Information should be free and all that [Data Angel spoilers]

[Maniac]

I just had an idea. Though I can't build probe teams yet, I can already build Spectres. After my Network Node in Data DeCentral is finished, I'll build a Command Center and then hurry an Infantry. I'll send that unit into CyCon territory to see what they're up to.

[spellman]

Since Sareln gets rushed all the time, I hope he'll be happy to have a friendly neighbour. In fact I think in a couple turns I'll offer him a defense pact as mutual rush protection. :D

Oh you have no idea....

[Maniac]

Oh you have no idea....

I've seen the spreadsheet. :D

Boy, am I glad I decided to check out that blockaded territory. I could have lost my two formers. Rather than improving the red algae, they're now gonna improve the rainy nutrient bonus with a windmill first. Still sad because of the loss of former turns.

Looks like Sareln lost his exploring rover. Gargoyle Garden could get a worm visit soon, but I still have my one free worm kill, so I won't rush a second unit there.

[Maniac]

I've met two factions this turn. Yang to my west, Mardoc to my northeast. I'm rather glad the Pirates aren't on my side of the continent. Now I need to fear pillaging less. Poor Sareln on the other hand...

I'm actually more worried about having Yang as a neighbour. While it may be possible to avoid war with the Consciousness by showing I'm vigilant for a rush, Yang will only look at raw numbers to judge my strength. So to keep peace with him I can't just keep a large stack of gold in reserve with the threat of being able to hurry a unit in each of my bases.

Here's Yang's first contact screen, with genuine vintage greetings of course:

I also spotted Sareln's cultural borders. One well-placed base between us could suffice to create a trade connection. Alas, that would be seen as an aggressive move.

I've been spending all my espionage on the CyCon, and have gained info after clicking end turn. Here are the info graphs:

Sareln has an extraordinarily high mineral output, and that's with 2 less pop than me.

Here's the map overview, taken after clicking end turn.

To your left you see Yang's rover. I'm also glad the fungus field doesn't extend further west. That way my formers can work there in safety without fear of a surprise worm descending upon them.

My infantry in Gargoyle Garden killed the approaching worm.

My siege tank is staying on the mountain on wormsign duty. Edit: wait, that might no longer be necessary after the border expansion.

The aquaformer is building a sea mill near my HQ, so my two formers can concentrate on Gargoyle Garden first.

To your right you see Sareln's borders.

I've finally begun spending research towards Industrial Automation. I aim to have 80 credits in reserve by the time a Command Center in Data DeCentral is finished.

[Maniac]

My network node is finished in Data DeCentral. Datajack expected in 23 turns.

[Maniac]

Gained passive info on Yang this turn. Next espionage goal is seeing the research project of Sareln.

[Maniac]

Well that negotiation went perfect I'd say.

I consider the northern position better, because it gives me access to that coastline. Meaning a quicker trade connection to the Pirates.

Also I was lying about prefering the CyCon bases to be one tile further away from me. Them being closer means a smaller distance penalty when stealing tech.

This deal also means a shorter border. If Sareln had chosen the northern spot, Gargoyle Garden would have been more threatened, and I would have felt the need to build a Perimeter Defense. Now I can shower almost the entire border with collateral damage from bunkers in Data DeCentral (DC) and my new northern base.

For now I will be working under the worst case assumption that Sareln will try to rush me after he bulbs Memetics. To counter that my build order in Data DC will be Command Center -> Colony Pod -> Perimeter Defense. My first build in my new base will be a Perimeter Defense as well, both giving me defense and +1 culture for the border expansion. If I build a mine near the new base, the Perimeter should be finished only a couple turns after Sareln can get Memetics at the earliest.

[Maniac]

Turns out Sareln is researching Algaculture rather than a Memetics prerequisite. Not sure why he would be doing that. Algaculture gives a free sea colony pod of course to its first researcher, and then you can get Ascetic Virtues from the Pressure Dome, but I'm assuming he'll have competition from Mardoc to get there first. So it seems like a risky choice.

Alternative explanations are that he has lots of algae near his bases, and wants the +1 food from algae labs. Or that he wants Marines.

I think my next espionage goal will be figuring out Mardoc's research project. If he too is going for Algaculture->Pressure Dome, perhaps I can offer info on Sareln/Mardoc to the one who would be most willing to spread the Ascetic Virtues in my cities. You know, give them the estimate on how many turns the other will need to get to Pressure Dome, so that my candidate can set his research just high enough to beat the other to the punch.

[Maniac]

Event update:

I killed a worm with my returning exploring rover. Thanks to Sareln for weakening it up for me. His sacrifice won't be forgotten. Being temporarily free of worms, my formers were finally able to hook up the red algae and radiotrophic fungus for +1 planet and +1 health. They'll proceed to the Fungicide now, and then the Silver.

The rover will now explore the west, trying to find out more about Yang.

As I'd like to wait until my Data DC borders have expanded (5turns) before removing that fungus (so that the aquaformer can remain invisible), I decided to let my aquaformer do some exploring.

I recently made aquaformers able to move through ice (so that they can still move around in case I ever add nuclear winter/increase solar shade code). I didn't consider they would be able to explore the icecap from turn1 however. So in the next patch they'll be unable to before Doc:Ini has been researched. But for now I can make use of it...

I decided to change my build order a little now I know that Sareln isn't researching towards Memetics at the moment. (Though of course he could still research a prereq after Algaculture before a hypothetical great doctor finishes)

I won't be rushing an Infantry in Data DC anymore. Instead I'll build it with minerals. Then one turn of Biolab to let the city grow to size 4, then a former, then finish the biolab. I'll assess the need of a perimeter defense then. Gargoyle Garden will build the colony pod instead after growing to size 3.

[Maniac]

After having accumulated enough espionage points to see Mardoc's research project, I switched all my espionage investment to Sareln in preparation of tech stealing. As a bonus I can now also see Alpha Prime's surroundings.

The base is still only defended by a rover. Man, Sareln is making it really hard to justify not rushing him. I could probably walk up an invisible Spectre next to his HQ and capture it with a sneak attack.



Must... Resist... Urge... >_<

Meanwhile, domestically, I've finished Industrial Automation and switched to Planned and Biodomed. It'll take me 8 turns now to finish Superconductor, and 11 turns to get a Datajack. Those 11 turns of running Planned suffice to win back the current cost of a turn of anarchy. Current plan is still to switch to Democratic/Free Market after bulbing Planetary Networks.

I've been thinking I should build the Planetary Council in Gargoyle Garden (GG). It cost more or less the same as three colony pods, so I'm far from certain building the wonder makes economic sense at all. But it would certainly make my gameplay more interesting. In preparation I'll build a Network Node and Maintenance Bay in GG. Network Node to get a headstart on getting my second GP in GG. Maintenance Bay for the +1 mineral, and thus a faster build time for the Council.

Reasons why GG is better than Data DC:

• Both bases have 6 flat & rainy plots, but GG has two of them next to a river, so one more can be farmed without needing Environmental Economics. That makes GG a better specialist farm at the moment.
  
• GG currently has a bigger mineral production, and also has a bigger future potential due to more rocky terrain. So faster wonder build time.
  
• GG has a big positive Planet value, so the base can be grown bigger without worrying.