Open/Close Wormhold Strategy

[Rich J]

I played SE4 extensively over the holiday weekend and have a few observations and questions. I'll post seperately to make it easier for the FAQ folks to organize them. Thanks in advance for your help!

I was playing a game with all sectors not connected by wormholes and had taken over all sectors connected to mine. I developed a strategy of opening a new wormhole, moving the fleet through to an unconquered sector, and closing the wormhole in the same turn. I thought I was just slick! Well, in that turn the computer's intelligence could get me! The first time I did this, it sabotaged a ship, stole some intelligence, and otherwise did some nasty things to me, even though I never left the wormhole open even for a full turn! I couldn't even establish diplomatic channels.

This tactic (aside from the sabotage) works great in conjunction with cloaked ships. In a later game when I wasn't doing as well I think the AI did the same thing, although I didn't have the sensors to verify it.

Using the stellar manipulation techs to close wormholes is a great way of cutting off an enemy sector from reinforcements too. Bust in with a fleet and splinter off a few Groups with the ability to close wormholes. Get over to the enemy's wormholes and close them down. After that, its your show, unless of course he's got the ability to open them back up.

Rich