Re: racial points
 

d'oh.

Just 2 weeks without rain? Man, that's a pretty wet climate! Worried about forest fires after 2 weeks, heh. Try months with only a couple of days rain.

Re: racial points
 

Considering that the vast majority of our pine trees up here have died due to a Mountain Pine Beetle infestation, we have literally millions of dry trees just waiting to catch fire. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif A few days without rain is cause for concern! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

Wouldn't call it a wet climate either, just a normal one compared to yours!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: racial points
 

Hehe, how about most of a year with only very sparse rainfall http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Last I saw on the news, we have at least 3 forest fires burning atm, and one of the national forests has been closed to keep people from accidentally setting it off as well... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: racial points
 

We used to shoot bottle rockets out of our bbGuns. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif We'd light'em and then shoot em at a target... the fuse would ignite the propellent and that wissel would indicate a successful firing of the mains that drive the mini-missile. We would get some incredible distance off of them.

(Drop the stick portion of the BR into the barrel of the bbgun. COPY CATS NOT RECOMMENDED: This was done by professional 15 year old trouble makers who had no idea of the danger involved. Do not attempt.)

Re: racial points
 

I have to say though that after a bit I can really see how the weather has changed over the last twenty years. Gone are the huge slimy tree slugs and rainy 4th of July's, replaced by oddly hot or humid days and an unquestionably abnormal sense that something is horribly wrong with our planets weather system.

Could someone be attempting to prefect a weather control device or have we really done the damage ourselves? Could this just be a natural change in the planets climate or are we on the virge of some major global shift? Either way things are most assuredly changing.

Re: racial points
 

Yay! That link is exactly what I was talking about Imperator Fyron http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Thanks for all your input kin-folk! Personally, I'm a pyro and always have been. whether it was building fires and home-made explosives when I was 10 years old, or that tingly feeling I get when I watch the candles at the thanksgiving table, I'm a pyro through-and-through, and fireworks have been a good friend since I was a little de- err... boy http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif

Re: racial points
 

I hate fireworks. But that is probably because the 4th is my Birthday. I am sick to death of being ignored in favor of a national holiday.

Re: racial points
 

JAF's Mom - JAF dear, hear is your present.. a box of sparklers and one snake.

JAF - But mom I wanted was a X-wing fighter and a couple of stormtroopers.

JAF's Mom - well little man, all your going to get is a hamburger between two peaces of sandwitch bread, these sparkerlers, and if your good, I will let you stay up and watch the fireworks.

JAF - I hate fireworks.

But hey, at least it isn't raining this year.

Re: racial points
 

The score the first turn is set by resource production. no ships, bases or other colonized planets exist. Advanced Storage is, as RandW said, the best for first turn score. Other than that, Mineral and Research bonuses and less so Rad and Org bonus set the score level. After the first turn, the score more indicitive of planets and ships. The more the better.

That said, in the early game, score means nothing except the intellegence it provides you on other player settings. Later in the game it still means little, but in the final part of the game it can be said that noone has ever won without having the highest score. Even then it is rarely the score that gives you the win, just the winning ships and planets that give you the score.