[Jiggymike]

I'm just trying to give my line of reasoning, and even if it doesn't work out-so far I have no answer for your sacreds-I still think the move can be justified. My strategy was certainly NOT to get into an early conflict and meant to develop slowly, but I didn't do a good job of taking the size of the map into account. I could have possibly overtaken your research advantage over time with my scales, but at that point I also could have been dead if you or someone else decided to attack me. I knew that I had no chance against you one-on-one (and wouldn't for some time, if ever) but that others would also be concerned with your massive research advantage and be willing to attack you.

Was my attack well-planned? No, it was reactionary and perhaps largely due to my noobishness and lack of understanding of how games develop (I've only played a few multiplayer games and when I've tried a slower moving strategy I've tended to get swallowed up). I wasn't prepared to go up against anything stronger than indies and I may still not be. I just think that your research advantage would have made it nearly impossible for someone to beat you one on one, not to mention your skill and experience.

Anyway I'm not trying to get into an argument about it, just to tell you my thought process. If I'm wrong then I'm wrong, and the whole 'ganging up on someone early' does feel kind of gross. At the same time, you seem to be able to hold your own pretty well so far...