The non-warship challenge

jim · #1 April 21st, 2004, 03:49 AM

Quite a few threads over the years have involved how to play a different and challenging game against the AI. I wonder if anyone has done the one I had fun with a bit ago.

Never put a weapon on a ship.

Spoo · #2 April 21st, 2004, 03:53 AM

Did you win?

Suicide Junkie · #3 April 21st, 2004, 03:58 AM

Child: "How did we win the Great Drushocka war, Grandpa?"
Grandpa: "Well, we let them shoot at us till they ran out of ammo. You had to be pretty good at dodging in those days, but my navigator was the best. Anyways, after they were through and all their weapons were dry, we were still there. Those Druk had nothing left to do but panic and surrender."

jim · #4 April 21st, 2004, 03:58 AM

Sometimes, but not at first.

I think some of the strategies are obvious, but there are quite a few. I did not state any in the thread leader post in hope that someone would come up with ones I did not try.

parabolize · #5 April 21st, 2004, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jim:
Sometimes, but not at first.

I think some of the strategies are obvious, but there are quite a few. I did not state any in the thread leader post in hope that someone would come up with ones I did not try.

ram ships
capture planets (troops are not ships

)
intel lots of intel

Baron Munchausen · #6 April 21st, 2004, 04:51 AM

Are there any other strategies in this circumstance than units, units, units?

If you don't count stellar manipulation as 'weapons' I guess you go go for broke and try to get planet and star destroyers, and cloaks, as early as possible. But you'd still need the units to feed off the enemies until you got them.

Arkcon · #7 April 21st, 2004, 11:35 AM

Kay, so, what are the rules so far? Ships, weaponless, full of cloaks and shields, is point defense a weapon or a defense?

Planets can have any weapons they want. Sats and mines at warp points. Fighters can fly around a system, but if you use carriers, aren't they just semi-intelligent missiles?

Stellar manipulation all you want. Well, rushing to the turtling stage is one possible goal. TDM Modpack AI's will start opening warp points regularly -- and they put weapons on their manipulator ships.

Using intel can be interesting. But it's been done. With god-like cunning, you can do anything to the AI.

In a current TDM-Modpack game, I'm generating cloaking storms over some planets in a system I share with the Pyrochette. Maybe if they can't see me, they'll be friendly.

[ April 21, 2004, 10:36: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

Atrocities · #8 April 21st, 2004, 11:49 AM

I will take your ship with no weapons and up you one.

One ship class thats it, one weapon type thats it, and its you against the combined space navys of the best of the best that SEIV has to offer.

That my friend is one hell of a grand game.

Alneyan · #9 April 21st, 2004, 02:35 PM

Actually, there are some weapons that could even out the odds a bit against AIs. (Not the DUC I obviously) So let the challenged player choose his weapon, since it may spell his survival, at least for some time. Granted, you will have a hard time gathering a fleet numerous enough to stand up to this alliance, but...

geoschmo · #10 April 21st, 2004, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yef:

quote:
Originally posted by Arkcon:
OK. How bout this. No research. Escorts, DUC I, CSM 1, Ion engine 1, you against the whole galaxy. Hmm. Think I'll try that now.

No way you can win like this.
Against 20 AIs?
Player against all AIs?
No way.

But keep us informed. It will be fun to see what happens.

This could be done, except for a few factors.

Intelligence
Mines
lack of point defense.

I think if you turn off intel and mines and allow yourself to research PDC you could pull this off.

Geoschmo