKish lines - New warp lines (also note with earlier map down in the thread "blown" lines)
BLUE systems - Systems having major battles

General info - Both teams took one ancient race and two religious races.

Update - Well, it's been nearly 10 turns since the Last update.

As noted by Geo, things have taken a quick turn for the Black Hole Alliance. With the advent of "hole openers and closers", deadly raids have been made into 1FSTCAT's area, then into Geoschmo's area, and leading into RexTorres' area. Truth be told, most all of this has been Asmala http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif . Of course, as alluded to earlier in the thread, the matchup of people had its good and bad. Good for us and bad for the Olden Ones is the fact that Asmala was facing the person without the Talisman and pretty much left to expand and grow. Against Asmala, that's not good.

On the other side, Lord Chane has managed to withstand the onslaught of Intel ops against his empire...a fairly incredible feat if you ask me! At one point, half his empire was rioting and he had no resources. Not to mention "stolen" ships and invading fleets to contend with. But, he's turned the corner now.

Me? I'm just the guy with Ancient ability. I help out with research and a few ships here and there. My placement was a good location (having Talisman people left and right of me) except for expansion (my teammates are hogs.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ).

Unless the Olden Ones have some surprises for us, the game might not go another 10 turns. (of course, IF they have some good surprises for us, it STILL might not go 10 turns...just a different outcome http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif ).

1st Place - Asmala
2nd Place - RexTorres
3rd Place - Slynky
4th Place - Lord Chane
5th Place - Geoschmo
6th Place - 1FSTCAT

(I believe these are correct positions for the Olden Ones)

Re: Challenge Match
 

Uh, the only reason Lord Chane survived is that Asmala came in and took out the empires doing the intel. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Yeah, this game is over. We are just playing turns until Rex realizes what 1FSTCAT and I have known for a while.

Turned out instead of a 3 on 3 game we had a 1 vs 3 game, and the 1 won. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Geoschmo

Re: Challenge Match
 

Well, there's no denying Asmala is awesome! Left to grow, even worse problem to deal with. I know I've tooted his horn a lot (he doesn't toot it himself much, so I have to) but of all the players I've have seen in action, he's the best I've seen.

Not so much 1 vs 3 but 4 vs 3. You see, he's like 2 of us. In fact, his shipcount is twice mine as is his score. At any given moment, he's got 60 or 70 ships being built.

Yes, his attacks helped stop the intel on Lord Chane. But, though the intel overwhelmed Lord Chane earlier than we thought, we had stellar manip in the shipyards before it started. It was our plan all along to get openers as soon as we could. Spending the time to get SY 3 our SY 2's upgraded took some time, too. So while that was upgrading (along with extraction 3's), I worked on Stellar Manip. Seemed like it was taking forever. One lucky thing was that I remembered your penchant for Intel and suggested to the others that I get us into intel. It was late but could have been even worse...we had just started building intel facs when the attacks hit.

Re: Challenge Match
 

BUMP

*Wanders away longing for those days when this game went turn per day pace...*

Re: Challenge Match
 

Well it's official. This game is over. The evil doers were victorious. My suckosity has reached heights heretofore only discussed in purely theoretical terms. My economic ineptitude was only suprpassed by my utter lack of military skill. It's gotten so bad that I have rubbed off on my allies, the formerly respected 1FSCAT and Rex Torres. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Congradulations to Lord Chane, Slynky and Asmala. And thanks to Gryphin for setting it up for us.

[ September 05, 2003, 18:03: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: Challenge Match
 

*Asmala thinks he have to give a gift to the Ancient Ones in order to remove the "bad doers reputation"

Here you are, a shiny walking stick to each http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

EDIT: typo

[ September 07, 2003, 21:23: Message edited by: Asmala ]

Re: Challenge Match
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ouch! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif