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

[Thermodyne]

An expeditionary force from the Thermolian Home Fleet entered Weed controlled space this
day. And while the warp point was heavily infested with various types of weeds, the
outnumbered Thermolians carried the day. Weed forces consisted of 42 ships, 21 cruisers, 17
destroyers, two escorts and two transports. These were assaulted by 25 Thermolian
combatants, 4 decoys and various support ships. One weed ship escaped, and 9 Thermolian
warships were destroyed including the four decoys. Never has so much ordnance hit so little. Much space was holed by DP projectiles, while Thermolian beams wilted their cannons. The
superior long range gunnery of the Thermolian fleet was very much in evidence. After absorbing
the first volley from the Evil Weed Fleet, the Thermolians proceeded to remove the infestation.
After the battle, many Thermolian ships were decorated for superior valor in the face of a much
stronger enemy.

[Cheeze]

The combination of the unpredictability of ship combat tactics and overly-obvious advantages produced an devastating defeat for the United Flora Empire. The despicable Thermolians launched an attack into Flora space, meeting a gathering of Flora ships that were in photosynthesis mode. Thermolian ships were equipped with superior weaponry, and generally all light cruisers, where the Flora were a mix of destroyers and light cruisers along with some escorts. Despite their position to await an incursion, the Flora ships were positioned about as far from the Thermolians as could be imagined for two large fleets at one warp point. The ship formation apparently was designed to minimize any actual shooting at enemy ships, and in spite of orders to close, Flora captains preferred to minimize their already-slight chances to hit by moving as far as possible from Thermolian ships, in order to present themselves as easy targets later. Since the Thermolians have a phenomenal natural advantage in combat, the additional incompetence of the Flora command made a predictable result even less damaging to the Thermolian barbarians. Far from "bravey in the face of a superior enemy", the Thermolians had the advantage in firepower, movement, accuracy and evasion.

One Flora ship, and only one, showed courage and intelligence in the entire battle. Somehow separated from the collective stupidity of the rest of the plants, one ship managed to manuever around the Thermolian fiends and attacked the minesweepers, severely damaging and destroying a number of them. Depending on future Thermolian movements, their victorious fleet should meet a slow yet steady diminishing death upon finding the floating Flora "fire blossoms".

[ April 06, 2003, 06:48: Message edited by: Cheeze ]

[Slynky]

Whew! Awesome battle! (I don't see how you guys whip up so many ships)

[Cheeze]

The vile Thermolians are hardy industrialists, and we gentle and peace-loving Flora grow ours with organic technology....it helps!!!

We lost the first battle of Neckron...and pretty much every other battle...but perhaps it won't be the Last...and the Flora Empire has not yet lost the war!!!!

[ April 06, 2003, 06:47: Message edited by: Cheeze ]

[Asmala]

At the turn 2408.0 the Black Hole Riders Empire officially surrendered to the mighty Mergator Orbis.

The arrogant upstart noticed that he has bit off more than he can chew, the King was too good for him. In spite of the combat victory at the beginning of the game the King was able to produce awesome fleet of sixty top trained ships. The poor Black Hole Riders Empire had nothing which could have stopped that fleet.

1FSTCAT it's now your turn, I tried and failed. Good luck to both of you two.

I'd like to start scramble again towards the top of the hill. If the KOTH page is up to date there isn't a free opponent for me so I'm waiting...

[Stone Mill]

The current sometimes too-full-of himself King is weary but grateful to Asmala for an excellent match. Asmala proved to be a frightening opponent, leaving the Mercator people with many scars. His opening tactics against me have really made me think... especially his research pattern- it is almost pristine for how he plays out his strategy. And he did it with a crappy start!

Highlights:
His early harassment was great- he sufficiently tied me up from further expansion, and claimed all but one border system, where we coexisted. He even (for the first time in my KOTH) conquered my population and used my breathers! I have never been able to pull this off.

His use of fighters/carriers was stunning and deliberate. DUCs can't hit fighters, and he made sure he emphasized that point in-game.

Asmala torched my fully trained invasion fleet- and responed with a devastating counter attack. His tech edge was so vast; it seemed like it was all over. He ripped through about 5 systems, but by sheer luck...
-- if he would have made a right turn at Alburquerque, (thanks Bugs Bunny ) he would have found my home system and it could have been BIG trouble.
-- My people were one turn away from riot status when I caught his fleet. One more loss surely would have locked up my production. Wshew.
-- The Riders only madaged to torch one critical resource planet. He killed a ton of research, but I was able to pay maintence. He chose to bypass my frontal systems, which had my critical assets. These systems, were, of course, heavily defended. I had just managed a massive retrofit to compete with his ships. But if he caught me while repairing...
-- My economy was hanging in the balance to allow me to add the latest components through retrofits. I barely had enough reserves in storage...
-- My counterattack was brutal; he had bigger ships, but sheer numbers of Mercator high-tech designs won the day. I hit him concurrently from many different directions to discourage force concentration. I ensured to keep him on the defensive, although, he made some Last minute strikes to test me, including a cloaked strike against my interior, which I'll never know how it got through?!? Almost looked like a random event.
-- I ensured that I whittled away at his economy while tightening the vice. I kept improving my economy so I could field more ships.
-- Aslama's choice of mid-late research was diverted into a few non-critical areas: Gas Giant, Dreadnaughts, etc. In my experience, you really should only do this when you are pretty sure your opponent can't beat your front line security. I think my retaliation surprised him a bit- I managed to retrofit those DUC V ships with PPBs.
-- I am an economic player, and although Asmala threw me many curveballs, I held to the fundamentals: strong economy (minerals, rads) and combat techs. Asmala went very heavy on research. For his type of play; he has a chance of exploiting his tech edge throughout the game if you are not seasoned. I did my best to use numbers against size in the long run.

So many great thank-yous to Asmala, who is awesome. A challenge match at the top worthy of many legends. My favorite match to-date!

[ April 06, 2003, 13:28: Message edited by: Stone Mill ]

[Slick]

Explain please:

Originally posted by Stone Mill:
DUCs can't hit fighters, and he made sure he emphasized that point in-game.

I checked components.txt and they can target fighters. Are you saying that [generally] DUC's can't hit fighters because of range? or due to defensive bonuses? or what?

I love reading these "wrap ups". I sure sounds like it will be a long time before I should join such a tournament. Great game!

Slick.

[Slynky]

THE KING MATCH: Stone Mill -vs- Asmala

Wow! Really interesting wrap-up!

One thing seems to more and more certain...I'm not King material. I suppose any advances I make up the hill will be due to a lucky spread of planets and not skill.

Congrats to both of you for completing the game on a good note, too! THAT says a lot about your character.

[Asmala]

Originally posted by Stone Mill:
He even (for the first time in my KOTH) conquered my population and used my breathers! I have never been able to pull this off.

This had also its disadvantage: when I lost few planets all of my planets with Mercator people started rioting.

Asmala torched my fully trained invasion fleet- and responed with a devastating counter attack. His tech edge was so vast; it seemed like it was all over. He ripped through about 5 systems, but by sheer luck...
-- if he would have made a right turn at Alburquerque, (thanks Bugs Bunny ) he would have found my home system and it could have been BIG trouble.

Yep, this game could have went quite different way if I had chosen the right warp point.

I ensured to keep him on the defensive, although, he made some Last minute strikes to test me, including a cloaked strike against my interior, which I'll never know how it got through?!? Almost looked like a random event.

How it got through? Well, I think it got through because the ships were cloaked so you didn't see them

-- Aslama's choice of mid-late research was diverted into a few non-critical areas: Gas Giant, Dreadnaughts, etc. In my experience, you really should only do this when you are pretty sure your opponent can't beat your front line security. I think my retaliation surprised him a bit- I managed to retrofit those DUC V ships with PPBs.

You're right Stone, your retaliation really surprised me. I think the inordinate concentration to the research was the main reason why I lost the game. I should have been concentrated less at the research. It's no point have dreadnought tech when I have only a few ships. I have heard that one learns best from the losses and that's true: I won't do that mistake again (or at least I'll try to avoid it )

So many great thank-yous to Asmala, who is awesome. A challenge match at the top worthy of many legends. My favorite match to-date!

Thanks, that's balsam to my wounds

[DavidG]

OK now that that lovey dovey "your so good, no you are" King match is over someone get up there and kick that kings butt. I miss that old arogent SOB king that put the peasants in their place.