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[Alneyan]

SE4 Rating Games VI has ended by, quite surprisingly, a victory for the Arcadia League. (That is to say, my side) This time, training and sensors weren't forgotten. *Winks at Geoschmo*

We both had economical problems in the early game, but Loser was more efficient on this field in the short run. (He was first until turn 50 or so) However, in the long run, his initial edge wasn't enough. His strategy would have worked as he tried to invade my worlds, if it wasn't for a minefield deployed two turns before. I am not sure though what would have happened if I did need to commit what little forces I had by then. (A few Light Carriers with the mighty DUC)

After turn 50, my economic was in a much better shape, including enough research centers to... erh, research at a good pace. Not much happened then, until turn 70 or so when I launched a few skirmishes against his worlds, protected by minefields. My attacks were delayed a bit as I waited for minesweepers (three or four times enough to sweep any minefield), and during this pause, Loser built a warfleet in a border system while also trying to steal some of my damaged ships in his worlds. (The stolen ship was "recovered" nevertheless by an interceptor built for speed, only one sector away from the closest Space Yard. But this ship wouldn't have given much, only Fighters technology)

As one would have expected, the first and only main battle took place in the turn 85 or so, at a warp-point when Loser tried to invade my worlds for the second time. And although I had both a technological edge and a tactical position, the combat was a close one, leading to the destruction of a good portion of my fleet stationated there. But it also meant Loser had only a few warships available after this battle, and certainly not enough to fight off on multiple fronts.

As for the maps, there were quite a few exposed systems in both our sides, meaning defense was a problem. And I would tend to believe the map was gentler with me than with him, as there were not many breathable planets available in his side of the galaxy, and no moons.

Still, it was a close game, especially at the begining. Thank you for the game Loser.

[Loser]

That's about how it happened.

I made the Mad Five Base Budget Busting Colonization Push at the beginning of the game and paid for it. I didn't find _any_ breathable mineral worlds within four systems of my homeworld and foolishly did not consider the More Smaller Mineral Colonies possibility to get me by.

Instead, a couple of years in, I started breaking down the Research Centers on the homeworld to make room for more Mineral Miners. I didn't have any research colonies at that point so research actually came to a halt. That's not a Success Strategy, I am thinking.

In the more minor battles earlier in the game, Alneyan's Fighterless Light Carriers trounced every one of my ships they safely made it to, only defeated, really, by Planet Sector Mines.

He beat me, but I can't help thinking he could have beaten me worse if he'd included some Fighters.

[Alneyan]

I didn't use many fighters because they were expensive to build in the early game (every mineral counts when your storage of minerals is only a three-figures number, usually 120 or so), and later on I was eventually replacing my old Carriers by Dreadnoughts. But still, I had fighters during the Battle, although I believe they weren't launched during the fight and I didn't launch them manually before.

Still, I should have built more fighters instead of weak Carriers here and there. Even if fighters are rather slow compared to the rest of my fleet. (Only a speed of 7 for a common design with 2 DUC, while even baseships were travelling at a speed of 9. And baseships aren't what you would call the fastest hull available) They weren't many PDC around, a dream for fighters, especially against these planets.

And yes, there was a shortage of mineral planets in this game. The only ones really suitable were asteroid fields, (read, remote mining and/or Stellar Manipulation. Yes, I even researched Stellar Manipulation to transform these 275% huge asteroid fields into planets, hopefully breathable planets) and the occasional uncolonizable, unbreathable tiny planet here and there. Sure, a planet with 0% mineral isn't going to help much when you lack mineral.

I was even lacking radioactives, but that happens when you are building a hundred heavy mount PPB at the same time.

Edit: oh, one of your ships managed to actually destroy one of my Carriers in the skirmishes. It was a capture ship which took over a Carrier with no supplies left. Erh, well, perhaps it isn't an exploit. However, your ships were rather strong, as the final battle resulted in heavy losses on both sides.

[ October 02, 2003, 15:49: Message edited by: Alneyan ]

[geoschmo]

Geo V Slynky, turn 48

Things have stabalized along the border Slynky mentioned in his map. The southern choke point that he briefly mentioned was actually a main point of contention and he was building up for an invasion while playing it all cool like in his post here. Of course I knew this because I had snuck in stealth ships and was watching him assemble his fleet.

I sent small raids in the south and at one of the north warp points to give him something to think about and do a little damage to his collecting fleets. Wiped out both and then withdrew to lick my wounds as despite being victorious I suffered significant damage in both assaults.

A bit later he discovered my spy ships and destroyed them. At that point I decided defending two warp points in the north was not worth the couple of rinky dink planets in that system and withdrew so I could concentrate my defenses on one. I plan to keep him fairly harrased though because I don't want him to build up too comfortably in that system.

In the south his large assault came with around 30 light cruisers and cruisers attacking in force. All were captured or destroyed. The defenders are holding fast and receive reinfocments all the time.

So the situation is static for the moment with us facing off accross the two warp points. If either player is able to break through in either spot I expect them to be able to do significant if not fatal damage to the other.

[ October 02, 2003, 18:08: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Slynky]

SE4 Ratings Game VII: Slynky -vs- Geoschmo

Turn 60-something.

Just a quick message to update the game ("We got trouble, right here in River City!"), looks like I've been invaded in stealth. Citizens are crying for help ("Awwww, to heck with them, let's go invade the enemy turf instead!").

GEO: I sent you an email explaining I would get a turn in later (due to chores I promised I'd do) and didn't want you to think I was one of those players who start losing a game and then losing interest in it. As usual, I sent you an email but it was rejected (like about half of them that I send to you):

Failed to deliver to 'dayton_dragons@yahoo.com'
SMTP module(domain yahoo.com) reports:
connection with mx1.mail.yahoo.com is broken

[geoschmo]

No problem Slynk. You've been doing 4 to 6 turns per day, I can't complain about that. If you need to contact me try a Shrapnel PM. That should get to me ok. Not sure why you are having so much trouble emailing though.

As far as the game goes, it's about over anyway. My stealth ships are a nuisance at best. Perhaps if I had had another 20 turns to assemble a proper sneak attack I could have done some real damage. But I saw your ship opening warp points and and knew my days were numbered so I threw everything at you I could.

The real difference in this game is the Talisman. I have always been of the opinion that the Talisman is not unbalancing, but I think I am convinced now. At least for two player games anyway. I still think you can gang up on a religious player in a multiplayer game, but in a two man game the talisman just makes up for too many dificencies otherwise. Case in point that warp point battle in the south. I had you outnumbered better then two to one and equal tech otherwise and most of my ships were trained. And I think I only managed to lightly damage one ship. I figured I would get hurt there but counted on damaging you in return. Losing my southern fleet and not even slowing down your ships is a blow I cannot recover from.

I will continue the game until I see how bad my stealth ships can hurt you, but the game will be over soon.

[Slynky]

SE4 Ratings Game VII: Slynky -vs- Geoschmo

Turn 60-something.

I wonder if you're baiting me with the "things look bad" comments. Or perhaps you mean it. I dunno. I know one thing...the Last turn took me an hour! The next will take a while. I figure I'll have to scramble hard to bring this one home, I don't know about you. Actually, you've outplayed me on this one. (don't worry, I'll complain about my starting position later... )