The neutral challenge

[WhiteHojo]

update on the low AI bonus N.C. I mentioned in my Last post.

1st contact was achieved around yr 2412.0. The now hated Pionda race (look like rock faces). This very unfriendly race promp'tly attacked my homeworld - fortunately my race was rather suspicious of this strange new intruder so was able to put up a couple of small WP w/PDs & TPs - beat off the attack.

This incident, needless to say, led me to view ALL new races with suspicion, not initiating contact w/any new race untill they approached me 1st a verrrry nervous way to play if you're a small, weak empire hoping to not get crushed.

At 1st contact, I was in 11th (the EEE were actually in Last by a few points). But the notable thing was that the EA were already in 1s w/1.2 Million points to my lowly 112K (I had jacked up the Mega Evil Empire setting to kick in at 1 Mill and 200% of 2nd score - I believe EA was MEE at this time)

Anyway, I expanded to 2 neighboring systems, continued fighting my little personal war w/the Rock Heads - made Partnership treaties w/the 2nd & 3rd place races and have a TR treaty w/the EA - after I glassed one of their colonies in my adjacent systems (nothing makes me madder than goin thru all the trouble of building a Col Ship, sending it to the system to colonize a green plus world and finding that I was beat to it by some other race!!!) Fortunately the EA weren't too concerned w/the loss of 1 of their 195 planets (I had 5 - I am in such trouble).

I have clawed my way to 6th place, control 4 systems have 20 ships (cruiser/Lt Cruiser), have around 55K RPs, & 8K Int Points... of course, the EA have 2.5 Million in score, something like 100K Intel Pts, and over 200 ships & 1000 units (game limits were supposed to be 1000 units & 500 ships - on a 200 system galaxy - all pts were b/f the bonus is added, 2X I believe)

Pray for the mighty Nar Empire - now I know how Switzerland felt in WWII - the whole galaxy is at war and I'm trying to just survive.

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Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

[This message has been edited by WhiteHojo (edited 08 February 2001).]