Helgak Empire MP-AAR [1.30a]

[Nagabaron]

This is an AAR based upon a 4-player MP game I'm currently playing, several turns in. It will hopefully chronicle the rise and not fall, of the Helgak Empire in its entirety and glory. The only advantage I have as host for this game is that I am aware of the starting locations of the players, which I have no problem divulging to them. I spent hours re-rolling different planet types till I came to this map because with 2-3 city-starts, you'll most likely land two Major's adjacent to each other which is not what I wanted. I wanted at least several Minor's between the four of us, and also one of us not located in a barren, Minor-less corner. Only one of us is far away from the other three, but I know this Major has access to at least 2-4 city-Minor's from memory.

The Empire is Strong.

My situation is rapid expansion in all directions for possible Metal deposits whilst simultaneously going the diplomatic route of acquiring territory in not having to deal with problematic cities. I already gained one Farmer's territory, perhaps I will gain more - peacefully. However, the city Echoes to the north is in prime defensible position and hub for dealing with my northernmost neighbor whom I already sparsely border with. This is of immediate concern, and I'm teetering towards violence abandon.

The situation looks decent, and Prospecting is revealing deposits of everything including Metal. In time, I will plan the expansion of Industry and begin permanently securing further defensible terrain.

[Nagabaron]

I am back to post another update upon my MP campaign. Rather unfortunate it doesn't include Republica DLC, but oh well. Perhaps next AAR.

More deposits are revealing themselves, and soon, I will acquire more than one Metal Mines it seems. While not the best, an extra Metal deposit is infinitely better than none.

I twirl with Mercanteers in my west, crushing their resolve and seizing their puny territory. Hopefully in exchange for some prospecting possibility. In two more turns they should be destroyed.

2026-04-11 07_41_16-Shadow Empire _ Planetary Conquest.png (932.4 KiB) Viewed 293 times

In the east, feeble Mutants scour the landscape, but I've begun disassembling their quarters upon the prairie. At this point, expansion in all directions is an imperative.

In the north, I face a Confederate stronghold that I will soon seize which will lend me a valuable cobble of ruins to exploit.

In the south, my exterior is expanding significantly from Farmerships and Raiders. What is awesome is the amount of immense manpower I now dwell upon. In my perspective, this means easily fortifying multiple theaters from attack. In time, I could even upgrade multiple Infantry formations into Corps for the offensive.

A Major Regime holds steady to my northernmost reaches, has asked and received formal diplomatic relations. Although I think it was all a ruse to study how far I have grown. And grown I have. They hold two mere cities to my surprise. I thought they would have seized the Confederate rumps to their southwest near me but alas, they haven't. A strategic mistake.

In my next post, I will make an update upon the Realm's territorial extent. Although I'm an open book, I do not wish to give turn-by-turn plays of my game to... ravenous eyes.

[Nagabaron]

My 3rd post, and 12th turn in this very successful run. So successful that in fact, I think I find the existence of certain anomalies in this run to be - provocative. And not what you're thinking. What I mean is, my success breeds contempt of the Helgak polity. Helgan, the capital, is ever threatened by the remnants of civilization bursting from the north and corners.

I gained an awesome Fate pack this turn, and GR unit I do not wish to reveal yet, perhaps next post, that will further push myself in the direction of obtaining permanent security against would-be aggression for the foreseeable future.


I've gained a great caste of Leader's this run, I'm surprised how this came together. I hope to use the Advisor to strengthen my armored or elite formations in the future.


In the western lands I consume landmass and further my dominion against natural geographical hedges. The red lines are the territorial extent I wish to achieve here, and let nothing come in my way of achieving Greater Helgak.


And this is perhaps the image you've been waiting for. The current culmination of my efforts in general expansion. The reckless neighbor to my north gained Protectorate over the Highm Confederacy. Although I'm stymied in securing bountiful defensive terrain, I know gaining annexation over Confed's is typically extremely hard, thus, I'm not that wary of their efforts to slow me down. However, north of that, I need to gain quick resolution over Minor Regime's loitering against this neighbor. How can I allow them to easily seize domains unnaturally exclusive of our domains without check? Perhaps they wish to claim suzerainty over me.

[Nagabaron]

It is turn fourteen, and the wheels of progress ever churn.

Steady and near-cautious expansion against the west and north. I am in construction of an Industry II, with two turns left, and my private industries provide great amounts of IP to keep this compounding momentum. I'm upgrading two of my three Metal Mines, although their Ease levels are low, nonetheless they provide ample reserves of Metal to feed upon.

I have finally crushed the remnants of the Mercanteers in the wastelands, but more bands and regimes await in the bastard interior.


The Rare site I found is invaluable to my empire, and this region becomes even more important than previously. If I can gain a Gravity (Energy) structure, my growth would skyrocket as I wouldn't have to worry about an energy crisis potentially in the future which usually occurs when growing wide. Once again, my Major neighbor Clan McNeill has "seized" another Minor Regime by claiming Protection over them. Luckily, I never signed an agreement for borders with them, and won't do so.


In the barbaric west, two Guardian Regimes lay against the sea encumbering my manifest destiny. However, one of them offered "Gauss Small Arms" and I immediately seized the opportunity to purchase it. For only several hundred credits. I inch closer hoping next turn to quench the Confederates in the north with my GR Cataphract and GR Vortex leading the ruinous assault. With these two powerful weapons, I might even consider rushing one of the Guardian Regimes sooner than later.