Re: Stupid Newbie (again)

From: saschreu@cs.vu.nl (Schreuder SA)

Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1993 12:38:27 +0000

Somebody writes:
>I am posting this anonymously only for the reason that I do not
>want to give away any possible strategy for the game I am in.
>Please understand.

Ok, but I am giving away my tactics too, and I use my name.

>I have just become involved in my first Galaxy game.  I'm a newbie
>in a new land and I could really use some advice from all of you
>net.galaxy.gurus.  Once I get the hang of it, I'll not need you
>help as much, but right now I am confused on where I should start.

I don't see myself as a net.galaxy.guru, but I will try to answer some
of your questions.

>Here are my questions, no flames please:
>
>Assume all of these questions are in the timeframe of the first
>five or so turns.
>
>Initially, you concerns would be expansion and defense, right?
That are always your concerns: You need to defend your planets,
and you need to expand to grow bigger.
>What are the ways to quickly accomplish this?  Would it be better to use
>your first turn to produce a series of defensive satellites with
>the stats of [ 0 1 1 0 0 ] or to produce probes [ 1 0 0 0 0 ] or
>even a blockade-runner style cargo ship [ 1 0 0 0 1 ]?

If you are going to build defenses the first few turns (always do!),
produce a few satelites with a large weapon and a biiiiiig shield.
If you build [0 1 1 0 0] ships, and I will move in a ship [6 1 1 6 0]
you won't be able to kill that ship, but I will take out all your
ships and bomb the planet. So build a large ship (mass 99) with
some weapon and the remaining are shields: [0 3 20 59 0]
Build some Probes [1 0 0 0 0] a few turns later to make a map
of all planets closeby, and use the remaining probes as
'canonfood': If somebody attacks, the ships will fire at those small ships:
every ship has equal chance to be fired upon, but there are far more
small ships. If you have time later in the game, build lasers [0 1 1 0 0]
or defenders [ 0 0 0 1 0]. I would build lasers: If somebody
attacks you with one big ship and 100+ small probes, those
probes will be soon destroyed, and then his big ship will be destroyed by
your big ship.

>Would it be better to forget defense, build a series of small cargo
>ships and get ahold of as many planets as possible as quickly as
>possible in order to aid research production later?

What I think the best start is:
Turn 1) Build some small cargo's.
Turn 2) Colonize a few planets nearby and produce CAP.
Turn 3) During this turn others are able to reach your home, so
        Build a large OrbitalFort, send CAP to the nearby planets.
Turn 4) Build Probes to explore your surrounding planets.

Of course, from turn 4 on, it depends on what other players do.
If they colonize many planets: build some armed cargo's.
If they don't do anything: colonize many planets.
If most planets are far away: colonize only some planets nearby,
but research DRIVE as soon as possible (turn 5-7 or so)

>Or failing that, should I forget the production of any initial
>spacecraft and concentrate on hyperdrive research in order to aid
>expansion in later moves?

It is better to expand quick in the beginning: Everybody wants
to colonize as many planets as possible, but in galaxy Alpha/Beta/7
there are 400 planets and 50 players => 8 planets/player. Be sure
that you are able to colonize more than this, and you will have a good start.
If don't have to produce CAP at your home-planet, and more cargo's
aren't needed, research DRIVE: You will be able to ship more cargo
or bring it faster to your outer planets.

A good strategy is always: contact your neighbours and start an alliance.
You don't need to defend your planets that heavily, and if you
agree on who is getting which planet, you are able to expand
quickly without being attacked. Of course: watch out for backstabbers!

>I know each person had different strategies.  Some like to take an
>early offensive while other concentrate on research and expansion.

It is your starting position what makes the difference: I have had
a start with NO planet within 10 ly distance! When I had colonized my third
planet, all planets were occupied, and I had to bomb some other planets to
be able to expand. This happened in galaxy Beta, but I am still one
of the leaders of the game! (strange, isn't it?)

>I am not looking for people so much to say "do this" as opposed to
>"this is WHY it might be better to do this".  I want to be able to
>make a series of informed choices that won't get me wiped out
>after three moves.

I hope I was able to help you.
>
>Thanks for your time.  I appreciate it.

No thanks.

Some more Hints:

- Don't research CARGO: DRIVE is at the start almost as effective, but
  is also great for offensive ships.
- Be sure that your cargos have cargo to ship next turn.
- Don't have a great stockpile: it is better to produce CAP
  when it is needed next turn, because you are able to produce other
  things earlier.
- Be friendly to your neighbours: they will be friendly to you also then.
  Friendship has to be earned, enemies are made for the whole game
  (and sometimes they will attack you on sight in other games as well)
- When you attack, it is better to strike at once: move all your
  ships to a planet near your target and attack from there: Your enemy
  won't get an 'incoming group', so he/she will be surprised.

If you have other questions, post them or mail me. If I am able to help
I will help.

Sjoerd Schreuder (saschreu@cs.vu.nl)

Galaxy 7: Zwagonian
Alpha   : Newbies
Beta    : Fuzzy

References

Stupid Newbie (again)
an4871@anon.penet.fi
Tue, 19 Jan 1993 03:36:45 +0000