Base sites #11 & #12

[Maniac]

Since we've got two colony pods under production, I assume it's time to start thinking about possible future base sites. There are of course plentiful of possibilities.

Here is an example of a location we could send the SC3 CP to:



And here an example of a location for the SC4 CP. It involves SNC Hermes transporting the CP a couple tiles south.



Though it takes a bit longer to reach that site than a couple other options, it has several advantages:
1> It further pushes back the Hive border.
2> It's near two nutrient boni. Probably the best base site we know about.
3> It could be a good base to launch probe operations towards the Gaians and Peacekeepers.

These are of course just two examples. What ideas did you have in mind, for the next two bases ánd those that will probably follow later?

[Googlie]

# 12 I like (and it will ge a good assignment for Hermes). Presumably we'll send a protective scout with the pod through the fungus?

Re: # 11 - while it looks good, I think I'd rather see another coastal base, on our northcoast (maybe that little promontory immediately north of the Plains tile (in the name Messenian Plains)

If it is still our intent to build the MCC - and I hope it is - we'll capitalize on its effect by having coastal bases while at the same time giving us "power projection points" for forays by cruisers and probes, as well as interdiction exercises, in the mid game

(But that location would take 2 turns longer to reach, unless a formwer diverted in the meantime to build a connecting road and maybe on on-site sensor array)

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Googlie
# 12 I like (and it will ge a good assignment for Hermes). Presumably we'll send a protective scout with the pod through the fungus?

Ah yes, good idea. It can also act as the first garrison unit, as from base #12 on, each first citizen will be a drone.
Where would you build the escorting unit for the CP?

Re: # 11 - while it looks good, I think I'd rather see another coastal base, on our northcoast (maybe that little promontory immediately north of the Plains tile (in the name Messenian Plains)

Sounds great!

[Googlie]

So here are the proposed sites (order of formastion swapped, as the land-moving colony pod will reach the Messennian Plains site before the land-sea combo one)

#11 will need a Crypteia (Fort Buster's?) as well as a Hoplite. If we switch Rio Grande's worker to the mineral (soon to be mine) tile, we could use one of their 2 Hoplites for #11 while RG builds a replacement from its minerals (question - will RG still grow to 2 pops if next turn, with 1 turn remaining, we strip the worker from the nut tile to the minerals? Or will it lie stagnant at the 1-turn-to-go level until we give it another nut to grow with?)

A Hoplite is en-route to the eastern coast to garrison at # 12, which will also need a Crypteia fairly soon.

[Googlie]

Why don't we go for a +1 Planet rating and found base # 12 by the Manifold Nexus (it's currently unclaimed land)

[Snoddasmannen]

Wow - what a stroke of luck! Great idea I think. Though I would suggest moving that base just one notch to the ... south-east?! (3 on the numeric keypad ) ... to capture some more forest.

[Modo44]

And have a foothold on soon-to-be-Spartan lands. Nice.

If doing so, we should seriously consider adding a base to the north, on the unclaimed forest near the obelisk, with nutrients in range. It's unclaimed as well. Can we afford to build the needed units (colony, defenders)?

[Googlie]

Originally posted by Snoddasmannen
Though I would suggest moving that base just one notch to the ... south-east?!

Good point - it's a rolling and moist tile, and would let the first worker work the forest square itself.

Only drawback is that almost certainly Lal will rush to Zak's aid when we attack next turn, and he does have 19 scout rovers rummaging around South Arcadia (only 8 of which are stationed in his bases), so if we did establish a foothold there we'd need tio garrison it with good defenders pretty quickly

(Of course it'd be 6 turns or so before the hermes could reach there with the colong pod - by that time we might have 2 or 3 Elite Impact rovers moving south from Budushki Dvor)