question

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Kataphraktoi
Oh-and dont put your research rate up quite so high. I know everyone was railing on it, maybe too much, but you cant rush without cash and will actualy go slower.

Somehow I think that we can use the whole 500 postings in a thread discussing wether it's a good idea to research or stockpile without reaching a consensus

My best shot at it is like that country & western song about poker :

On a warm summer’s evenin’ on a train bound for nowhere,
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin’ out the window at the darkness
’til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, son, I’ve made a life out of readin’ people’s faces,
And knowin’ what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
So if you don’t mind my sayin’, I can see you’re out of aces.
For a taste of your whiskey I’ll give you some advice.

So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
Said, if you’re gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.

You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table.
There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.

Now ev’ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
’cause ev’ry hand’s a winner and ev’ry hand’s a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep.

So when he’d finished speakin’, he turned back towards the window,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.

You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table.
There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.

You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count you r money when you’re sittin’ at the table.
There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.

I think the same rules goes for SMAC/X - there isn't any rule except playing as the cards are dealt.

[Kataphraktoi]

This is what's happening now. I already have many foil probes. I'll add more formers in. You want them to raise land right? What are sam jets? I don't have synth fossil fuels yet.

I have some SPs that I want to get in the future. Should I pass on them?

You dont have any foil probes, nor is it in the workshop. hit the u key on your keybord, and design a probe+foil chassis

also, why did you build military? all those units are wasted. you should disband them.i recommend a temporay switch to planned to more easily move them accross the water(without drones), then move them all into 1 city for a SP or something.

as for any SP in the future...i guess the datalinks could be handy.for sure get the HSA

build probes they are the fifth part of smac( popbooming,crawlers,bases,formers and probes are smac) although some people might mention a .01% of other stuff...

[Kataphraktoi]

build probes

So you know what im talking about, i send them out in packs of 4 on a cruiser transport or 2 foil transports. in vets9 for example, i have team of 12 on 3 cruisers working to windmill the univ into submission. faced with his piddly 1 probe per city(and often no probes!!), he cannot defend himself.also, the command nexus boosts my probes even more. personaly, i think a univ player is in a bit of a situation when a drone player is ahead of him in tech. these units rock

take them along with attack forces,also, to garrison bases, protect agaisnt probes,etc. have probes everywhere you have units HOWEVER in your game,dont use defensive probes. the AI wont use them agaisnt your bases,or atleast not enough to make it worthwile

[d=me]

Originally posted by Kataphraktoi


So you know what im talking about, i send them out in packs of 4 on a cruiser transport or 2 foil transports. in vets9 for example, i have team of 12 on 3 cruisers working to windmill the univ into submission. faced with his piddly 1 probe per city(and often no probes!!), he cannot defend himself.also, the command nexus boosts my probes even more. personaly, i think a univ player is in a bit of a situation when a drone player is ahead of him in tech. these units rock

take them along with attack forces,also, to garrison bases, protect agaisnt probes,etc. have probes everywhere you have units HOWEVER in your game,dont use defensive probes. the AI wont use them agaisnt your bases,or atleast not enough to make it worthwile

My fundamental question about probe teams and ships. How did you get them into the enemy bases? My probe ships (armoured) always got slaughtered by the enemy boats or jets in the future.

also, why did you build military? all those units are wasted. you should disband them.i recommend a temporay switch to planned to more easily move them accross the water(without drones), then move them all into 1 city for a SP or something.

To defend in case that the spartans come. If I dispanded all of them what if an aggressive faction attacks?

as for any SP in the future...i guess the datalinks could be handy.for sure get the HSA

I thought people said those were useless. For the HSA I need to research advanced military alogrithms and then

build probes they are the fifth part of smac( popbooming,crawlers,bases,formers and probes are smac) although some people might mention a .01% of other stuff...

popbooming? I thought small bases are better.

So you said to build infrastructure first and that I went for the discovery techs too early. So far what more money tech should I research?

[Kataphraktoi]

So you said to build infrastructure first and that I went for the discovery techs too early. So far what more money tech should I research?

Your beeline is OK. Keep heading for fusion, as you are on the route to, or MMI

popbooming? I thought small bases are better.

Mmm yes but after quickly making those 20 small bases, you can make them 20 BIG bases in a matter of turns.

To defend in case that the spartans come. If I dispanded all of them what if an aggressive faction attacks?

You will use kungfu to annihilate them. seriously, AI only sends a transport or two. in a MP...that declartion of war will be carried by their advance troops. they wont declare like the AI does. that kind of passive defense is useless!

I thought people said those were useless. For the HSA I need to research advanced military alogrithms and then

DataLinks? kind of handy. maybe only on boosted AI's though. might as well build the HSA for probes tho

My fundamental question about probe teams and ships. How did you get them into the enemy bases? My probe ships (armoured) always got slaughtered by the enemy boats or jets in the future.

same as any military unit. first, i always like the Maritime Control Center (another fav) and use cruisers. that can easily avoid ships. then, for air, either bring aaa cruisers or just zip up fast enough to not be noticed. you should post your ship as far from the city as possible, then next turn zip up,unload probes,attack

[Senethro]

BUILD MORE BASES! MAKE BASES BIGGER!

[d=me]

Originally posted by Kataphraktoi


Your beeline is OK. Keep heading for fusion, as you are on the route to, or MMI



Mmm yes but after quickly making those 20 small bases, you can make them 20 BIG bases in a matter of turns.



You will use kungfu to annihilate them. seriously, AI only sends a transport or two. in a MP...that declartion of war will be carried by their advance troops. they wont declare like the AI does. that kind of passive defense is useless!



DataLinks? kind of handy. maybe only on boosted AI's though. might as well build the HSA for probes tho



same as any military unit. first, i always like the Maritime Control Center (another fav) and use cruisers. that can easily avoid ships. then, for air, either bring aaa cruisers or just zip up fast enough to not be noticed. you should post your ship as far from the city as possible, then next turn zip up,unload probes,attack

Why do you want fusion? The reactor? If a fusion rover is attacked by a normal rover I think that it will loose no matter what. Isn't it who attacks first? What is kungfu? I have 2 rovers on each island. I don't have doc initiative yet. Now I'm focusing on the techs that gives you some stuff like copters and stuff what about in the later stages where you have tech and SP races? Is that what later stages are like? Like if you don't get the space elevator then you are in trouble right?

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by d=me
Why do you want fusion? The reactor?

Fusion has two effects on units - they get cheaper, and they hit harder. Both are desirable.

[d=me]

Which one?

Coctrine Initiative
Centauri Empathy
Pre sentient alog
Planetary economics
Hi energy chemistry
Retroviral Engineering
Field Modulation

I chose Pre sentient alogs but is Retroviral a better choice since it's the highest level tech?

[Kataphraktoi]

Forget those levels. just pick the tech you want. you HAVE to know what you want...! you want cloning vats? pick retrovial. you want fusion? pick presentient algorithms. want to smoke everyone with choppers? go MMI

Why do you want fusion? The reactor? If a fusion rover is attacked by a normal rover I think that it will loose no matter what. Isn't it who attacks first? What is kungfu? I have 2 rovers on each island. I don't have doc initiative yet. Now I'm focusing on the techs that gives you some stuff like copters and stuff what about in the later stages where you have tech and SP races? Is that what later stages are like? Like if you don't get the space elevator then you are in trouble right?

Fusion units kick ass(i think) but i like the fusion labs.

what is kungfu...ever watch an action movie? like when the main guy is laying the smackdown on badguys, or something like rambo? defeating them with your bare hands, or aka just a few units. instead of the huge flotilla you had assembled.

if you cant get the space elelator before the AI, i suggest you read senethros last post carefully. therefore, you would be in no trouble even if it was a serious problem,which it isnt(to miss it)

[d=me]

Originally posted by Kataphraktoi
you HAVE to know what you want...!

Wasn't my beeline ineffective? That's what you said so many times before and said I should beeline for IA etc.... So it doesn't matter now?

what is kungfu...ever watch an action movie? like when the main guy is laying the smackdown on badguys, or something like rambo? defeating them with your bare hands, or aka just a few units. instead of the huge flotilla you had assembled.

So you are supposed to win with an inferior force?

if you cant get the space elelator before the AI, i suggest you read senethros last post carefully. therefore, you would be in no trouble even if it was a serious problem,which it isnt(to miss it)

Then I can't drop my units anywhere I want, I hate using boats to ferry them.

[Kataphraktoi]

Wasn't my beeline ineffective? That's what you said so many times before and said I should beeline for IA etc.... So it doesn't matter now?

Hmm then why did you ask about tech choices...?

So you are supposed to win with an inferior force?

If you hadnt noticed, the AI on transcend cheats. unless you allocate alot of effort towards massing troops, you cant outpunch it that way. afraid to say it...but your seriously behind on devolopment in those games.

check the sav i uploaded. its Huge with transcend difficulty, 70-90% water. i have IA, Doc:Ini, and Centauri Empaphy. The PTS and EG have just been rushed to completion, and the SE is FreeMarket\Wealth. Its not that great a game,but you should emulate that building pattern. Notice i used my EC from selling all my techs and the UNS wreckage to rush alot of recycling tanks. Things that went wrong: IA beeline was messed up for who knows why, and the research cost on huge is very big.Also,very dry start. Estimated 2230 Transcend date

[Leon Trotsky]

Originally posted by d=me
So you are supposed to win with an inferior force?

Information, the first principle of warfare, must form the
foundation of all your efforts. Know, of course, thine enemy.
But in knowing him do not forget above all to know thyself.
The commander who embraces this totality of battle shall win
even with the inferior force.
^
^ -- Spartan Battle Manual

[d=me]

Originally posted by Kataphraktoi

Hmm then why did you ask about tech choices...?

I was asking is now I'm at this stage, is there a beeline that is like a dogma to follow or does it not matter anymore?

afraid to say it...but your seriously behind on devolopment in those games.

You mean I'm not building enough? I thought that I was the strongest faction in that upload.

[Kataphraktoi]

Then I can't drop my units anywhere I want, I hate using boats to ferry them

Then build the damn elevator its not like the AI is less pathetic than normal if you get it or not. you do know there is a tech to allow orbital drop?