Yup that would be me. No one in command. My favorite taunt. Self-directly applicable too. And <sniff> I was getting so used to pretending to be in command, too.
I guess its back to the Kobiyashi Maru for me.
Or Washington, DC behind a admin desk after enjoying a brief "HQ from the Saddle" General Pope-like arrogance.
At 2:30 in the morning, microing like crazy, seemingly close to my first AI 7/7 victory, having eliminated one AI Home World and next to the other, I thought this one was my first, in the bag, victory.
But Noooooooo.........Say it ain't so, Joe!
Or Melvin.
Or whatever your name is, verdammnt Machine!
Damn you!
I've taken down 22 planets, against two AI Vicious Raiders. I've patiently and detailedly, over three weeks, day and night, microed my way in to potentially my first level 7 victoire.
I've learned that seemingly a planet maxes out at 5,000 ships and quits reinforcing at that point.
And I've learned that in this game, at least at a 7 AI level, its never in the bag.
And I haven't gotten this one into the boat yet!
I've also seen that the AI likes to lull me into a false sense of security:
Exhibit A:
A 2,000+ Cross Planet raid took out my two overextended rich recource planets. No big deal, I say. I scrapped their remainders with a smile, needing the ship limit mass for my final assault elsewhere with the final death throes of my AI's Berlin.
I hadn't counted on losing the energy production, placing me below zero.
I hadn't counted on said loss of energy shutting down my Home planet force field.
I hadn't counted on the 179 something or other cloaked raider-like mongers slipping past my front lines beelining for my now unprotected home station and opening fire.
I hadn't counted on having to shut down virtually all Fortresses and front line troops to restore enegy levels to get my force field operational again.
I had't counted on several other, MACHINE inspired revolts popping up taking my resource production super negative.
Looks like, as a commander,
I guess I just hadn't counted at all.
I guess there really is no one in command over here.
Gulp. <sniff>
Nudge, nudge, know what I mean? KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
From seemingly winning to being hugely at risk. In the bat of an eye.
Yup, I had to slip (writhe) into bed to think about this one. Around three.
Thank ye Gods! Relief
<female arm slips gently around my bruised ego for comfort>
<Light dawns....morning breaks....reality again reappears>
Damn AI!!!!! This is NOT Rome:Total War where the advantage equates early to a win and I'm just goin thru the motions thereafter. This one is a challenge to the end, obviously.
Yikes!
Curses, Batman!
Emperor Park, I heap curses upon you and your vile minions' coding personas.
May your progeny feel my eternal wrath.
You are all cruel beyond measure. You underline and make public my inadequacies.
Your evil and devious coding abilities, frequent balancing betas and your deleiberate machinations send shivers unto my spine and left untreated, send my subordinates into frequent and sporadic dilithium rejection convulsions.
And I love you for it.
200+ hours into this system and this game is still revealing its secrets gradually like most truly great games or
<sigh> like a gorgeous, seductively nubile young lass.
Only this game is evil..........Very, very exceedingly evil.
<Come to think of it, so is the lass, but I digress>
Yes,
<sigh again>
it IS
THAT good!
Say it ain't so, Joe!
Sky
Looking with increased anticipation to my future life alongside my Ineffective Commander Pensioner's Benefits
PS-Film at eleven.....campaign conclusion to follow as completed.....
