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smacksim
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Deputy Chairman of the Council of Lords of Gaia
Feb 2004
time: 00:35
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We also need probes for probe actions and possible defense. This is a very strong choice in many departments.
What's weird about the probe disbanding? I never used it much until I played a few crawler-less games with Blake a loooong time ago. Yeah, at first you think 'But I'm wasting minerals!' and that hurts. But think about it another way: You are gaining one of the advantages of crawlers before anyone would suspect it from you.
Strengths of the probe-building strategy are that it is useful in many dimensions, improving our offensive/defensive capabilities, diplomatic options, chance for improving techs, and chance of securing a secret project. There are no inherent weaknesses, other than the 'loss' of minerals for those probes that are disbanded.
Strengths of ICSing before we are ready to absorb the b-drones are largely cancelled out by the paralysis these new bases will incur on 'random' core bases, by the poor defense any new fringe bases will have, should they themselves become a dronepile, and by not focusing our production on an SP. (O.k., that last reason isn't inherent to ICSing early, but it is indirectly related).
The biggest PIA about 1=1 drone bases is their inability to later build rec commons, rec tanks, or crawlers without some help. Often these bases are producing only 1 mineral a turn (unless built on a mineral special). This means that for each drone base, yet another base will have to focus part of it's production on building a crawler for the 1=1 drone base, to alleviate and accellerate the mineral problem. If we happen to be at war during any of this, we become vulnerable as well.
Still, I'd agree that we need to ICS ASAP. I would subscribe to a plan of adding 1-2 more bases now IF we otherwise focus on building an SP and/or infiltrating the enemy. But far better, IMO, would be to focus entirely on a probe army (at bases that are already at full support: former+garrison).
Long term, we must clearly enjoy the beautiful continent we have landed upon and fill it with Gaians. To this end, and pause in ICSing should allow our formers to road and pre-forest where possible. Especial consideration must be given to removing some fungus from the ruins and of course, to building a road into the Uranium Flats
Probe teams and other diplomatic officers should be well informed as to their policies for dealing with encounters with other groups. Should they infiltrate, steal technology, beg, borrow, pact? Let us formulate a plan of diplomatic action now.
Further, the crew of the Unity Foil deserve their first medal. What a service they are rendering in acting as a ferry service for our exploration teams. After escorting a mindworm accross the northern straights, they should be able to turn around and ferry a probe team or two to destinations of diplomatic interest.
Defensively we are weak. However, risk analysis shows that we have already gained turn advantage by taking some risks in this department to focus on CP and Former building. We should not expect enemies to land on our soil anytime soon. Nonetheless, a scout patrol 1-1-1 shell in each base will quell drones and provide the 'cardboard cutout' defense infrastructure that will carry us into the next century.
In the very long term, we must think about offensive actions. It is very unlikely that we will win by sitting at home. Personally, I'd love to make Yang our lapdog. 
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binTravkin
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Lord of Progress of the Council of Lords of Gaia
Jan 2004
time: 07:35
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EDIT: deleted!
Last edited by binTravkin on 31-08-2004 at 13:03
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smacksim
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Deputy Chairman of the Council of Lords of Gaia
Feb 2004
time: 00:35
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Taking Stock: State of Gaia
I didn't know where to put this, so it goes here....
It's 2133 and we've come a long way. Actually, we should be amazed at how well our planning and luck have worked together. We are probably the only seafaring nation, and have been for some time. We actually snuck up on the Data Angels, rather than the other way around. How embarassing for them  . We reached our (temporary) expansion limit without incident. We've fully explored our homeland....almost. We've found worms, but only when it seemed to suit our plans. We've captured them when it was nice to do so, and we've blasted the naughty ones when we seemed to need cash.
We've not been invaded, nor have we offended any other faction. We have good reason to think we understand their situations, even though we have yet to meet them.
In our planning, we've made the most of our strengths, and are working around our weaknesses. If there is one thing I think we might have done differently, that is running Planned economics so early. Yet, only time will tell, and it may yet be the best road. For one thing, it is helping us to feel confident that we will bag an early Secret Project. We are stifled in our outward growth, with sooo much territory to grab ahold of. There is still time. If we do gain the HGP, we will be a fearsome force indeed.
So, all in all, we are looking very good. Not having the laboratories of Zak, the Economic might of Morgan, the easy research of Roze, or the vast armies of the Spartans and Hive, we have still managed to carve a very nice spot for ourselves in the southern hemisphere. We have all of the above qualities and more. We may not be the best at any one task, and that is our strength. Not to mention a small and growing army of Natives.....
-S
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smacksim
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Deputy Chairman of the Council of Lords of Gaia
Feb 2004
time: 00:35
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Yang is astronomical in the power charts, otherwise I think we should consider invading him with a handful of worms. The trouble is, unless we can actually defeat him, we won't really be able to hold onto any bases we take. Still, sending a few worms to the north should at least garner some pod-popping, which with IA underway is a safe bet. We could learn Applied Physics, which would not be good, but we could still learn Biogen/SoPsych from pods, which would be excellent.
To this end, perhaps we should drop our worm, then a probe in the north, then risk moving the foil through the fungus block to move 2 more units to the north-northeast. Time will tell us whether that second option is worthwhile, or whether the land to the north is connected enough to forgo the use of a ferry.
Should we try to get a probe over to the data angels? My guess would be that if we had a probe there now, it could probe them, but that by the time we got a probe across the ocean they would have defended their bases fairly comprehensively.
Also, should we try to trade techs with the angels or not? Do we have anything they do not? I did not check this during my turn, but if so, it could be interesting. I don't think we have to fear the angels for quite some time. They are far away across a vast ocean.
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Natalinasmpf
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Well if we managed to procure more native life on that continent...perhaps we could, sooner or later.
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18-08-2004 07:29
). For lack of contrary opinions, I have started to implement this in the turn.
for some time. We must try to get it from them by trade before we research it.
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