Military Garrisons

[Corellion]

Another issue to deal with... should we increase military funding?

With a foreign power contacted, we run the risk of invasion (granted, it is small at this early stage), but still, should we increase the number and quality of the military we produce.

The most pertinant application of this issue right now is this... should we increase the garrison at Pi Square? It is open to attack from PEACE from the sea, and they can transport their troops quickly. Is one Scout Patrol enough to protect our frontline base, even if PEACE appears benign, or at least indifferent, at this point?

[Cedayon]

/me puts up a really big carboard stand-up of the Gorilla in the Pi Square base*

They shouldn't be bothering us

[Drogue]

I don't think it's needed. Growing, especially with our growth penalty, is our #1 concern ATM IMHO, and so I think we should grow first. We do not need to defend from the Pirates, as they do not have a huge army by any means, and we are at treaty with them. This is unlikely to change, as we are more benefit to them trading techs. I think we should go for as much friendship as possible, and only garrison it properly when we have formers and CPs being built, and our faction growing. A good point to discuss, but not needed yet IMHO.

[Whaleboy]

If this treaty breaks down, we presumably wouldnt want to get caught with out pants down, so perhaps we should keep some degree of military. In a hypothetical war with the pirates, how can we expect to fare? If not very well, then we need to increase spending, if not, then we can justify keeping it as it is.

There is no use in having a high rate of growth if it means us getting annihilated.

[Drogue]

It won't break down. They would lose face for doing so, and have more to gain through our cooperation. Even if we did, they don't even have laser yet, so they couldn't beat our scout, and they would need time to produce and get over here, easily enough to get a synthmetal or two. We have nothing to worry about. Being a sea faction too, and us a land faction, even if they destroyed that, they probably don't have the land troops to take the base. We're safe, and growth now could determine who wins the game. The early game is extremely important, and we need to grow outwards, since we grow slowly in population per base. We need many bases to help our tech and to grow even faster. If we grow fast, there are more bases to take too, but that will not happen.

[Corellion]

I fully agree. I was just posting this to bring up discussion on the issue. In any case, let's make sure we always have at least one SP in Pi Square, just in case.

[DeathByTheSword]

i agree with drogue but as military function i would like to say that we need to keep an eye on the situation...and as soon as we are not clear what to build in any base build a garrison for Pi square

[Maniac]

I'd say we only need to worry if we see they have Applied Physics (then we should build some synthmetal 1-2-2 skirmishers) or Planetary Networks (then we should build a 0-1-1 probe defence in Pi Square).

[Drogue]

Building a probe soon might be a good idea to be safe, but they don't have laser yet, and are willing to trade Industrial Base which they may be getting in a couple of turns. If they had military intentions, I don't think they would trade us synthmetal tech personally. And if they do, then we get impact, foils, and go and tech steal some bases

[Corellion]

Indeed!