Zac fans: How to reduce drones when running early FM?

[smacfan]

Relative newb seeks advice and assistance:

Other than with RecComm, ChildCreche, Police, how can you run FM early-game with Zac? (-5) Police from FM is very hard to live with....

I have (and am absorbing) Vel's V4 guide. I have actually practiced a PopBoom with Zac. Fun! But after PopBoom, going to FM and getting (-5) Police *really* cuts into production with Drone Riots. Even at 100% Psych, it didn't eliminate the drones.

A "FreeMarket HowTo" (like Vel's PopBoom and other HowTo's) would be appreciated, with help for Zac if available.

[Petek]

If you haven't already seen it, you can find a discussion of the matter in this thread:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=127714

[smacfan]

Actually, I did read that thread, but did not understand it at first. I just went back to re-read it, and now it is making much more sense.

In the game I'm playing with Zac, I haven't got VW yet, so perhaps I PopBoomed a little too early. Maybe I'll go back a few years and work on my crawlers a bit earlier so I can build Psych facilities (and projects) quicker when I need'em.

Well, I'm still learning, and enjoying every minute. Thanks!

[livid imp]

Or run all specialist bases......no roits, no anit-drone facilities needed.

[CEO Aaron]

yeah, when exercising vertical growth with Zak, don't rely on psych, instead, make specialists and crawl your food in. Specialists can't be drones, so you can't have too many.

[smacfan]

Thanks for the advice, and I also realized that Vel's strategy advises the same, though a bit later in his scheme. Makes sense during PopBoom times, certainly. And if not all specialist, at least more talents than workers while booming.

Thanks again to all for your kind and intelligent help.

[Chaos Theory]

In early FM, you shouldn't have enough citizens at any one base to outstrip a rec commons. Pump out the colony pods to both control drones and expand!

[smacfan]

Undersatood. Thanks muchly for the sage advice.

[dacole]

I usualy end up going free market before I have the tech for rec commens or any built, as well as before the VW though I do not pop boom until afterward. I've found that as long as you have five to six money coming in at each base 30% psych gives you one talent so you can support a population of two. When did version four of vals guide come out not sure I have that one...think mine is version three....

When you get ready join in a pbem I've found that one of the best ways to check stratiges and learn, the computer gets old quick.

[#endgame]

I usually get FM around turn 3-4 as Morgan, and just keep my bases so small with rushed cpods.

[smacfan]

dacole, thanks for the specific advice on Zac and FM. As for me and an MP game, I'm far from ready for that. I've only beaten the computer on Talent level so far (once), and I have not even played at the highest level yet.

Give me time, I'll get there...

As for Vel's V4 guide, he has put it up for sale at booksurge, V3 was the last freely available version:

http://www.booksurgedirect.com/product.php3?bookID=GRTU00002-00618

Or just google for "Vel's SMAX Guide".

I have V3 as well, and the USD$15 + shipping I paid to buy V4 was not wasted, IMHO.

[dacole]

Thanks I bought a coup so I must have four will look, it has been quite helpful he gives some good zak advice I think

As for pbem don't worry about not being "ready" we have all skill levels, if you get someone to make a map for you, you are guaranted to start on a peice of land large enough for several cities not the five or less it sometimes gives you on a radom map. Look forward to you being ready, pbem is the best and most entertaing way to play the game (as long as you can deal with the slow pace..but it is a turn based game)