Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?

[Asmala]

/threads/images/Graemlins/icon09.gif 3000th post in Koth thread! /threads/images/Graemlins/icon09.gif
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif
Koth page is updated.

[Joachim]

Heh ya Gandalph,

What are your preferences for settings?

[Gandalph]

Hey Joachim, I sent you an email.

Edit:
My email was bounced for "Administrative" reasons (as reported by my mail server?????).

My preferences are;
1 good planet
no ancient
Tesco map
all else default

If you would like to add or reject please email or post.

[Joachim]

It must be going slow in the ether....

[Slynky]

King of the Hill game is up and running. Let me know if there are any problems. Should be a good game! (and if you can give some updates...that would be nice)

[Joachim]

Gandalph said:
Hey Joachim, I sent you an email.

Edit:
My email was bounced for "Administrative" reasons (as reported by my mail server?????).

My preferences are;
1 good planet
no ancient
Tesco map
all else default

If you would like to add or reject please email or post.



Sold. Will up load shortly.
Good Luck.

[Asmala]

New Koth admin needed!

I'm going to do my military service next year, starting 10th of January. I won't have an internet access most of the year so I can't host the Koth league then. I know there's still over two months left, but I think it'd be better if I can help in possible problems (updating Koth site etc.).

Any volunteers?

[brianeyci]

GG Katchtoo. Your people fought to the Last man and only quit when the homeworld was slagged.

The Duros Continium have finished reasearching their intergalactic portal and send a single colony ship through to colonize another galaxy. Who will they face next?

Brian

[Asmala]

Koth page updated.

A new Koth admin is still needed.

[Alneyan]

January should see the end of my first term, and probably more time on my hands, so I may be able to take KOTH administration (and no such thing as military service here).

Besides, both KOTH admins have been KOTH kings as well, so becoming an admin simply means the crown will rest on my head, sooner or later. Ah, wishful thinking and the like.

[Asmala]

Alneyan said:
January should see the end of my first term, and probably more time on my hands, so I may be able to take KOTH administration (and no such thing as military service here).



That would be great. Even though I'll leave only 10th of January, I think we should change the administration earlier than that. Then I could assist you a bit (though the program which generates the Koth page is quite self-explanatory).

[Alneyan]

Say the word when you want to hand me the administration then; oh, and please do not forget to give that shiny little thing on your head.

I am using Dreamweaver as a WYSIWYG editor, so I should not have trouble editing the KOTH page (I couldn't code in HTML to save my life).

[Asmala]

You need to know nothing about HTML, I have a program which generates the Koth page automatically.

When you want the administration, is something around mid-December good? Or do you want earlier/later? I can handle it to you whenever you want (of course before the 10th of January http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif)

[Alneyan]

Mid-December should be fine, leaving enough time for the unavoidable problems to pop in.

[geoschmo]

Alneyan said:
Besides, both KOTH admins have been KOTH kings as well, so becoming an admin simply means the crown will rest on my head, sooner or later. Ah, wishful thinking and the like.

Um, actually I never quite made it. I was in a couple King Matches, but lost both. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[geoschmo]

Asmala, I think I'm ready to give the hill another try. Sign me up please.

[Alneyan]

I thought you had been King, albeit a short-lived one. Oh well, so much for my fantasy of getting the crown simply by being an administrator.

Welcome back to the Hill then! *Innocent smile* I seem to recall having one old grudge to settle with you, involving some torpedo Light Carriers without ECM/CS/training, my first KOTH game, and yourself. Hmm... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Asmala]

geoschmo said:
Asmala, I think I'm ready to give the hill another try. Sign me up please.



Welcome back! Your first opponent is Gozguy.

[brianeyci]

Some1 hurry up and win so I can play again =D

Brian

[Renegade 13]

Asmala, I have PM'd Mark twice, and emailed him once. All of this was probably within the Last 10-12 days or so. He hasn't responded to any of my communications, and we haven't played a turn of our KOTH game since early October if my memory serves me well. I think I was on the losing end of the game, but he seems to have just quit so maybe I wasn't http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif .

What do you suggest I do? I already won my very first KOTH game due to a forfeit, and don't want to have my 3rd one go the same way http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif Thanks.

[Alneyan]

I don't think his leaving is connected to losing; at least, it didn't look that way in the two other ways where I have seen leave without warning, or answer to PMs (even when he was seen browsing through his PM list). One of these games was a 2vs2 SEIV game, which was more or less even, and the other a non-competitive Dominions game.

Of course, I will leave the "what to do" part to my most esteemed colleague, styled Right Honourable Asmala the First, Marquess of Aldan. (I am not digressing, I am merely enjoying my Last month when I am free to make nearly nonsensical Posts in this thread. Afterwards I will actually have to answer the matter at hand)

[Slynky]

Not sure what can be done but, in my "book", anyone who doesn't answer PMs or play his turns in a particular game while actively playing another (the Tourney, I believe), should be booted from the game. And, possibly, KOTH, as he seems to be developing a record at this.

Just my opinion.

[Alneyan]

Indirectly in response to Slynky's post: by "what to do", I meant what you could be done for Renegade. I have likely already shown my opinion about the case of Mark.

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:
Indirectly in response to Slynky's post: by "what to do", I meant what you could be done for Renegade. I have likely already shown my opinion about the case of Mark.


Well, (1) - He should be booted from the game (seems kind of a given) (2) As to Renegade, he can advance (but he seems reluctant to) or he can remain on the same level and start a new game. That's about all I can see to do.

[Renegade 13]

Well, if (and I stress if) Mark is booted, I would not want to advance when I did not earn it. Especially since I'm getting rather high up here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I must radiate something that makes people quit when they're playing against me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Alneyan]

Renegade,don't forget that o****-based attack in the Cantina. It is enough of a malevolent radiation to make anybody run away screaming, and could be the explanation you are looking for. You might appear to be rid of the o****s, but they are not so easily disposed of. The Cantina wouldn't be so dreaded otherwise.

Brianeyci, you know what they say? Be careful of what you wish for. *Insert "patented evil overlord chuckle" here* The Alneyan/Kwok game is the most likely to finish first, unless Gozguy and Geo go at a breakneck pace, and since we are playing a small map I would expect us to finish the game in a few more turns (fifteen or so I guess), one way or another.

[Captain Kwok]

Fifteen turns, eh? That makes me think you are unaware of the fiestiness of the Juprups... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

[Asmala]

Renegade, I've sent a message to Mark. If I don't get a reply to it soon I'll remove him from the Hill. I would rise you to the next level, but if you want of course you can stay in current level. I can also check the game situation if you like to know whether you were winning or losing.

[Alneyan]

Eh, fifteen turns would require me to actually build up my courage though, instead of waiting for my high-tech toys (hmm, the Crystalline Armour). Am I becoming too cautious? Quite possibly.

[geoschmo]

With a purpose the battered old warrior stepped to the base of the hill. He could hear the sounds of distant battles above him on the slopes. The clanging of steel and the shouts of men and beasts, some in pain, and some in triumph reached his ears though the mists. He could feel his pulse quicken, and feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The acrid smell of death filled his nostrils, and the remains of battles past lay around him on the ground, but he stood alone. There was no sign of the challange that lay before him, save for a simple wooden sign upon which was carved:

K.O.T.H. GozGuy vs Geoschmo

The words were familier to him, yet somehow felt strange. He knew that it was his name, yet it had been so long since he had read it on the sign. So long since he had been cast down from the heights and stumbled out into the wilderness. He had not known at the time if he would live or die, and if he lived he had no intention of ever returning to this god-forsaken place. But the pull was too strong to resist.

As far as he roamed into the wilderness, there was no place he could go where he could not see The Hill in the distance. When he closed his eyes he could still see it, hear it, and smell it. It filled his days, and invaded his dreams. He had to return.

A glint of metal caught his eye. He stooped down and picked up the remains of a massive weapon. The warrior knew in it's day the spear had would have stood higher then him if held upright. Broken nearly in half, the piece he held now still measured a full four feet. It's shaft was built for a man with bigger hands then him, and the point, though rusted and chinked still looked as if it could cut through solid rock.

The warrior knew the creture that carried this spear. He thought of his old foe the Primitive One. He wondered if he would return one day to The Hill. He thought of all the others he had beaten, and those that had beaten him. Some he would meet again for sure. And he wondered at the new generation that he knew must be even now fighting on The Hill. He would meet some of them as well, in time.

The warrior shook himself out of his reverie and began to beat the mighty spear upon his shield. The noise echoed off the rocks around him. He began to shout.

"Gozguy, show yourself! I come to give you the battle that you seek!

I have returned!"

[Gandalph]

Geo - BRAVO!!!
A fine read and I personally welcome you back to the hill.

[Renegade 13]

Asmala said:
Renegade, I've sent a message to Mark. If I don't get a reply to it soon I'll remove him from the Hill. I would rise you to the next level, but if you want of course you can stay in current level. I can also check the game situation if you like to know whether you were winning or losing.



Hmm...Well, assuming you don't get a response from Mark, I'd like you to check the game, and determine who was winning and who was losing. If I was winning, then I would be agreeable to moving up the hill. However, if (as I suspect is the case) I was losing, then I'd like to stay where I am. Is that OK with you?

PS: Thanks a lot for the help here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Gozra]

With a shout of pain and frustration Gozguy's foot slipped and with a great roar fell rolling down the hill. Coming to rest with a brutal thump against small a rock. He lay there one eye watching as an ant struggled with a gobbet of food up the hill toward it's home. He watched the ant struggle with it's prize until it was out of sight. Gozguy groaned and sat up. Muttering to himself the mantra " Gandalph got lucky" over and over He grasped his battleaxe grinding the hilt into an anthill he almost slips and falls but manages to stand.
From somewhere on the other side of the hill came a squeaky type of sound. Barely understandable "gozguy"
Lumbering around the hill Gozguy Spots Geoschmoe
"WHO DARES TO SAY MY NAME WITHOUT FEAR AND TREMBLING!"
Bellows Gozguy.
"Fresh meat for the grinder I see." He mutters.

[Asmala]

Renegade 13 said:
Hmm...Well, assuming you don't get a response from Mark, I'd like you to check the game, and determine who was winning and who was losing. If I was winning, then I would be agreeable to moving up the hill. However, if (as I suspect is the case) I was losing, then I'd like to stay where I am. Is that OK with you?

PS: Thanks a lot for the help here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif



Yes it's OK. I can also give the password to you so you can check the situation yourself. I'll kick Mark out of the Hill on Friday if he hasn't replied by then.

[Captain Kwok]

As predicted, I'm sucking it up in this first game and have almost been defeated, but I've learned a lot. More importantly, I'll endeavour to try again and perhaps help someone else up the hill. /threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif

[Slynky]

Well, that's what it all about. Learning the "KOTH" way of playing. Hey, imagine MY first KOTH game! Against the Primitive One (and his home system was next to mine!) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

[Slynky]

And, remember, you're not playing against a slouch! (I taught him everything he knows...especially how to make sure his light carriers are not set on "Do Not Get Hurt" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif)

[Renegade 13]

Asmala said:
I'll kick Mark out of the Hill on Friday if he hasn't replied by then.



Has Mark replied yet Asmala? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

[Asmala]

Renegade 13 said:

Asmala said:
I'll kick Mark out of the Hill on Friday if he hasn't replied by then.



Has Mark replied yet Asmala? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif



No he hasn't. I've sent you a new turn where Mark's password is reseted.

[Alneyan]

You are very kind Slynky; do feel free to keep on instilling fear and awe in the hearts of all the KOTH players. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Some might be a tad bit disappointed when seeing the real thing however.

*Crosses fingers, and hopes Geoschmo to win his game rather quickly* (My apologises Gozguy, but I have a debt to settle with Geo, so)

[Slynky]

Parabolize vs Slynky - 2407.8

Well, the game has been running a LONG time! Not that anyone cares ( http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif) but I started the game with a bad placement (on the edge) and Parabolize was 2 systems to my inside. And, certainly, he was smart enough to block me in with mines to 7 and a half systems. Which means he had about 23 systems for expansion.

I lived with those systems through turn 50 when I got lucky and took 2 systems from him. Oh BOY...now I have 10 systems http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif. Tried a run on his property around turn 70 but got chased down by 15 kick-*** carriers that wiped all my sweepers and fleet out. (oh well, what could I expect, right?)

And, of course, I'm subject to intel attacks now for about 20 turns or more.

Managed to capture a planet and get some breathers...which gave me some "breathing room" (pun intended).

And somehow, I'm in first place (he must be mothballing everything he builds!). Just seeing how long I can Last but with 2 and a half times the empire as I have, it shouldn't be long. Amazed already it has gone this long!

[Renegade 13]

Ok, thanks a lot Asmala. Looks like Mark was beating me fairly badly!!

[Captain Kwok]

The Juprups have managed to hold on to their homeworld after a direct assault by Alneyan's evil Byzantine Imperium.

From a excerpt of Speaker Kwok's address to the inhabinants of Juprup Prime: "Although most did not hold out a hope for us to survive this assault after so many us had already perished, we rallied together and with a single voice we declared that we will not vanish quietly into the night - that we will fight, and will continue to fight until the very end taking every Byzantine occupier with us."

[Alneyan]

Meanwhile, from the Headquarters of the Empty-Headed Low Command of the Byzantine Imperium: "Please, order us a Planet Destroyer Mk II rather than the usual Warp Opener. We are being lazy, and do not wish to fight the homeworld directly. Of course, still send some cannon fodder just to keep them busy".

Incidentally Kwok, do not get inspired by my research/designs; I have simply skipped ECM/CS, took a penalty to research too high, and did not get a fleet ready to challenge bases (as you may have guessed, their purpose was simply to raise unhappiness). In other words, everything you shouldn't do.

[Captain Kwok]

Juprup Prime has fallen.

Speaker Kwok was among the casualities - but died fighting to the end. The overwhelming numbers or Byzantine ships were simply too much.

Commander Kwak has taken command of what remains of the Juprups - a few scattered colonies in the Ibsunk and Cewandi systems.

There is not much hope for our survival. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

[Captain Kwok]

The loss of all the colonies in the Ibsunk system has left Cewandi II as the Last Juprup colony. The colonists have fought bravely under the leadership of Captain Ook, who aboard the UJFS Koopa has taken to space to fight the Byzantine Imperium in an act of heroic courage. /threads/images/Graemlins/Dagger.gif

[Asmala]

Renegade 13 said:
Ok, thanks a lot Asmala. Looks like Mark was beating me fairly badly!!



I've left you on the current Hill level as you wished. That's a real sportsmanship I think.

[Alneyan]

My game with Kwok should be finished Asmala. Feel free to check as needed.

[Captain Kwok]

Alneyan said:
My game with Kwok should be finished Asmala. Feel free to check as needed.

Not quite so fast! You still need to destroy the rebel bandits aboard the UJFS Koopa under the watch of the honorable freedom fighter, Captain Ook. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Until then, the Juprup spirit remains alive and well and I cannot concede.

BTW, He's heading back towards Cewandi to go out in a blaze of glory...

[Alneyan]

The game has finished by the looks of it. Please disregard the previous post.

[Captain Kwok]

The primary purpose in destroying this final ship is so I can finally claim that I've played at least one complete start to finish game of SE:IV in 4 years. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

[Renegade 13]

Asmala said:

Renegade 13 said:
Ok, thanks a lot Asmala. Looks like Mark was beating me fairly badly!!



I've left you on the current Hill level as you wished. That's a real sportsmanship I think.


Thanks a lot for the time you've spent on this. And keeping KOTH going for all of us http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif . Looks like I'm just waiting for an opponent...hopefully I can do a little better this time http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

[Captain Kwok]

Asmala,

I'm officially dead "at the turn 98" as Master Belisarius would say.

[primitive]

geoschmo said:
With a purpose the battered old warrior stepped to the base of the hill. He could hear the sounds of distant battles above him on the slopes. The clanging of steel and the shouts of men and beasts, some in pain, and some in triumph reached his ears though the mists. He could feel his pulse quicken, and feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The acrid smell of death filled his nostrils, and the remains of battles past lay around him on the ground, but he stood alone. There was no sign of the challange that lay before him, save for a simple wooden sign upon which was carved:



Great read Geo, but I'm afraid what you found is only a poor Ferengi copy. The real rusty (yet pointy) spear is unbreakable http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Guess I too will be back some day, but not yet. Still having too much fun (and profit) playing poker. /threads/images/Graemlins/icon22.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/heart.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/icon20.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/icon21.gif
GL to everyone.

[geoschmo]

Alneyan said:
*Crosses fingers, and hopes Geoschmo to win his game rather quickly* (My apologises Gozguy, but I have a debt to settle with Geo, so)


Heh, don't count on a rematch just yet. Goz is tough, and I'm pretty rusty. Although, if he dispatches me and then you I guess we could get our rematch at the base of the hill. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Hail Primitive! Poker?!? Bah, you can't tell us that a mere card game gets your blood moving the way this game does. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Asmala]

Koth page updated.

[Captain Kwok]

I'm looking for a preferably low skilled player to challenge me to a match at the bottom of the hill. I'm open to using mods and various game settings.

[Nodachi]

Now that I am back from the dead (almost literally), I'd like to get back in please.

Man, I missed this place!

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Nodachi said:
Now that I am back from the dead (almost literally), I'd like to get back in please.

Man, I missed this place!


Um...'Almost literally?' http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

[Nodachi]

Yeah I was busted up in a car wreck. I'm more or less better now and have way too much time on my hands because I'm out of work.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Good that your better now. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Renegade 13]

Hope you're feeling better Nodachi. Glad to see you back http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Slynky]

Welcome back, Nodachi! Sure did notice when you were gone. I still remember you being enthusiastic and having great sportsmanship. Maybe you and Kwok will get together in a KOTH match.

[brianeyci]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what a disaster. I started with ancient race trait and saw where Ragnarok's planets were right away.

I forgot to turn off "ships stop when encountering enemy ships/colonies" in the empire options, so my ship arrived at his homeworld one turn too late and got annihilated by his weapons platforms.

Then I plugged the warp point with satellites thinking I was safe, but Rag went into the warp point with his missile frigate, and guess what the sats were armed with DUC I so they didn't have the range to fire on the frigate.

He annihilated a colony and is on the verge of annihilating my homeworld. I can't build any weapons platforms myself, because guess what, I emergency built on all my homeworlds and have a ton of colonizers so I'm -3k rads a turn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once he kills the homeworld I'm conceding. Must be the shortest KOTH game ever. Three small mistakes, and they cost me the game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif I would continue, but since Rag kills a homeworld I don't see any point, and this being a competitive game Rag killing a homeworld means I can't be competitive in the long run so I'm just wasting his time. GG Rag lol. (We were both Online at the same time, so this entire thing happened in a couple of hours lol).

Brian

[geoschmo]

brianeyci said:
Once he kills the homeworld I'm conceding. Must be the shortest KOTH game ever.

Actually, there have been two Koth games that ended on turn 6, and one on turn 13. But yours is definetly up there. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[brianeyci]

Oh yeah Geo. Before the game started we agreed this would be a rated game.

So I'm 0 - 1 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Brian

[Renegade 13]

Looks like I'm going to be going up against Rags then http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[brianeyci]

Yep. Me versus you Kwok ;-)

Brian

[Captain Kwok]

brianeyci said:
Yep. Me versus you Kwok



Ok. Looks like it will be a Rye High Vs UofT grudge match then. My game stipulations are no intel and no talisman. I'm also open to a mod or other silly rules like picking 2 racial traits (i.e. temporal + religious) with 0 racial points.

[brianeyci]

Heh heh so serious. Okay, no intel no talisman. Don't need other rules if you don't want them =D.

Brian

[Asmala]

Koth page updated.

Welcome back Nodachi!

[Slynky]

Parabolize vs Slynky - 2409.3

Well, looks like it's time to call it a game. Thought I'd give a "riot run" a try but having 2 of the 3 "riot" fleets whacked without hardly any damage to Parabolize's fleet has left my empire open for a run and even though he doesn't have any panels on his fleet, I only have 10 systems to run through while he has about 23 for my fleet to run through (and even though I have panels in my fleet, it's not enough and it is losing more fuel than it's gaining). Besides, he probably has another fleet waiting for my remaining fleet.

Out-teched in almost everything (except panels...LOL), including another colony tech, and not being able to touch his fleet...seems time to find a towel and throw it in.

Hope you don't think I prolonged the game when, in your eyes, I didn't have a chance. I thought I had a small chance. And Lasted 93 turns from a "locked-in" start.

Good game, my friend! One more win and you're in line to see if that throne fits your butt (wink).

[Captain Kwok]

Brian, how many points did you use for your empire file?

[parabolize]

"Hope you don't think I prolonged the game when, in your eyes, I didn't have a chance. I thought I had a small chance. And Lasted 93 turns from a "locked-in" start."

No I don't. Actually up to about turn 70 I thought you had a good chance to win. You were in 1st you know. When I started this game I told myself I wasn't going to do anything silly, just kill you with the pure economic might I have made in the past. So what did I do? Everything but build a big empire. Around turn 70 I started to build like mad. 90k to 350k resources in about 20 turns. Why I didn't do it sooner I just don't know.

[Renegade 13]

Well Ragnarok, do you have any preferences for settings for our game??

[brianeyci]

Captain Kwok said:
Brian, how many points did you use for your empire file?



2k.

Brian

[Slynky]

parabolize said:
"Hope you don't think I prolonged the game when, in your eyes, I didn't have a chance. I thought I had a small chance. And Lasted 93 turns from a "locked-in" start."

No I don't. Actually up to about turn 70 I thought you had a good chance to win. You were in 1st you know. When I started this game I told myself I wasn't going to do anything silly, just kill you with the pure economic might I have made in the past. So what did I do? Everything but build a big empire. Around turn 70 I started to build like mad. 90k to 350k resources in about 20 turns. Why I didn't do it sooner I just don't know.


Up to around turn 85, I never had more than 35K in research. Left me with DUCs the whole game (surprised to see that on your ships by turn 93). When I launched my assault in 3 different locations, I had 129 ships, which were slow to build because I couldn't afford retro-fitting. Also, something weird in the Balance Mod I never noticed...all asteroid fields are 300% but the first time you mine one, it drops to 250% (and then a single percent after that). Strange.

It was an exciting game despite the game's inability to place people equally spaced over the galaxy (one of the biggest problems with the game, in my opinion, because it tends to detract from playability more than other problems that still remain).

I'll get to the site tonight and we'll see how many points you snatched http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif.

[Alneyan]

Thanks Parabolize! I will recall you when I make my speech after taking the lead of the Ratings. True enough, it is slightly odd that I should be second when I have been beaten quite soundly by some other players, but who am I to complain? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Slynky, the bug you mention was brought up a few days ago by Q, so it is not something related to the Balance mod. Asteroid fields with a value of 300% seems to drop to 250% at once, because of Some Glitch. I guess it is linked to having 300% as the maximum value for resources, as 299% fields do not have this problem.

[Asmala]

Koth page updated.

[Captain Kwok]

I'll upload my empire file in the morning!

[brianeyci]

Captain Kwok said:
I'll upload my empire file in the morning!



No rush Kwok. Take your time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Brian

[Alneyan]

Would someone be available to make a custom map for my game with Rambie? If wished, I would do the same for the future games of this mapmaker (Slynky?).

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:
Would someone be available to make a custom map for my game with Rambie? If wished, I would do the same for the future games of this mapmaker (Slynky?).


Not sure what you mean by "custom" but I'd be glad to try and set you guys up in a fair starting position on FQM, Balanced, or standard map.

[Alneyan]

Custom would mean "with the customary three Sphereworlds in my home system". Well, custom was indeed a silly adjective to say "a fairly balanced map".

It would be a standard map, without any specific setting. Feel free to ask me if you need the same sort of map for your game with Nodachi.

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:
Custom would mean "with the customary three Sphereworlds in my home system". Well, custom was indeed a silly adjective to say "a fairly balanced map".

It would be a standard map, without any specific setting. Feel free to ask me if you need the same sort of map for your game with Nodachi.


Not necessary with Nodachi...he's probably rusty. Just let me know any map specifics (size, kind, ruins, etc.).

[Alneyan]

The default settings I guess; a small Spiral Arm map, without any ruin.

[Slynky]

OK, small spiral arm with 2 balanced starting points. Do I just need to send it to Asmala for a game start?

[Alneyan]

I think so.

[Captain Kwok]

Ok. Well I've uploaded my empire file - albeit a little late. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Asmala, I guess just a typical spiral galaxy should suffice.

[Captain Kwok]

Brian, did you want this to be a rated game?

[brianeyci]

Sure Kwok, rated game, I'm 0-1 in probably one of the shortest rated/KOTH games ever (someone mentioned 6 and 13 turns, mine ended at 11) so its time to make that up lol.

Brian

[Nodachi]

Well Slynky and I just knocked out 16 or 17 turns and I'm shocked to say, I'm still alive! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

We've started extremely close to each other and have had two combats so far. I've done more damage than he has, but only because I don't count my destroyed ships as "damaged"! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Looks like this'll be a fun one!

[Slynky]

Yep, the turns go fast in the beginning!

And, looks like another game where I started on the fringe and had someone placed to my inside. Thinking that wouldn't be happening to me AGAIN, I didn't go for mines right away and was hampered in dealing with it. Now that I have them, I feel much better http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.

[Captain Kwok]

Brianeyci - are you ever going to play the first turn? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[brianeyci]

Yep. As soon as my internet comes back on Monday that is. The only game I've been playing for the past week has been Osshod, would have been a hassle to run all my games that way (burning to cd, going to an internet cafe/skule and uploading).

Brian

[Nodachi]

2405.7 - Unable to halt the ruthless aggression of his neighborhttp://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif, Nodachi surrenders to Slynky.

I should have surrendered a few turns ago but got carried away watching and waiting to see what Slynky would do next, sorry.

This was a fun game. Slynky utterly and completely kicked my butt! Thanks for the game!

Asmala, who shall I propel up the hill next? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Slynky]

Nodachi said:
2405.7 - Unable to halt the ruthless aggression of his neighborhttp://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif, Nodachi surrenders to Slynky.

I should have surrendered a few turns ago but got carried away watching and waiting to see what Slynky would do next, sorry.

This was a fun game. Slynky utterly and completely kicked my butt! Thanks for the game!

Asmala, who shall I propel up the hill next? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


NO!

I didn't utterly kick your butt. Twice you held my assualt off on your homeworld. I was building for a 3rd one.

It's tough playing a game within 2 systems away...it takes a bit of skill and correct guessing. By correct guessing, I mean a bit of luck. But you predicted my fighters correctly and wiped 200 of them on my assualt.

I think you need a bit of "training" in the way of expansion (I had a stealth ship or two roaming around and saw that you only had one more system colonized.

It's a hard game close to each other...I know...I've lost to Rex twice that way.

And, as always, you're a good player to play with...fast turns, letting me know when you are done for the night, and a great sport! More people should be like that!

[geoschmo]

Goz Vs Geo is over. Goz put up a valiant fight, but in the end it was futile. Move me up a spot Asmala. Looks like maybe a rematch against Slynky? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[brianeyci]

Well Kwok, I forgot to use the initial research bonus lol. Looks like I'm going to be a little behind =D.

Still, the Duros will prevail. One way or another.

Brian

[Slynky]

Asmala must be busy...he's usually faster about matches. Maybe packing his bags for the military? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

[Asmala]

Slynky said:
Asmala must be busy...he's usually faster about matches. Maybe packing his bags for the military? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif



Yes I was busy but not yet packing for the military. In fact I was at a wedding at weekend and yesterday was the Finland's independence day.

Geoschmo, do you happen to remember how many turns the game Last?

Koth page updated.

[geoschmo]

Asmala said:
Geoschmo, do you happen to remember how many turns the game Last?




70 turns

[Slynky]

Alneyan, if you can believe how quickly I'm asking for that map in return...

Geo suggested a game with these parameters:

"We agreed to no stellar manip and no intel and
three good HW's. And a small spiral (Standard koth)
random generated map but with empire placement to put
space between us. If you need we can get someone to
make the map."

I told him I had someone to do a map for us http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.

I will be out of town doing some computer installations (in Alabama) on Wednesday. Back possibly by Thursday night (or no later than Friday night).

[brianeyci]

Heh heh kwok, its 2:34 and you submitted your turn a few minutes after I did. So, I am not along with the skipping lectures/fooling around when I should be studying for exams bug lol.

Actually I don't have too many exams. Actually none, I'm taking a lot of full-year courses. I'm off as of today until Jan 8th =D.

Brian

[Captain Kwok]

Lucky you. I have 5 exams in the next two weeks with the first one tomorrow. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[brianeyci]

And you're playing SE lol. I like playing like this, better to be Online a few times a week and play 20 turns than play one turn every single day.

Brian

[Slynky]

Slynky said:
Alneyan, if you can believe how quickly I'm asking for that map in return...

Geo suggested a game with these parameters:

"We agreed to no stellar manip and no intel and
three good HW's. And a small spiral (Standard koth)
random generated map but with empire placement to put
space between us. If you need we can get someone to
make the map."

I told him I had someone to do a map for us http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.

I will be out of town doing some computer installations (in Alabama) on Wednesday. Back possibly by Thursday night (or no later than Friday night).


Gentle "bump" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[geoschmo]

I haven't seen Alneyan around in a couple days SLynk. Have you tried sending him an email?

[Slynky]

geoschmo said:
I haven't seen Alneyan around in a couple days SLynk. Have you tried sending him an email?


Naw, haven't.

I just returned (but I took the time to see and he's been submitting his KOTH turns on time, so I figured he'd be around the forum, too). And if he's like me, he should have this thread checked to notify of a post (since he's going to take it over soon).

[brianeyci]

So Kwok, how was your exam. Apparently it wasn't so traumatizing that you couldn't play 10 turns tonight =D.

Brian

[Captain Kwok]

The one today went good. The one tomorrow, I'm not so sure about since it's been mostly a Last minute effort. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Alneyan]

I have not been away Slynky, but... *Coughs* Well, you had the misfortune of having your post read at six in the morning, and I failed to register it. *Coughs* The memory...

So that was my mistake, and I will do the map this afternoon (local time).

[Alneyan]

The map has just been sent to Asmala. My apologises once more.

[geoschmo]

No appology needed. Slynk was out of town and couldn't play anyway. Thanks much for doing it. And also thanks for putting the 4 huge high mineral breathable worlds in my home system. The check is in the mail. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Alneyan]

Slynk? I am not sure he will appreciate being called a "slink", though that could be a pre-game taunt. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

You shouldn't have spoken of these planets on the thread though; Slynky might get suspicious, and could even admit he paid me well to put one fully developed Sphereworld in his homesystem. I have nothing against taking bribes from *both* players; there is no honesty among thieves after all. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif (Would that do for a pirate smiley?)

[Slynky]

Finally back Online!

[Asmala]

Koth page updated.

I have four exams next week so I'll be quite busy (no quick updates).

[Slynky]

Geoschmo vs Slyky - 2403.8

Geo surrenders (a slight surprise as I didn't expect it).

A very interesting game and one frought with some exciting moments. With a 3-HW start and "hand" placement, the borders became apparent at about half the map...11 systems for Geo and 9 for me. Of those systems, one of mine was an asteroid field right out of my home system. Geo's were all usable (but a couple were a bit sparse on planets). All in all, a pretty competitive split.

I got heavy into research and by the time we had each built up some fleets for attacking, we both sprang at the same time! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif It didn't go well for me as my technically-superior fleet moved toward his system at the same time a fleet of his attacked the planet that I left http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif. Go figure! To top it off, he captured my planet instead of glassing it.

Meanwhile, I attacked on the other side of the spiral and made some ground there. But, he was inside my empire. My choice was to try to go back and fight his superior numbers and try to keep him from performing a "riot-run" (after all, the planet he captured had a refueling station) or try my own "riot-run" on 2 sides. By this time, I'm 2nd in points as well.

So, I did everything I could think of to keep my empire going: I scrapped all the fueling stations on my homeworlds (all three in the same system), scrapped 2 SpacePorts, and scrapped all 3 Yards. Also, began scrapping research facs (at this point, 75,000 in research wasn't needed as much as minerals) at all the homeworlds and building mineral extraction. Began scrapping mineral storage places in lieu of extraction places. But, it kept my resources up and dropped my research (at game end) to 56,000.

My "riot run" didn't result in many glassed planets as Geo abandoned planets as I entered systems. Meanwhile, he was capturing mine. All in all, he abandoned many more of his than he captured of mine...to stop rioting. I chose to research troops in a hurry and built troops everywhere that was important instead. At game end, I only had one planet rioting...not bad, I guess.

On the southside, I had run through 2 systems of his and was low on fuel but, if one can believe it, I had a colony ship trailing and settled a planet to put it on emergency build for a refueling station as my fleet moved back to get fuel (and join with other warships trailing them...to make a fleet of nearly 40 ships...about half of them trained). It would have been difficult to stop that fleet as most every ship was fitted/refitted to Sensor/ECM 2's.

But that was just in the south. In the north, I made a bold game as he headed toward another planet to capture and won out (after he captured my planet) with my fleet of ships about equal in number to his. But, I was seeing that my ECM/Sensor 2's were fading in superiority as he had 2/1's on his by now. Both of us fielding LCs.

By the Last 2 turns, I felt better about the game (as Geo didn't know I already had Gas colony ships coming off the line to help with minerals). But the surrender was a surprise. Capture ships helped out a lot as he fielded armor and I fielded shield IVs...easy to capture his ships (no SDD) on them.

All in all, in was a darn good game and a game I figured I had lost. Perhaps what helped me was that he never moved further into my empire with his initial invasion fleet. Had he done so, it could have been a totally different game as it took me several turns to get ships to the warp point he would enter at (to stop him).

He played a good game! Scary all the way and I feel a bit lucky to have managed a win. Thanks for the game, Geo! It was a good one, win or lose.

[Nodachi]

Wow, it sounds like Geo had you really harried. I'd love to hear the recap from his point of view.

[geoschmo]

It was all smoke and mirrors. I was beat for the Last 12-15 turns and knew it. Only a blind stroke of luck capturing his resupply base in the north kept the game going as long as it did. If he had waited a turn longer to attack he would have totally wasted my fleet. I was in first towards the end only because I was building empty hulls all over my empire and rushing the to the front, retrofitting them along the way.

Geoschmo

[Asmala]

Koth page updated.


Slynky said:
So, I did everything I could think of to keep my empire going: I scrapped all the fueling stations on my homeworlds (all three in the same system), scrapped 2 SpacePorts, and scrapped all 3 Yards. Also, began scrapping research facs (at this point, 75,000 in research wasn't needed as much as minerals) at all the homeworlds and building mineral extraction. Began scrapping mineral storage places in lieu of extraction places. But, it kept my resources up and dropped my research (at game end) to 56,000.



Are you sure you got the resources from those scrapped facilities? I remember there was a thread about a bug concerning facility scrapping. Or do you scrapped them just to get room for mineral extraction facilities?

[Slynky]

I didn't know you were supposed to get something from scrapping facilities. I only scrapped them so I would have room to build Mineral extraction facs.

[Asmala]

Slynky said:
I didn't know you were supposed to get something from scrapping facilities. I only scrapped them so I would have room to build Mineral extraction facs.



When you scrap a facility your resources increases at once. But according to that thread the resources disappear during turn processing.

[Alneyan]

You are supposed to get 30% of the cost of the facility scrapped (the same goes for ships). According to Geo, you do not get the resources if you scrap the facilities directly, and will only have them if you abandon the planet.

On another note, I am now stepping in as KOTH Admin, as you may have noticed. Please start sending mails previously addressed to Asmala to my own address, available in my profile (it is alneyan[AT]fastmail[DOT]co.uk). My Yahoo mail is still used, but no longer my main mail, and mostly serves to get all the mails PBW sends. Posting on this thread is fine as well, or even sending PMs , so long as I do get your message.

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:On another note, I am now stepping in as KOTH Admin, as you may have noticed. Please start sending mails previously addressed to Asmala to my own address, available in my profile (it is alneyan[AT]fastmail[DOT]co.uk). My Yahoo mail is still used, but no longer my main mail, and mostly serves to get all the mails PBW sends. Posting on this thread is fine as well, or even sending PMs , so long as I do get your message.

Then that means you will be setting up KOTH games as well? (hint) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
EDIT: Nevermind, I see now the site is back up and I'm in "wait" mode.

[Alneyan]

Yes, it looks like you will have to wait for Joachim or Gandalf Slynky.

The rules page has been updated.

[Slynky]

Or you or Rambie. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

[Alneyan]

Well, our game is very unlikely to finish before theirs. But if you do want to give me an opportunity of settling a certain old score, there are always the Ratings games. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif (I would probably not be able to go faster than four turns a day or so though)

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:
Well, our game is very unlikely to finish before theirs. But if you do want to give me an opportunity of settling a certain old score, there are always the Ratings games. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif (I would probably not be able to go faster than four turns a day or so though)

I will take that under consideration (after Christmas and after Geo finishes whipping my Crystal ships with his DUC V's http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif).

[geoschmo]

Slynky said:
I will take that under consideration (after Christmas and after Geo finishes whipping my Crystal ships with his DUC V's http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif).

Ouch. Sarcasm. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Gandalph]

I don't know about that. Both our previous games went well over the 100 turn mark and this one is shaping up to do the same. We are around 75 turns now and borders are still fuzzy, skirmishes are frequent, and it does not look like either one of us is powerful enough to close it out anytime soon. Always a good game with Joachim.

[Slynky]

geoschmo said:

Slynky said:
I will take that under consideration (after Christmas and after Geo finishes whipping my Crystal ships with his DUC V's http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif).

Ouch. Sarcasm. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

What's going to REALLY be a downer is when he wipes my baseships !!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif

[Slynky]

Gandalph said:
I don't know about that. Both our previous games went well over the 100 turn mark and this one is shaping up to do the same. We are around 75 turns now and borders are still fuzzy, skirmishes are frequent, and it does not look like either one of us is powerful enough to close it out anytime soon. Always a good game with Joachim.

Don't take this the wrong way, Gandalph, 'cause I've only played one game with you (perhaps 2), but if you're up to turn 75 with Joachim, you should feel good! I consider Joachim to be in the top 10 players on the forum.

[geoschmo]

Slynky said:

geoschmo said:

Slynky said:
I will take that under consideration (after Christmas and after Geo finishes whipping my Crystal ships with his DUC V's http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif).

Ouch. Sarcasm. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

What's going to REALLY be a downer is when he wipes my baseships !!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif

It's all part of my master strategy. See when I can go up against you with my weaker economy, lower tech, fewer ships, poorer designs, and less intelligent tactics, and still beat you senseless, you will be unable to come to any other conclusion then I am just better than you. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

And if you win I can just blame it on bad luck. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Slynky]

Weaker economy? LOL...I took Gas in an FQM map. Well, I didn't know it would be an FQM map or I would have taken the usual. Not a single Gas moon to be found! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

[brianeyci]

Wasup Captain Kwok. How are those little Juprupians doing?

That was a titanic battle, the first non-simulator battle I've had involving around 100 ships... er units. Well drones are ships since they can't stack. I watched the battle a few times, exhilarating.

Brian

[Slynky]

brianeyci said:
Wasup Captain Kwok. How are those little Juprupians doing?

That was a titanic battle, the first non-simulator battle I've had involving around 100 ships... er units. Well drones are ships since they can't stack. I watched the battle a few times, exhilarating.

Brian

So...enlighten us! What happened?

[Joachim]

Slynky said:

Gandalph said:
I don't know about that. Both our previous games went well over the 100 turn mark and this one is shaping up to do the same. We are around 75 turns now and borders are still fuzzy, skirmishes are frequent, and it does not look like either one of us is powerful enough to close it out anytime soon. Always a good game with Joachim.

Don't take this the wrong way, Gandalph, 'cause I've only played one game with you (perhaps 2), but if you're up to turn 75 with Joachim, you should feel good! I consider Joachim to be in the top 10 players on the forum.



http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gifBlushes http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif I am not that good. It is a very interesting game with Gandalph, will have some comments to make when it finishes!

[Slynky]

Joachim...

Told ya before and tellin' ya now. Top 10. NOW...LOL...you can try to hide your skills (so people won't be suspecting you...and I understand that...LOL). BUT, name me 10 people you think are better than you!

Now, NOT to insult anyone...but, I judge skill based on what I have seen and who I dread facing off against.

Asmala, Rex, Alneyan, and the big P come to mind right away. That leaves 6 to flesh out the 10. I won't insult anyone by mentioning names and leaving them off the list but I can readily add your name within the 10. Fyron is reputed to be good but I've never seen him play nor have I seen others rant about his ability. So, besides that unknown, I can come up with 6 other players I would worry quite abit about playing...you are one of those.

[brianeyci]

Well its the first massive battle I've had in SE:IV, so I was excited about that anyway. But it turned out to be really cool not just because of the numbers, but because of the way the battle happened and how it was fought.

In the beginning, we both expanded really quickly. It became really clear where our borders were really fast. There was one particular chokepoint where there was a black hole between my system and his. I managed to sneak a colony ship through, and build a colony with a resupply depot. Unfortunately, it wasn't a breathable planet so I couldn't stock up on enough wp, and Kwok annihilated it. That meant that whatever attack I would launch would have to include supply ships. But, I didn't know how quickly large fleets used up supplies, so when I started my attack I only included one supply ship. The biggest tactical blunder was I constructed a couple of ditch ships to try and hold the planet... I held off a couple of attacks, but the blunder was that I upgraded my original design and didn't notice that the ditch ships used MISSILES. And I was researching missiles. So when Kwok battled my missile ships on that small planet, I groaned after realizing that I had exposed my strategy. However, I had already wasted 400k research on missiles, so there was no turning back. My only hope was that he didn't pay attention to the battle.

If I had gone conventional missile boat build, it would have been over right then and there. But, I had colonized a lot of non-breathable planets, and built space yards on them to get construction bonus. I used all these small normally useless planets to build -- Drones! Tons and tons of medium sized drones, armed with plasma missile II and capital ship missile IV. So by now, I had wasted nearly 600k research on drones and missiles, I had no research into ecm or combat sensors (I'm not giving anything away by saying this, Kwok already knows =D)

So when the time to attack came, I went into the black hole system, but I took a roundabout route in hopes it would be less fortified. It paid off. I plowed through 7 mines (I had enough sweepers to take out 100), and went straight for the system where I had lost that small planet. My hopes was to hole up there, wait for a colony ship to come, build a resupply depot, and then go forward to slag his empire. But, I thought I was dead. Because I had exposed my Missile secret long ago, and Kwok surely had tons of PD.

And, Kwok did have tons of PD. Some of his destroyer designs had up to 4 PD, and that's a lot for a destroyer. But the drones came through.

(give the pictures time to load, sometimes its slow, doesn't seem to be working right at this moment)
My fleet in formation (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a001.jpg)
My fleet launches drones (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a002.jpg)
The first seekers launch at range 12 (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a003.jpg)
Looks like some are getting through (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a004.jpg)
His ships come in range of my plasma missiles. About ten drones have died by now. (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a005.jpg)
Five of his ships have been reduced to space dust. Many drones have died, a modest amount of drone carriers. The drones and ships that followed the strategy orders have survived, encircling Kwok's ships. (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a006.jpg)
Kwok's ships veer off and try to break out of the encirclement, going after some drone carriers (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a007.jpg)
Missiles pick off the stragglers (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a008.jpg)
While the stragglers hold off my main drone force, the ships that managed to slip away kill off some of my isolated ships (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a009.jpg)
The few ships I have left -- my minesweepers armed with only one missile, my light cruisers with six missiles have long ago perished -- take out his Last remaining fighting vessel (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a010.jpg)
The writing is on the wall. (http://individual.utoronto.ca/brianlim/a011.jpg)

So, pretty exciting stuff. Unfortunately, that was only half of Kwok's force, and I have reason to suspect that was only a third of his force and that he's getting ready to attack in another part of my holdings. Plus, my ships will soon run out of supplies and will be helpless (its not giving away much, I'm going to fire on my own ships next turn to prevent them from becoming Juprupian target practise). The drone idea worked, but only because I had superiority in numbers, and now I'm far behind in ECM, combat sensors and conventional research, I don't know if I can catch up.

Good fight Kwok, one to be remembered.

Brian

[Alneyan]

See how efficient my propaganda is? Slynky, who beat me in our only KOTH game, is now singing my praises. A few months ago, I did not make it to his poll of the best players, and now I am in his top 10, or even top 5. I merely need to increase a bit my reputation, and he will make me the best player out there. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Of course, I hope everybody will conveniently forget I have a knack for losing fleet vs fleet battles, and seldom take such gambles anymore.

Kidding aside, Geo is quite right in saying he has a weak economy. Economies are always too weak, even if you are beating a world-record of expansion. And there is no such thing as having too many resources and/or research; you have 700,000 research points by turn 75? You should have had one million! Ah, you have one million? Better try to reach one million and a half then.

This message was brought to you by the SEIV Economist League , and Associated Tech Junkies.

[Captain Kwok]

I'll be getting a few turns in later today Brian.

I screwed up against that fleet of yours - I was playing the turn too fast and missed the log message about the minefield being swept in Jokala or I would have been able to intercept the fleet at that other warp point and killed it before the drones got out. Fortunately, I noticed you were employing lots of missiles and drones so my next generation of ships are loading with PDC. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[geoschmo]

Captain Kwok said:
I screwed up against that fleet of yours - I was playing the turn too fast and missed the log message about the minefield being swept in Jokala or I would have been able to intercept the fleet at that other warp point and killed it before the drones got out.


Maybe not. I thought you don't get a message if they completely sweep the fleet and don't take damage in the process?

Geoschmo

[Alneyan]

There is a message if they sweep the minefield without taking damage (or if they partially sweep it), since the 1.91 patch I think. If memory serves, there was no message with 1.84 and below.

[Captain Kwok]

I got another message a couple turns later when another field was swept.

[Renegade 13]

Alneyan, since you're looking after the KOTH page now, could you please move me up the hill? I just won my game with Ragnarok. I think I'll be playing Parabolize now.

Raising his notched sword above his head, then driving it into the muddy ground that has been mixed with an equal part of blood from both sides, Renegade picks up the broken body of Warlord Ragnarok, and with a mighty heave, throws him down the hill to the very bottom. With a huge gasp, he then sits down, nursing the cuts, bruises and scrapes inflicted upon him by the defeated Ragnarok. Leaning on his notched and dull sword, Renegade then pulls himself to his feet and begins the long climb to the next level area on the hill. As he walks, he pulls a whet stone from his pocket, and begins re-sharpening his dull sword. Slipping occaisionally on the bloody ground, he continues marching, past the broken spears and notched swords that occaisionally can be seen covered in rust and half buried in the ground, remnants of former champions who had fallen before reaching the top of the hill. Finally, reaching the Last plateau before the top of the hill, Renegade surveys the lands around him. Looking down at the bottom of the hill below, the sounds of battle reach him, of victors conquering, and the losers being left behind, to fight those who have recently met their fate and been cast down to fight their way up again. Careful not to slip and fall, he surveys the dizzying height, then backs away from the edge. Suddenly, he becomes aware of another presence on the plateau. Sitting on a rock is a man with a large spear and a slightly curved sword. Renegade turns, and yells, "Do you oppose my march up this hill? Will you dare try to stop my challenge of the current "king" of this hill? If it is so, prepare to meet your fate, and join all of those who have been cast down to the bottom by my sword! Parabolize, do what you can, we will meet this day on the field of battle!!"

2404.5: Warlord Ragnarok surrenders to the Tyrellian Imperium. I had a better start than he had, and managed to expand into many more systems than he could. I slipped into lots of his systems, and he really couldn't stop my colony ships from creating colonies in his territories. He had more advanced weaponry on his ships, but I had the advantage of ECM 2 and CS 2. In the end, he tried a strike against some of my holdings in his systems, which caught me by surprise and destroyed about a dozen of my LC's but by then it was too little too late. The next turn I launched a strike with 25 ships, and wiped out all his homeworlds within 5 or 6 turns, then met his 18 ship fleet that had destroyed my 12. I lost about 6 ships to heavy damage, but he lost all his war ships. At that point, Rags surrendered to me.

I wish you luck Ragnarok, on your next game. You were a pleasure to play against. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Alneyan]

Like a virgin, updated for the very first time... Erh, the KOTH page has been updated.

[Ragnarok-X]

Sorry for bothering, but whats this thread all about ? In all my time i never noticed it...

[Alneyan]

This thread is an ever-going 1vs1 tournament. Players are matched on a "first come, first served" basis, where the winner proceeds to the next level, and the loser goes back to the lowest level.

More details are available at the KOTH site, linked in my signature. If you join now, I think you will have an opponent ready for you (the other Ragnarok), unless he is planning to leave the Hill.

[Slick]

Ragnarok-X said:
Sorry for bothering, but whats this thread all about ? In all my time i never noticed it...



Sheez! how lazy can you get? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


Slick.

[Renegade 13]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif A mere 3 turns into our game, Parabolize and I have met! My home system is right next to his home system. So far (turn 5 or so) and I've glassed one planet of his, and he's taken out one colony ship of mine. Looks like this will be an interesting game!

[brianeyci]

Yeah well. Remember when you played me Renegade. You beat me on turn 11, back when you were at the middle of the hill fighting the mighty Duros? :-p

Brian

[parabolize]

Well its 2401.3 and he is mined into his home system. He may still win but I don't think the chances are good.

[Renegade 13]

Don't worry, I won't be stuck there for long http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Also, I'm not totally mined in....

[Gozra]

Renegade 13 said:
Alneyan, since you're looking after the KOTH page now, could you please move me up the hill? I just won my game with Ragnarok. I think I'll be playing Parabolize now.

Raising his notched sword above his head, then driving it into the muddy ground that has been mixed with an equal part of blood from both sides, Renegade picks up the broken body of Warlord Ragnarok, and with a mighty heave, throws him down the hill to the very bottom. With a huge gasp, he then sits down, nursing the cuts, bruises and scrapes inflicted upon him by the defeated Ragnarok. Leaning on his notched and dull sword, Renegade then pulls himself to his feet and begins the long climb to the next level area on the hill. As he walks, he pulls a whet stone from his pocket, and begins re-sharpening his dull sword. Slipping occaisionally on the bloody ground, he continues marching, past the broken spears and notched swords that occaisionally can be seen covered in rust and half buried in the ground, remnants of former champions who had fallen before reaching the top of the hill. Finally, reaching the Last plateau before the top of the hill, Renegade surveys the lands around him. Looking down at the bottom of the hill below, the sounds of battle reach him, of victors conquering, and the losers being left behind, to fight those who have recently met their fate and been cast down to fight their way up again. Careful not to slip and fall, he surveys the dizzying height, then backs away from the edge. Suddenly, he becomes aware of another presence on the plateau. Sitting on a rock is a man with a large spear and a slightly curved sword. Renegade turns, and yells, "Do you oppose my march up this hill? Will you dare try to stop my challenge of the current "king" of this hill? If it is so, prepare to meet your fate, and join all of those who have been cast down to the bottom by my sword! Parabolize, do what you can, we will meet this day on the field of battle!!"

2404.5: Warlord Ragnarok surrenders to the Tyrellian Imperium. I had a better start than he had, and managed to expand into many more systems than he could. I slipped into lots of his systems, and he really couldn't stop my colony ships from creating colonies in his territories. He had more advanced weaponry on his ships, but I had the advantage of ECM 2 and CS 2. In the end, he tried a strike against some of my holdings in his systems, which caught me by surprise and destroyed about a dozen of my LC's but by then it was too little too late. The next turn I launched a strike with 25 ships, and wiped out all his homeworlds within 5 or 6 turns, then met his 18 ship fleet that had destroyed my 12. I lost about 6 ships to heavy damage, but he lost all his war ships. At that point, Rags surrendered to me.

I wish you luck Ragnarok, on your next game. You were a pleasure to play against. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



I know and have seen pair-of-bowl-eyes and play games with him and his Dad on a face to face basis. It was 5 min. befor I picked myself up off the floor. thanks for the visual
Goz

[parabolize]

Gozra said:
I know and have seen pair-of-bowl-eyes and play games with him and his Dad on a face to face basis. It was 5 min. befor I picked myself up off the floor. thanks for the visual
Goz


See there is no reason to fear me. I am weak and helpless. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Slynky]

Slick said:

Ragnarok-X said:
Sorry for bothering, but whats this thread all about ? In all my time i never noticed it...



Sheez! how lazy can you get? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


Slick.

OK, OK, where's the emoticon for "bustin' a gut laughing"? Almost gave my monitor a beer bath, Slick!

[Renegade 13]

Koth: Parabolize vs Renegade 13

Turn 27, I surrender to Parabolize. This was a very odd game...we started out in systems right next to each other! I made an early attack at one of his homeworlds with some missile frigates, but was defeated. I also didn't colonize very fast, hoping I could beat him fast with frigates with missiles. Unfortunately, that didn't work. Soon after that he mined me mostly into my homeworld (I only had one colony outside my home system). Once he mined me in, that was basically it. I held out hope for the next 15 turns or so, and made some minesweepers and took a warp point. However, he struck back, captured some of my minesweepers, and destroyed all my warships. Next turn he glass 2 of my 7 worlds, and after that I surrendered to him. There was no way I could overcome his massive advantage, both in time to colonize, and ship numbers.

It was a good (if weird) game Parabolize, and I only wish I could have offered a bit more of a challenge to you. Good luck at the top!

Alneyan, please move me to the bottom of the hill....and damn, its a loooooooong way down from here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[parabolize]

No more random placement for me. If Rex or Asmala would have been in that spot I don't think they could have got more than 3 systems to play with. But it was fun none the less.

[Atrocities]

I once started in a desolate system surrounded by black holes. I lost.

[Alneyan]

KOTH has been updated.

[Alneyan]

KOTH will be updated momentarily.

Renegade, I didn't hear from Warlord Ragnarok; did you? If not, I think you will play with Alex, and I will keep Ragnarok out of new games. (He hasn't posted on the Boards since Dec 20 or so) If you want to wait for him, please tell me so as well.

[Ragnarok]

Alneyan said:
KOTH will be updated momentarily.

Renegade, I didn't hear from Warlord Ragnarok; did you? If not, I think you will play with Alex, and I will keep Ragnarok out of new games. (He hasn't posted on the Boards since Dec 20 or so) If you want to wait for him, please tell me so as well.



I will be sending you game settings shortly.

I don't post much here anymore due to work and RL responsibilities but I still play my games every day. I have been uber busy the past couple weeks with out of town trips the past two weekends. My apologies.

[Alneyan]

No worries, I was just checking if you were still here. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif I will be creating the game.

KOTH has been updated.

[Gandalph]

Gandalph surrenders to Joachim at 2409.3. Him opening warp points throughout my side of the galaxy and obliterating my well trained fleet on his side of the galaxy was really the Last straw. Could have drawn it out another 20 turns or so but saw no reason to. Thanks for yet another lesson Joachim. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Please take me off the hill for awhile. I can never seem to get more than 2 wins in a row and think I am going to take some time off to reflect. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

[Joachim]

THanks for the good game Gandalph, I though I had no chance for the first 30 turns, and it was only in the Last 10 that I started to think I had it.

I had an horrendous map start, my home system had two exits, to the south there was then five out of six wasted systems! To the North I ran into you after four warps - so I basically thought I was trapped and stuffed early on. I think that stealing your breathers and madly researching the other colony types was the only thing that kept me in the game during the middle phase.

I was surprised that you had not colonised every planet in your space? You also had me very worried when your first PPB ships hit my normal shield ships - if you had pushed really hard at that point I may have been in serious trouble.
Thanks again for the game!

[Alneyan]

You will be delighted to know KOTH has been updated. Well, perhaps it won't matter a lot for you, but I have to bypass that "post already exists" thing.

[Slynky]

Alneyan, dude, could you please give us a restart? Seems our request for the Balance Mod and manual placement didn't work out too well.

(1) There are only 2 systems between our homeworlds and
(2) For some strange reason, the Balance Mod didn't give me a breathable in my home system (but it DID give Joachim one).

[Alneyan]

There were at least five/six systems in the map I made, and both starting points were not set on any planet, so you should have had both a breathable planets in your systems.

I have nothing against restarting the game of course, but I would rather wait for someone to explain what went wrong. Either I made the mistake of not actually loading the map when I created the game (apologises in this case), or there was another glitch somewhere.

The former seems the more likely of course. I could give it another try (taking extra care with that kind of matter), or you could ask someone else to make the map; either way is fine with me.

[Alneyan]

*Slaps self repeatedly* The mistake was fully mine. Instead of setting one starting point for player 1, and another for player 2, I made two starting points for one of you (Joachim), and none for you Slynky. The correct map was used, but the problem was in the map itself.

Full apologises are in order then. Feel free to let me know if you want a restart with myself as host, and I will set it up as soon as I get your word. Otherwise, please let me known once the new game has started so that I can update KOTH.

[Joachim]

Alneyan said:
*Slaps self repeatedly* The mistake was fully mine. Instead of setting one starting point for player 1, and another for player 2, I made two starting points for one of you (Joachim), and none for you Slynky. The correct map was used, but the problem was in the map itself.

Full apologises are in order then. Feel free to let me know if you want a restart with myself as host, and I will set it up as soon as I get your word. Otherwise, please let me known once the new game has started so that I can update KOTH.



No problem - at least we now know why Slynky only had the one breathable.
Please restart us with all the same settings (standard Koth, geo balance map, manual place)
Cheers.

[Slynky]

BTW, when I set up a manual start map, I never specify a particular player to a particular system. I just make 2 systems specified as "any".

[Alneyan]

I didn't know about that feature Slynky (the "common starting point" made me think of something else altogether). That is good to know, and I will now use "Any" systems instead of specific systems, if only to avoid that kind of mistake on my part.

The new turn has been uploaded to the game.

[Slynky]

Thanks! My home system looks MUCH better now.

[Renegade 13]

KOTH: Warlord Ragnarok vs. Renegade 13:

2400.9: We meet. He's beating me in stats, but I think we're pretty close. My starting position sucks (it seems), but maybe his does too. About 1/3 of the systems I've explored have been useless to me (a couple asteroid only systems, a couple nebulae systems, and a black hole). All in all, it's not looking too good for the Tyrellian Imperium. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif But there's still time.

[Asmala]

KOTH - King of the Hill Game Asmala vs RexTorres

2406.2: I have surrendered to RexTorres. To put it bluntly he was much better in all areas. Especially the early boarding of my colony ship was a nice move, but I think he would have won even without that. Rex really deserves the Crown.

Alneyan, please remove me from the Hill. (Well, I suppose you would have done that automatically http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)

I'm not sure if I've said this but thanks Alneyan for taking the administration of the Koth league.

[Slynky]

All hail KING Rex! What will the new kingdom look like now? Can't wait to read the new chapter from Geo.


Congrats to the RexMeister! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Slynky]

Concerning the 2nd restart of the game between Joachim and myself...well, looks like the game map got created with ruins on planets. Joachim just settled one and informed me he got one that is too good for a KOTH game. I didn't even know there WERE ruins till he told me this morning.

So, that leaves us with the following choices (my preference obviously a big effect):

(1) Start a 3rd game with the same settings. I don't know about Joachim, but playing the first 10-15 turns of a single medium-homeworld KOTH game isn't much more exciting than sticking my head in our icebox and watching my breath condense. So, since I've already done 2 games of that, I'd rather not do it again.

(2) Start another game with new settings (and empire files). Something more exciting than waiting 12 turns to get mines http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif.

(3) Or, assuming I know the KOTH rules well enough, I'll sit off the Hill a bit till I feel like trudging through 10-15 turns of another standard KOTH start game. This, of course, assumes I will re-enter the Hill where I left off.

So, this message is mostly to Joachim, I guess.

[Nodachi]

Slynky, you just can't win with premade maps here lately. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Could it be the same problem I was having with not selecting 'no ruins' on both map and game creation?

[Slynky]

Nodachi said:
Slynky, you just can't win with premade maps here lately. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Could it be the same problem I was having with not selecting 'no ruins' on both map and game creation?

One must skip down to the page and turn "Ruins" off before generating any map if you don't want ruins on it. The ruins, I gather, are generated (or not generated) depending on that setting WHEN you click "Generate Map". Finding a map you like and THEN turning ruins off and saving the map does no good. And, of course, NEVER turning off ruins will result in the same thing...ruins http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.

Yes, Nodachi, having my problems lately http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/yawn.gif.

[Joachim]

Slynky said:
Concerning the 2nd restart of the game between Joachim and myself...well, looks like the game map got created with ruins on planets. Joachim just settled one and informed me he got one that is too good for a KOTH game. I didn't even know there WERE ruins till he told me this morning.

So, that leaves us with the following choices (my preference obviously a big effect):

(1) Start a 3rd game with the same settings. I don't know about Joachim, but playing the first 10-15 turns of a single medium-homeworld KOTH game isn't much more exciting than sticking my head in our icebox and watching my breath condense. So, since I've already done 2 games of that, I'd rather not do it again.

(2) Start another game with new settings (and empire files). Something more exciting than waiting 12 turns to get mines http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif.

(3) Or, assuming I know the KOTH rules well enough, I'll sit off the Hill a bit till I feel like trudging through 10-15 turns of another standard KOTH start game. This, of course, assumes I will re-enter the Hill where I left off.

So, this message is mostly to Joachim, I guess.



Heh ya, I did not even realise there were ruins unitl I got the tech report - of Min II, armour and med bays. Agreed on the tired drudgery that is standard Koth.
I am pretty game on strange settings - anyone like to suggest something wierd for the KOTH Slynky V Joachim - now would be the time!

[Nodachi]

IIRC, Slynky doesn't care for mods in KOTH games so we can eliminate those options. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Hmmm... how about a balanced map, high tech, and ten planet start? That'd be sure to eliminate the drudgery! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Slynky]

Nodachi said:
IIRC, Slynky doesn't care for mods in KOTH games so we can eliminate those options. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Hmmm... how about a balanced map, high tech, and ten planet start? That'd be sure to eliminate the drudgery! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Sounds interesting. Do they make that same flavor in 5 planets? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif And ZERO racial points?

[Nodachi]

LOL Sure! They also come in economic two system varieties! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Joachim]

Slynky said:

Nodachi said:
IIRC, Slynky doesn't care for mods in KOTH games so we can eliminate those options. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Hmmm... how about a balanced map, high tech, and ten planet start? That'd be sure to eliminate the drudgery! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Sounds interesting. Do they make that same flavor in 5 planets? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif And ZERO racial points?



Balanced map, 5 planets, 0 racial points... OK http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

By high tech do we mean high tech cost (Haha my DUC II, DDs beat yours!) or full tech?

What about adding no mines (waste of time)and no talisman and manual placement? And if full tech than no stellar?

[Slynky]

"Balanced map, 5 planets, 0 racial points... OK

By high tech do we mean high tech cost (Haha my DUC II, DDs beat yours!) or full tech?

What about adding no mines (waste of time)and no talisman and manual placement? And if full tech than no stellar?"

OK:

Balance Mod;
5 good homeworlds;
Full Tech;
No mines;
No Talisman;
No Opener/Closer
No intel;
0 Racial points;
Manual placement on a "big" small spiral.

Sound good?

[Joachim]

Slynky said:
"Balanced map, 5 planets, 0 racial points... OK

By high tech do we mean high tech cost (Haha my DUC II, DDs beat yours!) or full tech?

What about adding no mines (waste of time)and no talisman and manual placement? And if full tech than no stellar?"

OK:

Balance Mod;
5 good homeworlds;
Full Tech;
No mines;
No Talisman;
No Opener/Closer
No intel;
0 Racial points;
Manual placement on a "big" small spiral.

Sound good?



Sold! This will be different at least!

[Alneyan]

A bit late now, but... You have a curse or something Slynky, I can find no other explanation. Well, I know I turned the ruins off once, but I think I only did so before generating the map. As I see no ruins on my map, I guess it is needed when starting the game. I exited the game creation window after finishing the map, so I may have forgotten to switch the ruins off in the second run. Or perhaps it was something else altogether. Apologises are in order at any rate.

I will not even try the manual placement a third time, since that was the problem the two first times around. Unless you really want me to give it yet another go? On a side note, I am thinking of making a special mod (only on the creating side) removing ruins from the game files. That would probably be much better.

Apologises once again.

[Alneyan]

KOTH has been updated. The King is dead, long live the King!

[Alneyan]

I can remove all the ruins if I remove both the ruins abilities (I set them to 0% chance of appearing, giving 0 technology if they do appear) and the four unique technologies. Unfortunately, it means a mod will have to be used for the game, but it modifies nothing beyond removing the ruins. It can be set up very quickly as well.

I will be doing a bit more testing of the mod now, to make sure ruins have been hexed out of existence for the millenia to come (of course, I will still check the No Ruins box, just to teach them a lesson). Would this sort of mod interest anyone, either for hosting or for play?

No ruin appeared in several games (5,000 planets in total had no ruins, even though ruins were enabled), so I gather the safety measure is doing its job. But I have just been reminded of something annoying: the mod would have to be set up on PBW, as it would be needed during play. That, or trust the players not to use the special ruin technologies, and only use the mod at game start (which would remove the standard technologies from planets, leaving Massive thingies and the Neural Net).

[geoschmo]

I don't think you need a mod really. I'm fairly certain you just made a mistake and didn't turn them off when you generated the map. It happens, it's no big deal. And you should only have to turn off ruins at the point when you actually generate the map. Once you modify the map with common starting points and go back and start the game up it shuldn't matter wheter you have them turned off or not. The game shouldn't add them in at that point if they weren't in there at map generation.

If you did want to make a mod to turn off ruins, you wouldn't need to set the mod up on PBW. You use the mod to generate map files and then use them in the stock game. The only time ruins are assigned to a map is when it's created. Even if you did want to be doubly sure and start the first turn using the mod, I don't think the players would need the mod. The balance mod that I made modifies the system type files which are used at map generating time and the players don't need the mod to play their first turn.

In fact if you only change the files that control the chance for ruins to appear, the players may not need the mod at all. The balance mod I mad tweaks those system type files that are used for map generation and the players don't need to use it for their first turns, even when it's used to actually create the first turn. Hmmm, maybe I should just tweak out the ruins in the balance mod. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

You don't need to turn off the unique techs. That would change the components file and make a mod that the players and PBW would have to have, but it's unneccesary. Without ruins there is no way to get those techs anyway.

[Slynky]

Making a mod to insure there will be no ruins seems like overkill (but if, like the Balance Mod, the mod is not needed by the players, what the heck, right?).

But, all one need do is follow the same steps I do when creating a game:

(1) Start SE4
(2) Turn ruins off
(3) Generate whatever type of map you want over and over till one looks interesting
(4) Save the map file
(5) Exit the game
(6) Load map into Map Editor and set starting points
(7) Save and exit
(8) Start SE4
(9) Load the saved map
(10)Load an empire with Ancient abilities and start a dummy game (and look under Special).

Steps 8-10 take less than 2 minutes to do. And once the map has no ruins on it, I don't think generating a game with the loaded map will cause ruins to suddenly appear even if the game has ruins turned on. But, I turn it off anyway (as added insurance) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif.

[Alneyan]

I have a hunch ruins are added when creating the game, and not before. I will launch a test game to check that though. Well, the hunch was quite wrong, so I guess I forgot to turn off the ruins when creating the map (I do both just to make sure, when I don't forget...).

Geo, the ruin thingies appear even when normal ruins are removed from the files. I think it is because of the techareas files, and the flag "Can only be found" (or some such name). On the other hand, both players can agree not to use these things if they do appear by mistake, and/or they could be modded out of the game by common agreement. I think I will be using my no ruins safety measure from now on, which will not be needed by the players. That way, even if I do forget once more to turn the ruins off at one stage or another, it won't be half as bad for the players themselves.

So Slynky, do you want me to give it yet another try, with another foolproof measure to make sure those ruins are out of the game? Your idea about loading an Ancient Empire and checking makes sense too; don't ask me why I didn't think of it before.

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:So Slynky, do you want me to give it yet another try, with another foolproof measure to make sure those ruins are out of the game? Your idea about loading an Ancient Empire and checking makes sense too; don't ask me why I didn't think of it before.

We have a saying that goes something like this, "Third time's the charm." So, I don't see why not let you have at it again (as punishment for the other 2 games if nothing else http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif).

I will have to work up an empire file tonight when I get home, though, so the game will probably be started tomorrow sometime. Tonight I have to take my daughter to Girl Scouts so I will be starting later than normal on the PC.

[Alneyan]

I will take care of it then, with the foolproof "anti standard ruins thing", combined with Geo's Balanced systems.

[brianeyci]

Come on Kwok, lets keep partying. Don't tell me you aren't ready for my crystal ships yet =D.

Brian

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:
I will take care of it then, with the foolproof "anti standard ruins thing", combined with Geo's Balanced systems.

Thanks, Alneyan http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif.

[Captain Kwok]

brianeyci said:
Come on Kwok, lets keep partying. Don't tell me you aren't ready for my crystal ships yet =D.



Sorry for the delay!

[brianeyci]

Np. Just so you know there's a lot of crystal ships coming. A lot. Around 50 or so. If 4 crystal ships can hold off 40 of your ships... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif.

Brian

[Captain Kwok]

Well, you might have realized those are outdated destroyers without mounts or any other high damage weapons... of which many were support type ships as well. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[brianeyci]

Well. So are mine. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Brian

[Captain Kwok]

brianeyci said:
Well. So are mine. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Brian



Based on your projected economic output, I'd highly doubt that. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[brianeyci]

And how are you "projecting" my economic output praytell?

Those really aren't my state-of-the-art battlecruisers. My state-of-the-art ones are right behind the cannon fodder =D.

Brian

[geoschmo]

Alneyan,

Vadim Bey has beaten me in our game. Knock me back down to the bottom of the hill and move him up.

Geoschmo

[Alneyan]

Slynky, have you crossed a star recently? I cannot connect to PBW at the moment, because of my odd local bug I guess. I can create the game if you want, but I will need someone else to actually upload it to PBW (Geo, as he is an admin perhaps).

Hopefully, this problem will solve itself in a couple of days as usual. Hopefully. *Sighs*

[Slynky]

LOL..."crossed a star"? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

Must be tough running the KOTH site with small irritations like that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif.

Geo's around. Perhaps he'd post your/our game.

[Alneyan]

I was thinking of the adjective "star-crossed", but somehow I put a verb instead, which isn't exactly clear and not English to the best of my knowledge.

Well, running games is certainly fun when you have a volatile connection and an uncertain access to PBW. Fortunately, it doesn't Last too long, but it tends to be fairly widespread (I have as many as one third of all sites on the Internet unavailable for several hours). And here comes yet another digression I guess. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[geoschmo]

Alneyan, email it to me. I'll upload it.

Geoschmo

[Alneyan]

The game has been sent to Geo, and has been checked afterwards. There are no ruins, there are five good homeworlds, full tech, no events, no strings attached. The manual placement worked out, and you have all your breathable planets in your starting system(s), so it should be fine this time.

My only concern is (as usual) the relatively small size of the map. It was the biggest I got from Small Spiral Arms though, and I am probably biased towards bigger maps, so. What this sort of map what you had expected Slynky?

[geoschmo]

Replacement turn uploaded.

[Slynky]

Thanks, guys!

I don't see any ruins. As to map size, small spiral will make it quick and dirty, so don't worry about the size it turned out, Alneyan. A slugfest is a slugfest http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/stupid.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

[Alneyan]

KOTH has been updated.

Slynky, if ruins appear in your game, I will put the blame on Geo, who could have made a plot against me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Kidding aside, there were no ruins when I checked with an Ancient Empire, so everything should be fine.

And the bottom line about ruins: I will remove normal ruins via a mod in all games I create from now on. If I forget to turn the ruins off when creating the game, unique tech will appear; I will then offer the players to set up a quick mod, making these special techs impossible to use. Of course, I hope I will not forget to turn off the ruins again, but better safe than sorry.

[Slynky]

Well, I've been to 5 systems now and I don't see any ruins yet...so...looks like we've got a winner. Thanks for the extra attention.

[Alneyan]

Rambie has surrendered to me, so I will need someone to set up my next game in KOTH (I cannot be the admin of my own game).

On another note, PBW works again for me, so I should not have to bug you any more Geo. KOTH will be updated in a few minutes.

[geoschmo]

Alneyan, I can set your game up for you. Are you matched against Vadim Bey?

Geoschmo

[Alneyan]

Yes I am playing with Vadim Geo. Incidentally, your message reminded me I did not upload the koth file; now KOTH has been updated.

Thanks for taking care of my game!

[Master Belisarius]

Hey Geo(rge), thanks for moderate my game against the King!
Hope I'll offer a decent challenge to the King.

[Alneyan]

K.O.T.H has been updated.

[geoschmo]

*yawn* I'm bored. Any of you players on the lower level about to finish your game and come up and face me? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Captain Kwok]

The game between Brianeyci and myself has slowed recently to only a few turns a week - so I don't think we'll be finished anytime soon. He may also be sad after I was able to repel his crystalline attack and the fact that I have 2/3's of the galaxy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[brianeyci]

Yes Kwok, I am pretty sad.

But no matter, the game goes on.

I haven't played much since I've been sick for the past couple weeks.

Brian

[Renegade 13]

Well Geo, Ragnarok and I should be done within about 10-15 turns. We've both launched the fleets we've been building up for the whole game, and while he has a fleet of 46 LC's and a couple Cruisers, I have about the same amount of ships in the counter-fleet. Plus a few more lying around. Might be one of us that faces you then http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Slynky]

Joachim and I are about done (which means I'm about done).

[Nodachi]

Stick a fork in me, I'm done! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
2409.8 - Nodachi surrenders to Gozguy. Extremely late contact in this one made for an interresting "where the hell is he?" game.

OK, who will be my next tormentor? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[geoschmo]

Ahhh, so unless some other game has ended and the players didn't post here about it, my next match will be against GozGuy. I cannot wait. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Alneyan]

What do we have here? A KOTH update!

[Gozra]

What a game Nodachi!
I was terrified right until the end. When your first fleet came through the warp point and took out my fleet with no losses to your own fleet I was sure the game was over at that point I even thought I would surrender. Then decided to make you work for it.
Good luck

Well Geo so far you have an unbroken string of KOTH victories against me. But on any given Sunday.....

[Nodachi]

Has anybody heard from Rambie? I e-mailed him about game settings but haven't heard back. Of course it could be that unlike me he has a life! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[brianeyci]

Defeat.

I didn't execute crystalline strategy properly, and when I did I had already wasted hundreds of thousand of research points on missiles, allowing Kwok to get superior ECM/CS support. By the time I caught up to Kwok, he had researched shield generator destroying weapons.

Keep me on the hill, I await the next challenger. GG Kwok, had to learn the hard way that missiles are totally pointless =D.

Brian

[Alneyan]

Missiles are not totally pointless, just pointless after turn 2 or so. They still make nice weapons for that first escort, but they are awful at anything else. A certain Geo sent two DUC frigates to destroy my nine seeker frigates, and believe me, that's no fun. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

KOTH has been updated.

[Captain Kwok]

Aw, shucks. Just when I had my warp openers in position for the actual strike. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

It was a fun game anyway and mostly lucky for me since I was able to grab a lot of territory at first and steal some oxygen breathers - which really helped to boost up those research points and resources.

[brianeyci]

Captain Kwok said:
Aw, shucks. Just when I had my warp openers in position for the actual strike. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

It was a fun game anyway and mostly lucky for me since I was able to grab a lot of territory at first and steal some oxygen breathers - which really helped to boost up those research points and resources.



Dammit, you stole oxygen breathers? Hahahahaha.

Yes, I quit early, but it would have been just a mop-up operation for you Kwok =D.

Brian

[Slynky]

Looks like Slynky suffers another thrashing at the hands of Joachim. 5 starting homeworlds and full tech (and no mines). Looked like a game of "you ain't comin' thru this hole!" as battle winners were the ones who defended behind warp holes. Only one battle "in the open" and I lost it really badly!

Joachim plays a MEAN game and he deserves to move up the Hill a bit further. Hats off to you, sir!

[Joachim]

Thanks Slynky for the game - it is always a pleasure to play such an excellent player and great sport.

This was my first full tech KOTH style game and it was actually very taxing on the planning. I was never sure if I was meant to be expanding the economy (which was already v.strong with 5 homeworlds) or building the war fleet.

I was lucky that I stoped your first attack fleet at the edge of my colonised systems. Had you won that battle it would have been very diferent.

I would be interested to hear your (and others of course) thoughts on using organic tech in a game like this. I seriously considered it but decided against it in the end because it would require upping Org mining ability and building a lot more organic miners (harversters?) as well. I also like the organic rammers in theory, but in practive I have often had trouble getting them to work. You seemed to have a simlar issue, such as the last battle when they moved away for the first turn, giving my ships ample time to hammer them.

Cheers for the game!

[Alneyan]

Beware Joachim, I am coming from you. I should be the one to be worried of course, but you know, psychological warfare and all. Of course, I still have to win my own game, but I should banish all doubts from my mind.

KOTH has been updated.

[Joachim]

Alneyan said:
Beware Joachim, I am coming from you. I should be the one to be worried of course, but you know, psychological warfare and all. Of course, I still have to win my own game, but I should banish all doubts from my mind.

KOTH has been updated.



I fear little - I just recall the great and mighty victories we had over your full tech "God race" in Negoc with my low tech wannabes.... Of course you not being allowed to shoot back had nothing to do with it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[brianeyci]

Well Slink, it will be a pleasure to play one of the masters.

Give me a couple days though, been missing all my PBW games for a few days cause of RL.

Brian

[Slynky]

brianeyci said:
Well Slink, it will be a pleasure to play one of the masters.

Give me a couple days though, been missing all my PBW games for a few days cause of RL.

Brian

One of the masters http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif I get routinely smacked by the masters so, I suspect, I'm not one of them.

Take your time. RL comes first.

[Ragnarok]

Move Renegade up a level please. I got beat once again by him. Two in a row to Renegade, how does that happen?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

My fleet can wipe out his fleets with little problem but my economy can no longer keep up. I knew economy would be an issue with me as it was the first game between us, so I focused on that early in the game and not so much on research. But in the end I still could not produce enough to support my ships coming off the line.

Another thing I did wrong was I did not take the offensive when I should have. Renegade made the first move and I was playing defensively from that point forward. If I could have taken the fight to his systems it could have ended differently. But alas, I lost again. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif

Please take me off the hill for a little while until life slows down a bit.

Thanks

[Alneyan]

I recall losing a couple of scouts here and there to your fleets Joachim. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Kidding aside, I don't think we fought a lot in this game, at least not while I was ruling the Sign. The problem was rather your partner in crime, whose Talisman-powered vessels blasted my Talisman-equipped vessels. Losing a whole fleet without doing any damage whatsoever is so embarrassing.

I will stick with my usual line: I cannot make my ships to behave properly, and gave up trying. I am now used to losing my first invading fleets, so all those first vessels have KIA crews before even leaving my spaceyards. Then I cross my fingers and hope the third wave will be able to finish the enemy off, after the second wave came close to victory. My people delights in military defeats! It means we are doing well somewhere else. I hope.

KOTH will be updated as soon as possible; I cannot connect to PBW at the moment.

[Alneyan]

Following miscellaneous delays, KOTH has now been fully updated, games have been created, and plots have been devised.

You certainly are one of the masters Slynky. I mean, you do belong to the SEIV Skulls and Bones, don't you? Or at least what remains of our little cabal, after so many of us got killed planning uprisings and the like.

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:[/bYou certainly are one of the masters Slynky. I mean, you do belong to the SEIV Skulls and Bones, don't you? Or at least what remains of our little cabal, after so many of us got killed planning uprisings and the like.

I should be one of the Masters if for no other reason than I get b-slapped by them in so many games http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif.

[Captain Kwok]

Renegade 13:

I propose the following settings for our match: 1 planet start, medium-tech, no intel, no ruins, and 2000pts.

Slynky:

Did you remember to update your ratings site for the game between Brianeyci and myself?

[Renegade 13]

Kwok: Those settings are fine with me. However, what do you think about no religious? I just think the Talisman provides too much of an advantage (if it can be obtained). Also, what's your opinion on the Ancient trait? Allowed or not allowed?

Another good game Ragnarok! Though I'm not so sure that your fleet could beat my newest fleet that was on its way...it had weapons equal to your and an extra 2 levels or armor, plus an extra level in ECM and Combat Sensors. But that is finished. As soon as the borders were established, I believed that you may have trouble with you economy. Somehow I managed to seize a few more systems than you did, although 4 were asteroids only, one was a nebula, and another was a black hole!

All in all it was another good, enjoyable game. Perhaps we will meet again sometime, and your Rorg will have their shot at revenge!

[Captain Kwok]

Oh yeah, no religious - or religious without using the talisman is fine too.

[Renegade 13]

Agreed.

[Captain Kwok]

Ok. Prepare for death then. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Rathar]

Hey!~ I could just read the first page of this (which I shall do immmediately after posting this..) but umm how do I join you all?

I am certain that I have the unique ability to get killed by y'all in the fastest time possible but hey, I am sick to death of 1 week per turn games... Plus (frankly) I want to destroy Alneyan as his battle techniques confound me (the rest of you I merely want to kill..)

[Rathar]

OK, read the first page, followed the links (which are deadly broken anyways..) and went to the last page etc etc...


I wish to join the horde at the bottom of the hill pls, any tech, any setting is good, i'll adjust strats to meet allowances.

[Nodachi]

The site with all the rules: http://www.spaceempires.net/koth/

Welcome abaord!

Edit: Another good way to get into quick games is to join the ranks of the rated. Info at http://se4-gaming.net/. Once you've joined check out Rated Challenges thread. (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/favlinker.php?Cat=&Entry=414&F_Board=UBB23&Thread= 168150&partnumber=&postmarker=)