Slynky -vs- Dreico:
2407.1 (KOTH standard start: 1 medium planet)
Dreico surrenders.
Summary:
Green: Trithian Empire (me)
Orange: Space Dragons home system (Dreico)
Blue: "Nothing" systems
Magenta: Empire boundaries where fleet build-up occurred
Yellow: My cloaked ship
Green Triangles: My three fleets several turns into the attack from three sides
It is clear that successful expansion was the key in this game. Dreico didn't expand as fast as he should (could?). I was first in several systems that were closer to his start. I decided to play defensively till I was sure of superiority since I had the lion's share of the galaxy.
After I had stealth armor, I was able to get a ship into his rear lines and peek around. 2 other stealth ships died but all I needed was one.
It seemed apparent to me that he was in a hopeless position when he fought me with DUCs (and little else) and my ships had various stages of ECM/Sensors and PPBs. In fact, when the game ended, I was building cruisers with ECM/Sensor 3's, and 15%/15% armor.
I finished the game with over 125,000 in research, nearly 85 colonies and over 70 ships. This was helped by getting Gas tech several turns earlier.
I couldn't understand why he didn't surrender sooner but I soon saw he had banked on getting Ice tech. But by then, it was too late.
Since the end of the game, I have offered to send suggestions to help improve Dreico's game. I'm certainly not the best player around but I have some tips that will help his game and he took me up on my offer. He's a good sport and I'd like to see him get better. After all, the game can always use a good sport AND a good player.
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So, Asmala, if there is a player waiting for a game, I am ready. I play standard KOTH settings.