ACDG6: Operations

[vyeh]

We will build the planetary energy grid next year.

Our veteran laser speeder prototype was victorious against a mindworm and earned 30 credits.

Our next task is to beat the Cult to vitro fertilization center (PTS). Since they were close for command center, we may have to cash in the alien artifact.

I think PTS is worth it.

[Mart]

Cycon will get Polymorphic Def. System.
I wonder what Data Angels will switch to...

When building PTS (VFC) there is some nice trick to get even larger population boom. Just before completing SP, bases with size 3 or 2 should build a colony pod. They will be re-populated to size 3 anyway, so these colony pods are a bonus.
The question would be do we need it, and if yes, how many? Also for how long - they cost upkeep, so drain mineral production, but if we want to find new bases in near future, this might be worth doing.
-------
For example, if we plan on establishing few more bases to gift to a vassal faction for increased commerce. would be cheap.

[vyeh]

Cybernetic built polymorphic def system. They are now working on the supercollider.

We built the planetary energy grid. The Angels redirected their effort toward the echelon mirror park.

We went from producing 36 credits to 53 credits, a gain of 17 credits per year (the radar rover supply and 5 crawlers that went into the secret project were only adding another 6 minerals per year, so it made sense to immediately build the secret project).

We're racing to get the vitro fertilization center (PTS). We know that the Cult was very close to getting the command nexus, so we probably should be spending our credits hurrying crawlers rather than colony pods.

Once we have enough crawlers/alien artifact around Mutatio, we can build some colony pods (since we will have a one year warning). When we get the warning, we cash in the crawlers.

With planetary energy grid, it might be time to consider a pop boom of a few years (just enough to grow some of our bases to size 5).

[Hydro]

Perhaps let the Cult get PTS and then conquer them? That only sense if we plan on keeping the base where PTS is located. This would limit our ability to do tricks, like CPs (etc). And there would be a considerable delay.

With our extra energy can we consider holo theatres for a pop boom? We now have a good horizontal spread of bases, but in order to make them truly productive we need to go vertical where it makes sense.

[vyeh]

PTS only makes size 1 and 2 bases become size 3 when it is first built. It does not have that effect when it is conquered.

I agree that it will be soon time for hologram theatres, but I think it makes more sense to first grow the bases (using doctors or psych allocation for stability) and then build the holo theatres. Basically we have a choice: pop boom (planned economics) or +2 economy (private/protectionist economics).

What I propose to do is to use 8 crawlers to get 240 minerals accumulated toward PTS, switch to planned. Under planned/plutocrat, 240 will be enough minerals to build PTS.

We stay in planned for two or three years. We will take a hit in economy and labs, but at the end of the two or three years, we will have grown several of our bases.

In addition to the mitigating effect of greater population and specialist, we would build a secret project for 240 minerals instead of 300 minerals. That is the equivalent of 120 credits, which more than covers the 80 credit cost of switching back and forth.

I think it makes sense. With planetary energy grid, we would have enough for maintenance, but we would not have enough to be purchasing a lot of hologram theatres. But once we switch back, we will be working more squares, so there will be more energy and as we build hologram theatres we can shift from doctors to workers.

Please note that we will also be taking a major research hit.

[Hydro]

Early on I generally am careful on which bases get holo theatres. Only high-growth or highly developed interior bases get them. If we aren't ready then I'm sure there are other ways to spend the resources.

If we can build PTS then that's fine. PTS has limited use by mid game, but it can really goose stability and growth early on.

I thought we had generally agreed we would live with the research hit to get our bases growing and SPs. We are still in growth mode, and doing pretty well all things considered.

[vyeh]

The research hit caused by unitary police state only has about a 30% hit and is somewhat offset by bases that can work 4 squares (with a recreation commons and a garrison) instead of 2 squares (with the same recreation commons and a garrison).

Going to planned/plutocrat instead of private/protectionist/plutocrat is almost a 100% hit and can only be justified as long as bases are growing.

The only reason I think popbooming makes sense is that with unitary police state, we can have bases with four worked squares and a specialist generating both labs and credits. Once we get those bases and switch back to +2 economy, we are in a better position lab wise.

Anyway, while we can live with some research hit, we have to be careful not to get too far behind.

[Hydro]

I recall one of Vel's tenets is that in the early and perhaps mid game Minerals Are King. Later that is eclipsed by energy as facilities and commerce kicks in. To me we are clearly in the Minerals phase.

[vyeh]

We switched the production of Faralia, Aurora and Illuminatus to hatchery. They did not get a free hatchery when we conquered them (Adonia and Sands of Time did).

I think if we spend 3 years in a pop boom, we can increase all of our bases except Guanino to size 5. Then we switch back to +2 economy.

Then every base except Guanino could have one talent, 2 workers, 1 drone and 1 or more specialist. If there is only one specialist, it can be an engineer producing (without inefficiency) 2 labs and 1 credit per year.

If minerals are king, why did we choose planetary energy grid rather than vitro fertilization center (which would have increased 3 of our bases to size 3)?

One of the reasons for pop booming is to bring almost all of our bases to size 5, so they can each have one engineer. That engineer gives us more energy in the form of labs and credits.

Our biggest issue is the energy restriction. We're currently researching zero point energy. In addition to lifting the energy restriction, zero point energy allows two more politics.

We're currently 8 years away from zero point energy. I think that once we pop boom to size 5, we will have enough minerals for the facilities and units we can build with our current tech.

[Hydro]

I see no contradiction in building PEG since the mins allow us to build the SP - that's the point. The advantages/disads are a judgement call for current and future usefulness of teh SP. I think PEG is more useful than PTS long term since Energy Banks are 80 mins (8 rows?), and 80 mins x 14 bases means PEG is a no-brainer. Free facilities are always good.

[vyeh]

In addition to the mineral costs, energy banks have a maintenance cost of 1 credit. PEG also means we have 14 more credits per turn. My only point is that we can't ignore tech, unless we want to pursue a permanent momentum strategy.

[Mart]

There are alternatives to research: trade, probing, extortion... well, we could limit ourselves to trade and probing besides research.

[vyeh]

The Cult is close to building the vitro fertilization center (PTS).

We have eight crawlers (240 minerals), 1 alien artifact (50 minerals), 82 credits (41 minerals) and Mutatio production (6 minerals without supply crawler extraction).

There are two ways to get the PTS:

(1) cash in the 8 crawlers and the alien artifact and buy 4 minerals (8 credits); or

(2) cash in the 8 crawlers and switch to planned (40 credits).

From previous discussion, Hydro prefers to save the alien artifact for a tech and Mart likes the benefits of planned and is not concerned about the research hit.

The Cult has taken Psi Consciousness. We're currently pact with the Consciousness and in vendetta with the Cult.

I suggest that we build a road toward Psi Consciousness, build an invasion force, retake Psi Consciousness and conquer the Cult.

How does this sound for an invasion force?

(1) land transport;
(2) resonance laser prototype squad;
(3) laser rover prototype (already exists);
(4) laser speeder prototype (already exists);
(5) 3 standard probe teams;
(6) 3 formers (2 Aurora and Phenotypi are already at Phenotypi); and
(7) resonance laser artillery.

Our objectives:

(1) steal as much tech and credits from the Cult (they lead in wealth);
(2) take back Psi Consciousness; and
(3) turn the Cult into a submissive.

Current (2156) power graph:

[Hydro]

Save the artifact and take the research hit with Planned. Our general plan is to keep reasonable tech parity, and then steal our way to the top.

The invasion force seems a bit thin. I like the land transport/infantry, but I’d prefer to see a few more mobile units. Or do we have enough info (infiltration) do know what the Cult have? The infantry probes will be good defenders.

Also, if the Cult uses psi we could really use a trance defender. I’d suggest an armored trance defender or maybe an armored defense rover with ECM.

Lastly, if we build the PTS then the Cult may just spam out the minerals accumulated for the SP on lots of military units. If they do the Cult will be much harder to take out. Do we want that?

[vyeh]

We don't have tech parity. Do you mean reasonable tech disparity?

We will have 3 mobile units (laser rover, laser speeder, resonance laser rover).

We do not have infiltration. The first task for our probe teams.

We don't have secrets of the human brain, which is needed for trance, or progenitor psych, which is needed for resonance pulse (ECM). See the effect of a low tech rate.

Or the Cult will change to another SP. I don't think it is a good idea to give up a useful SP. There are benefits that accrue to the builder of the SP (bases size 1 and 2 become size 3) that don't accrue to the person who captures the SP.

The invasion force is only an initial force to take out Psi Consciousness. Once we know what we are up against, we can add additional forces.

Should we continue popping pods with the elite probe team or should the elite probe team return (quick way: probe the Templar)?