Is Maso that hard?

from Stardock Forums
I've been playing this game for a while on crippling and found it a interesting and sometimes challanging game, so time to try the masochistic level...

Plainly I expected the AI to storm off and be more aggresive and what-have-you.
Boy was I ever wrong, every maso game I played followed the same pattern, the majors farted about attacking each other until there were just 2 majors left.
The remaining pair were then only too happy to ally with me - Game Over - Insert Coin.

In conclusion I found the maso games to be quicker than crippling, easier and comparively boring, so back to crippling for a more varied, interesting game.

Am I unique in this observation or have others found similar?
362 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Am I unique in this observation or have others found similar?
End of quote


Depends on how you play really. MASO is easy if you concentrate on getting them to like you. Doing this primarily through trading of techs and bribing.

I like to play an agressive game involving combat but in order to do that my game play is quite different and I am unable to beat MASO that way.

I think that I like Crippling better but I am constantly trying to change my MASO strategy to be more agressive.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
For MASO survival, one important thing to remember: stay out of wars until you are able to deal very important blows to the AIs.

And a good AI is always an AI that is fighting war for you ("divide and conquer"), so you just have to act behind the curtains

[Message Edited]
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I have to agree that the game is more 'fun' for me on Crippling. The problem is those games don't score very well, so I don't submit them and if you look at my game history, it appears that all I play is Maso.

If you want a challenge, try attacking the aliens as soon as you meet them on Maso...
[Message Edited]
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
The problem is those games don't score very well,
End of quote

It is no longer the case with AP. Some have been able to score 60K alliance victory on crippling.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Ooooo! I will have to try it out.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
If you want a challenge, try attacking the aliens as soon as you meet them on Maso...
End of quote


Actually I would like to see the AI have the intelligence of MASO or even more but without the incredibly unfair bonuses that MASO has now.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
In conclusion I found the maso games to be quicker than crippling, easier and comparively boring, so back to crippling for a more varied, interesting game.
End of quote

I'm pretty sure there's nothing easier about Maso - or less varied, for that matter. It's the same as Crippling, only the AI gets various bonuses - eg a big increase to influence - and is less willing to pay you money.
There's a big luck factor involved. If the AIs start off right on your doorstep and are hassling you for money, then Maso can be very difficult indeed. Try a Medium Abundant Maso, preferably with all AIs set to evil - I've had some defeats recently on that sort of game.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
When I play crippling I trade techs for cash and by doing that I can wipe out the AI's and stunt their development. I am always way ahead in all tech including ship tech. This game I dominate militarily and monetarily.

When I play MASO I have to trade techs for techs and I get the AI's to like me. I find it hard to get ship techs because they do not like to trade them. I am able to keep up or even ahead of the AI in all other tech. I do trade for 3-4 Trade goods and I miss out on at least half of the wonders. This game I dominate diplomatically and at the end culturally but I still go for a military victory. If you try for alliance on Tiny maps you lose a lot of points.

For both crippling and maso;
I always play Tiny maps.
It is very important to scout out all AI's as fast as possible.
I will alpha strike an AI if it is at war with someone else. I will take out all minors with a quick alpha strike.



[Message Edited]
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I find it hard to get ship techs because they do not like to trade them.
End of quote


Newfy,
I find that the AI are only willing to give up the ship techs when they offer you a ship tech for some trifle tech, such as drones or other building block in what they has set as a high priority. I have been given all the way up to Overlords in the last game I played. I never use them though :D LOL
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I find that the AI are only willing to give up the ship techs when they offer you a ship tech for some trifle tech, such as drones or other building block in what they has set as a high priority
End of quote


I found drones and brain wave mapping the best for getting the AI to overpay when they come to you. Anyone notice others that work regularly like those 2. :D

When I do get a good capital ship tech traded to me I immediatly trade the tech to anyone who does not have it and they will usually give me every tech they have for it. ;)
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
found drones and brain wave mapping the best for getting the AI to overpay when they come to you. Anyone notice others that work regularly like those 2.
End of quote


I find that Nano Electronics and Stellar Cartography work most of the time. :)
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Nano electronics and drones quite often get me battleship and dreadnoughts respectively.

Never had any anyone want stellar cartography though ;p
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
True, I can usually get some ship techs by waiting for them to come to me. Drones, Nano Electronics, Brain wave mapping are usually the ones that they request.
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
I can some times get Ranger Technology.
End of quote


loopcub AI sometimes can give a Avatar Tech, if only you already have a Battleship, Dreadnaught and Ranger Techs... they offer anything just to get those techs, for AIs it seems really important tech, while it takes omly a few couple turns to get it for you, its a bargain!! ;)
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
they offer anything just to get those techs
End of quote


True, I was offered Corvetts in my last game, after I had already been offered everything else up to Overlords. I took them just to be gracious. Never use any of them. :D LOL