Imperium 10: Brack's Game

[Brackard]

And here we go.
[url="http://www.sumcbabydaze.org/games/imp10/imp10.htm"]
Brack's Game.[/url]

[dathon]

Sorry to see your return to MOO didn't result in a victory, but at least it was a good learning event, right? Right?

I think what brought you down was expanding too slow, and I think that happened by branching out in the tech tree too early. Territory reigns supreme in this game, and planting your flag as far and wide as possible is what's going to make or break you. As such, it's usually a good idea to focus on getting an empire-expanding tech early before branching out too much in technology. I had Range 6 by 2347; Sullla had Controlled Dead by the same year. I noticed in your report that you didn't have either until the 2365/68. I think that concentrating towards having one of these earlier would have resulted in enough territory to stave off a council loss. Of course, remembering to actually USE the tech when it comes in will help too Relying on diplomacy to save you is shaky at best; my relations dissolved from Amiable/Relaxed to war in only 10 turns. Territory is always the surer bet.

Still, very nice to see you back, and I hope this won't put you off continuing to play with us.

dathon

[haphazard1]

Tough breaks, Brackard. Those pesky apres, sucking up to everyone and winning by diplomacy -- how annoying!

I think dathon is right about the expansion -- you did not get several worlds which most players seem to have gotten. This meant you did not have the votes you needed in council; the vote before the one you lost was an almost loss, held off only because one AI abstained. That was the warning shot across the bow that you needed to shift the population dynamics quickly.

Also, I think you could have (should have) attacked earlier. There were certainly holes in the tech tree, particularly speed, but a slow attack can still be done and even one or two worlds would have made the difference in the vote.

It is great to see the large turnout for the Imperia. I am learning a lot from everyone's report, including this one.

[RefSteel]

Yikes! Having come within a fraction of a vote of losing to the monkeys myself (on Average, I'd have given Final War a try, but I wouldn't have had much of a chance back in 2373!) I know that must have been a pain. I loved reading all your first round Imperium reports (long after IMP8's closing day, but before my very first post as an RBO newbie) and this one was no exception in spite of the unfortunate outcome. Here's to better luck in Imperium 11!

[Brackard]

Yeah, I have to admit I almsot didn't post the writeup because of the sloppiness of play. However, I'm glad I did. I did learn a few things.

I really didn't have as much time as I generally did to play, so I was pretty rushed throughout the game. (discovered the renewal of the Imperium maybe a week before the closing date - and had to create a new website, transfer others over, play the game, and write the report). So stuff I should have paid more attention to (research sliders or the closeness of the votes for exmaple) were overlooked thinking it was 'just' an average game.

Overall though, my achilles heel which ends up biting me in the posterior game after game is not expanding far/fast enough. Hopefully someone else learns from my mistake.

[Maniac Marshall]

Glad you enjoyed the game despite the result. I fear that kind of thing from the Humans myself, whatever the difficulty level.