Ancients location on map. Minor spoilers.

[J HG T]

Something that I've been wondering on my latest games; Ancients are always near my starting location. Sometimes really close, sometimes little farther away, but always relatively near me. Is their position supposed to be random or fixed to close/average range?
I think their position should be completely random to create some interesting situations. Or is it close because they need to protect the player from Shakturis if they show up early, or if the player is more or less unprepared?

[Shark7]

They are always going to be near you, as finding them is a component of the story line.

[Raap]

Has anyone tried to capture them very early in the game? I.e. just building like 40-50 troops right off the start and taking their planet? If so, do you get a full tech tree?

[Kayoz]

ORIGINAL: Raap

Has anyone tried to capture them very early in the game? I.e. just building like 40-50 troops right off the start and taking their planet? If so, do you get a full tech tree?

You don't get tech by taking someone over. You need to use your spies for that.

[Raap]

I was referring to an event that takes place at the end of the Shakturi storyline.

[Lord_Astraios]

Now that you talk about,  i wondered how easy is to take over those ancients,  sure ive seen them go to war against 3 races at the same time but havent seen other races try to pull a stun on invading them,  as i do like them,  it worries me that a huge fleet would invade them and take them out of the map. Sure things,  they like me but they dont want any to share the chocolate. [&:][:-]

[J HG T]

If you play with very slow research speeds (manually set costs to 500 or higher. I use 600-750) and other ways "slow" settings, you will not be able to compete with ancients until decades of preparation. Ancients always have top techs, seriosly powerful defences with "Vertixes" (high-tech AOE wepons), shield rechargers, Gravity wells, ion-cannons and all other shiny bitz.
I wouldn't be surprised if I have to deal with Shakturis before I can even start thinking about invading Ancients in my current game.
People who say that Ancients are a cakewalk probably play with "fast" settings and big galaxies.

[Data]

Vertixes? Well, someone is raising my SR2 appetite...yet again [:)]
btw, totally offtopic here....even off forum

[adecoy95]

ORIGINAL: J HG T

If you play with very slow research speeds (manually set costs to 500 or higher. I use 600-750) and other ways "slow" settings, you will not be able to compete with ancients until decades of preparation. Ancients always have top techs, seriosly powerful defences with "Vertixes" (high-tech AOE wepons), shield rechargers, Gravity wells, ion-cannons and all other shiny bitz.
I wouldn't be surprised if I have to deal with Shakturis before I can even start thinking about invading Ancients in my current game.
People who say that Ancients are a cakewalk probably play with "fast" settings and big galaxies.

unless im missing something, i dont see how them having lots of tech matters in the whole "taking them over and getting all their ships" aspect, unless they are already hostile with you, you can waltz up to their world with transports and not get fired upon until they already landed. and with a moderate amount of timing, you can get all your troops off your ships before that happens.

[J HG T]

Off-topic:
Well, the first time I saw AoE weapons in action I just thought: "Those seem mighty familiar"
After that I've always called AoE weapons in DW "Vertix" 

[J HG T]

Fair point adecoy. It just depends do you use some kinds of house-rules to prevent cheap tactics.
Also, I'm not perfectly sure how much troops you would need to take over Utopia which has shield generator, starbase and other stuff.
I wonder if anybody have tried this with latest version where the changes to invsions are in effect.

[Kayoz]

ORIGINAL: Raap

I was referring to an event that takes place at the end of the Shakturi storyline.

Applies across the board. You don't get tech from taking over anyone. Ancient Guardians, Shakturi, or Ewoks.

[Raap]

Yeah, was just wondering if it would somehow trigger the event prematurely.

At any rate, I find I go past them rather quickly even on the slowest research setting. They only have about 40k'ish firepower. I haven't actually tried to capture them though. Maybe an interesting goal for my next game.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Raap

Has anyone tried to capture them very early in the game? I.e. just building like 40-50 troops right off the start and taking their planet? If so, do you get a full tech tree?

Their tech will prevent you from even landing. You'll lose all your ships in the process. Yes, I tried it.

[Data]

Thank you Shark for trying this first, saves the rest of us who didn't try it some trouble [:)]

[2guncohen]

[:D]Ah damn