Toughest Starting Scenario?

from Stardock Forums
Was wondering how everyone thought about what the toughest starting setup might be.

Having worked my way up the food chain(1 Maso win even)how would you rate this start for difficulty?

AI set to Painful or Maso with all 5 races set at Random Alignment on a Medium Map with Tight Clusters and Uncommon planets?

Despite the changes to the AI as of late, how do you set it up for that REALLY tough outting? >:(
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Random alignment isn't the path to challenge. At least not in my experience. Leave the alignment on default. Abundant maps average harder than less fertility, though this too has exceptions.

Toughest may be to go without any bonus picks at all. I am actually doing that. I started a medium/normal maso game last night, Universalist party, no bonus picks. Left all ten on the table. And pleasantly, the game is actually giving me a serious run for the money. :)

I think terrain has more to do with it than map settings, though. Any settings can have good terrain, and any can have bad. Bad = you get a poor share of the good planets, or get stuck far from minors with a Runaway AI as your only neighbor, and him not liking you much. Now that's tough. :)

I think the devil's in the details. No pack of settings are automatically tough. No settings are always a cakewalk either. Each game has to be weighed on a lot of variables to get an accurate feel for the bona fide challenge factor. IMHO.


- Sirian
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Random alignment isn't the path to challenge. At least not in my experience. Leave the alignment on default. Abundant maps average harder than less fertility, though this too has exceptions.
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The reason I choose Random is that when you begin you don't know what alignment the AI will be until after you have to select your first or 2 alignment choices. Well unless you always select Neutral of course, but what challenge is that.

No Bonus points eh. Ummm, that is not Hard, thats simply Crazy. ;) How do you get any planets when the AI is zipping about sucking them up without a speed bonus? You have a system right? :)
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I think that probably the toughest setup is one alien race (I'd say the Altarians would be the most obnoxious), set to incredible, on any size map. All other AIs disabled, just you and Netro Mancer. (Or Nutrax Flizzbik, as I've renamed him.)
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
citahellion -- I agree. One ultra powerful AI that takes over 90% of the universe while you are building a constructor to leap-frog to your 4th planet hehehe. I think if the other AI's were set to idiot (or whatever) instead of being turned off the Ultra-AI would expand faster by conquest than it would by colonizing.

While you are at it, leave the council so you can't trade.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I think if the other AI's were set to idiot (or whatever) instead of being turned off the Ultra-AI would expand faster by conquest than it would by colonizing.
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The AI is much much better at colonizing then invading so it would expand faster on its own.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Actually, I was hoping for some real game settings, not ,what might be the toughest' scenarios.

What is the toughest combination you have setup yourself and then faced?
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
A single incredible ai is hard but not the hardest, because you can use the minors to trade with and effectively prevent the major from trading with anyone, except you and only if you like. The real problem is you mustn't let them conquer 3/4th of the universe, so +speed is of help there.

I think tight clusters are the easiest setting.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree that tight clusters are easier. I won my "no picks" game, by the way. Going to write an AAR. Look for the link the RB Empire thread. :)

- Sirian
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Although I haven't tried it recently I found (bearing in mind this is before the 1.12 minor strength boosts) the fewer AIs you played against the tougher it was . . . I lost alot of games against just a couple of AIs of opposite alignment ganging up on me (esp on Medium Sized Maps) . . . if you really wanted to make it difficult on yourself you could forgo the ability bonuses . . . good luck.

Medium Size
Two AIs set to Incredible (Torians and Alt's)
Abundent
No Ability bonuses . . . :SURPRISED:

[Message Edited]
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
#8
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Sirian,

Before the AAR comes out. ;)

Was it an Alliance or Military win?