I destroyed seven systems in a game on a small map with tight clusters once. My compatriots in GROSS tell me that destroying star systems is actually BAD for your score, but it so much fun that I somethings destroy a system or two anyway :d -Cypher ~SDC~
Minors who appear later in the game seem to have all of your techs. For this reason, I launch a transport as soon as I see a minor appear. :D -Cypher
Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I'm going to try a bigger map next, though this may mean it's a little while before I upload the next game. I'm getting tired of rush, rush, rush - and I want to see a little more of the game. By the way, it was fun playing evil. I enjoyed telling the Drendin, 'Our life force does not run itself.' I also play with cultural victory turned off on mid- to -small sized maps. It's no for any scoring purpose, but I dislike having to deal wi
CatHerder, Your post is well thought-out and it sounds like we play a similiar strategy, though I'm still getting to the point where I am comfortable at the higher difficulty levels. Just out of curiosity, how much to you typically need to spend on destablization to get results? Does it result in low morale? I've never spent enough to get results. I agree with you about the AI attacking and defending. I can play Tough/Painful on the conquest path, but Challenging is
Monkson, Unfortunately, using a terror star to kill billions of sentinents is not as evil as calling in the exterminator to kill some bugs. Both of my terror star games turned out 'Chaotic Good.' The most popular Terror Star tactic is loading a terror star with cultural mods is a much better weapon, particularly if you can stay on good terms with the majors you're trying to flip. Happy Raiding, Cypher ~SDC~
Just posted my first pure evil game. Had a question - for the first time my metaverse score was less than my in-game score. Usually, my metaverse score is much higher, sometimes as much as 3 times higher. But typically, my metaverse score is a least twice my in-game score. Is this due to a factor of time? I played it out a little longer so the game lasted long enough for me to get the 'Pure Evil' rating. Also, I got to Avatars for the first time, but there was need need to us
I'm back. I did the most evil thing I could think of and took the week of July 4 for a vacation in the south of France. I think I may have managed to get the goodie empires off our backs as the French nationals in their senates will doubtless proclaim that the G.R.O.S.S. regime is a friendly, law-abiding regime whose pricacy is no doubt an unpleasant side-effect of colonialism by ancient empires, such as Apolyton. Anyway, I'm working on an evil rating now, but I won by las
The AI will often do a surprise attack. I've always assumed since it is fair for the player, it is fair for the AI. I have yet to see an Alpha Strike from the AI though.
The survery ship of DOOM singlehandy takes out the Yor civilization (Challenging game, small map Yor on my border). I trade for Impulse early, built four transports and use my debris enhanced survey ship to destroy defenders on all 4 Yor systems. (The war party bonus seemed to keep it alive and kicking.) I thought people might get a kick out of a Survery ship rush... (even if it was the Yor) LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL :D :D LOL ;p
I recently installed a number of the events as well as the red drendin ships modification. I wanted to take a moment to take the people who have enhanced this already great game. The events have added a lot to my enjoyment of the game as I am continually getting different ones, rather than seeing worms or undead every other event. I also like the red drendin ships as they are much easier to distinguish. Thanks for all of your hard work! -Cypher
I don't think there's any light beer in my fridge, even my wife drinks dark beers. Speaking of wives, do any of you white council wizards have a charm to make wives understand the benefits of computer gaming, science fiction, role playing, or Monty Python? The one breakthrough was she was entertained by the Geek Test I found on one of the threads. We discovered I problem, I scored 47% and she scored 6%, most of that 6% being movies I've inflicted on her. I thought I
FREE BEER THIS WAY FREE BEER THIS WAY FREE BEER THIS WAY FREE BEER THIS WAY FREE BEER THIS WAY This was been a test of the new Survey Ship of Doom Anti-Anzac ECM device. It seems to have diverted the Drop Bears, but not sheep. Hmmm... perhaps, I should try adding pictures of Misty Hymen...
For fun, make the Torians evil and the Drendins. The only problem I had has the Drendins going from wanting to cuddle me to a few turns later, telling me that their death furnaces don't run themselves.... it was funny. The evil Torians will tell you that they are considering you for a new cuisine. Haven't had the guts to make the Altarians evil as it's the one AI that tends to give me fits.
In addition to the good advice above, be careful with leasing. I'd recommend not leasing until you can keep control of your economy. In the course of the game, you'll probably need to change your spending sliders several times. It's important to keep track of whether your income is going up or down turn by turn. It's seems difficult at first, but it will get easier...
Sorry, I submitted twice -- you think that would work for the metaverse? ;)
Gerakken, I’ve taken the liberty of fitting the Survey Ship of Doom with an anti-ANZAC EMC device. Whenever a sheep or drop bear is detected, the survey ship will launch multiple ‘Free Beer this way’ signs. That should distract them long enough to get our ship out of range. -Cypher
Gerakken, I’ve taken the liberty of fitting the Survey Ship of Doom with an anti-ANZAC EMC device. Whenever a sheep or drop bear is detected, the survey ship will launch multiple ‘Free Beer This Way’ signs. That should distract them long enough to get our ship out of range. Happy Raiding, Cypher
Managed to sneak in a game. My first crippling victory and in April 2187. Everyone here was right, Speed is an extreme advantage. I was able to beat the Drendin and Arceans while they were at war with me and stronger militarily, because I just flew around their fleet and took their planets. I won with a Torian alliance. I didn't see a way to go after them. Let me know if I made a mistake: 1. Torians had already built 4 battleships and I was 58 months away if I researched it.<b
Don't colonize planets until 14 and only colonize 14's if you have a strategic reason to do so. Built the habitat, soil, and banking improvements quickly. Try not to built things like a manufacturing center that will increase costs quickly (by churning out additional ships/improvements) until your planet is turning a profit. As a general rule, Planet Quality seems to be the most important factor in determining if a planet will be profitable / productive.
There was a dicussion of this earlier -- and it seems to have come down to expense. Quite honestly, I think the richness of features and personality of the game make up for the lack of advanced graphics. While this isn't the case while Blizzard games, too many other companies try to substitute fancy cutscenes and 3-D graphics instead of being a good UI. (If you remember the first Warcraft game, the interface was great but the cutscenes were fairly limited). I'm glad Stard
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I do like Military Production. I played a tough game with War Party, +50% Military Production, and a solidering bonus. I had to be at war constantly (and getting older ships destroyed), but it was a lot of fun - and even when I fell behind on the military chart my ships were stronger and being produced faster.
To Twirlip's point, I usually play neutral until I see which way the wind is blowing in the game. On a smaller map, the perception is that it is easier to be evil (the bonuses matter more), on a larger map it's easier to be good. The Altarians, Torians, and Arceans tend to be the tougher AIs and they will be a little nicer if you're good... at least if you're on par militarily. I never try to be neutral, sometimes I just win before my alignment changes because I'll often hedge
Both Pontius and Gerakken represent G.R.O.S.S. well on the boards and as leaders of our pirate crew. ... I let get caught by the GROSS press gang because this is fun place to hang out and recount war stories. Some other empires are a little TOO serious... Besides no one's jumping ship or even thinking of mutiny. Pirates are used to be outgunned and beating overwhelming odds. ~SDC~
Thanks to Gerraken for the strategy suggestion. I botched the invasion slightly and it took about 4 turns to suppress the Altarians, but the attack was so overwhelming that I didn't need to even consider peace with the Torians. That's one more win for G.R.O.S.S. Unfortunately, the most scary force in the galaxy, my wife, has suggested I am spending too much time playing video games - so while I'm not going away - it may be a week or two before I post another game.
I'd buy direct. I'm happy with the Stardock Central experience and it's more money for Stardock to develop new games. How about another turn-based series that was messed up in the third release - X-COM? ;)