Drushocka AAR

[Retreat1970]

Hello all. I'm going to start an AAR using my mod to UEII (RetreatUE). This is one of the few things I have never done, and I'm getting a little bored.

I'll be playing as one of the new added races called the Drushocka (SE players are familiar)



As you can see they will be a challenge. They have a low growth rate, and are not very smart. Their preferred government is feudalism as well.
On the other hand they have one of the highest troop strengths (187 of 200), and the high happiness modifier will help with money.
So, my pregame strategy with depend on my superior troops, and get dug in like an Alabama tick (predator reference FTW).

One thing different about this AAR is that I will be playing full auto. I'll guide it here and there, but with my schedule lately I can't play everyday. The AI can though. Also, there's no role playing, and I'm a crappy writer.
The Game is a 1400 10x10 Ring. 20 empires. Pirates normal, normal. Research expensive.

So, here we go...



This actually is a great start. The gas clouds to my left serve as a buffer from that direction, anchored by my home system (strongpoint). All I have to do is push right around the ring until I find someone.

[Retreat1970]

A couple things before I continue: No tech trading, no shakturi, playing on very hard.



Well crud. A major empire really close. They're Naxx too which slightly makes me nervous. Of course they hate me, but I'm more worried about their ship boarding. As soon as I get the warp bubble upgrade (2500), I'm going to war.



We're close in power, but I'm using awful Area/Grav weapons. We'll see how it goes. Actually we'll see how the Drushocka AI manages war. I'll definitely have to watch closely.

Also there's an independent system to my right. I'll want that (2 independent planets). They're Abiddon, but I don't care.

[Retreat1970]

Before I researched the warp bubble upgrade I got surprised by a declaration of war, and a sneak attack on a few mines. The mines were lost, but that didn't bother me. I was more worried about my offensive coming up.
After I got the faster warp, I manually took control of my big 23 ship fleet and went straight in for revenge.



Revenge was sweet. I smacked them down hard. The loss of a spaceport cripples their research. I'm in no shape to invade, but I've gained a few tech years. I'll keep waging war on them to keep them down until I'm financially ready for a mass of troops.
On a side note:



I figured an Abiddon empire was close because of the two independants. I don't see them yet, but I already hate them (lol). I finally met a pirate too, and I can't wait until they sabotage me to death.

So far so good. The player AI seems to be working ok. The only thing I've taken control of so far was the attack fleet.

[Retreat1970]

Not a big update today. A lot of Hockey on TV.

I bought info on some surrounding Empires. I don't like any of them, but at least there are no bugs close by. I'm fairly competitive, but of course the Atuuk will be ahead (high pop).



My plan is still to dominate then invade the Naxx while they're weak.

[Retreat1970]

Well it took quite a few years, but I built 75 infantry and went to war with the Naxx. I don't know how many infantry they had, but it was more than what I wanted to see. I think the battle took five years or so. God I hate busting homeworlds. Especially with only infantry.



Victory! With seventeen infantry to spare lol. That's not enough for the inevitable riots so I'll bring down troops to keep the Naxx population sedated. The battle was a nail biter, and I thought for sure I was going to lose at one point, but now I own a second homeworld. Yay!

Now I'll focus on colonization, and to find the Abiddons. My left flank is secure with two homeworld strongpoints.

[Hattori Hanzo]

interesting AAR, concise and up-to-the-point [X(]

[Retreat1970]

Not a huge update.

An independent turned major off to my left. Bunch of Naxx again. They're on the far side of the gas fields. We've been warring off and on, but I haven't put any effort into it. I've been trying to find the Abiddons to my right, but I'm still on a low warp speed (4250). I'm expanding that way so it should be soon.



I have 10 colonies now. My closest competitor has 9 (haakonish). I have no idea where they are though. Actually I don't know where anyone is lol.
I'll let the game run tonight and see what happens. Remember, most of the time I'm on full auto.

[Retreat1970]

I lost two colonies to the right. The Abiddons are fierce fighters. I'll have to take manual control to regain my losses. Abiddons research beams and area. I'm sure they have impact assault blasters by now. I also, for some reason, took over a Naxx colony in their home system. That won't last long.



Everyone hates me lol. I'm worried about the Dhayut and the Haakonish. They are getting strong. I still only met one pirate. It's the slower warp speed, but once I grow I'll find more.

[Hattori Hanzo]

I do not find the Dhayut in the second picture

[Retreat1970]

Well the bottom two systems I took back manually. I set it back to auto, went to work, and saw that I lost those two again, plus one more. The AI is really bad at certain things.

The Haakonish guilds are dominating with the Dhayut in second. The rest of us are fighting for the scraps.

[Hattori Hanzo]

do you know where the Haakonish and Dhayut are in the galaxy map ?

[Retreat1970]

Yes I do know where everyone's at. I'll post a galaxy map pic the next time I post. Haakonish are in the center. Well, they are the center. The Dhayut are the NW ring. A new power, the Calephs are the West ring.

The purple in my new pic are the Jintus. I'm unafraid of them. I just took a colony from them. I seem to be unable to put away the Naxx (light green). I also am barely hanging on against the Abiddon (blue). For some reason I have to war with everyone I see. A red fleet came in (pretty fast), and conquered a blue colony. The Calephs (red) have 51 colonies (I have 9), and 221B pop. The year is 2181 only. I'm in massive trouble. My next AAR will be a manual affair for sure. It's still fun to watch and lose though lol.

[Hattori Hanzo]

it's always very hard when you let the AI play alone.. [:(]

[Retreat1970]

Here's the current situation. Blue (Abiddon) has made everyone mad. Yellow (Zenox), Pink (Dhayut), and Red (Caleph) are starting to eliminate Blue. I had better get involved and take what I can before nothing is left.

I've been hanging in there, and actually gained 8 colonies (18). I'm hoping the Tan (Haakonish) are content with the middle. I'm behind on research (as expected), and some of the larger empires are at end game while I'm mid game.

I'm going to go manual for awhile and see if I can't finally eliminate the Naxx (light green).

[Twigster]

Just curious- how concerned are you about the Caleph?

[Retreat1970]

Extremely nervous. With their huge size it's guaranteed they're end game. Torpedoes and special fighters. That's a bad combination. Considering I'm short range gravity weapons, I won't stand a chance. They are up to 70 colonies as I write. 2.1M firepower to my 70k. lol.

[Hattori Hanzo]

it would be interesting to repeat this scenario in manual to see the differences with this game

[Twigster]

I don't doubt that you are extremely nervous at all with that Firepower differential. I have never played on Auto the way that you are in this game; on full Manual I would suggest doing whatever you could to stay at peace with the Caleph as long as possible until you narrowed that down a bit, but...

"it would be interesting to repeat this scenario in manual to see the differences with this game"

I agree.

[Retreat1970]

I kinda agree. For the last 3 1/2 years I've been winning, and winning, and, well you get the idea. It's kind of bad when you click start game, and you know you'll win before you start. I let the AI mess it up for me, and mess it up it did. This is the first game where I honestly don't know if I can win, and to me it's very fun. I'm shooting for an epic comeback, but I'm so behind in research. Most the AI's are at 50k warp. I'm at 9.5k LOL.

[Hattori Hanzo]

there must be a "middle point" between "Winning, Winning and Winning" and the actual desperate situation.. [8|]

anyway the most important and obvious thing is that, after 3 1/2 years, you come back to have fun [8D]