Ancient race, waste?

[cholerajoe]

I am still learning. I still only play the TDM AI. I also like to start with 5000 racial points. One of my favorite tactics is to choose Aincient Race and scoop up all the special planets I can as fast as I can. This also gives me the "lay of the land".

Does anyone else use this against AI games or human games? I know it becomes a useless trait towards the end-game.

[DavidG]

A lot of people I know really hate Ancient Race and some even go so far as to call it "cheating" Personally I think it is a 1000 point trait that is worth 1000 points.

I don't usually take it anymore as I think the points are better spent elsewhere. Were it is really usefull is in a game where you can only colonize breathabe planets. Then your colony ships can make a beeline for the good planets

[Aloofi]

I don't use it because I like to roleplay a race that have just discovered space travel.
I guess that players that use the Ancient Race Trait use a justification like "our race was exterminated and we survived underground" to explain knowing the Quadrant but not having any ships or colonies.....

[Gryphin]

I used in the Phun Match because it is my first "real" battle against a human.

I don't take it against the AI anymore
1) Because it is too easy
2) What dogscoff said, I like the surprises and such. It does force you to decide between building scouts or using your colony ships as scouts. I tend to send my hapless colony ships as scouts. This is probably a waste.

[cholerajoe]

Thank you for the feedback.
I don't take it against the AI anymore1) Because it is too easy
2) What dogscoff said, I like the surprises and such. It does force you to decide between building scouts or using your colony ships as scouts. I tend to send my hapless colony ships as scouts. This is probably a waste.


It would take away the scout aspect completely.

[Stone Mill]

It also saves you movement; your initial progress will not be held up at warp points, as you already "know" the systems. So you don't have to spend a turn discovering a system and sitting at the exit of the warp point. Your ship movement will be more efficient, as you can apply all movement potential.

[Fyron]

It would take away the scout aspect completely.

That is why he said he doesn't take it...

[Ruatha]

Originally posted by Stone Mill:
It also saves you movement; your initial progress will not be held up at warp points, as you already "know" the systems. So you don't have to spend a turn discovering a system and sitting at the exit of the warp point. Your ship movement will be more efficient, as you can apply all movement potential.

That is no problem.

From FAQ:
5.10.8 In simultaneous games, when entering an unknown system you don't have to just press "Warp" through that unknown worm hole and let the ship stop on the other side.
After giving the "warp" order open the unknown system and give the ship a "move to" order and press somewhere in that unknown system where you want the ship to go.
Next turn it will warp through and then execute the next order which is to move where you pointed.
You are flying blind but usually in the right direction and it will speed up exploration as the ship doesn't have to stop after each worm-hole. (Ruatha)

[ May 19, 2003, 19:48: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Aloofi:
I don't use it because I like to roleplay a race that have just discovered space travel.
I guess that players that use the Ancient Race Trait use a justification like "our race was exterminated and we survived underground" to explain knowing the Quadrant but not having any ships or colonies.....

Personally when I use it I justify it (if that is even necessary ??) As saying MM just named the trait poorly. Even our prmitive Earth tech can detect planets around other stars. We certainly would not send a colony ship into a black hole system. A race that knows what planets are around them does not take a great strech of the imagination.

[Loser]

Originally posted by Ruatha:
After giving the "warp" order open the unknown system and give the ship a "move to" order and press somewhere in that unknown system where you want the ship to go.

This is possible?

That's amazing...