Anyone Any Time

[acastus]

The idea here is to try to keep this game advancing continuously.

• Post a message claiming the save file.
• You get up to 6 hours to play your turns and upload your save file.
• Play any number of game turns from 1 to a maximum of 10 in your session.

The scenario:
You (Morrigi) and your Liir ally have enjoyed a long and mutually prosperous peace. You now find yourselves under threat from unrelenting foes who are expanding rapidly and possess technologies beyond that of your own.

All AIs are set to hard difficulty. You and the Liir start with a cash bonus but no additional techs or colonies. Your opponents start with 5 techs and 4 colonies.

The Liir homeworld must not fall. Protect them at all cost.

Go for it...

[Zalzidrax]

What the hey, I'm done with exams and will be bored at the laundromat otherwise, I'll give it a go.

[Zalzidrax]

A picture of the starting situation:



Quick overview:

T1 We have a big ol' pile of cash and a lot of expansion to catch up on. The cubic structure of the galaxy means we're probably relatively safe early on - but the humans could be a problem. I'm beelining towards suspended animation - ultimately biomes may be a good idea - and maximizing cheap ER scout production.

T4 Don't get a lucky break so gene modification comes in this turn.

T6 Suspended animation comes in and we're about to finish the last scout ship to fully explore the cluster. I start queuing a gravboat and suspended animation colony ships to hit the new worlds as we find them. I will research waldo units next - I'm considering making picket fleets for the 'edges' of the box, which will need better weapons than red lasers, but on the off chance that there are few good nearby worlds, I'm going to get the prereqs for cruisers/biomes.

T7 First scouting reports come in. It looks like there are asteroid monitors near both of the "enemy" faces of our cluster, which will be good for early detection. Alas, they also are protecting the only decent early settle worlds. There's a size 5 at 220 CH with over 6000 resources that's promising but will take more than a couple colonizers to develop.

T8 Some good colony worlds starting to show, another gravboat and more colony ships to come. We do find a swarm world, though, which is concerning.

T9 Run into another swarm. Decide it's time to get some good weapons so I queue up UV lasers, both for defeating the swarm and keeping the AIs from expanding too far.


Other thoughts: There's obviously some colonization to do, with the starting cashpile, I'd say we can defintely afford to try to colonize everything within 300 CH or so asap. The other two priorities are getting a swarm fighting drone fleet, as well as a few to place between us and the Liir and our enemies.

[acastus]

Nice work with all the exploration Zalzidrax. I will play through the next set of turns.

[acastus]

T10: Looks like the Liir got lucky and found a long lost colony of theirs. I won't feel bad asking them for research help each turn. Maybe for some cash too. My plan is to set up the colonies set in transit by Zalz, spend a few turns building swarm elimination fleets, and continue colonization efforts.
T13: UV Laser research completed. Start Expert Systems.
T16: Expert Systems research completed. Start Atmosperic Adaptation. Contact with swarm at Organa Major. Our Armor DEs with red lasers eliminate the swarm (auto-resolve). This was a one-way mission so the remaining fleet doesn't have enough fuel to go anywhere else.
T17: Swarm at Adega eliminated (auto-resolve) by the second Armor DE fleet - mixed red/UV laser. The survivors are sent to take out the last swarm. They will attack in T21.
T18: Atmosperic Adaptation research completed. Start Oribital Foundries.
T19: Oribital Foundries research completed. Start FTL Broadband. Liir find an independent Hiver colony in their midst.
T20: FTL Broadband research completed. Next tech and build orders left up to you. Colonizers on three worlds set to colonize. Liir stupidly attack the independent Hiver world with their lone scout. I need to have a word with our allies.

Four colonies were started. Two asteroid monitors completed research with two more being researched. Swarm fight coming up next turn.

[Zalzidrax]

What the hey, I kinda want to see this game go, so I'll play a few more turns out.

T20 Since our new colonies aren't going to be up and running for a few more turns, I'm going to head straight towards biomes before swooping back to pick up the trade techs.

T21 Finish of the swarm at Urtuland, another good colonizable world.

T22 Colony development costs are growing quite large here

T23 The last colony fleets lea for easily terraformable worlds

T24 I queue up a small picket fleet of drone destroyers to guard one of the fronts

T26 The colony fleets escorts strip the derelict at Onthast down so we can colonize the world.

T27 A second picket fleet leaves for the other front

T28 scouts exploring the destination worlds for the picket fleets have found them quite habilitable, quite large, and full of resources. Perhaps followup colony fleets should be dispatched... but I can't build any number of ships at this point without halting research entirely.

T30 Our first colony world, Rmiparoni, is now fully up and running! That should help immensely with development costs. Sadly, cruiser research has still not come through. I am starting to regret not heading for trade, but we shall see. I'm also kind of scared as to how well a bunch of hard AIs with 5 starting worlds are doing by this point. I really hope our picket fleets arrive before any enemy scouts do.

[acastus]

T30: Build colonizers to claim Tuese (size 9, 10000 resources). Start to deploy VN defense ships on colonies. Rmiparoni and OrinAckra are fully developed.
T31: Build colonizers for Tund (size 9, 10000 resources). Planetary development is a huge sink in our economy but luckily our Liir allies are supporting us with money and research.
T32: Cruiser Construction completed and we have Biomes in our tech tree. Start research for FTL Economics.
T33: Gienah is fully developed.
T35: FTL Economics completed. Biological Transfer research started. Building freighters at developed outer worlds. I'm not opening any trade routes at the our homeworld. It is going to be our shipyard in the upcoming wars.
T37: Biological Transfer completed. Sniper Canon research started - because it's fun and effective against VN drones. Alpha Serpentis is fully developed. Gurlgrothegot is fully developed.
T38: Colonizing Teuse.
T40: Sniper Canon completed. Colonizing Tund. The Liir have removed the imperial population from the independent Hiver world in their cluster. Research for the last asteroid monitor is complete. Freighters in the build queue for developed outer worlds.

[R2dical]

This sounds like fun! Mind if I join?

I will start now and have the save up after 10 turns are done.

EDIT: Ok done, here is the writeup.

T40: Scuttled all idle scouts to increase income. Started terraforming bacteria since we still have time to build economy. Started preparing for scouts to explore the neiboring clusters. Had an asteroid attack a Teuese, luckly the drone fleet was there, added 1468 resources, its gonna be one powerhouse producer!
T41: Built freighters where possible, including HW as they can be moved to the other planets when its ship building time.
T42: Colonized Mishaf and built more freighters.
T43: Research overbudget and built more freighters.
T44: Research complete and development at 2 worlds done. Scouts arrived at a cluster, no contact yet. Sent scouts towards the liir to maybe grab a world or two in the middle. Starting combat techs with Battle Comp.
T45: Development at a few worlds almost done and trade ramping up gives some room to colonize the higher CH planets in our cluster, started a 8 biome fleet for Garstho.
T46: Overbudget again! Arrived at what is discovered to be a Orange Hiver cluster, looks like they got much of it gated. The lone scout fleet has lots of fuel so it should be a great opportunity to gather intel then picket in deep space. Continuing building VN guard fleets (2 DE) at all developed worlds and more freighters.
T47: Peacefully resolved vs hiver, they have CR also. Research complete, started on salvage. Colonizing Giatuiang, yet more freighters:)
T48: Encountered more Yellow Hivers at the other cluster, gonna be tough to grab a foothold beyond our initial cluster. Might be worthwhile rushing AM and Void Mastery, the insane morrigi speed will be deadly in this map.
T49: Peacefully resolved the Yellow Hivers, they have CR and pulsed fission. Finished Salvage and started PolySilicate, should be 1 turn. Asteroid mining will be a nice tech as many of our worlds have Asteroid fields, fusion can be done in 7 turns at full throttle.
T50: Another peaceful Orange hiver encounter. Overbudget, set research to half of the previous, which should complete with the next turn.

Summary:

- Trade up to about 75% of planetary income, close to the current max when ignoring the HW trade possibilities (HW can do 45 freighters).
- Researched: Terraforming Bacteria, Battle computers and Salvage. Polysilicate will be done next turn.
- Colonized 2 worlds with a 3rd fleet ready for the next one.
- Encountered 2 other factions, both hivers in the nearby clusters.
- Build guard fleets for most of the developed worlds.

[ivra]

I'll give this a try.

[ivra]

Turn 50
I closed all trade routes on our HW since I need it to build biomes. I will like to take most of the remaining worlds asap. I am also building biomes on the three worlds that have more than 10 million civilians to speed up the process. I will aim for the two worlds close to the two Hiver players first.

Turn 51
Starting Asteroid Mining. I decided to remove the rl armors from guard duty and replaced them with new ships. The old rl ships are sent to the rocks in our system to monitor any activity. I continuing to build freighters and biomes using a lot of our cash.

Turn 52
Lost a scout at a Yellow Hiver world.

Turn 53
Lost a bunch of ships at the HW of the Orange Hiver.

Turn 54
Orange Hiver is coming to Tund with 3 ships in 13 turns.

Turn 55
Asteroid Mining went OB.

Turn 56
I lost another scout at a Yellow Hiver world.

Turn 57
Asteroid Mining done, starting Nuclear Warhead to prepare for the three incoming Hiver ships in case they are cruisers. I am also building 10 LDs and 10 MDs at Tund. Rhampora colonized.

Turn 58
Skat colonized. Nuclear Warhead done, starting Heavy Planet Missile.

Turn 59
Garstho and Ogana Major colonized. Heavy Planet Missile done, starting Gamma Warhead.

Turn 60
VN visited Tund; the VN drones were dealt with, but the mothership was left alone. Viclasust colonized. The last two worlds will be colonized next turn. Gamma Warhead went OB, but will be done next turn.

Closing commments:
All worlds have two armors as VN guard.
All rocks have a ship stationed to monitor any activity.
All available worlds will be colonized next turn.
I took a chance and sent a biome fleet to Ogormiru to try to grab it before Liir can.
Trade almost maxed. Only our HW and Tund have not opened any trade routes.

[Zalzidrax]

Hey, I'm glad this is getting going! I'm getting bored of studying so I think I'll hop in and take a few turns...

T60 Looks like Liir are going to colonize Ogomiru (6 turns out to our 7) so I redirect the colony fleet to Mirshaf and queue an additional refinery to try and make a hail mary to Cygni on the other side of the Liir cluster. I also make a cruiser at Tund to bear the brunt of a Hiver assault as drone destroyers are fragile and I fully expect the Hiver to be bringing cruisers. Also queue up a repair and salvage for a deep space intercept.

T61 Send the colony fleet packing off to Cygni, set up to grab cruiser CnC. Going to try for fusion next - hopefully that will hold us for awhile.


T62 Damn, looks like the Tarka are going to scout Cygni before our fleet gets there. That does not bode well for th new colony. Still going to try for it anyway.

T63 Our fleet intercepts the Hivers and battle ensues. They are armed only with green lasers and missiles and so our drone supported cruiser makes swift work of them.






We also get cruiser CnC. Next up: Fusion

T64 Our scouts find a newly colonized Hiver planet in the yellow cluster, and manage to escape to tell the tale as there are no planet missiles pursuing them.

T65 Scouts safely explore a couple more uncolonized orange Hiver worlds.

T66 Fusion is go!

T67 Spot some yellow hivers headed toward Teuse

T68 Void Carver drives are in. Lose another scout exploring orange hiver space. Going to grab disruptors and HCLs to get all teh basic cruiser sections.

T69 Get Disruptors, move to get HCLs

T70 The yellow hier fleet only has a single cruiser, but despite this manages to be slightly more dangerous than the orange attempt as it is armed with stormers and a decent reflective coating. HCLs, too, are completed.

HCLs and disruptors give us access to some of the more fun Morrigi cruiser sections. I'd recommend getting lancers if someone wants to go full on blazers though - they are at least twice as good as HCLs. Disruptors tend to be my torpedo of choice for some time as their disabling abilities are very nice. The hivers are probably containable for now. I'm more worried about the white Tarka, however, since they are likely to be pestering our Liir friends in the near future - along with the humans. I'd almost prefer they be our neighbors so that our most maneuverable foes wouldn't be so far from out production centers.

[R2dical]

I got some time now, unless anyone else has started i'll do the next 10?

[Zalzidrax]

Do eet!

[R2dical]

Ok done:

T70: Good job on the research, gonna stick with disruptors and HCLs for now till enemy starts fielding some heavier weapons. Lancers/cutting beams with the 5 beam mount morrigi CR will be savage! Started Integrated sensors, built some pickets to investigate hiver tech. Cygni is a nice world (CH 200, Size 7, 8000 res) and tarkas easily crushed. It will be a good foothold but needs backup.
T72: Got Integrated sensors and Data correlation, starting advanced sensors for final intel gathering. Detected a 6 ship Yellow Hiver fleet eta 25 turns, sent our defence fleet to intercept. Yellow hivers seem the weakest (orange hivers have CR and Fus), might be a good idea to attack orange first lest we get sandwiched between 2 AM + farcaster hivers.
T73: Detected 6 ship orange hiver fleet, sent an intercept. Small tarka fleet also, means they are going to be coming soon though. Started building an attack fleet for orange hivers. Battled yellow hivers, they have imp coating and UV lasers mostly bounce off.
T74: Started Jammers for hiver attack. Battled orange hivers, who now have HCL.
T75: Started VRF for PD to counter Hiver missile spam. The small tarka fleet turned out to be 3 CR colonizers with good weapons, almost glassed the new colony.
T76: Started PD, 16 ship yellow hiver fleet detected. Our attack fleet is on the way.
T77: Started Deflectors, both hivers also have PD, might be good to get reflective if we want to use drones. 34 ship Orange hiver fleet detected (only 2 CR though), looks like the hivers are copying each other! VN at Teuese, new sniper defence plats handled easily.
T78: Started Combat Algorithms, started building a defence fleet for orange hivers due to expected continuous assault. Deflector and PD CR will hard counter their bal + missiles nicely.
T80: OB on Combat Algorithms, Orange hivers have dreads and are building stations

Summary:

- Trade maxed, consider mega freighters and/or trade stations and/or AI research to keep up with AI income.
- Picket screen deployed for Orange and Yellow hiver intel gathering, both of whom seem to want to attack us.
- A few "paper" techs researched as well as ballistic/missile counters. Combat Algorithms will be done next turn.
- Fleet massed at Rhampora headed for defence at Teuse then attack yellow hiver.
- Fleet building at Tund for orange hiver defence.
- Cygni is between Liir and Tarkas, is quite vulnerable with no defence. Liir don't want to reinforce it.

[Zalzidrax]

I'm anxious to see how this goes, so I'll take another turn.