This weekend's game documented

from Stardock Forums
While it's too late to make tweaks for the "gold" version, we continue to play the game to put together a set of wishlists for a future update (like the bonuspak).

Yesterday I started a game in which my strategy was to be the ultimate diplomat. Neutral/Good in behavior, try to win by getting everyone else together. All players were set on intelligent and I'm on a medium sized galaxy which means it's pretty big (hundreds of planets) and it also means I can't finish it in a single session.

I already posted a screenshot from my saved game from day 1 so I'll start there.

http://draginol.stardock.com/temp/sofar.jpg

My plan has gone pretty well. I actually have avoided fighting any wars. My military budget is tiny but despite that, I have a relatively large military budget because my ships don't keep getting destroyed in war. ;)

But I'm a paper tiger. Most of my ships are pretty old, they've just accumulated.

So I had to tread carefully. Part of my strategy has been to win by cultural domination. That is my mode of "conquest". *I* don't like the Altarians. Of course, I am playing with the AI set on the default alignments (which you can change). And by default the Altarians are Flanders in space. So my initial strategy was to culturally dominate them.

To do this, you build starbases in their sectors and build up influence modules. This strategy works pretty well if you have the industrial capcity for it which I did thanks to a good starting location.

But at higher levels, well, it doesn't always work:
http://www.stardock.com/stardock/articles/galciv/ex2/new-2.jpg

It knows I'm a paper tiger and puts it bluntly that I have to remove my new star base with the cultural influence modifiers. Well actually, I have to GIVE it to them to avoid war. Which I do.

Now, if you think I'm being a sissy for giving in, here's why I did that:
http://www.stardock.com/stardock/articles/galciv/ex2/new-3.jpg

The blue line means that the Altarians and Torians are allied. WHich means I go to war with one, I end up with the other and the Torians are not a paper tiger. So I decide it's time to cozy up to the Arceans.

http://www.stardock.com/stardock/articles/galciv/ex2/new-4.jpg

Now I'm allied with the Arceans and things are good.

And things get even better for me. The alignments work on a scale from 1 to 100. 1=pure evil, 100 = pure good. with chaotic being random in between 1-40 and 60 to 99 depending on whether it's chaotic good or evil. The Altarians are set to pure good.

There are some rare disadvantages to being very good. You end up with citizens who become zealots. The Altarians were allied with the Torians who were neutral and in an exceedingly rare event (most of the events are very rare but something pops up in each game typically) one of the Altarian zealots assasinates the leader of the Torians which causes them to be at war.

http://www.stardock.com/stardock/articles/galciv/ex2/new-6.jpg

And look, so far I've even weazeled out of having to go to war with the guys my ally is at war with. (wars aren't automatic when an ally is at war, alliances are modeled after the NATO treaty, they have to ask for it either to you directly or to your senate).

But the Arceans end up going to war with the Torians and request my help in that so I end up going to war too and I lose a major star system in two ways: 1) the loss of territory and 2) they use mass drivers (see Babylon 5 Narn home workd for examples of what that means) which means even WHEN I recover it, the world is damaged.

But this presents an opportunity. I ally up with the Altarians.
http://www.stardock.com/stardock/articles/galciv/ex2/new-10.jpg

http://www.stardock.com/stardock/articles/galciv/ex2/new-11.jpg
Is where I'm at when I saved my game today.

I'm pretty confident of victory. Of course, since I wrote the AI, I should be able to beat it.

That said, the AI made errors:

1) The AI didn't do a good enough job going through the tech tree. We use metaverse data for this info but it tries to "intelligently" choose its own paths on lower levels. It does a decent job of this but I still feel this could have been better.

2) Arceans didn't capitalize on their position enough and fortify its starbases. This left them exposed to the Torians.

Though it's hard to say. The Altarians and Torians, if they had stayed together, would have been a pretty potent combination. Their war weakened both of them and changed the political landscape. With the Torians isolated, we can grind them down.

I'll let you know how it concludes.


724 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks Brad! All we poor customers-to-be can do is live vicariously through your exploits for the next few weeks, sooo... please keep them coming. :)

This game looks just like what I'd been hoping (for the last 3 years or so) moo3 would be. Pity on that one. Thanks for making this game and, once again, please keep the reports coming!
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad, what intelligence level are those AI set at?

Also, that yearly summary screen looked cool- I liked the narrative flow to it! Is it true that the epic generator- or story part of this game was stripped out? A tragic loss, but it looks liek you've tried to add "story" in as much as is humanly possible- I appreciate that.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Here is my report from today. It is a bit longer winded. I hope you?ll like it =p

All AI on normal; Small Galaxy


Off to aggressive colonization start and after all the planets were taken this is what the map looked like http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/start.jpg

UP tried to pass a proposal to create to hold United Celebration to boost morale of all the empires http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/up.jpg . I was short on cash so I woted against it.

Decided it's time to start grooming those diplomatic ties. Altarans and Torrinas seem to like me so I decided they would be my primary technology and trade partners http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/diplomacy1.jpg

My diplomatic approach is starting to bear fruits. I am trading tech with others and selling it to minor races. That extra cash gives me a needed economic boost.

I also started espionage and destabilization on Drengin empire.

One of the random events http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/random1.jpg

Drengin plopped a base right in my Sol sector. I don't like that at all. Have to see if I should start the war over this or if he will willingly give me the base http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/provocation.jpg

Drengin didn't want to part with the base so I started to plan the war. After seeing that Drengin were in war with 3 other races I decided to join in.

The next UP meeting rolls around and indeed they have an interesting proposal. All empires will be forced to change the government to imperial rule for 2 years. I am strongly opposed to this idea but unfortunately the bill was passed http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/up2.jpg

Drengin tried to sneak in his unprotected transports in to Sol sector but was intercepted and destroyed.

Now it was my turn. I sent a fleet of 4 corvettes and one Star Fighter and all the resistance on Nestor planet. Now it was the time to send in the troops. Once they arrived I decided to use traditional warfare in the invasion http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/attack1.jpg .My first try was thwarted.

I didn't pay much attention to the planet because I thought he cannot do much now anyway. His population was decimated and I though he cannot come up with much of resistance now anyway. Well it seems he had some cash reserves because before I knew it he had 2 Battle Axe type ships in orbit. I tried taking them out with the fleet I had next to his planet and that was the last I saw of those ships.

My transport was on the way to the planet but now I had to deal with resistance in the orbit first. Luckily I had some Battle Axe and Corvette ships on the standby and sent the straight in to action. And again he blows them to smithereens. Now I am getting angry... Grrr.

Just as I was getting my new attack fleet ready for one final push Drengin started to talk peace http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/peace1.jpg .Seeing that he is broke and can't pay tribute I decided to decline the offer and take his petty little planet.

Grrrr. Again his 2 battle exe ships pulverized my fleet of 4 Battle Axe ships and few Corvettes. Ok Mr. Drengin. You asked for it ... My battle ship research was coming to completion and for now I was able to produce Battle Cruisers and trust me I did.

This time I am sending 6 Battle Axe and 5 Battle Cruiser ships... Ok first attack went well. One Battle Axe left. BLAMO!!! MY FLEET IS SHREDED!!! Checking his ship... only 5hp left. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARgggghhhhhhhhh

Well I was back as fast as I could manage and sent 2 battle cruisers. This is the infamous Battle Axe ship that was whooping my ass all this time. I take a look at ship info ? 63HP! Incredible. My rookie battle cruisers have 19 HP. YIKES... Well his ship was badly beaten but was more experienced than mine...here goes. BLAMO! My ships are dust again... I guess that?s what you get when you pick militaristic party - kick ass ships.

Ok. Now I am producing some Battle Hammers, lets see how they will fare against these monsters. Also Altarians seem to like me a lot and decided to put some money in to my war chest. It is very appreciated http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/diplomacy2.jpg

Crap! ... Space monster made an appearance recently but I was not paying attention to it. Well it is smack in the middle of my empire now and is attacking everything in sights http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/monster.jpg .Luckily it was already badly beaten and I was able to finish it off with one of my new Battle Hammer ships.

Another UP meeting came around http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/up3.jpg and this time it was to be decided who will gain control over newly inhabitable planet. Of course I voted for myself and won this round because as you can see I had the most influence in the UP.

Finally I managed to destroy that Battle Axe and deploy my Transport ship. I decided to go with traditional warfare because I wanted to keep his improvements. Ground Attack was thwarted again. Drengin sure is nasty when it comes to combat.

Another transport is deployed. This time I opt for Gas warfare to soften the target a bit http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/attack2.jpg .VICTORY IS MINE http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/victory.jpg !!! Drengin Empire is no more. The planets have taken some environmental damage http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/planet.jpg but I can live with that.

Now that the Drengin is no more the galaxy influence seems to be secured http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/map1.jpg .Altarians and Torrians are still in war with Yor (chaotic-evil). I think I will fight that war by a proxy this time.

After seeing how badly Yor was doing I changed my mind. They have been a good trade partner over the years and instead of sealing their faith I actually decided to help them out a bit and gave them one of my Battle Hammer ships. That certainly helped out with their opinion of me.

Shortly after I was blessed by discovery of precursor Ranger class ship.

Yor has to go. The rest of the galaxy will not see peace so long they are around. I decided to take a indirect approach of expanding my influence in their sector and also to incite rebellion on the planet with the hopes of defection to my side.

After throwing too much money and effort to try to overtake Yor with peaceful means I decided it's the gas time again =P

With Yor out of the way I can finally try to achieve the galactic peace http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/map2.jpg

I will have to finish this report a tad later =P. Been playing most of the day now and I need a break.

Btw Frogboy, if you could put the images somewhere on your server it would be appreciated. I know my ISP is going to get pummeled by all the people looking at the pics.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Gah.. that second link is broken. here is the proper one http://www3.sympatico.ca/seadk/up1.jpg
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Cool Space Dust. Sure thing. Actually if you want to send it to me as a HTML and JPGs in a ZIP file I'll put it up in an Encyclopedia section.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
OK.. will do. I will try to finish the game tommarow and than send it all at once. I was looking for that post where you left your email but can't find it. What is it again?
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
The trick to cultural victory is not to establish very many cultural starbases in foreign lands, but concentrate on the cultural/economy resources, cultural wonders, and economy upgrades.

When you get Cultural Maximizing then build 8 constructors and send them all at once and land them all in the same sector at the same time....while you are doing that you can destabilize them or perhaps goad them into war with somebody else. the +500% boost can overwhelm them before they know what hit them.

If you can stockpile the constructors and hit 2 or 3 places at once(2x8 or 3x8 constructors), you can take a dozen to 2 dozen planets in very few turns.

This strategy is difficult to set up and requires maneuvering, but it can result in a VERY short endgame.....
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Even shorter endgame is cultural deathstars!

Paul.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Do the computer opponents use these 2 strats as well?

SithUK
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I've certainly seen the AI fast built starbases. It will often send lots of constructors to a new starbase and build multiple components within a turn or two. Haven't seen the AI build any cultural deathstars though. I usually end up winning or dead by the time deathstars begin to appear.

Paul.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
hi paul

built 3 cultural deathstars, They do work but i had an instance where the star systems in that sector were massive, so i was short over 2000 infulence points in that sector. built 5 more terror stars, w/o culture and wiped the drengin almost off the map nearly 500b crispy drengins. The altarians and the yor were both thrilled and finally moved to a close relationshup (may 2220)

have you seen an a.i. build a deathstar at all?

maybe i'll give one to the yor to see if it changes, color/shape

rich
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I haven't seen the AI build a deathstar, but this is probabaly as I play on tiny or small galaxies with normal AI levels. Most games I play are over before I research the technology to build a deathstar. I'll have to try some gigantic galaxies with genius AI.

Paul.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
It's not set up to likely build Terror Stars. Not Death Stars(TM) they're TERROR Stars. ;)

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
I think evil races should build terror stars as soon as they can.
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
sorry frogboy
was a slip of the tongue err hand. Must have had work on my mind (:( I refuse to work on eps 2 1/2

well the other day the yor and i were in my new hottub i just installed it in my new TERROR star (auto warp, power steering, power windows, ulta stomping deathray with extra crispy and crumble setting, defenses maxed out and cultural maximizing at 500+%:) ) and we went cruising thru the drengin hood and guess what happened? The planet wardell decided to leave and join the white side (i don;t think they have a TM for that unless it's for toliet paper) Had a lot of fun with them again.


Congrats again for a great game and hope this forum get swamped by newbies enjoying the game!

rich

p.s. the white wine works well when it's slightly chilled before opening