Space Voyager Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Ok, it is no secret that AARs are the hot thing here at StrategyCore. In an attempt to lure people to this godforsaken part of the forum I'll start one as well! This time there is no voting, we owe Human race enough as it is. Also this is how the Antiquarians scenario is meant to be played. Why this scenario? It came in the latest 1.8.0 ANY update and it shows a piece of SotS][ in several ways. I want to show you all that there is to see I'm going to play a normal difficulty game, I don't have the nerves for a hard game and loosing several times after all this time of gaming inactivity. Let's set the game up. Mind you, you can shift to HD if you want to read the scenario description easier. And see better in every way, naturally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Amid the dust-covered surfaces a display blinks to life... Strange imagery is conjured into existence, and a sequence appears to be initiated. :: "System update..." a female voice utters - and, somehow, I know there is no turning back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted January 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 You make it seem like Alien! https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/fear.gif And we know how THAT ends! Just a quick description of the SotS][ tie-in; the scenario starts in fusion era and with cruisers available, also a lot of basic weapons are already researched. This is also where SotS][ will start. Also, if you read the scenario description, we need to put all the artifacts together. I have a slight picture about what happens from the Kerberos forums but I have never played the scenario through myself, so it is new to me, too. I was hoping Kerberos would release another patch (and they probably will, but who knows when) to remove a slightly unnerving bug in this scenario, the one-turn ceasefires. This bug used to burden the whole game but is was patched in 1.8.0 and is (oddly enough) only found in this scenario now. SotS][ is coming nearer and nearer, so I thought this would be a good time to do an AAR, patch or no patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 One... to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them; a glitch in the system... :: The artifacts. Find them - all of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted January 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 All races are participating in this dance.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-29.jpg Scenario uses real space map and our empire already spans the stars.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-28.jpg Just in case you wondered what it would be like to gaze upon the Sun from AC+ 71 532, this is it:https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-27.jpg This is our mission:https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0007-26.jpgWe need to discover the artifacts with a deep-scan ship (advanced sensors are available) and so these are sent out all around. Soon our scouts find other races.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0013-11.jpg Luckily not all of them are trying to kill us.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0015-6.jpgWe'll have to learn their language, it could prove beneficial. The tech tree is already quite branched with a lot of techs researched. This doesn't stop our scientists to fail at both techs we additionally researched.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0014-15.jpgI long for Tarka honour system, I want them DEAD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted January 29, 2011 Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 Lots of religious-minded races out there, it seems (Faithful, Holy, Merciful). Remind me again - what do the numbers at the bottom-right corner of each race's portrait mean? :: As for our shameless scientists, I guess they're too busy dreaming up ways how to spend all that moolah on their next night out to focus on little ol' research... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted January 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 Lots of religious-minded races out there, it seems (Faithful, Holy, Merciful). Remind me again - what do the numbers at the bottom-right corner of each race's portrait mean?Yes, Arinn Dembo draws a lot of the inspiration from religion. Not just Christian, ancient cultures and religions, too. Those numbers are rankings, but what you see was taken at the start of the game, so IMO us being last is more or less a trick of the numbers, all players are probably equal, with minimal differences. As for our shameless scientists, I guess they're too busy dreaming up ways how to spend all that moolah on their next night out to focus on little ol' research... They fail to understand that if they don't do good, they will not be able to spend that money... A coastal resort with ueber high radiation is hardly a good place for vacation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted January 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Finally we discover our first artifact! It is on the fringes of the map.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-28.jpg Objectives are updated accordingly.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-29.jpg In terms of research we went for the biggest firepower boost available; Data Synergy. This way we get to field more ships. And the next tech will help build them.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0006-23.jpg The map so far; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunflash Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Sounds like this setup might favor those who can think fast and react faster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted January 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Sounds like this setup might favor those who can think fast and react faster!I guess this is universal. Though fast reactions are somewhat abstracted in turn based games, abstracted to correct decisions in the given circumstances. The artifact is collected! I needed to bring a research and salvage ship "Delavnica" [Workshop]. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-29.jpg A few turns later it is towed to our Sol. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-30.jpg Now the game has turned into more conventional waters as nobody can win without out artifact. Now we need to collect the others, probably a bit harder to do than this one. We'll most likely need some missile defences (didn't we always), so we go for it.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-30.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted February 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 A non-update. So far one research was completed on time. All the rest were late. Gotta love SotS sadorandomiser, the bloody bastard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Bludgeoning hopes and budgets since 2405 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted February 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 True, so true... After researching fusion warheads we went for some diplomacy.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-30.jpg I don't want to end up fighting everybody. And we already have good relations with Morrigi. The rest of the update would be a lot of writing that would mean very little to you without some graphical representation, so it may as well be a movie. Comments are given with SotS inbuilt system, so go for HD and read. Don't forget the pause... Sorry for mistakes, I noticed some after already filming and didn't want to start again. BTW, I'm not sure about that ceasefire bug... My ceasefire with Morrigi seems to hold just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Green visibly grows, as green will - but take care to watch thine back, homunculi, lest tables turn... :: Next up: think pink - a plush, spacious place to expand towards... p.s.: I sense a disturbance in the force - might there be an artifact over yonder pinkness? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted February 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 Yes, Morrigi are expanding fast. I'm sure those can't all be worlds with ideal climate hazard so some colonies are probably needlessly draining their economy. All artifacts seem to be on the fringes so yes, Morrigi probably have at least one as well. For now I'd rather stay on their good side, I have my hands full with Zuul and Tarka. But we will be colonizing some less ideal worlds in our back yard as well, just to prevent Morrigi from doing so. And they would be able to, as they sent me a messagehttps://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-31.jpg I accepted as this will make our life "in the North" a bit easier, also we will be able to travel past their worlds, scouting a lot more of the map and colonizing a world or two that were out of reach right now unless we started a war.After the Morrigi xeno research was over, I proposed an alliance.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-28.jpg No go. Perhaps this is even better for now. We go for trade.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-31.jpg Second Zuul colony falls. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-31.jpg Currently we are mopping up Zuul reinforcements that came to aid their worlds. Our first military goal is definitely eradication of Zuul. And populating their space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted February 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Trade researched! Same view, in political and trade view. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-32.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-32.jpg Pretty cool, right? Now we can peacefully commit to trade and prosperity, right? WRONG. Incoming Zuul fleet.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0005-25.jpg Incoming Tarka fleet.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-29.jpg And, as if all the sh.. decided to land on us at the same time, the damn overgrown canaries decided to cancel our NAP, while our fleet of some warships, colonizers and scouts was en-route past their colony... I hoped us not destroying it would help so we held way back, only using PD, but that didn't convince them. In the next turn they opt for war. And they have several ships going towards our colonies, some of them completely new and defenceless. Even a DE scout can destroy them... I was too shocked to record the downfall of diplomacy. This is the only logical answer.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-32.jpg Meanwhile we construct ships wherever we can, mostly arming them with mass drivers in a hope to stop them before they can get to our colonies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 So, the scheming xenos show their hand... appendage, whatever... They no doubt hunger for a certain artifact in our possession, and might have allied to secure that prize, perhaps distractedly plundering and picking apart our modest domains in the process as a bonus. :: Such boldness, though misguided, should not go without proper reward, wouldn't you say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted February 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Such boldness, though misguided, should not go without proper reward, wouldn't you say? Yes, reward... https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/evil4.gif I'll look into it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted February 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Interesting. I load the game, end the turn and expect several fights against Morrigi. They don't happen... So I check standings and... https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-33.jpg I guess it was not a ceasefire bug but a NAP bug? Seriously, I don't know. ANYway. This is going to hurt enough.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-33.jpg First turn of third-world Zuul battle is over. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-30.jpg I correct the formation, so that assault shuttles are hidden at the start of the combat. A PD cruiser Podpora [support] is put in front to destroy incoming missiles. These PD cruisers were put into service right after we researched PD, to supplement existing battle cruisers that had no PD coverage.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0005-26.jpg With some luck our CnC ship survives, otherwise we'd be in serious trouble. We only have one. Next to it is PD cruiser and there is a Zuul populated (read: infected) world in the background.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0007-27.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0008-25.jpgGAH. We stand at 0:2:quiteafew in terms of breakthrough:on_time:overbudget. I'm thinking of opening a [real] champagne for the first breakthrough research. This is gonna huyt.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0009-13.jpg Yup.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0011-17.jpg We will take it out on Zuul.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0010-18.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Such fear do we instill in our drained enemies... :: Hmmm... wait a parsec - I thought you said no to bio weapons. *loud alien snoring chorus* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veki Posted February 4, 2011 Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Nice AAR, SV. I hope you'll honor our agreement and will not research AI virus this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Nice AAR, SV. I hope you'll honor our agreement and will not research AI virus this time. I can't believe you remembered this! Making this AAR as hard as I'm able to take wasn't really the goal this time, but I will not go for the virus anyway now that you reminded me. @Thorondor; I admit I don't understand the "bioweapon" joke. That does happen to me though... This is our standing:https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-34.jpg And after FINALLY getting the HCLs we go for making them cheaper. With predictable results, NATURALLY. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-34.jpg The newly developed weapon is included into our designs...https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-33.jpg ...and those are put into production. So fat the only one made and it was put to good use!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-33.jpg Our expedition against the Zuul is doing good but it stranded! The incoming ship is a new refinery so one more turn and we go.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-31.jpg Defence against Tarka may get a lucky break! I THINK we destroyed all their CnC ships!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0005-27.jpg Ahhahahhaa, so we did! This is one failed Tarka invasion!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0006-24.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0010-19.jpg Our forces are so depleted that even a refinery and a repair'n'salvage ship were fielded, BUT the few warships left are enough to destroy the CnCless Tarka army, especially when they are cut by our HCL ship! Finally, another artifact is located!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0013-12.jpgImmediately we dispatch a refinery and a repair and salvage ship to collect it, before the birds change their minds and close our path again. Our single CnC ship that leads the Zuul wars seemed to have met its end. It lost its engine for the fifth time!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0017-11.jpg It drifted so far away none of our PD ships could defend it. In a lucky turn of events the Zuul colony was destroyed and stopped spewing planetary missiles, so what seemed to be the cause of CnC death turned into a safe haven. No luck can help if your empire is led by a careless leader though. Poor fleet is stranded again... And it will have to clear the system before it can refine more fuel on its own.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0020-6.jpg With hope for a good large weapon slot weapon we research fusion. And call it the day.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0019-11.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 All in a day's work. And what a day! A Udarna: a shotgun to have a blast with - niiice; even if it has a wonky dish/ring thing at the tip. :: @Thorondor; I admit I don't understand the "bioweapon" joke. That does happen to me though... Instead of nasty chemical warfare, you used sleeping gas - very humane, and very clever of you, SV! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted February 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Zuul came up with an interestingly similar answer to their problem...https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-35.jpg Still, it was us who got a salvaged project.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-32.jpgYou can guess what that means for Zuul ships. We snatch the newly found artifact! The two Morrigi ships had the same intention he he he!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0005-28.jpg But then... Morrigi find a more readily available aritfact.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0007-28.jpg You know, why scout the map, find the artifacts, get them yourself... when you can simply drive to your NAPed neighbour and take it as if nobody's home?!!!!?!?!??!!?!!?? As I'm not sure this is an intended feature, I've reported it as a bug at Kerberos forums. Perhaps this can be prevented by having a repair and salvage cruiser always present at HW, perhaps not. Whatever the answer, I'll try to get the artifact back the same way it was taken. Otherwise the only way to keep Morrigi ships away from our colonies is downgrading the diplomatic relations to ceasefire. Or worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 The Tarka send the second wave, bigger than the last one.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-36.jpg We build ships as fast as possible and as you were able to see, the results were devastating for Tarka. Nevertheless, constantly bickering with them is not our goal, so we started building assault shuttles as fast as the second wave was cleared. We declined Hiver NAP proposal. Having gates at all our worlds is the last thing we want right now.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-35.jpg Going cheaper and towards DNs.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-34.jpg We tow an artifact and Morrigi tow two. One of them is ours, dammit!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-33.jpg Liir send a fleet from far away but luckily we have scouts nearby.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0005-29.jpgWe are notified soon enough to divert our Zuul fleet into the defence against Liir. We didn't really have much info on Liir, now we get acquainted. We'll write you a return mail soon enough. You wouldn't believe it...https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0010-20.jpg So... 1:3:innumerable. We researched the Zuul language solely for the War sections, but sadly we still lack a good weapon to mount on them.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0011-18.jpg Along with Zuul territory, this is the lands we want cleared.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0012-14.jpg For a lot of additional strategic speed, this is necessary.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0013-13.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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