What is "Mega Evil Empire" ... ?

[geoschmo]

The world is not a game Yef. In the world not everyone is concerned with coming in first. In fact, the great majority of people are content with just having their needs met and being generally happy. So as long as America is generally not viewed as malevolent, the rest of the world isn't likely to try ganging up on us just because we are in "first place". Of course, if recent trends continue, that may not remain true...

In a game where the objective is first place, you have a great incentive to join with other smaller empires and take out the largest empire before they get so big they cannot be dealt with. Since noone is actually dying in the game, you will do things that you wouldn't do in real life where actual peoples lives depended on it.

It's the reason why banks can be robbed without all the customers jumping on the robber. You do what you are told and hope you don't get shot. If the guy walks in and starts shooting people indiscriminantly though, eventually a few people will gang up and try to jump him.

[Arkcon]

Like Geo said, the Mega Evil Empire algorithim in SE4 isn't meant to model real life, its a rule of the game to control an outcome.

Its come up before, someone goes Mega Evil, and thinks its dumb for all the neutral empires, and other weak empires to suddenly go hostile, 'cause they're too weak to survive.

The hard part is getting the complainer to admit that now, with everyone against him, with the neutral systems no longer being safe transit zones, with every ally resupply depot suddenly closed off -- the game has suddenly subverted his best laid plans, and has become more challenging.

[Starhawk]

I am the mega evil Empire and I shall rule the universe!

Sorry

Seriously though being the mega evil Empire has it's advantages, it makes getting rid of those pesky guys you never wanted to ally with in the first place, much easier. It also adds a "seige" like element which is IMHO LOTS of fun, barely scrounging up enough ships to fight off the raids for just one more month, sacrificing one world to save another more valuable one, oooooh I love it

[PvK]

Quick! Gang up against Starhawk!

[kerensky]

Yes! Quickly, bring down the Mega Evil Icaran Epire!!!

[Starhawk]

They're not evil they're just misunderstood

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I'm pretty sure the people they conquer understand them well enough...

[Kamog]

What are some ways to avoid going MEE by hiding your true strength and artificially lowering your score?
For example, build up tons of fighters and drones which don't count towards your score, and keep as many ships mothballed as possible.

How about if you have a lot of excess resource production that you don't need, then scrap some space ports to lower your production, but be ready to rebuild them immediately when the need arises. Or bLockade some of your own pLanets to reduce production temporarily. Design an escort with no engines or weapons, build it in orbit above your pLanet, and trade it to an enemy A.I. so that your pLanet gets bLockaded by it. When you need the resource production again, attack the ship and destroy it.

Build lots of cheap and useless star bases somewhere and gift them to the A.I. until the A.I.'s score gets huge, so you aLways stay in second pLace.

[Starhawk]

narf poit chez BOOM said:
I'm pretty sure the people they conquer understand them well enough...

Well some must fall in the divine quest yah know

[Arkcon]

Kamog said:
"How about if you have a lot of excess resource production that you don't need, then scrap some space ports to lower your production, but be ready to rebuild them immediately when the need arises."

Oh that's a nice trick. Sometimes, when I'm screwing around with the facilities in some new mod, I'll go Mega Evil without having any ships to speak of. Never occured to me to artificially reduce income in that way.