First Contact criteria

rdouglass · #1 June 26th, 2001, 02:11 PM

I'm sending 2 sizeable fleets (now legendary) into the heart of enemy AI territory. They have support (mine sweepers, solar collectors and resupply, repair and SY, etc.) - They're esssentially 'self sustaining'. The enemy are an oxygen breather and a methane breather (can't remember the names of 'em). I want both their pop since I'm a Hydrogen breather.

So, these 2 fleets are deep in enemy territory since I want them to strike a few major installations (homeworlds, construction yards, resuplly, etc) to soften them up a little for plucking. They're heavily distracting forces and generally wreaking havoc.

Now I take one of my stellar manip ships and close the WP to the enemy area (I'm playing in a cluster system). I closed it to seal off a flank since I'm fighting another war on another front with another Hydrogen breather. I want to genocide the H's since they're essentially fodder to me - no value at all. It (the WP) is an original WP that was about 250 ?clicks? away. The WP closes and suddenly I have no contact with the O and M races! I'm bummin 'cause I'm only Stellar Manip level 1 and can only open WP 100 clicks.

I am not in contact?!?!?! I got 46 friggin' ships glassing planets for cryin' out loud!! Since I'm not in contact, I can't crew insurrect or PPP.

Now my question: What exactly is the criteria for Contact. It seems at least 1 criteria is a WP path to Homeworlds. If that is the case, how are people trading comm channels??? Does anyone know the exact, complete requirements??? IIRC this has changed! It didn't used to be like this.......

[This message has been edited by rdouglass (edited 26 June 2001).]

Nitram Draw · #2 June 26th, 2001, 02:21 PM

I think, but am not totally sure, that you have to be able to trace through WP from one of your planets to one of their planets even if the systems in between are unexplored.

Dracus · #3 June 26th, 2001, 02:31 PM

Yes you have to have a direct path to them. Now they are not your enemy since you closed the wp.

Jubala · #4 June 26th, 2001, 03:08 PM

And the best (or worst depending on ones point of view) part if I remember correctly, when contact is reestablished they won't remember a thing about you!

Suicide Junkie · #5 June 26th, 2001, 03:33 PM

In order to maintain contact, there must be a path from any one of your planets to any one of their planets.

Just use one of your space yards (you did say "self-sustaining") to build some troops and take over a small colony in enemy territory. You can then reactivate your intel ops, or make peace and trade for the population.

rdouglass · #6 June 26th, 2001, 06:39 PM

Good idea SJ - I'll try that 'cept I'll have to build a transport first; my fleets have no cargo space

However, I have another question: Since we have no contact, will my fleets in enemy territory be ignored? I mean, I'm stomping some significant custruction and resource-producing sectors to glass.. Why is the AI ignoring me?? Is it just another flaw in the AI or is it coded somewhere? I suspect AI since a human player would not ignore (or forget) me....