May 2229
The two minor races are now conquered. The Jessians were subjugated in January 2229 and the Lentzlandians in May 2229. In the process I worked through shock troops and also planetary defense for a total invasion bonus of 45%, which is more than enough against minor races. I also had to research 2 levels of logistics to get it up to 15 so I could group 3 transports for 6B troops during an invasion. My ground combat plus technology advantage meant only 1 transport was deployed and 2 remained after I was done. In both cases I landed the transports to goose population, and then deployed them shortly thereafter to other theatres. My transports move spd 5 and my combat ships only 3, so the transports can dawdle a little. Overall removing the population for 7 transports (14B people) didn’t even dent my population due to high growth rates. Both minor race planets were developed as fairly balanced worlds with a good mix of industry, research, and economy. Jessians had an embassy, which conveniently is increasing my already significant influence – and causing the nearby barren PQ4 Yor world to be in revolt. With the addition of the two minor worlds I now have 12 planets. As far as techs I got with the invasion, they were marginal: deflector 2 and stinger 1. Oh, well.
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Image 16: galaxy map in May 2229
I did learn a few lessons. First, it takes bloody FOREVER to move speed 3 or 4 war frigates around a gigantic galaxy. The +2 speed pick and the +1 speed from Impulse sure helps, but the galaxy is just enormous when planets are few and far between. It took me 12+ turns to get from the Jessian minor world to the Lentzlandian world. And on the mini map they look fairly close! The map lies.
This implies that I need to look for nearby and soft targets – read that as the Terrans. I now envelop them, and they are much weaker than I am since I have twice as many planets as they do. Heck, my transports are at their doorstep, and my pokey speed 4 frigates can get there in a reasonable amount of time. So I’m going let my beat up frigates repair, keep producing war material, and get into position. Unfortunately, the Council passed a law that ways that when war is declared that all parties are removed to their territory - so, no surprise and overwhelming attack against the Terrans for the Getz. Right now I’m focusing on research with a spending split of 25/15/50 military/social/research.
I was also very lucky and found an unclaimed research resource between me and the Korath! I thought they had been snagged long ago. The minor races seem to be particularly good at finding them, and the AIs are no slouches. I’m tempted to think they cheat, but I know they have little scouts all over the place. Now I have 2 resources: morale and research. Both are maxed out, and the research resources is defended 8-1-1. This early in the game that is significant and can beat off many attacks.
My economic capital at Macrinus I is done, and its advanced trade centers are upgrading to banks. This should increase my income significantly. Also, my trade is picking up and now hauls in 190bc/turn, which is equivalent to my weekly surplus. I only have 4 trade routes (and should set up more soon if I can research the next trade route tech. With my newfound wealth I’ve started investing in spies to kick the rare spy out of my territory. I’ve placed 2 at the Korath planet nearest me. It is an excellent PQ11 research world, and I’d just love to take it. The other Korath planet is a toxic PQ3, and it is next to worthless. The Korath also have a well defended economic resource in the immediate vicinity. I’ll have to hold my lust, however, since the Terran comes first.
Diplomatically, the Krynn and Altrians are at war and the Drengin and Drath are at war. The Krynn for some reason have no military whatsoever. I’ve checked and they are Gifted. On occasion an AI is set to Fool for some reason, but not this time. Because of the non existent military they are targets for all races and eventually they get peace, but likely for a price. The Drengin-Drath war makes sense since the Drath are small and the Drengin have the third largest military after the Korath (who are huge) and me. My military is fairly even with the Drengin.
Here is the disposition of the races in May 2229.
Getz 12 planets, 235 research, 90B population
Drath 5 planets, 16 research, 22B pop
Terran 6 planets, 141 research, 32B pop
Krynn 7 planets, 52 research, 27B pop
Yor 3 planets, 43 research, 17B pop
Drengin 7 planets, 73 research, 40B pop
Altarians 8 planets, 115 research, 24B pop
Korath 8 planets, 136 research, 43B pop
October 2229
My, what a difference a few months make. All my plans to attack the hapless Terrans were scrapped when the Korath declared war on the Altarians in June 2229. I got a message that asked if I wanted to join the war against the Korath due to my good alignment, which is marginally better than neutral. I’m leaning good, but haven’t selected good since I haven’t bothered to research xeno ethics. After a bit of consideration I selected Yes, so as of June 2229 I’m at war with the Korath.
Why did I do this? Frankly, I view the Korath as a significant threat. I haven’t seen any spoor ships yet, but they are an instant kill if my planet happens to be undefended. All my beautiful breeders would be killed in an instant. Also, they are way above anyone else on the military chart, and have researched to photon torpedoes (!!!!). When war was declared I had laser 5 – good enough to take on the Terrans and get a decent military ranking, but useless against top of the line Korath ships. Plus, I have to admit I covet the Korath’s PQ11 research planet and their economic resource.
ASSIDE: I’ve since found out that no matter whether I select Yes or No that the Altarian Super Ability makes me go to war. Oh, well.
So now I look for some conquest. First on the list was the Korath research planet Alderan III. I looked at the defenders and YIKES! My entire fleet of 7 frigates (small hull, attack 2 to 5) couldn’t take them on! So I take out a single Korath frigate with my fleet of 5 frigates (logistics 15) and lose 1 frigate and get another damaged to near death. Gulp. The weaponry disparity is worse than I thought. So I immediately switch to 70% research to get my weapons up to speed.
In the meantime I look for other targets (plan
and see a Korath military starbase that is supporting Alderan III and their now PQ5 toxic world Najmaowicz I. My brave fleet of 5 frigates moves in, attacks, and dies like a stuck pig. I could even hear the squeal as they exploded all over each other. Of course, the star base was reduced from 52 to 15 HPs, but that is small consolation since that was almost my entire fleet!
OK, on to plan C, and I’m running out of plans. Najmaowicz I is defended by a puny 0-2-0 defender, and I can take that out. I send my mighty 5-0-0 attack frigate and 2 transports (4B troops), eliminate the defender, and take the planet in July 2229. Now I can salvage some pride, although the planet is useless since I don’t have any toxic colinzation technology and all production say NEVER. Hmph. The tech I get from the invasion is Life Support, which is actually OK since I get an immediate range bonus.
So now I’m in the long process if increasing my attack technology to Plasma III, and after that my defense to PD1 against the Korath missiles. I can’t fit much more than 4 plasma III and 1 PD on a frigate, but at 8-0-0 and 0-3-0 it will do OK against the Korath 10-0-0 attack frigates that have no defense. My planets aren’t producing much in the way of ships since resources are toward research, but all ships and transports that are produced are heading to the front – and it will take a bloody 15 plus turns to do so!
In a good turn of events, the PQ4 Yor planet Jessian I rebels to join me. The Yor ships just sit there, which is odd. Usually they head for a planet, or at least their economy resource that is nearby. That is fine by me. I place one of my spiffy new frigates nearby so I can paste him in case he gets uppity.
In the meantime my ships from the other side of Getz space have finally reached the Korath front. I stripped these ships from the attack on the minor planet and from my home system. Some are pretty puny (attack 2 to 4), but at this point massive numbers help. My planets are producing transports (at 2B/each) if their pop is maxed, or frigates if they aren’t.
When I got Plasma III I jacked military to 60+% and watch the frigates and transports roll off the assembly line. In October I finally get a few new frigates (locally produced at my planet), and they move into position. I have 2 fleets of 5 frigates, most of which are rather old. I have 2 transport fleets (3 transports each, 6B troops) with them. I pull off a single spiffy new frigate, it attacks – and DIES! What????
Then I look again, and I notice that the Korath frigates have a higher attack rating when they are orbiting then when they are in open space. I wonder if there is a orbiting or planetary defense bonus? I don’t know, but I know what to do – go to overwhelming firepower. I have the entire fleets attack and they remove the Korath defenders with little damage, which is what I should have done in the first place. The transports move in, I use Information Warfare to have colonists switch to my side, and easily take the planet. The planet has only 1 factory, but the rest if research! Whoohoo! As an added bonus I get Toxic Colonization, so the little PQ5 world I took back in July is now somewhat useful.
One of the Getz fleets finally eliminated the pesky military star base, and another fleet and constructor is going to capture the Korath economic resource. I’ll have to get a few more constructors to give it some defense or leave a frigate or two to guard it. Everything I can do to prune the Korath economy is a good thing.
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Image 17: galaxy map in October 2229
My increased influence from the 2 minor worlds has flipped a bunch of Altarian, Terran, and Yor mining bases. This does wonders for production, and with luck I’ll flip the rest. The two minor worlds also have more manufacturing than many of my other worlds, which are either built out as economic or research worlds. The extra production is turning them into manufacturing powerhouses for me.
This last episode has taught me a few things. First, gigantic maps are GIGANTIC, especially when there are few planets to attack. Putting engines on little frigates strips their firepower, so I’m now researching medium hulls. I’ll also research to Impulse 3, and then fit out a few good cruisers that have at least 1 engine. This should make them competitive with my transports. I may want to go to Warp to get the free speed bump, and considering the size of the galaxy that may be worth it. In a gigantic galaxy speed is life.
Second, the remaining Korath worlds are very far away. The Korath home system is literally in the corner of the map, and he has a planet or two in the middle of Krynn/Drath space. He is down to 6 planets, so while not out his wings are certainly clipped.
Since my military is retooling to cruisers and fast hulls some new targets are in order: the Yor economic star base and the ships he has in my territory. After the Yor are evicted the Terran is next. He is just too close to ignore, and although he loves me he just has to go. I like contiguous space, and he is in the middle of mine (or what will be mine). Also, since he is close my pokey frigates and transports can make it to his area and get a semi-coordinated strike without too much effort. I want to make sure I can keep my new planets, so I can’t transfer much from the Alderan systems. But new builds and all transports can make it to Terran space. The limitation of having to be outside his territory when war is declared is a pain, but in 3 or 4 turns after war is declared I should be able to take apx 4 of his 6 planets. I want to make sure I take the capital before he surrenders to someone else since, if I do take the capital, my huge increase in influence means I can flip any straggler planets he gifts to others.
The other bit of odd luck is after I captured Lentzlandias a colony ship that was cruising through unexplored space due the increase in range and happened on a PQ1 planet, which I colonized. This is a long term investment, but it does massively increase my range. I’ll have to build a few colony ships and scout the area since any planet is a good planet when they are so rare.
Economically I’m doing fine. I have a 5700bc balance, and am making 280bc a turn. My trade is 290/turn, so I have to protect that. This trade income means I need to squeeze a trade route increase in soon.
Here is the race breakdown in October 2229.
Getz 16 planets, 305 research, 112B pop
Drath 5 planets, 40 research, 24B pop
Terran 7 planets, 173 research, 34B pop
Krynn 10 planets, 53 research, 35B pop
Yor 2 planets, 34 research, 17B pop
Drengin 8 planets, 96 research, 51B pop
Altarians 9 planets, 115 research, 29B pop
Korath 6 planets, 13 research (losing that research planet hurt!), 43B pop
