Matrix Games Forums

Hello everyone/ Arrrrr mateys!!!!
After a failed attempt to make a rebellion AAR, when my rebellion became stronger than the empire I had put there to rebel against and I discovered that empire just a month before it broke in 2 and then in 3 I decided to make a more non-conventional AAR.
Basically, I'll try to make an Orion Syndicate type of empire, with the sole purpose of sowing chaos in the galaxy and profiting massively from it.
So, I started a quick game of the galactic republic type, as a frontier empire. 700 stars, rest of it random, except for the huge empire in the middle I guess. I picked the Mortalen as the race, they seem very piratey to me[:D], and the most likely dudes to rule a syndicate.
Note: this is the original DW, not ROTS, haven't bought that one yet, waiting for it to get all fixed up.

The base rules
1. Make alliances with most pirates around, especially those in a position to strike at potential foes. However, if they attack me, they're toast, nobody messes with the Pirates of Pestulon!![:@]

2. The general idea is to get "protection fee" from other empires, which means making them subjugated dominions in DW terms. This entails going to war with them, taking out their infrastructure and a remote colony or 2 then making the SD proposal. Afterward I even build mining stations in their systems and sell these to them, for the extra credit[:D]

3. Smuggling, per se, is not really feasible in DW. But the 3 rare resources sound like they are illegal drugs, especially the korrabian "spice". If I get a hold of one of them, I'll consider it smuggling. Otherwise, trading only with compliant empires.

4. Colonization only using mortalen a.k.a. pirates for the colonies. We don't want to expand the influence of other races around, and we aren't turning into an expansionist empire. We just want the MOLAH of everyone.

5. The purpose of the pirate fleets is RAIDING. This means no direct engagements unless forced to do so. Main targets are mining bases, resort bases, utterly small spaceports and shipping in general. Temporary blockades are the modus operandi.

6. Declaring war is generally the rule , but only after my fleet is in their system. This is because the negative rep hit in surprise attacks causes annoying effects, and I doubt I'd get subjugated dominions with a diabolical rep + the rebellions.

7. Teekans are food!![8|] Mortalen are reptiles, teekans are mice/rodents. Reptiles in general eat mice. So at least one colony of them is mandatory for the long run.

8. I trade tech and all sorts of stuff, including bases, but never sell my galaxy/territory map. The key to victory is maintaining our location secret. Spies will be used to ensure that.

9. The main goal of the game is to raid the galactic republic until it is either bankrupt, signs a SD contract, or splits in too many pieces. But to get to the big fish I need to subjugate the other smaller empires. My pirate brothers will help.

10. I leave most of the empire development on auto, except colonization now, fleet designation, design. Diplomacy options are on suggest.

11. Pirates don't do research! We steal it and the use it a bit before selling it for the extra buck. Remember, if there are 2 empries fighting each other and one is in disadvantage, helping it level the playing field means more $.

12. Wars are good for business. Making sure other people fight each other then selling weapons and tech to both is the key to a full treasury[;)]. Going into war ourselves is good for business as long as we know where the enemy is and they don't.... That's why trade agreements are also out of the question because they reveal the nearest colony.

13. Establishing forward bases in uninhabited systems and sending the fleet to act far away is good for business....

Chapter 0 - introduction
The starting location for the Pirates of Pestulon! is in the south eastern part of the map. 6 colonies and a pretty sizeable fleet. Also, smack next to a teekan empire, what freakin' luck!!!

Not to mention we own the original teekan homeworld, a good start, I'd say.
http://img145.imageshack.us/i/20110224194728.jpg/

http://img59.imageshack.us/i/20110224194735.jpg/

http://img812.imageshack.us/i/20110223230507.jpg/

http://img266.imageshack.us/i/20110224194817.jpg/

http://img511.imageshack.us/i/20110224194941.jpg/

http://img689.imageshack.us/i/20110223231102.jpg/

I reorganized the starting ships into 3 fleets, each 3 cruisers and 5 destroyers, and one fleet with troop transports.

First step is to subjugate the peaceful and trade loving teekans, so let's get started....

To be continued

Merker out.

PS: I don't know how to make the pictures properly appear in the post, if anyone can give me some insight I'd be most grateful.

Huraay, impressive comeback

Interesting concept!

The trick of getting images displayed is to simply use the image tag.

I will butcher the tags by curly instead of square brackets to have them displayed.

You have probably linked by:
{link=http://nowhere.in.particular}Test{/link}
or similar

Simply do:
{image}http://fancy.image.location/seeme.jpg{/image}

Of course, [s not {s... The image-button is above the forum window.

Thanks for the fast input, I'll do my best to make it an enjoyable AAR, if everything plays right.... So far it's been fun for me [:D]

Chapter 1 - The raiding begins...sort of

Pestulon, jewel of the galactic south, a planet of such splendor, such inestimable value, such... Actually, it was the most wretched hive of scum and villainy on the freaking edge of the galaxy, a safe haven of sorts for pirates, thieves, cons, exiles and other such 'respectable' characters, no ruler, total anarchy, in fact. That is, until I made it MY wretched hive of scum and villainy and made order with a metal boot on the local populace's proverbial head. I organized my clan, took control of Pestulon, did some cleanup(the junk in this place could reach miles high, can you believe it?!?) and gathered 5 other pirate clans and their dominated planets. Now, we are known as the pirates of Pestulon, and soon many shall fear our name....Starting with the teekans in the next system



We will not attack them right away, first, gain their trust, knowledge of their systems, then place our fleets and raid them. Fortunately they actually volunteered their galaxy data for a few credits, what a foolish thing to do. They actually think our raiding fleets patrolling through their capital system are protecting them from pirates, ha!!

On another matter, some of the other pirate clans have proven..reluctant to accept our rule, and they dare attack us!!! Those fools, they think they can actually win against the might of the Pirates of Pestulon! Raider 1 fleet has been dispatched from the teekan capital to hunt down the infidels that dare strike at us. The teekans even offered their help.

Fortune favors us, our scouting parties have located a derelict colony ship, boarded it and found millions of primitive ikkuros sleeping. They will make fine slaves in the mines of Kadumae 4, a very mineral rich planet.



In the meantime, restructuring takes a lot of my already scarce time, as I have to pick the best designs the other clans have and adapt them to my needs. Took a while but finally the results are satisfactory, especially with the new shield tech the teekans so generously provided. They are indeed generous, too bad they happen to be lower than us in the food chain. If they only knew what we did to the teekans one of the clans controls in their ancestral homeworld system..... Medium rare teekan stake after a long day refreshes the body in such a wonderful way, hehehe


Wohoo, another pirate clan joins us in an alliance. A truly happy day for Pestulon, our numbers are growing.


We've found the Argos Territory, a rather sizable empire of violent hakoonish. They may be cousins, but we are pirates, we shall raid them as soon as we finish with the teekans.



Rebellious pirate problem dealt with, our forces march on the teekans. I'd love to see their faces when they see they own freakin' shields protecting our ships. We'll leave the capital and outer colonies alone, but a couple of planets will have to go...

The teekans dared take over my newest resource rich discovery!!!! The fiends, they will pay, or rather, they'll work the mines themselves while we just point our rifles at them and eat the ocasional lazy teekan, mwhahahhaah!!


The raids have been going well, we took the 2nd colonised planet in their capital system in the first day of the war, and we'll take out their production ability until they submit. With their absurd reproduction rate they'll recover quickly enough to pay us the tribute we want. Hopefully, they don't overexpand so we have to trim them....


We tried to avoid their main fleet until they actually went for one of our systems. We might actually have to conquer them to eliminate all witnesses...but they would make more profit on their own...for now. Besides too many teekans running around our new territory will prove harmful...

Phew, the raiding is getting tiresome. For a moment there I had the feeling the teekans were better at that than me. They kept hitting our mining bases in systems near their homeworld. I had to take drastic measures, mainly totally anyhilate their construction capability, and take out their main spaceports...oh and their capital. Too much fighting for pirates like me, I tell ya, but they are a threat to the Clan!!



As the battles rage on, a new potential target is discovered, the Axom Dynasty, a boskara empire, pretty powerful and dangerous. Must control the local area first. Teekans keep colonising faster than we can enslave them. On the bright side, we have a new ally!



FINALLY we take down their capital's forces and the last outer colony. The teekans quickly decide to accept being a subjugated dominion and revert back to their old trading ways.



As the final forces are called back one of our scouts stumbles upon two new human empires. Not significant in other way except a new potential raiding target.


But, before all that, we should take care of our hakoonish friends now, preferably without doing them too much damage.... we want their money.


In the meantime, a few forward bases closer to the galactic core should extend our raiding posibilities, hehehe

Merker out.

EDIT: Finally fixed all the pics, turns out I was using the wrong links.

Chapter 2 - Complications


Ok, starting the march against the Argos Territory. Our spies have stolen information about their main mining locations and colonies, and our raiding fleets are moving into position. They don't know much about us so this should work out as planned. A ressuply ship of the mobile pirate base class is moving in a convenient position right next to their main trade route.
We quickly subjugated their easternmost new colony right next to one of our new slave mining camps(just out of the pic but appears on the minimap) and we began an offensive on the calaan system(northernmost on the map) with raider 3. Turns out our spies had it all wrong, that was one of their main planets with a large spaceport. Many scoundrels died in the assault that day, and raider 2 was overwhelmed by a fleet of 28 ships just as it was raiding a gas mining base. They did the old trick of hit and run and ran back to the nearest base.


As we are peacefully raiding the hakoonish dudes, more alliances with pirates are formed, and new empires discovered. We also get a lot of requests from people to sanction Axom Dynasty's trading. Those guys must be really hated for people to ask the pirates to sanction them as well.....

Raider 2 still on its way to refuel while raider one fully refueled. I was about to send them raid Calaan when they detect a HUGE enemy fleet heading straight for my freakin' Bandumir system. Somebody leaked info....must make them pay, maybe the teekans, but we're already full of teekan stake..they wouldn't dare. Must kill enemy fleet first then pick a scape goat.


As more and more people become aware of our existence they become scared of us and ask everyone to impose trading sanctions. The boskara axom dynasty even decides to start a crusade to rid the galaxy of the pirate syndicate menace. Interesting, we'll just have to raid them out of it, shall we?


Attack on Heepart spaceport stopped, though it was a tough battle for people used with hit and run. Thankfully the spaceport weapons were very helpful.


we still need to take Calaan before those buffoons decide to pay tribute.

As our raider fleets move into position around Calaan, raider 2 is keeping the hakoonish busy by raiding all possible stations in sight.

The new raider 4 is heading to axom dinasty territory to investigate their preparations for the crusade, while resupply 2 is covertly moving to a hydrogen cloud near the enemy.

Seems the Dethanoni alliance decides to blockade one of our known planets with no military ships at all. How does than work?!

In the meantime, more pirate alliances happening. I'm so happy, we are all coming together


Unfortunately, you can't prevent the odd straggler deciding they're the best pirates and attacking the syndicate. Sigh, they will just have to pay.

I can't believe it, those dethanoni dudes actually used their only ships to blockade one of my planets....well, we'll just have to subjugate them as well, fortunately hehe


On the trading front, I've managed to trade for navigational map information, and I know most of the eastern side of the galaxy now. Just the problem of building a "relationship" with the people in that area of space. We'll start with the big fish this time.

The atuuks seem to have totally stagnated after the war, or maybe they're just afraid to leave their 3 remaining worlds...but they do pay some tribute at least....

The battle for Calaan eventually ends and the hakoonish decide to yield to the might of Pestulon. Now we get paid to "protect" them, and selling illegal stuff through their trading connections is assured.



As a precaution I order the construction of a stronghold on their border, they yielded way too fast...


Our scouting raiding party Raider 4 determined that the Axos dudes seem to be at war with the dhayuts and gaining systems, so they postponed their evil crusade against the evil pirate menace that we are, heh. Good to know that helping the Dhayuts with cash and materials will go a long way to lenghtening their preparation period, hehe.

Nice concept about subjugating the world.

Do you see any visible effects from your pirate alliances?

Well, while attacking the Hako dudes I noticed some of the pirates attacking their systems at the same time. But I haven't payed much attention to their raids. However pirates do disappear from the diplomacy screen so I guess they attack until they are intercepted.

Cheers

It is useful to see that the AI kills some pirate bases. Why else would they disappear? It also makes the eternal monthly fee less intimidating.

Chapter 3 - THE Republic



Onwards toward the Axom dynasty, Resupply 2 almost at the gas cloud, raider 4 raiding, and a C-ship en-route towards a hydrogen planet smack near their main systems. This should go easy enough with those guys being at war with pretty much everyone else.

Can you believe it, the Kennatar Republic actually blockaded some planet we control! I couldn't be bothered to nuke them, and they didn't dare shoot my ships, but their deed will be remembered.


Captured a remote colony of the boskara dudes, made a forward base, Raider 4 resupplied and on its way to more raids, Forward base completed at Dinnascar 1. New fleet built at home, preparing it for a massive raid on the Axom home system.


Resupply 2 not listening to orders, keeps undeploying to go look for fuel even when it's freaking mining it!! Had the captain shot and the ship sent to a nearby Dhayut colony.

New empires discovered, Mainly some wekarus and shandar dudes in the north, a very peculiar quameno empire with way of the ancients government, that's new, and as soon as we meet they decide they don't like us. Well, if that's the case we'll make sure they have a good reason. Got the territory map for all of them people anyway.



Boskara keep warning about our alliances with pirates....WE ARE PIRATES, sheesh, besides, what more can they do to us worse than a holy cleansing crusade?


Can't believe it, the hakoonish empire paying tribute to us is shooting our ships!!!! I'll make them pay dearly for it. A warning has been sent.

Finally found the galactic republic, ruled by the securan people. Times have been harsh for them, and they're down to 50 colonies and almost no fleet strenght. This should make things easy enough.... Found out their territory map through some tech trading/smuggling. They have korrabian spice moon, MUST HAVE, all nearby Raider fleets on course for moon!!!


Hmm, one of my C-ships was attacked by argos AGAIN, but this time near a ship graveyard. Raider 3 is en-route to that graveyard. It is troublesome if the argos dudes get a new fleet. Fortunately, our raider fleet got there soon and managed to get a hold of some of those derelict ship, and used it against the argos dudes.




The sol federation declared war...but they're only like 2 planets at war already. Not too long afterward the quameno decide it's their solemn duty to rid the galaxy of the pest we've become. Sure, give it a shot, more loot for us, especially your techie ships, hehe.

In the meantime, my raider fleets have managed to raid some remote boskar outposts. Looking good so far, with the boskara warring with everyone and all that.

Resupply 2 got whacked by a boskara fleet. What a shame, I was looking forward to dealing with that captain myself. 2 new mobile pirate base ships under construction.

Raider 5 ready and en-route to boskara main systems.

in the meantime time's up so I'll stop here with the posting.

For Bingeling: proof that pirate alliances are useful. In the pic below you can clearly see 2 systems belonging to the treacherous argos dudes under pirate attack, there's a 3rd one to the west that I couldn't get in the pic.



Cheers

maybe pirates dissapear from the diplomacy screen because we've lost contact with them?
way to go pestulonians [:)]

Nope, pirates disappear because they get whacked. I've also seen their bases vanish from the map a few seconds before they're out of the D-screen. The AI empires find the time among all those wars to actually do some house cleanup.
The saga of the Pirates of Pestulon! will come at an end next weekend, since I'm kind of busy during the week. Stay tuned for MORE pillaging, MORE raiding, MORE helpless freighters blowing up like fireworks, and especially, more PIRATES!!!

Cheers

Avast ye swabs

Merker signing off

PS: If anyone has any requests about some specific shots of wanton acts of piracy or want different objectives for the pirates or anything, please say so.

PPS: I can't believe you don't have a pirate smiley[X(]. You have star wars, rambo, knife-through-head, tanks, Aztecs and everything, but no pirate......I'm shocked Matrix....[&:]

I want to see a report about putting a capital ship with a gravity well below an enemy trade route. In deep space. To force those pesky freighters down, and blast them with a horde of fighters (or whatever needed to kill them before they escape).

I am too lazy to try that myself, but to kill freighters in deep space sound too cool

Intercepting should be the most pirate like action available in this game.

cliffhanger [:)]
btw, maybe a modder can create the pirate smiley? I obviously would dare Igard to do it [:D]

ORIGINAL: Bingeling

I want to see a report about putting a capital ship with a gravity well below an enemy trade route. In deep space. To force those pesky freighters down, and blast them with a horde of fighters (or whatever needed to kill them before they escape).

I am too lazy to try that myself, but to kill freighters in deep space sound too cool

Intercepting should be the most pirate like action available in this game.

Excellent idea, I will put that at the top of the Pirates' priorities list! Those salvaged cap ships should have warp inhibitors. The Kennatar republic has been asking for it for a LOOONG time.
But I do have a question: do the inhibitors actually pull ships out of hyperspace or they just prevent them from leaving? I know they work with stopping hyperspacing but I've yet to witness them pull ships out...

cliffhanger
btw, maybe a modder can create the pirate smiley? I obviously would dare Igard to do it

Well, if you would be so kind to ask him, I'd be grateful. I still can't believe they don't have a pirate smiley!

They pull them from hyperspace, preventing hyperdrive from engaging is the job of the hyperdeny tech

Ah, but they are only in ROTS, right? Not plain DW, like I have..... Oh well, guess I'm going to have to buy that soon enough. Just felt I haven't explored DW enough yet. 

Yes, they appear in ROTS

Is there a game feature that allows me to take segmented screenshots instead of the whole screen? Or do I have to edit every picture?

What I have used to grab my game screens:
http://download.cnet.com/Screen-Grab-Pro/3000-2192_4-10068383.html

help, I can't see the picture. There are only a frog picture that say domain unregistered.