Thelon Fairblade

Reply to G.R.O.S.S. communication thread. in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Well, I'm back after a long absence. Even had to reinstall the game (new computer from work). Loaded up the expansion pack, played a small "Painful" game.... and can't upload to Metaverse from work. >:( How dare they block my gaming? I'll load it up from home tonight probably. Was fun! First time playing with "common" habitable worlds. Started with an extra in Sol, another yellow in my system with a 15 and a 16, and a minor-race yello. But just below me were the Arceans with -- wa

Reply to GalCiv 1.04.59 released in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Go Frogboy! I just finished reading the nasty posts on the "Trade Good Nerfing" thread, and here you have already made the first (maybe only required?) step to fixing it! And I haven't even upgraded my game yet! :) :)

Reply to G.R.O.S.S. communication thread. in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Well, my Gigantic Crippling game finished up this weekend. I only got 2600 for a Tech win, though, so I must have done something wrong.... I ended up Chaotic Good (sorry!), only because the Drengin were still alive (Draginol) and had researched all the Evil techs. Did you know that you can only have 10 trade routes, even if you have the tech for 13? Rangers were my best starship, even though I got Avatar and Excalbiur Tech. The AIs had lots of Avatars... but the "bla

Reply to G.R.O.S.S. communication thread. in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Well, my Gigantic game has hit a snag... I goofed when clicking in a deal with the Torians. I couldn't believe how much they valued my Harmony Crystals, a couple techs, and a pair of Starfighters... I should have known better when they were willing to give me Battleship and Space Militarization without a quibble. One deal signing later, I discover I've given away a 10 Billion population yellow star in Sol's sector! Next turn, they deman I hand over Sol! Two turns later, they

Reply to G.R.O.S.S. communication thread. in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I'm playing a Crippling Gigantic game, when my wife and 2yr old daughter give me the chance. :notsure: Anyway, I'll submit it when I'm done, of course. Ikeep trying the "wolf in sheep's clothing" tactic, *trying* to be a Goody Goody (rescued lunar miners, saved the whales/bears/whatever, destroyed the undead serum, built solar fallout shelters, re-educated my businessmen).... and then the "suck out colonist life force for Planet Quality" event pops up, and down I go! This m

Reply to Tough battle for #10 on Metaverse in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Ah, G.R.O.S.S. is back at #9 with me joining up...

Reply to Do you need to spend more bc on Espionage when you have acheived maximum infiltration? in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

There is a random event that destablizes relations, if you don't have sufficient espionage on the empire. Something like "the X diplomat inadvertently insulted the Y ambassador; if only they knew more about the culture, this might have been avoided..."

Reply to What are your top wonder/tradegood picks? in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I used to ignore Eyes (whoopdee doo, I already scouted everything), until I realized the difference between "scouted" and "actively sensored". Now I get it as soon as possible. Never in 8 games have I seen an AI build it, even in the games *I* didn't build it. *Must* have gravitiv accelerators. Then Aphrodisiac or Frictionless Clothing - FC is good for your morale, and Aphro is valued by the AI more highly than the other early goods. Diplo Translators are really nice, but I've only

Reply to G.R.O.S.S. communication thread. in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I happily join G.R.O.S.S. and boost the only *honest* empire to 9th place! Only 2 games out of 8 evil... but that's only because I prefer to be "the shadowy power behind the throne". Let someone else take the assassins and public relations hits... Presidents come and go, but I remain! Favorite tactic.... butter up the minor powers -- until the "defensive" Dreadnoughts "protecting" them turn around and annhiliate all defenders! Unfortunately, the pansy AIs always "give

Reply to Good at 1.02, Stink at 1.03 in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I actually *upgraded* my difficulty level when I went from 1.02 to 1.03. 02 was too easy to win on Challenging; buy up hordes of obsolete defense ships (should be 1 part of every deal) so the Drengin leave you alone, then turtle until Dreadnoughts. I'm now playing 03, on Crippling, Gigantic. The Torians in my current game got a *big* head start on me tech-wise, and the minor civs completed several trade goods and Wonders before I could. But I got the Diplomatic Translators, Aphrodisi

Reply to Starbase Maint Idea Thread in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Any moderator opinions or commments? Frogboy? I'm all for fixing the underlying issue ("Nothing" wastes resources best spent elsewhere). As previously stated, though, I'm also for limiting the number of bases - or their effects.... You should be thrilled when their is a resource in a colonizble-planet sector, 'cause then you get to have 2 bases there! Re: super-constructors... these should be required to build some of the bigger / higher-tech modules, not just be a "5-co

Reply to Quick Terror World question in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Personally, I have only used Terror Stars to move my Pary Palaces across Sector borders. A culture-starbase the AI objects to, but a Terror Star they don't...

Reply to I'm confused on when to use what ships in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I use IronHawk's progression. No "war" type ships until I have dreadnaughts; everything else is just to protect worlds from transports. Once dreadnaughts are achieved, go to town. (In fact, I "garrison" worlds with Dreadnaughts, too; they sortie out and pre-emptively strike incoming warships...)

Reply to Has Anyone seen a space monster since 1.03 came out? in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I got a message once about a space monster disrupting trade routes, but never saw it anywhere...

Reply to Starbase Maint Idea Thread in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Personally, I build 1 base per sector, + 1 per resource. I'm happier if the "1 per sector" and "1 per resource" are the same base. I think all of this maintenance and whatnot hullaballoo is just a reaction to the base-spamming tactics some players have adopted. 10 bases in a single sector is outrageous and should be easily limited by diminishing returns. But 10 starbases across 10 sectors seems perfectly reasonable to me. Starbase maintenance should *not* be based on number

Reply to To win a Cultural Victory - you must not be at war plus have at least +1 bc right? in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

You have to (a) have the necessary influence; (b) not be at war WITH A MAJOR POWER (kick those minor races all you want); (c) get the "we're winning culturally" message; (d) wait the appropriate amount of time; and (e) [depending on game version] not save and reload the game -- the cultural influence value resets, which can reset the counter or even briefly take away your 95% rating for a moment!

Reply to Where are the "Space Sharks"? in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I have completed 6 or 7 games now, with AI ratings from Normal to Intelligent, and at least 1 of each galaxy size. I have hosted the zoo twice ("won" it the first time, stuck with it the second time). I have seen the AI get a Precursor Ranger when every one else was on Corvettes or Battlecruisers. I have found 6 Precursor Corvettes in an event. But in all my travels, sir, I have never seen you! (Sorry, couldn't help it.) In all my games, I have never

Reply to Brad's Starbase Thread... in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Another thought, going along with something Frogboy said earlier: Starbases should specialize. You should not be able to build the best of everything on the same starbase. Terror Stars are fine, and have their good points and bad points. Terror Star/Party Palaces are just abusive. I just won my first Gigantic map (all intelligent opponents) game. In a "habitable planet are rare" setup, there was a sector with 3 good worlds and 2 marginal (read: good for 10% PQ bonus) worlds. The Tor

Reply to Brad's Starbase Thread... in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Alright, I only made it through 1 of the 5 pages, but hear me out: 1) I think an "arbitrary" limit on the number of starbases is not too unreasonable. It can be tied to the sector: 1 per sector + 1 per star colonized by you + 1 per resource. Then modify this based on technology: perhaps "1 per star" becomes "1 per planet", or maybe "You may now build an additional starbase in any sector with a trade route", or a "Starbase Support" structure that allows +1 starbase in the structure's se

Reply to Things you would like to see in a Galactic Civilization expansion set in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I like the idea of race-specific ships - I really like the idea that you don't get all of them every game! One thing about MOO 1 was that even the same race choice didn't play the same each game because you might not get access to specific techs each game, so you need a new strategy. I like many of of the ideas listed above (new techs, pirates, places you can't go initially), so I will try not to repeat them. Idea 1: Like Andre 0's idea, what about some hostile anomalies?

Reply to Whats the best combo of starting bonuses? in Strategies Stardock Forums

I usually go Pacifist + PQ 10% + Research 10% + Morale 10% + Economy 10%.

Reply to Map Ideas: "Resource Dash" "The Pit" "Folding Galaxy" "Starbase Desert" etc. in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

"Neutral Zone" Three races on one side of the map, three on the other... and no planets in the middle to extend range. "Boxing Match" (Huge or Gigantic galaxy only) Each race starts in a Cluster, with a large "empty space" region around each cluster preventing initial interaction at all. (I also like the "terrain" ideas... reasons not to go straight from "here" to "there"! Plus some potential tactical considerations.) "Here there be Dragons": Space Monsters start

Reply to Morality problems? in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I would like to see some benefits for choosing the good path. Like some events modify population growth for some choices, but production for others (Mmmm, slaves!). So like, "Good = -10% Population Bonus, but +5% Morale"...

Reply to Suggestions in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

How about some anomalies that cannot be researched by a "mere" Survey Ship? That way there is some reason to research (or build) a Star Hawk, other than to see to some hapless AI as an otherwise-useless money-maker. A cap on Survey Ship potential Attack and Defense boosts from anomalies [and no cap on the Star Hawk.. see above]... USS Hero usually turns into USS SuperHero, and is better than any ship I can build. Definately the "Find Planet" option! I don't have a sug

Reply to My survey is my most powerful vessel! in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

As a compromise, why not have some Anomalies *not* investigatable by a standard Survey Ship? These anomalies might provide more bonuses, but can only be investigated by a Star Hawk... (otherwise, why build a Star Hawk?)