ACT003 turn update part 2

[Enigma]

I would have gotten the two techs this turn (with a good safety margin) but for some reason my research output dropped dramatically. Then I realized that Mis broke our pact! We have all had the global trade pact going so we were all gaining really substantial energy. The energy I lost from not being in this pact is what caused me to not be able to research both techs. Paul has won. But then again Mis's last minute military buildup could change the tables... who knows!

The main reason I say Paul has won is because he is the first person to play each year, so even if we exactly parallell in tech/buildings he will win since he plays his turn first.
[This message has been edited by Enigma (edited June 14, 2000).]

[Paul]

Actually, Mis will discover Threshold first, so if she can complete both Voice and Ascent in one turn she will win. My only hope is that for some reason she won't be able to do that.

[Paul]

And of course, the treaty is the reason why I am still so far from transcendance. And one of my bases went into drone riots this turn, so I would not have made it even if Mis hadn't cancelled the pact.

[Misotu]

Yes ... um ... sorry guys. I'm afraid that I took a look at the research rates and realised that I could cut you both back by a tech this turn if I cancelled both pacts. Not a prelude to aggression, you understand, just a last-minute adjustment I realised I could take that last tech easily without the pact income, but neither of you could do the same. I didn't know that Paul couldn't cash his artifacts though ... I assumed that he'd get four techs this turn and have a good chance to take the game right away.

Playing my turn now, I'm interested to see how it looks.

[Misotu]

Turn sent to Paul.

[Paul]

A new volcano just erupted in the Morganic area of the northern ocean. I just loaded my turn; just thought you might find this interesting to know.

[Paul]

2177 sent.

Congratulations, Mis. If you have the resources to finish Ascent to Transcendance in one turn (which you seem to have) you have won the game.

[Enigma]

Yeah Mis has won. Care to do a round of error analysis everyone?

Anyway I have to pack up my computer and all of my stuff for my trip this morning so can't play any turns. Not like I really need to anyways. I should have busted Mis when I had the chance, but she has won now anyways.

Well the Morganite hab limits and inability to pop boom more than hurt me this game. The way that this scenario is created- with contact from day 1, and such a tiny map, inevitably favors the faction with the best research and flexibility. I devoted my resources to the best of my ability to transcending, as did Paul, but in the end Mis managed to skip a whole bunch of techs and get the threshold anyways.

At one point I was 5 techs or so ahead of both of you when I got the universal translator and chose the secrets of creation and the secrets of alpha centauri as my beelines. And before then I had been running 100% labs for a long time getting 2 techs a turn for the majority of that time. I just do not know how that lead was broken so easily, the two of you must have been swapping techs like crazy!

And breaking our pacts was really crafty, I had considered PB's but not something as simple as breaking pacts, which I should have. The PKs are definatley a stronger faction in this scenario than many people give them credit for. I just barely managed to keep up with all of you, the only reason I was anywhere near Paul in my 3rd place spot was because I had gotten the weather paradigm and had a lot of boreholes etc. I really do not think that it was anything lacking in my strategy but a complete lack of cities with specialists until late in the game diminished my energy supply greatly. Still I am amazed that Mis won, I knew she had the greatest industrial output and the most specialists, but her skipping all the techs and then breaking pacts really was what did it.

Paul still does have a chance mind you albeit a small one. I do not know if he can accumulate the resources to build the ascent. I have no clue why he did not allocate close to 100% econ and why he is still researching- I think that if he did he could build the ascent in one turn through crawler upgrades. Either way this has been a well played game by everyone and I am a little surprised to find that Morgan sucked all the way through in a pure game of the builders. My early game lead disappeared as soon as the magical pop boom arrived for everyone else and I was left eating the dust of Mis and Paul. I would not have even had an early game lead if it were not for a few lucky artifacts that gave me the WP and me getting a lot more monoliths than everyone else.

Sorry if this post sounds a bit bitter but I am a bit annoyed with my performance this game.. Morgan is my favorite faction and the fact that the whole 100% labs allocation giving me a tech lead can be beaten so easily is a bit disenheartening.
[This message has been edited by Enigma (edited June 15, 2000).]

[Paul]

2178 sent.

If no unforeseen things take place Mis will finish the Ascent on her next turn, so congratulations and thank you both for a fun game.

I did make sure that I will build the Ascent on my turn just in case something does happen to Mis, but I'm not counting on it.

[Misotu]

I never assume that a game is done until it is, if you see what I mean. I'm always sure there's something I haven't thought of. Now this might sound like paranoia to you guys, but unfortunately it's the result of horribly embarrassing experience

Just to put the record straight though, I didn't actually skip any techs in the end. I have researched exactly the same number as Buddha ... which means that my tech cost was not artificially reduced overall. I also have an unused artifact in hand. Buddha and I have both researched fewer than Paul.

- Mis

[Misotu]

Well, the game is finished. I completed the Ascent, MY 2178, AC score 5216. I'll send the result to Tau.

Thanks to both of you for a fun game, well-played. I really enjoyed it and it made a pleasant change to play a pure builder game with none of that rotten nerve gas

- Mis