Strategies for playing on tiny map

[The diplomat]

For all the time that I have been playing SMAC, I usually played on standard or larger maps and I generally did very well. Recently, I decided to see what it is like playing on tiny maps and transcend level. And I am NOT doing too well.

I get the impression that tiny maps force players to be very aggressive, especially on transcend level. You basically have to build up a military right away and crush your nearest neighbor almost immediately. Obviously, it depends on what faction you play and what factions start off near you. If you play Lal and you happened to start on a continent with Deirdre and Morgan, a builder style might work.

I played a game as Zach and I was neighbor to Yang, and I got whooped within like 50 turns. Basically, Yang and Miriam ganged up on me within 30 turns of starting the game, and I got totally creamed.

Is it possible to play a builder style on a tiny map? What strategies work best?

[Petek]

I played several games as the Drones on tiny maps. I found that I had to grab territory ASAP by building bases with super-tight spacing. Then had to research weapon techs and wipe out neighbors. Don't remember all the details, but a pure builder strategy seems hopeless: formers and crawlers are cannon fodder as soon as needlejets appear.

It was a nice change of pace for a few games, but I went back to larger maps.

[Commy]

Drones are probably the best faction for tiny maps...in fact, they are the only faction that I have seen that has stood up to both alien factions at the same time, and not only survive, but erradicate the aliens...

As far as strategy, if you play on Librarian first, perhaps you will form your own strategies...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Petek
Don't remember all the details, but a pure builder strategy seems hopeless: formers and crawlers are cannon fodder as soon as needlejets appear.

I have been playing only tiny map games recently mainly with the Spartans and morganites. I find the Spartans actually do slightly better with the tactics I use but generally I win the same way every time. I go builder to start and pretty much give in to most early tech demands-- I build and build (perhaps 5 or 6 bases depending on self-imposed restrictions) and stay friendly with everyone while infiltrating them all. Then at a key moment I will do a quick multiple tech steal (usually just before airpower so I get it first). Pump out a few planes while waiting to get to MMI and then chop and drop the planet. PLaying very sloppily and with added restrictions I win between 2205 and 2230 by either conquest or diplomatic victory.

MY added restrictions vary from game to game but have included

-- only allowed to build ONE SP
-- only allowed to build the Cyborg Factory and no other SP (Spartans)
-- No more than 3 or 4 or 5 bases may be built
-- Must give in to ALL AI demands
-- Must never accept any treaty truce or pact- vendetta on all always (I beelined to impact weapons )
-- No naval vessels other than probeships
-- No probeships

etc etc-- I just change it up each time.


I do find that the AI seems to HATE the morganites more than the Spartans for some reason even when running the default SE choices.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Commy
Drones are probably the best faction for tiny maps...in fact, they are the only faction that I have seen that has stood up to both alien factions at the same time, and not only survive, but erradicate the aliens...

I am a big Drones fan as well but I think that the Hive, Cult, believers and Spartans are more suited to the smaller map. I actually find the cult is a killer on the tiny map since quickly whipping up a support free worm army in the fungus ( and the great mobility these worms have comparitive to other units in the early game) usually means a submissive or two.

Originally posted by Commy


As far as strategy, if you play on Librarian first, perhaps you will form your own strategies...

NO --play on transcend always from the first time you ever win a game there. All the lower levels do is create bad habits like not being ready to quell the second citizen as drone

[Dis]

I recently tried a game on a tiny map. I did surprisingly well. I thought it would be difficult since all of my bases would be subject to air attack from needlejets. It's annoying when they kill your formers and crawlers. But I did fairly well.

[Mark123jansen]

recently ive been playing on tiny map a lot with a friend. I would be morgan and he the drones. I would try a builder game, and he a conqueror, but we co-oped, I was financing his little wars with morganite money, and occasionally producing rovers for him, later even some jets, and I would also be doing the bulk of our joined research. We have found this type of play to be very fun, since we both get to play our own styles, and the tiny map ensures that the games can actually be over in a single afternoon.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Mark123jansen
recently ive been playing on tiny map a lot with a friend. I would be morgan and he the drones. I would try a builder game, and he a conqueror, but we co-oped, I was financing his little wars with morganite money, and occasionally producing rovers for him, later even some jets, and I would also be doing the bulk of our joined research. We have found this type of play to be very fun, since we both get to play our own styles, and the tiny map ensures that the games can actually be over in a single afternoon.

I guess that works fine against the AI's but who wins when you are the only factions left ?

[Mark123jansen]

cooperative victory enabled

[GeoModder]

Has any of you ever tried the Chiron small map?

[Commy]

Off of civ.org.pl? I love that map...there is just one problem...3 or 4 factions appear right by the Unity crash site and Freshwater sea...and the other 3 or 4 have their own continents...I think that there are only like 10 starting spots on that map, with 6 or 7 of them on the same continent...

However, I think that it is the best tiny map for making scenarios, unless you are doing a faction vs. faction thing...

I remember me and my friend doing the same thing as Mark123jansen...I was morgan, he was Zakhorav...personally, I like the University better, but since he had no clue how to play builder without getting slaughtered, I played the builder...we played on Transcend...had both the aliens teamed up against us through the scenario editor, along with the drones and cyborgs...had especially aggressive rule on or whatever its called...interesting game...

[Mark123jansen]

Isnt it satifying to be at peace with everyone, while youre supplying rovers, cash and technology to somebody who is wiping everybody off the face of planet? (and hauling in more cash from trade as you go along)

[Commy]

And then wiping them off the face of the earth with 30-12 clean grav ships with empath and blink displacers? Sounds fun...been a long time since I ever got that far before starting a new game...must be the ADD...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Commy
And then wiping them off the face of the earth with 30-12 clean grav ships with empath and blink displacers? Sounds fun...been a long time since I ever got that far before starting a new game...must be the ADD...

Nah -- its just that once you CAN wipe everyone out it seems pointless to keep playing. Usually choppers ends the game for me. The AI can't cope and stuff like fusion or attack 12 or 13 weapons just make it go faster