Re: 2 easy ways to win Spiral Arm!

From: owens@claven.cambridge.ibm.com (David Owens)

Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1991 23:23:30 +0000

In article <1991Sep11.160856.1@st1.vuw.ac.nz> havok@st1.vuw.ac.nz writes:
>In article <1991Sep9.172801.1@st1.vuw.ac.nz>, havok@st1.vuw.ac.nz writes:
>>  This is Havok in the guise of Protector (or as some of my victims know me
>> DIE UBERMACHT..(german for 'the overforce')).
>>
>> There are two very easy very simple ways to win spiral arm.
>> Number 1.  Build lots of UK, convince your neighbours not to attack you and sit
>> on your bum for 20+ turns.  Watch those UKs!  Buy tech 25 or higher and roll
>> everyone else, you will decimate them.  I know this works, I am doing this in
>> one of my current games and all of the twelve people I am fighting are losing
>> industry whereas my control percentage goes up by approx 1.5% per turn.
>> This is commonly known as UK building and the enormous increases in UK really
>> only happen in the last 4 turns.
>

>> Method 2.  Kill lots of UK builders.
>
> What a good idea! A weak player eg no Fleet, who I can kill in two turns or so.

A weak player with no fleet... but hoards of cash that can quickly turn into
fleet at the first sign of attack...  This is the real reason I lean
towards a UK builder (though a slight compromise - I don't stay that way
as long as some.)  If you start as a UK builder and someone attacks you -
you can switch strategies.  Just use all that money to build fleet (don't
build UK to the exclussion of IND).  On the other hand if you start fighting
people right from turn 1... you are committed.  And if you can't guarrantee
taking someone completely out... you both will grind up tons of fleet with
little to show for it.  And if he's using your strategy too (the most common
strategy) why should you win and not him?

The only way I would ever try fighting early in the game is if I had two
or more allies and someone on my borders had none... AND all my allies
agreed to throw everything at this person to completely wipe him out
quickly.  Long drawn out battles are not worth fighting 99% of the time.
Fair fights should be avoided at all costs.

Obviously both strategies work under some circumstances...  My recommendation
is a compromise leanning towards UK building. (but ready to defend yourself
if FORCED)... Build UK and develop your initial planets then swallow someone,
build UK and fully-develop your new planets then swallow someone...  repeat
as often as desired...

Maybe someday we can all get in on the same game and put our strategies to
the test together...

Could I be sued for implimenting a very Spiral-Arms-like game and running
it on the internet?

>--
>HAVOK! Not an X-man! A loyal Follower of the Dragon.
>
> "The most elegant speeches may sway the hearts and minds of men, but not one
>ever stopped a bullet!" - Anastasius Focht, Comstar Precentor Martial.
> "When you've built as much character as I have, you can let things slide."
>- Natasha Kerensky, damn Clan Khan.
> "Diplomacy is a nine letter word!" - Archon-Coordinator of the Draconis
>Commanwealth.

Dave Owens
owens@b.cambridge.ibm.com

References

2 easy ways to win Spiral Arm!
havok@st1.vuw.ac.nz
Mon, 09 Sep 1991 05:28:01 +0000
Re: 2 easy ways to win Spiral Arm!
havok@st1.vuw.ac.nz
Wed, 11 Sep 1991 04:08:56 +0000

Referenced By

2 easy ways to win Spiral Arm!
havok@st1.vuw.ac.nz
Mon, 09 Sep 1991 05:28:01 +0000
Re: 2 easy ways to win Spiral Arm!
havok@st1.vuw.ac.nz
Wed, 11 Sep 1991 04:08:56 +0000