Originally posted by Barnacle Bill:
quote:
5) "Full exploitation" of a system is defined as having colonized every planet for which
you have the necessary tech, and having the maximum possible population and number of
facilities on each colony.
Bill, took a little time Last nite and played under almost the identical set of rules (basic anyway - haven't gotten to the advanced part situation yet) you laid out and so far so good. It's actually pretty fun and I found myself getting into the RP aspect of the scenario. My only major change to your set of rules has to do w/the above quote.
I found myself saying "What would a race w/this many planets in its system do?" Find some way to colonize em, of course!
So my theory of Full Exploitation was expanded to be defined as the colonization of ALL planets in the system. If I didn't have the necessary tech to colonize em, I'd research it. My theory is, the races need for living space would drive em to take full advantage of available planets before they leap into the unknown. The "taking full advantage" included in my game the conVersion of the atmosphere of all planets to one breathable by my race. So, b/f I will allow (haven't reached that stage yet) my race to go to the limited exploration mode, I am requiring em to utiliize ALL the planets in their system to their maximum theoretical capacity. (colonize em & modify the atmosphere to their required atmosphere)
I'm on turn 109 (2410.9) and so far, no contact.
I set my game up in a large (200 system) galaxy, Med tech cost, Low tech start, 1 planet start on/Good, 5000 pt races, w/High(I think) Random Empire generatio (after including the EA, Darlock & Sergetti) - total empires in game 12 plus mine.
The Med tech cost seems to be the right choice - low is too easy, and high is, well, too high. Med allows a steady advancement.
My race is a Gas Giant breathing Carbon Dioxide.(max facilities on non CD worlds) I was lucky and started in a system w/2 CD worlds so I had a bit of an andvantage. I colonized the other habitable CD GG and started building Research Fac'ties like made. Scrapped a couple of Min Fac'ty on Homeworld and built RFs in there place.
There were also 3 other GG worlds in the system, so I colonized them. The only ships I've built are colony ships & 1 pop transport to do the "forced Relocation of my people".
All the while I'm researching anything that will help me in research. Got Computers. Got Appl Res II. Researched Cargo III - limited resource supply so needed to save what I did have. My RP goal after colonizing the 3 nonCD colony worlds was "My people need more space in which to live, so I must find some way to convert these 3 worlds." I researched till I got Atmo Conver Plant I and now in the year 2411.2 my 3 worlds will expand from 5 facilities to 25 each. At this point after more "forced Relocations", I believe my race would turn their research to finding a way to utilize the other 5(?) or so Rock & Ice planets in the system.
Even though my system is not in an ideal location - it's 1 system from the Western edge of the Galaxy - I haven't been discouraged by the lack of contact. Getting into the RP aspect of the race is rather enjoyable. Once all the planets in my Home system have been utilized (if I still haven't achieve 1st contact) I'll go into the Limited Exploration mode - hop to the next system, max out the planets and go to the next, etc.
Another note in the RP aspect - after building my 3 Atmo Conv Plnts, I found my alter ego, the leader of my race, becoming paranoid that with the near future pop explosion his rule might be placed in jeopardy. This mindset led to the advances in research of Ship Construction & Weapon & Shield Technologies. He is about to build, for the 1st time in my races history, a standing navy to ensure his lines succession.
I recommend playing this scenerio to any but the most bloodthirsty of players. It is, so far, enjoyable.
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Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.