Space Voyager Posted October 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 We're pressing on to enslave the whole half of the map. I love seeing that we capture some worlds with more than 100 infrastructure, which is made possible by our slavers. They just harvest slaves while ships deal with system defenders. Sometimes I turn bombardment off after releasing slave discs so that ships don't fire at the enemy colony.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-71.jpg Our push brings new special projects! We can afford them all.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-63.jpg Humans went into EMP as well. Cleverly they didn't use them (as far as I can tell) until the got Pulsar torpedo. My more agile ships with AM engines can outrun them!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0013-24.jpg As I thought it would be just too much if heavy beams branch went any further. It was very surprisingit went this far, considering we are Zuul. So we check the additional info we were given and go forknowing a bit more about them chattering apes.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0014-33.jpg I love seeing heavy beams in action - even though I never use their pinpoint accuracy to strip enemy ships of their weapons.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0016-22.jpg This was expected. And more importantly, we did it!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0018-21.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0023-26.jpg After researching Translate English Human node line tracking was available and researched immediately.We see their trails immediately, but only the ones that were travelled through after the researched techin our field of view.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0024-18.jpg Since we were pretty far into EMP ourselves we decide to drill a bit further into it. And use it.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0020-15.jpg I'm just adding a link to a pic that I find really nice looking. I left it as big as the original, hence the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 How befittingly Zuul - fiery eye-candy! :: Dual extermination, mass enslaving... I am pleased, Executor SV. Wipe them out - all of them!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman4117 Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 You have to learn the language of mere food? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veki Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Of course. So you can tell them they have nothing to be afraid of and that you are their new best friend. And that you can see fear in their eyes when you tell them you will eat them and their children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Dual extermination, mass enslaving... I am pleased, Executor SV. Wipe them out - all of them!! Thank you, Suul'ka, we will do as you command! https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/vampire.gif You have to learn the language of mere food? You never know when they will reveal a delicious recipe... https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/drooling.gif Of course. So you can tell them they have nothing to be afraid of and that you are their new best friend. And that you can see fear in their eyes when you tell them you will eat them and their children. Ah, spoken like a true Zuul master! https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/xtreme.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted October 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 Our new "Viper" class cruiser is fast and deadly accurate. I love the look of heavy beams. The cooler the colour the more I like them. In both meanings of cooler.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0015-21.jpg Our research is taken into lasers! I know, I know, you're wondering why, right? Well, they CAN lead to Phaser PD, though we have practically zero chance to get it directly. But we need to research as much as we can and hope to salvage what we can't. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0012-34.jpg Even more special projects are started. And two are finished. Contrary to Polarized Plasmatics (small plasma spinning bolts that ignore armour) from last finished project, these two are well worth the additional research at any stage of the game.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0014-34.jpg But if we want to see some Zuul specialities, we have to build them! Devourer... Can you get any more Zuul?!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-64.jpg Interstellar ship dock. Gotta try this one out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veki Posted October 29, 2011 Report Share Posted October 29, 2011 Even more special projects are started. And two are finished. Contrary to Polarized Plasmatics (small plasma spinning bolts that ignore armour) from last finished project, these two are well worth the additional research at any stage of the game.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0014-34.jpgAhhh, lancers. A serious upgrade from HCL. Very happy we got them. We'll be able to open our food in space cans faster now. But if we want to see some Zuul specialities, we have to build them! Devourer... Can you get any more Zuul?!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-64.jpg Interstellar ship dock. Gotta try this one out.Wow, didn't know about this one. Zuul got some nice toys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted November 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 Ahhh, lancers. A serious upgrade from HCL. Very happy we got them. We'll be able to open our food in space cans faster now. True, true! And resonators also add a significant amount of shielding. I was convinced that Humans have superior armour tech as they just wouldn't blow up! Finally we salvaged it. Both these special projects took ages to finish but if we didn't get lancers I'd stop using HCLs soon. Wow, didn't know about this one. Zuul got some nice toys.Yep, Zuul got pretty lucky with ANY. Devourer is not a "turn the tide" ship though - as it is only able to produce destroyers (and not colonizers, naturally) but it still gives an additional edge to swarm tactics. One that is becoming increasingly lucrative when enemies are using BIG guns, like impactors. With money we can simply build and build and keep wasting expendable ships only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veki Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 True, true! And resonators also add a significant amount of shielding. I was convinced that Humans have superior armour tech as they just wouldn't blow up! Finally we salvaged it. Both these special projects took ages to finish but if we didn't get lancers I'd stop using HCLs soon.Didn't even see Quark Resonators were the second topic researched! That is beyond great. Forget the shielding, they reduce recharge time for all beam weapons! This + lancers = WIN. Ups, got them mixed up with Quantum Capacitors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted November 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Straight into new techs! Lasers and so forth will wait.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-74.jpg Crap, we missed this one as well. Damn monkeys, stealing all the fun of life.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0006-43.jpg More and more of Human nodes are charted.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0007-47.jpg We finish the started push into lasers, then head on to ensure the possibility of an earlier end to this war. Trust me, we can only incorporate Humans into our mining activities.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0012-35.jpg Just for a view at the art, we offer an alliance. I don't understand their reservations, it is not likewe mean to eat them... immediately.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0022-15.jpg Seriously cool. Devourers can build destroyers in node space as well!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0026-12.jpg Due to our slightly forced advance some independent colonies have arisen.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0009-38.jpg Our answer is harvester. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0013-27.jpg Naturally, it is put into a simple harvesting fleet and sent to a nearby independent colony.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0032-6.jpg Upper half shows the ship in action, and the lower half show shows it out of action. Slightly disassembledby pitiful forces of an atmospheric entry. I can just imagine the last few captain's moments... https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/joystick.gif Our fleet heads home for a new dread. Human Xeno research is taken to the end of the line and we start to research possible new toys. Now that I think about it, I have never seen a Zuul flagship!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0038-4.jpg We can demand a surrender. And we do it, too.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0036-6.jpg Ha, bird remnants still exist as independents!https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0043-3.jpg Yep, that is a Morrigi colony alright... Catch a glimpse, it may well be the last possibility. It almost feels nice to find Tarka still alive as well. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0046-2.jpg It gives us an opportunity to correct this unjust situation. And add some more slaves to our colonies. I hear they work better than Humans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veki Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 You could leave a few independent system for slave harvesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted November 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 You could leave a few independent system for slave harvesting. If it wasn't that late into the game I might. I'm not from certain it would ever pay off but right now it brings much more hassle than profit. And as you can see, it is hard to find a captain that can steer a huge ship without crashing into a planet, HE HE HE he heeee eh. Right now I'm more or less toying with never before seen (to me) designs and this one looked really cool. Frankly I am a bit frustrated with this game, it wasn't as challenging as I thought it would be with the initial bonus I gave AIs. Then they ate each other... Your teams proposal would help but it was too late by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Frankly I am a bit frustrated with this game, it wasn't as challenging as I thought it would be with the initial bonus I gave AIs.That just serves to prove, once again, how brilliant you are at this game. No matter the race you incarnate, the odds, or the scheming oddities that pop up from the darkest corners of the galaxy to lay waste to it - in the end only you prevail! "Since time immemorial it has been so - I have witnessed it - and so it shall be until the Universe folds unto itself at the end of all ages."- A Traveller's Writings, of the Entity SV :: Or, you know, like... until you start SotS II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veki Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Frankly I am a bit frustrated with this game, it wasn't as challenging as I thought it would be with the initial bonus I gave AIs. Then they ate each other... Your teams proposal would help but it was too late by then.You could reduce economic and/or research efficiency to make it harder to get money and/or new tech. Nothing beats the thrill when you go with fusion CR and DE vs AM DN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silencer_pl Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 I'm like on my 10th attempt with humans on spiral galaxy (as in RL) with 9ly distance 8 players all normal and 200% encounters. I simply don't get it why on the 5th turn I am the last on the research while I allocate 3/4 of my budget to research. Also the problems with humans is that most new planets are either inhabitable or at hazard round 400-600. Not to mention that with this settings in order to expand I have to develope pullsed fission (with upgrade if available) and sometimes F-Nodes upgrade. Maybe you should start with theses settings as well. I'm thinking about my own AAR with your help. At my latest stage Tarkas are sending like 15-25 warships now all with AM while I've recently got Fussion upgrade and I am 'expanding' thorugh Morrigi territories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted November 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 That just serves to prove, once again, how brilliant you are at this game.Thank you for the kind words but I am not at all brilliant at this game. I am not one of those who calculate every bit of weapon damage etc. and I don't use a big chunk of weapon tree (mines and bio) in most cases. One can be much more efficient at SotS than I am and playing hard settings does call sometimes incite a player to a tech abuse... You could reduce economic and/or research efficiency to make it harder to get money and/or new tech. Nothing beats the thrill when you go with fusion CR and DE vs AM DN. I don't think you can reduce efficiency for one player only - except through difficulty settings. If you reduce efficiencies you only make the game longer in general. I'm like on my 10th attempt with humans on spiral galaxy (as in RL) with 9ly distance 8 players all normal and 200% encounters. I simply don't get it why on the 5th turn I am the last on the research while I allocate 3/4 of my budget to research.Don't pay too much attention to rankings. My guess is that certain techs are rated higher than others and AIs research those first. Though perhaps it only counts the techs (I'm not sure how rankings are calculated) and you opt for techs that take longer to research. Also the problems with humans is that most new planets are either inhabitable or at hazard round 400-600. Not to mention that with this settings in order to expand I have to develop pulsed fission (with upgrade if available) and sometimes F-Nodes upgrade.Humans are hit hardest by increasing range, true. Zuul much less so as they... erm, WE have a longer range. I'm thinking about my own AAR with your help.Sure, not a problem! At my latest stage Tarkas are sending like 15-25 warships now all with AM while I've recently got Fussion upgrade and I am 'expanding' thorugh Morrigi territories.Vaya con Dios, muchacho! Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silencer_pl Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Also why we are at it - strange that my stationary deep scan CnC dosen't spot invading Tarkas force until they are 1 turn away from destination. Good thing this colony is next to capital and of course my Cruiser are better armed and I think armored. I gave them basic vs energy and vs kinetic armor. Though I think of lowering the settings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted November 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Hardly surprising at this point.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-73.jpg Wasted money.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-64.jpg Our nodelines behind the front lines are slowly fading. Many colonies are detached already.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-65.jpg This remains a MUST see. I have a vision of a Zuul flagship, accompanied by a support dread and two or three Devourers, mass producing destroyers. Oh, and a Radiant drive DN, definitely. Some more research to do, but we'll get there soon.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0005-53.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veki Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 This remains a MUST see. I have a vision of a Zuul flagship, accompanied by a support dread and two or three Devourers, mass producing destroyers. Oh, and a Radiant drive DN, definitely. Some more research to do, but we'll get there soon.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0005-53.jpgCan't wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted November 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 After catching a glimpse of a Tarka world and inviting some... volunteers... to join us we speed on torealize the vision. Flagship is made possible. Vision also holds a huge cloud of destroyers so to add variety and firepowerwe researched spinal tap. Erm, mounts, spinal mounts. Digging deeper into the vision, Radiant drive. Not that it is necessary but it is cool and befits a flahship. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0007-46.jpg Ah, the flagship. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0008-44.jpg No, it is not named God, it is Church. I'm keeping it in the bounds of Earthly structure as Zuul gods are Suul'ka, so naming any ship, even flagship, as one of Suul'ka, would be inappropriate. Man, I'm so religiously correct... https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/angel.gif https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/pinochio.gif This is a bird's eye perspective and does not give any credit to complex structure of Zuul ships - but itis the only view that makes any sense. Only a video can show more. And for filming I'm waiting until Human dreadnoughts arrive. Which means that we're falling back, letting Humans to breathe for themoment. Cheesy, I know, but I want the flagship battles to be epic. EPIC. I hope my comp will be ableto handle it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silencer_pl Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 That is one big efing load of guns... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted November 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 Yep, Zuul FS is laden with guns and FREAKISH expensive! Won't stop us from building it - at our HW, as is prudent. We queue what we already have available, the rest will be added as it comes intoexistence.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0006-41.jpg New destroyer variants are thrown into the mix. Torpedo DEs will only be armed with Pulsars as they can not be shot down by missile PD.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-66.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-56.jpg For the moment we sound a general retreat into defensive positions.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0011-34.jpg Oh, one more ship to be added to the FS fleet. A massive fuel and repair ship. It is not as effective ascruisers but if it comes into battlefield it can take a lot more pounding.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0020-17.jpg This reminds me... I forgot to design a radiant drive DN! Will be done. Research update;https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0015-23.jpg A step closer to phaser PD but it seems as though we will not be getting it. I haven't seen it on Human ships and there are none other around... A small sidestep into game mechanics. Resources' effect on a colony's income and industrial outputhttps://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0014-35.jpg Slaves' effect on a colony's income and industrial outputhttps://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0022-16.jpg All in all I'd say that resources are more effective and last longer, but slaves are much more Zuul... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted November 11, 2011 Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 You are missing the most logical conclusion, oh mighty Excutor - so repeat after me: resources _and_ slaves will make Zuul, among all, the richest and most idly cool! :: But enough of this - we thirst for the glorious savagery of battle and the fresh blood it will spill!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 How could we sit still when such poetic cries for blood are being heard?! We discover kind of a relic in our design arsenal. Zuul equivalent of a propaganda cruiser has probably been available for quite some time but by now it has lost its purpose. It is so slow that there is no way in hell we'd include it into our fleets. Still, looks cool and uniquely Zuulish.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0026-11.jpg This too looks uniquely Zuulish and it definitely DOES have a place in out fleets.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-75.jpg Hurting space has just been made faster, longer lasting and more expensive. Were I its enemy I'd stay well away. Three node cannons. What else is there to be said? Research is driven into enlarging our swarm on the battlefield. Two new promising research paths open.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-67.jpg Our research of Wild Weasel opened an interesting new DN section:https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0003-67.jpg But this DN needs to be fielded for its effects to come into action. As this is not in line with our swarm tactics we opt for a smaller, more numerable solution.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-57.jpg The core of our flagship fleet is built. It starts building on itself, along with the homeworld.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0006-44.jpg First of the Radiant Bore DNs is a part of flagship fleet, the second one is sent to form a perimeter along the frontline edge of the rift. Two circles around the rift will take it only 30 turns. Awesome.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0009-40.jpg Just to see them, research is thrown away into drones. I'd love to field them but Humans are missile PD heavy so this would definitely be a waste.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0012-35.jpg After destroying some of our over-the-rift colonies, Humans pay our side a visit. These monkeys are growing bolder, and this has nothing to with hair. Good.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0013-26.jpg Flagship fleet layout. There will be more when the battle begins.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0015-24.jpg Hmmm... I'll have to check on the AI research. I'm not even sure I started it and even less why. Perhaps I had an idea of an incredibly manoeuvrable destroyer with great accuracy. Sounds good, but with the armament we're sporting it is not really needed... There was beer involved in the line of thinking.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0018-22.jpg Human nodeline layout is not yet complete, but we know a lot about their possible movements.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0020-18.jpg Fleet is ready. And it will constantly build DEs on the fly as well.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0019-23.jpg Is this the moment we have been waiting for?https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0021-21.jpg Yes, yes it is.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0023-27.jpg Flagship fleet is on the move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Flagship is placed at the most possible Human entry point for the time being. We'll wait a few more turns for the Humans to build up. Meanwhile we'll build up the defence of other possibleroutes Humans might take to pay us a visit.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-76.jpg Zuul drones. Combat drones look like some kind of walkers... Zuul are the only ones with amedium mount on the normal drone.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-68.jpg Interestingly enough, I DID go for AI research. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/n00b.gif What the hell, let it role. Perhaps we will add some AM cannon DEs to our fleet and the accuracy will come in handy - when we research the cannon. Now that we're into it, we'll need another AI tech.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-58.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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