DW Legends: Collaborative Video AAR

[WoodMan]

Done [:)]

[DasTactic]

My apologies to all regarding the length of that last video. I thought it was only about 10 minutes long! Before I started I was hoping to keep each to around 10 minutes and was going to go through fairly quickly. Please let me know if you think anything should be added or removed. Eg. In the next video I will need to design the ships. This will take around 5 minutes if I video it or I can just give a summary afterwards. I'll most likely opt for summaries after the fact I guess to keep the time down.

I've amended the OP to better explain the process now that we have the benefit of a little hind sight.

I can't tell you how much I'm learning and enjoying as we go with this. [:)] So much of the advice is things I would never have considered. Thanks everyone. It's like having a private tutorial.

I'll be trying to process these a little quicker for the coming days but then I'll be more time-poor after that.

PS. I'll be using italics like this for non-game comments. Perhaps we could try to make this a 'standard'. I'll re-edit my previous posts accordingly.

@Woodman, sorry but I don't remember ever setting anything up with the cursor.

[feelotraveller]

Your high happinesses,

It has come to my attention that some members of the council may be suffering indigestion. To remedy this problem you are all invited to dine with me tonight. A veritable feast will be prepared by Dawe, my latest house husband. For entertainment we shall view the premier performance of an ancient play by Uill Thaikefear, a monkey poet of some reknown, recently recovered from the Zenox archives on Cheer. Fun will be had!

It is my belief that the spice, like good food, should be shared with as many as possible but it is clear that exception should be made for the stinky Boskaran. Their presence will foul the gathering.

I think it would be remiss of us to return Janasia from Cheer while the work on the theatrical archive is incomplete. I have also heard whisper of a close relation with a certain high ranking furry rodent which should not go unremarked. This may prove useful for us in the long run.

Obarria is indeed a fine woman but her distaste for the arts of war is well known. I think currently she is well placed in our capital. I shiver to think of the impoverished city we would live in if we had not a govenor. We should however not hesistate to replace her should a suitable candidate become available particularly as the time for building up our trade defense network approaches. Her talents could be usefully employed at any of the other large centers of our empire.

[Fishers of Men]

I have been sitting here listening to the advice of my good colleagues and like very much their wisdom. I have a question for you all. Is it true that the more we give our spice away, the less we have for ourselves? Maybe we should keep it just for our special friends and not everyone. This is one advantage that is too special and should be used with caution.

Another future idea to help us with our fuel problems is, when Hydrogen reactors are a reality, is to design our military ships with them and to design the civilian ships with the older Caslon reactors. This might even out our fuel usage a bit and not burn all of one type in our fleets. We might not have to depend on the purchase of foreign fuels.

I will now excuse myself to the contemplation room for more meditation.

[DasTactic]

And from the newly settled Haarkonish world comes this advice to be put before the Council:

(From Jokefinder21308 comments on YouTube)

----------------------------------------------------
Re: Mining Stations:

New mining station designs that include weapons,armor,shields.extra mining extractors,And finally more cargo holds. With the new designs you don't have to waste resources protecting the stations from enemies and you can increase the mining productivity by 2-3 maybe 4 times as much as normal. You can also do this to your regular space stations to.

Refit your research stations for more productivity and build more of them to speed up the research.
----------------------------------------------------

[DasTactic]

Beta patch has been made so the official patch probably won't be too far behind. I'll keep going with this as long as possible but I don't know if the save-games will be compatible. I guess if they aren't I'll wrap this one up soon after the official patch is released.

[Nedrear]

Isn't Jokefinders advice the same my council character gave in decision 1?

[feelotraveller]

One of the downsides of video presentation for collaboration is its transient nature. For example after watching the video I think about the spice trading situation. Hm, who to have as friends, Shandar - yes, Zenox - yes, Boskaran - no, Ugnari - maybe. Perhaps their form of government (or whatever) will impact my decision. Now there was a screen shown briefly somewhere in one of the videos... could I be bothered searching, or asking for Das to fill me in? Probably not.

Anyway, great work, keep it up. [:)]

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Das123
Beta patch has been made so the official patch probably won't be too far behind. I'll keep going with this as long as possible but I don't know if the save-games will be compatible. I guess if they aren't I'll wrap this one up soon after the official patch is released.

Saved games should be compatible, we are trying to avoid breaking saved games.

Regards,

- Erik

[DasTactic]

Good to hear regarding the save-games.

Next video processing. Will be a few hours I'm afraid.

[DasTactic]

Episode 3: Trade and Treaties

Watch the video.

A difficult 6 year period where re-establishing the supply network proves to be problematic to say the least. New races are met. New friends (and enemies) are made.

Issues requiring your consideration are:

1. The violent space storms around Shandar are destroying our freighters. Is there an answer?

2. We can now build up to 400 tonnes. Should we start a Cruiser fleet? If so, what sort of design?

3. Our friends the Ugnari Consortium are struggling against the newly discovered Dhayut Hegemony. Should we lend assistance? If so, in what capacity?

4. We have found an abandoned mining station in deep space called the Tefnyl Mining Base. Should we keep it active or destroy it?

5. Are our agents and representatives in the right position now? Particularly our espionage agent. Should she actively enter the field?

Once again, the floor is open for other suggestions not listed.

[Seraphim_slith]

As much as I dislike the thought of leaving anyone to the mercy of the oppressive Dhayut Hegemony I do not see how we would be able to actively save their homeworld, especially since not even their own cousins the Zenox seem inclined to intervene. But perhaps it is indeed time to have our agent Zoberia go outside our own realm and see if she can discover the extent of the Boskar and Dhayut empire to better plan our possible response. (steal territory map)

And while on that topic with the additional technologies coming in from our trading partners and increasing hostilities to the south expanding and upgrading our fleet with the latest designs should be a priority, with sufficient strength we might even be able to save the Ugnari empire from extinction in the future. (Not sure what the Securan default design is but seems highly shielded vessels with missiles and, if we have access to them, long-range lasers should be suited for our race)

As to the fate of the lone mining station it seems to far away from our core systems and not providing anything valuable enough to warrant keeping it in place.

[Nedrear]

Hara Lemuno

"The galacic storms are a bad situation, but they should be a minor problem if left guarded. I would suggest keeping a shandar frighter fleet, provided with good shields and less speed. As long as they don't run out of fuel the storm will just tickle our superior shields. If necessary it means researching new shields with higher charge rates.
If you wish to proceed against the Black Despots I would prefer a greater ship class with superior firepower and decent shields and armor. That includes the urge to sour our relationship with intelligence missions to spy potential targets. We might want to test the new primary fleet after we get them on a pirate base. I thought we might target the treacherous Dayhut pirates which love to see us struggle without fuel to engage in a forced alliance. I think that would be sufficient to prove who is allowed to break treaties and who isn't.
Regarding the mine... it is nothing we can't produce in close space and it will drain over eager frighters from priority missions and fuel. Get rid of it... for all I care give it away for free!"
 

[ASHBERY76]

That Shander issue with planet placement near a storm seems like a bug in respect that the A.I is not aware of its danger.

[DasTactic]

This from the YouTube comments. [:)]

Honored members of the Leentaar Harmony Council

I am wrighting to You on behalf of Harkonish Trade Consorcium, wich is the biggest corporation in entire Utopian Paradise. We are very upset to report that over 63% of our frighters send on a trading mission to Shandar did not reported back due to space storms. I would like to propose lifting of civilian shield limitation, so they can witstand trawel through hostile enviroment.

Yours faithfully

Haron Nash

Harkonish Trade Consorcium CEO

[Grisha]

From Grisha Sargos:

Health and Happiness, my esteemed Elders!

Many issues before this august council that need to be addressed. To be sure we are seeing better times, but as always there are responsibilities to be answered if we are to maintain such a favorable environment. Just like a bruise on succulent fruit, we must be ready to cut out that which is tainted to truly enjoy the fruits of our efforts and desires. Our wise leader places the following questions before us:

The violent space storms around Shandar are destroying our freighters. Is there an answer?

We are a free peoples and should our citizens endeavor to undertake such a dangerous road, then let them be the deciders of their fate. Perhaps they feel the risk is worth the prize. What we can do is provide better ship designs with greater shielding and armor, or considerable damage control equipment. Something to give them a chance in the violent region that surrounds Shandar. Besides, we are a peaceful people who nonetheless live in a volatile galaxy. More robust freighters may be a wise idea in general.

We can now build up to 400 tonnes. Should we start a Cruiser fleet? If so, what sort of design?

I am no student of the military arts, but if we are to maintain all that we have we must be prepared to defend it from the corrosive likes of the Boskarans and Dhayut. I suggest our designs be made to be built as quickly as possible. This means reducing the necessity of rarer materials and overall number of different components. Barring that, it might be more prudent to design warships with greater standoff capabilities, which I am told means missiles, thrusters and maneuvering. I have heard of this Ion Weapon and its effect on enemy vessels to fight or maneuver, and perhaps that would also be a choice to consider. In any case, there are others much more knowledgeable on this subject.

Our friends the Ugnari Consortium are struggling against the newly discovered Dhayut Hegemony. Should we lend assistance? If so, in what capacity?

As stated above, we are not a warfaring peoples. We are also not cowards and we value our friendships. We should try to offer them some means of support. Perhaps it is time we tested out intelligence corps with the likes of the Dhayut? I've no doubt we will be seeing them very soon as it is. It may be time we started learning how to receive their arrival. The Ugnari might be on their last breath, so it might be better to assure them that they will never be forgotten and that we shall take every effort to make certain the Dhayut and Boskaran taint are. In fact, I pose this to my colleagues: should we prepare for war with that Ilk now? That day is coming, my dear friends. We are strong now, and vibrant. Perhaps now is the time to build the fleets and the soldiers?

We have found an abandoned mining station in deep space called the Tefnyl Mining Base. Should we keep it active or destroy it?

This may sound cruel, but I say leave it as an outpost against the Boskarans and Dhayut. It is placed on the flank of the Shandars, and so will alert us should the Tainted Ones come from that quarter. If there is need, the station can quickly be decommissioned.

Are our agents and representatives in the right position now? Particularly our espionage agent. Should she actively enter the field?

I suggest two things: send both an ambassador and intelligence operative to the Dhayut. That way if our operations fail the backlash can be delayed through diplomacy.

The time is coming, dearest friends. A time to repel that which corrodes our beautiful galaxy. We are not warriors, but maybe we can learn from our more warlike brethren within the galaxy, and prepare. Not for war, but to cleanse our galaxy of the bruise that is Dhayut and Boskaran.

[rtrapasso]

3. Our friends the Ugnari Consortium are struggling against the newly discovered Dhayut Hegemony. Should we lend assistance? If so, in what capacity?

4. We have found an abandoned mining station in deep space called the Tefnyl Mining Base. Should we keep it active or destroy it?

5. Are our agents and representatives in the right position now? Particularly our espionage agent. Should she actively enter the field?

Not having access to the relative technologies at my fingertips, you might look at the relative technical strengths of the Ugnari vs. the Dhayut. Perhaps by gifting the Ugnari some technology (and not trading critical technology with the Dhayut) you might be able to tip the relative balance of power. The Ungnari seem to be a critical buffer on the flank and should be supported if possible.

Keep the mining station as an outpost unless it is hugely expensive.

Send your agent either against the insect race you say is a threat, or to the Dhayut in order to help the Ugnari in their struggle. Since no one seems to be spying on you, the spy is currently wasting her talents.

[DasTactic]

Uploading next episode now.

Sorry rtrapasso I'd already finished before reading the comments.

This one is a little shorter at under 20 minutes. [:)]

[Erik Rutins]

Just caught up with the previous episode, excellent as always Das123!

I'll wait for the next one before chiming in with advice again. A few comments and questions though:

Those galactic storms on a major trade route can be rough. One way around it is to build a space port in deep space that provides a route for your ships and their ships around the worst of it, if possible. If their system is right in the middle, then there's not much choice. How many ships are you losing there? I assume most are getting through, but a few are being destroyed?

Looks like that one pirate went a bit "rogue". That can happen even when they are allied with you, but it is fortunately rare. The remarkably large pirate fleets are partly a function of our alliance with them. It's a good way for us to deal with them, but giving them more money makes them more powerful in the long run. We can worry about that when we get to that point.

Good job with the hydrogen research and the trading.

Regards,

- Erik

[DasTactic]

Episode 4: Fleet Exercises

Watch the video.

Report to the Leentaar High Council:

Shielding has been placed on freighters and now all construction and design of ships will be handled centrally. Hopefully this will help with the trade with the Shandar.

Good news. We have met a friendly republic called the Kiadian Empire and have formed a Mutual Defence Pact with them. We also have a Mutual Defence Pact with our Human friends.

Our first fleet is being battle tested against pirates and initial reports are favourable. Sometimes keeping the peace requires a heavy hand.

Agents have intercepted key transcripts from the Dhayuts and we now have plans on fleet dispositions and troop movements.

The points for discussion centre mainly around how we handle the Dhayuts and their aggression toward our friends and neighbours.

1. Should we start liberating some of the planets and peoples under the subjugation of the Dhayuts?

2. Should we take a firmer hand to enforce the peace in space? If so what approach should we take? Police our friends systems with fleets? Take control of the logistics of our enemies?

3. Are we ready intelligence-wise to spread out wings yet? Do we need to have an agent in deep cover first so we can plot all Dhayut movements?

4. Korrabian spice is being mined but not distributed. A small space port has been constructed on the spice moon but the spice trade is not functioning. We bow to your esteemed advice in this matter.

5. Boscaran migrants have been settling on our planets. Do we keep our 'open door' policy in place? If not, how should we handle this to best keep galactic peace and harmony.