UP Homeworld? Sounds interesting! Need somewhere else to build colony ships and even scouts will be tough to build. Send colony ship to southern green and scouts to 4 parsec planets, W yellow and SE red â I want to know early what to research â and set to produce another scout. Colony ship founds Artemis (Arid 60). Artemis will be my main producer for a while but being smaller than a homeworld and starting with zero factories will take time to mature and slower to produce. To get Artemis growing quickly I send 14 pop followed by 4 batches of 3 pop from Fierias. My first scouts find W Gion (Terran 100) and SE Morrig (Ocean 55) and SW rich Regulus (Radiated 20). So range 4 will be good but I also want planetology techs early to boost substandard production. Opening tech I find RW80 (ok), Barren (yuk) & R4 (great) only choices. Unless green planet SW of Artemis is non-hostile I will need R4 but tech will be well provided for by UP Fierias so, for production, I start with 3 turn pump of Barren then start seeding RW80 while continuing Barren.
I see Darlok scout at SW green in 2306 but leaves next year and I discover it is Tao (Terran 85) so I do not need R4 but colony ships are a way off. I chase Darlok scout from Xudax (Inferno 35), green south of Artemis, in 2310 and from nearby Kakata (minimal 15) in 2317. In between Barren pops choosing Tundra over Dead or Spores. There are 2 Tundra planets to north but the lack of terraforming again is a disappointment. I stick with Planetology over Propulsion (more pop productivity and cheaper colony ships) while advancing RW80 which arrives in 2324 choosing II8 over Duralloy. Keep pushing Planetology until in percentages then start Range4 and Tundra arrives in 2335 with Inferno only choice, darn. Artemis maxâd in 2331, first colony ship produced in 2336 and Range4 arrives quickly in 2338 choosing Range6 over IS. Next year settling Tao brings contact with uneasy 3PE Darloks (Xeno/Tech). I send 30 pop from Artemis refilling from Fierias. Meanwhile I push II8 but take time to open other fields finding DSS (over BC2), DS2 and Hand Lasers.
Three turns after meeting the shifters they DOW! I think about defence but keep pushing economy and tech for now. Big Gion is settled in 2344 with 30 from Fierias. Next is tiny Kakata in 2350 with 6 from Tao (to reach larger southern worlds before Darloks). Meanwhile I chase Meklar scout away at N Omicron, Sakkra scout at S Kulthos and Darlok diplomat returns. Now the cats, in particular, can handle early Darlok aggression (on hard) but it will slow expansion so I may ask for peace. Will have to wait for the âtempâ modifier to rise further first though to stand a reasonable chance. II8 arrives in 2354 choosing ARS over Battle Suit or RW60. With DSS already seeded, I decide to push Range6 to explore far northern worlds (some reasonable ones still to settle north of centre of galaxy). Southern Nordia (Jungle 90) gives me 6 planets in 2356, so GNN says. It is 6 parsecs from Darloks so should have time to build-up. First event is Accident at Guradas (Meklars) in 2360. In 2363 Darloks agree to my peace offer (second attempt) ending the war which was nothing a few cat fighters couldnât handle so no need for major build-up. Next year I settle southern Vulcan (Ocean 70) then DSS hits and BC3 is only choice, unfortunately no RC3. In 2367 settle western Stalaz (Desert 50) and then discover Range 6 with Warp3 only new choice. With some nice worlds discovered up North I start pushing Warp3 to save colony ship time (expensive for my current economy though). Catching up militarily I pop Hand Lasers in 2375 choosing Ion Cannon (over Hyper-X or Fusion bomb). Same year I settle northern Aquilae and eastern Morrig.
2381 was a big year. Warp3 discovered (then Warp4 over Energy Pulsar), meet wary 6PE Sakkra (Pac/Diplo) (whoâs 132 fighters were too much for me to hold central Jinga) and exchange HandLasers for IT10 (hurray). The bad news? The Darloks DOW again and they are allied to Sakkra! Next year an unknown spy destroys all 4 factories on Morrig (I wonder who?). Itâs becoming harder to cover all the Darlok ship forays and they gain air superiority over tiny Kakata bombing 3 factories. Meanwhile I settle northern Proteus and Celtsi meeting neutral 5PE Meklars (Xeno/Ind) and triggering vote with me v. Darloks. Darloks have their own 4 plus 4 from their allies, the Sakkra. Meklars vote 3 for me (at war with Darloks, not me) while Bulrathi 1 and Psilon 4 abstain. So I can just vote my 6 for Darloks â I still want peace for a while longer. I exchange Range6 for IT20 with Sakkra while peace lasts â they have range5 and will surely get longer soon. DS2 arrives in 2387 to boost defence with DS3 only choice. The Darloks invade Kakata with 20 + Duralloy v. 15 + HL + defender bonus â I win by one pop! Next year Ion Cannon arrives to give me a decent gun with SP-V only new choice. In 2390 the Sakkra DOW and next year Darloks take Kakata but no tech, only had a few factories, fun times!
As my Ion fighters hold ground against the Darloks npgâs, I discover Inferno in 2394 choosing Soil over BTA or Radiated then BC3 hits with ECM3 only choice (aagh!). The Sakkra settle northern poor Omicron. Spying sees successes on both sides. I steal EER from Sakkra (yippee!) and Sakkra sabotage destroys 8 factories at Morrig (or was it Darloks?). In 2400 I discover SP-V choosing Graviton over Stinger or Hard Beam. The vote pattern is same as last: Darlok 4 + Sakkra(4) with Meklars(3) for me and Bulrathi(2) and Psilon(4) abstain which I must do with my 9. Soil arrives in 2403 giving a big boost to pop and productivity. I go back for Radiated over Cloning or AER (for rich Regulus and southern UR Beta Ceti). DS3 gives way to DS4 (no PS-V) and the Sakkra settle Tundra Gorra close to my planets.
Now it has quite reasonably been said that inciting revolt is invisible sabotage. Well it just became visible! Looking at the planets screen I see 2 planets, Stalaz and Morrig, with 76 pop and 152 factories but Stalaz production is 233 whereas Morrigâs is 227. I quickly calculate that, at planetology tech level 19, Stalaz is correct so whatâs wrong with Morrig. Well the Darloks have been targeting Morrig so I believe they are trying to start a revolt and some production is lost from rebels.
Second event is to turn Sakkra Kulthos poor in 2408. Same year Sakkra offer peace and I accept. Next year ECM3 is in and ECM4 only choice (grrr!). Two years later the Darloks offer peace and I accept (for now!). Then in quick succession Graviton is replaced by Megabolt (over Omega-V and Fusion Rifle), ARS is replaced by Zortium (over II6) and Radiated is replaced by Cloning (over AER). In 2417 after Warp4 I go back for IS (over Warp5). Same year event 3 is plague at my Proteus which is 130/260. I pump reserves to Proteus and send 10 each turn for 2-turn journey from Aquilae. This should keep pop high enough to work most factories and quickly research cure. I also settle rich Regulus and next year UR Beta Ceti (near Nazin) and meet neutral 4PE Psilon (Err/Tech). Then DS4 gives way to Repulsor. In 2422 ECM4 hits and I choose ASS over BC6 then 3 years later Zortium is replaced by RW40 and I have a new contestant for the vote, the Sakkra. Sakkra(6) pull Darlok(4) and Bulrathi(2) while Meklar(3) vote for me and Psilon(4) plus me(15) abstain. When Megabolt arrives in 2426 I go back for Fusion Bomb (over SP-VII). Next year IS is replaced by Warp5. In 2431 in quick succession I get Fusion Bomb (SP-VII), Repulsor (PS-X), ASS (next RC5!) and Cloning (choosing IT50 over Adv.Soil).
![[Image: attachment.php?attachmentid=895&stc=1]](http://www.realmsbeyond.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=895&stc=1)
And my two ARS Megabolt huges plus dozens of fusion bombers are completed. Retribution is swift. Darloks cede Helos, Quayal, Nazin and Neptunus in quick order (I bomb out poor Laan) with only tiny Kakata left! I capture RC3 and II6 plus other techs. The Psilons are so pleased with my efforts they offer an alliance to which I agree. After IT50, terraforming and growing I was ready for 2449-50 vote:
Sakkra 7 plus Bulrathi 2, Darloks 1
Mrrshan 25 plus Meklars 3, Psilons 4
I needed one ally and got two. Domination win in 2449.
Post game notes: the Sakkra were the other power in my game and had some scary looking fleets with over 50 large in one fleet. However their best weapons were Hyper-X! The Meklars were in almost constant war with everyone except me so even though they complained about my size they were a safe vote.
By the way after game I looked into affect of rebels on production. Apparently there were 3 rebels on Morrig (and one on Nitzer!) and they produce normal population productivity but do not work factories!
I see Darlok scout at SW green in 2306 but leaves next year and I discover it is Tao (Terran 85) so I do not need R4 but colony ships are a way off. I chase Darlok scout from Xudax (Inferno 35), green south of Artemis, in 2310 and from nearby Kakata (minimal 15) in 2317. In between Barren pops choosing Tundra over Dead or Spores. There are 2 Tundra planets to north but the lack of terraforming again is a disappointment. I stick with Planetology over Propulsion (more pop productivity and cheaper colony ships) while advancing RW80 which arrives in 2324 choosing II8 over Duralloy. Keep pushing Planetology until in percentages then start Range4 and Tundra arrives in 2335 with Inferno only choice, darn. Artemis maxâd in 2331, first colony ship produced in 2336 and Range4 arrives quickly in 2338 choosing Range6 over IS. Next year settling Tao brings contact with uneasy 3PE Darloks (Xeno/Tech). I send 30 pop from Artemis refilling from Fierias. Meanwhile I push II8 but take time to open other fields finding DSS (over BC2), DS2 and Hand Lasers.
Three turns after meeting the shifters they DOW! I think about defence but keep pushing economy and tech for now. Big Gion is settled in 2344 with 30 from Fierias. Next is tiny Kakata in 2350 with 6 from Tao (to reach larger southern worlds before Darloks). Meanwhile I chase Meklar scout away at N Omicron, Sakkra scout at S Kulthos and Darlok diplomat returns. Now the cats, in particular, can handle early Darlok aggression (on hard) but it will slow expansion so I may ask for peace. Will have to wait for the âtempâ modifier to rise further first though to stand a reasonable chance. II8 arrives in 2354 choosing ARS over Battle Suit or RW60. With DSS already seeded, I decide to push Range6 to explore far northern worlds (some reasonable ones still to settle north of centre of galaxy). Southern Nordia (Jungle 90) gives me 6 planets in 2356, so GNN says. It is 6 parsecs from Darloks so should have time to build-up. First event is Accident at Guradas (Meklars) in 2360. In 2363 Darloks agree to my peace offer (second attempt) ending the war which was nothing a few cat fighters couldnât handle so no need for major build-up. Next year I settle southern Vulcan (Ocean 70) then DSS hits and BC3 is only choice, unfortunately no RC3. In 2367 settle western Stalaz (Desert 50) and then discover Range 6 with Warp3 only new choice. With some nice worlds discovered up North I start pushing Warp3 to save colony ship time (expensive for my current economy though). Catching up militarily I pop Hand Lasers in 2375 choosing Ion Cannon (over Hyper-X or Fusion bomb). Same year I settle northern Aquilae and eastern Morrig.
2381 was a big year. Warp3 discovered (then Warp4 over Energy Pulsar), meet wary 6PE Sakkra (Pac/Diplo) (whoâs 132 fighters were too much for me to hold central Jinga) and exchange HandLasers for IT10 (hurray). The bad news? The Darloks DOW again and they are allied to Sakkra! Next year an unknown spy destroys all 4 factories on Morrig (I wonder who?). Itâs becoming harder to cover all the Darlok ship forays and they gain air superiority over tiny Kakata bombing 3 factories. Meanwhile I settle northern Proteus and Celtsi meeting neutral 5PE Meklars (Xeno/Ind) and triggering vote with me v. Darloks. Darloks have their own 4 plus 4 from their allies, the Sakkra. Meklars vote 3 for me (at war with Darloks, not me) while Bulrathi 1 and Psilon 4 abstain. So I can just vote my 6 for Darloks â I still want peace for a while longer. I exchange Range6 for IT20 with Sakkra while peace lasts â they have range5 and will surely get longer soon. DS2 arrives in 2387 to boost defence with DS3 only choice. The Darloks invade Kakata with 20 + Duralloy v. 15 + HL + defender bonus â I win by one pop! Next year Ion Cannon arrives to give me a decent gun with SP-V only new choice. In 2390 the Sakkra DOW and next year Darloks take Kakata but no tech, only had a few factories, fun times!
As my Ion fighters hold ground against the Darloks npgâs, I discover Inferno in 2394 choosing Soil over BTA or Radiated then BC3 hits with ECM3 only choice (aagh!). The Sakkra settle northern poor Omicron. Spying sees successes on both sides. I steal EER from Sakkra (yippee!) and Sakkra sabotage destroys 8 factories at Morrig (or was it Darloks?). In 2400 I discover SP-V choosing Graviton over Stinger or Hard Beam. The vote pattern is same as last: Darlok 4 + Sakkra(4) with Meklars(3) for me and Bulrathi(2) and Psilon(4) abstain which I must do with my 9. Soil arrives in 2403 giving a big boost to pop and productivity. I go back for Radiated over Cloning or AER (for rich Regulus and southern UR Beta Ceti). DS3 gives way to DS4 (no PS-V) and the Sakkra settle Tundra Gorra close to my planets.
Now it has quite reasonably been said that inciting revolt is invisible sabotage. Well it just became visible! Looking at the planets screen I see 2 planets, Stalaz and Morrig, with 76 pop and 152 factories but Stalaz production is 233 whereas Morrigâs is 227. I quickly calculate that, at planetology tech level 19, Stalaz is correct so whatâs wrong with Morrig. Well the Darloks have been targeting Morrig so I believe they are trying to start a revolt and some production is lost from rebels.
Second event is to turn Sakkra Kulthos poor in 2408. Same year Sakkra offer peace and I accept. Next year ECM3 is in and ECM4 only choice (grrr!). Two years later the Darloks offer peace and I accept (for now!). Then in quick succession Graviton is replaced by Megabolt (over Omega-V and Fusion Rifle), ARS is replaced by Zortium (over II6) and Radiated is replaced by Cloning (over AER). In 2417 after Warp4 I go back for IS (over Warp5). Same year event 3 is plague at my Proteus which is 130/260. I pump reserves to Proteus and send 10 each turn for 2-turn journey from Aquilae. This should keep pop high enough to work most factories and quickly research cure. I also settle rich Regulus and next year UR Beta Ceti (near Nazin) and meet neutral 4PE Psilon (Err/Tech). Then DS4 gives way to Repulsor. In 2422 ECM4 hits and I choose ASS over BC6 then 3 years later Zortium is replaced by RW40 and I have a new contestant for the vote, the Sakkra. Sakkra(6) pull Darlok(4) and Bulrathi(2) while Meklar(3) vote for me and Psilon(4) plus me(15) abstain. When Megabolt arrives in 2426 I go back for Fusion Bomb (over SP-VII). Next year IS is replaced by Warp5. In 2431 in quick succession I get Fusion Bomb (SP-VII), Repulsor (PS-X), ASS (next RC5!) and Cloning (choosing IT50 over Adv.Soil).
And my two ARS Megabolt huges plus dozens of fusion bombers are completed. Retribution is swift. Darloks cede Helos, Quayal, Nazin and Neptunus in quick order (I bomb out poor Laan) with only tiny Kakata left! I capture RC3 and II6 plus other techs. The Psilons are so pleased with my efforts they offer an alliance to which I agree. After IT50, terraforming and growing I was ready for 2449-50 vote:
Sakkra 7 plus Bulrathi 2, Darloks 1
Mrrshan 25 plus Meklars 3, Psilons 4
I needed one ally and got two. Domination win in 2449.
Post game notes: the Sakkra were the other power in my game and had some scary looking fleets with over 50 large in one fleet. However their best weapons were Hyper-X! The Meklars were in almost constant war with everyone except me so even though they complained about my size they were a safe vote.
By the way after game I looked into affect of rebels on production. Apparently there were 3 rebels on Morrig (and one on Nitzer!) and they produce normal population productivity but do not work factories!
