Noctilucus

Reply to How do I use Terror Stars in Strategies GalCiv2 Forums

Influence SB's can be built in the AI's territory (it is only 1 negative factor in the diplomacy) but I've re

Reply to MVL Round 9 in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

From his Reply#139 I would understand he played with the Drengin. Sporeships are not necessarily the best ZYW option, since sporing that many capitals will very much kill your economy. Maybe the trick up his sleeve was massive extortion?

Reply to Nelp me with early game economic problems in Strategies GalCiv2 Forums

I though the limits were slightly different, e.g. 76% Not to be annoying but it would be ironic if people aimed for 75% and got the same birth rate as 40-something % ;)

Reply to How do I use Terror Stars in Strategies GalCiv2 Forums

I haven't constructed any yet since GalCiv I. I can confirm though that: 1) It moves though extremely slowly (1 parsec per turn) and there's no way to increase its speed 2) It is a suicide weapon blowing up a [U]star[/U] and all planets in that star system. 3) They are extremely vulnerable so it sounds like a good plan to wipe out the entire enemy fleet + send plenty of ships with sufficient sensor range to guard your expensive terror star I think you'll need more constr

Reply to Kzinti Empire - offical empire thread in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

Not yet KzintiPatriarch; I had a first look and considering how extensive the information in that thread is, I'll probably have to leave it until I return from holidays. Right now other hobbies, real-life and packing take too much of my time :) But it will be great to try this strategy since usually I'm very slow / limited at colonizing, this will be a whole new approach just like the ZYW's were to me.

Reply to Nelp me with early game economic problems in Strategies GalCiv2 Forums

[quote]Leave new worlds largely empty and resist the impulse to continually build them up. Think less of developing the worlds and more on developing a functioning economy. Look at your buildings maint costs and your tech tree advantages and decide what to do.[/quote] Another way is to build econ buildings & birth rate improvement buildings; I've found that the 1bc maintenance for the latter pays off quite quickly.

Reply to Starting location is too good. in Strategies GalCiv2 Forums

Most of the useful answers are already in the thread you're referring to. I think the key is to specialize them. Have your homeworld run as an economy-only planet, then have 1 high PQ for research, 1 for manufacturing. Of course starting with some manufacturing buildings on the research planet as well to speed up construction. Since you're up against 9 opponents it's a good idea to try and take a few of their homeworlds as early as possible. Don't lose them and after a year most of

Reply to Kzinti Empire - offical empire thread in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

What is this "Great Galactic Swindle strategy"? Since I'm now on a different MVL team I can't see what secrets you guys are exchanging in the Team D core forums ;)

Reply to Year Zero Club in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

[quote]There is no reason not to play a ZYW on anything but suicidal. The AI cannot adapt to the strategy, they have no chance.[/quote] I would say that's only true under the following conditions: 1) You're used to high difficulty levels / experienced with fast ZYW's 2) You have a favourable starting position (close to the enemy capital, some good bonus tiles) Otherwise I fear that the AI bonuses will help the AI to even further stack colony ships 'defending' its planet

Reply to need culture assistance in Strategies GalCiv2 Forums

Exactly! Research some diplomatic techs to keep the AI's from getting too annoyed with your influence SB right next to their capitals. Research down the yellow influence branch and build all 25% and better influence improvements on your SB. Once you see the crossbones appear on their capital, all you need to do is keep them away from declaring war on you, and wait until the capital flips. Then it's pretty much a domino effect. In addition, as of ToA version 1.95 the Mind control cen

Reply to asking AI to surrender in Strategies GalCiv2 Forums

I have the impression time is also a key factor: I've often declared war and captured a few capital in the first year. It would take 6-12 months before the AI's started asking for a peace treaty. Probably when they hit war-weariness?

Reply to Nelp me with early game economic problems in Strategies GalCiv2 Forums

It also helps a lot when you can research down the "population growth rate" branch. Building some of those structures that increase the growth rate, can do wonders for your economy. By the way MishkaSM, do you use tech trading to get some additional cash early on? I particularly like selling very low beam / mass drivers / missile techs if the AI is already much further in another branch. E.g. I'll sell them beams, laser, laser I if they are at least 4-5 steps further than that in mass d

Reply to MVL Round 9 in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

Very impressive Piznit. I would add even more so because it was done in ToA...

Reply to MVL Round 9 in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

The downside is the bite it takes out of your economy. It took me quite a few months to recover in this setting after sporing a few enemy capitals that had already built some manufacturing / tech buildings. :p

Reply to MVL Round 9 in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

It's also true for TA, at least for beta 1.91 (didn't update to the later betas yet).

Reply to MVL Round 9 in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

[quote]This is a major reason why we post screenshots in the OP of each of the variations of the game (DL, DA, and TA) so that players can see exactly how the setup should look.The screenshots have been a major help in my opinion.[/quote] Absolutely! I just wanted to clarify that one of these settings (Tech speed) is set back to 'normal' whenever you start a new game, while the other settings are by default in their previous state.

Reply to MVL Round 9 in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

Just something we discussed at our Team C forum and that holds some similarity to the discussion above... Could the message be reinforced in the next MVL rounds whenever we have another tech speed than normal that this speed needs to be set with each game you start? Players who haven't fiddled around with tech speed settings before, could overlook that this setting is not copied from the previous game's setup.

Reply to "The Metaverse League" Player sign up & Roster in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Just to give a heads up that for the [I]next[/I] round (MVL round 10) I will be out since I'm on holiday for 3 weeks in July. Very likely I'll rejoin for round 11. EDIT: looks like I was still in time for round 10, thanks to Silverbeacher for reminding me!

Reply to MVL Round 9 in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

Submission for Team C, sorry guys: Noctilucus Score: 18550 Conquest in 4 years Challenging DA 1.80e Timestamp 6/19/2008 4:37:59 PM

Reply to MVL Round 9 in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

Freeelancer: first of all economics are more strict in TA, making the early game harder. Secondly, many crucial score boosters (e.g. tech capital) are further down the tech tree or no longer accessible to all (e.g. spin control center). Thirdly, we still have the research bug that causes research times to increase far too steeply over time. Especially with slow tech rate this is deadly. I think this summarizes the main reasons why so far TA isn't competitive for this round's settings.

Reply to Kzinti Empire - offical empire thread in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

[quote]I dont think I posted this before...this shot is from the game I had with the most net income per turn. I actually got it up to about 345k/turn, but I lost that screenshot somehow.The BCs were rolling in! Sentient species taste better...[/quote] Looks like a gigantic, abundant all thing or at least something close? :)

Reply to Year Zero Club in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

Congratulations Neilo! By the way Dave, it took some of us (points at self) many more attempts to breach the 10K on a tiny map... ;)

Reply to Kzinti Empire - offical empire thread in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

[quote]...Congrats to Noctilucus for breaking into the top 10 on the AltMeta! Even more of an accomplishment, considering you dont play games on large or gigantic. Nice work!...[/quote] Thanks KzintiPatriarch and Neilo, I didn't even notice, didn't expect to pop up there; however as soon as those ZYW's fade away my score will probably drop like a brick ;) Especially if the MVL sends a few more slow tech games our way :p

Reply to Year Zero Club in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

[quote]...Key change, IMO - never researched Advanced Computing (so no Tech Capital or miniaturization)...[/quote] Actually this makes perfect sense in TA (as it takes several more turns to research than in DA/DL), only it takes a very bold move to forego the Tech Capital, interesting move!

Reply to MVL Round 9 in Metaverse GalCiv2 Forums

Freeman43, since you checked in at the core forums I suppose you got the PM and are ready to rumble with Team C? :)