AI War Beta 7.021-7.022 "Champion Alter-Ego" Released!

[Fleet Unity]

Also I noticed that the old Ion Blasters name also appears in the selection box window for even the MKI Spirecraft Translocator as well, like the others Marks SC Ion 1, SC Ion II ect.

[Kahuna]

What if Mod Forts cost 12000 Knowledge?? 15000?!
12000 would be the same as Mark IV HBCs + Mark I Forts.

[keith.lamothe]

What if Mod Forts cost 12000 Knowledge?? 15000?!
12000 would be the same as Mark IV HBCs + Mark I Forts.

Well, if you're willing to pay that much, sure.  But I can already see the threads of "Mod Forts Ridiculously Overpriced, Needs K Cost Reduction"

But I'll think about it.

[Kahuna]

I'm sure the K cost could be balanced.

[tadrinth]

Considering I just started a (probably insane) attempt at the Double Godlike achievement by piling on as much limburger in the lobby as possible, the buffs to spirecraft and golems are exciting. 

Considering I'm running 8 champions as the heart of my limburger stack, the possibility of AI shadow frigate exos is... a bit worrying. 

I did see in RockyBst's AAR that he didn't get that achievement, and it wasn't clear why.  It'd be nice to know if my current game will meet the criteria.

The full limburger stack is:
40 planet X Map
0 AIP over time
8 champions
 Bouncer/Bouncer
 Easy Golems/Botnet/Spirecraft
 Zenith Trader
 10 Human Resist
 10 Roaming Enclaves
 10 Dyson Sphere
 Partial Fog of War
Swallowers, Core Shield Gens, and Dire Guardian Lairs disabled

I started with Protector Starships, it was that or Railpods.  Lightning Torpedo Frigates are available as a hack from the first ARS, definitely getting those over grav drains.

I debated turning off waves, but then I wouldn't get the salvage from them.

Also, getting 50% salvage from the Homeworld is nuts.  I'm seriously tempted to keep waves pointed at my HW until I get my full starship fleet up. 

[Kahuna]

Homeworld is a great whipping boy. Especially if you unlock Mark III Military Command Stations cause u get those sub command stations or whatever. If I remember correctly you get both Mark II and Mark III Command Stations on your Homeworld. You will only get the Mark III attack damage buff though (Which is enough).

It seems to me that Homeworld whipping boys have become "high risk high reward" kind of thing. Awesome.
EDIT: That's an indirect nerf to that Backdoor AI.

[keith.lamothe]

It seems to me that Homeworld whipping boys have become "high risk high reward" kind of thing. Awesome.

Yes, I'm really pleased by that too.  I think it helps the game feel more fun when you don't have so many layers between you and losing, but you also feel that said risks come with a reasonable reward.

[Draco18s]

40 planet X Map

Any reason you're not doing...10?

[RockyBst]

Probably because he isn't insane, and is going into this with the intention of winning as compared to my 'I wonder what happens if ...'.

There's also the fact that most of the microing cheese which allowed me to survive has now been completely wiped out. Although thinking about it, a 10 planet X map would mean that the homeworld probably wouldn't end up cutting the graph.

The homeworld money hose thing is definitely a nice change from the usual super chokepoints. See: Jumping my fleet away so that 6 golems/HKs decide to attack my homeworld. Then again I've never really liked uber-chokepointed X-maps anyway, realistic all the way.

The standard mod forts (i.e. not the alien-specific ones) are already unlocked in a base game at 3k knowledge - does anyone ever actually buy them though?

[Fleet Unity]

I usually unlock it as I like how the human modular fort can help repair your ships for you but I usually leave it on my Home World close to my home command station to help protect it. The other race ones cannot do that.   Edit for the other ones it depends if I think I may need them or not.

[chemical_art]

Probably because he isn't insane, and is going into this with the intention of winning as compared to my 'I wonder what happens if ...'.

If you rreally want to win though, you do a 10 world map...and get 8 homeworlds.

[keith.lamothe]

If you rreally want to win though, you do a 10 world map...and get 8 homeworlds.

Ah yes, the "Who's outnumbered and outgunned NOW, buddy?" approach.

[Draco18s]

If you rreally want to win though, you do a 10 world map...and get 8 homeworlds.

Ah yes, the "Who's outnumbered and outgunned NOW, buddy?" approach.

Hey, it's how I got my double godlike.  I also picked two Turtle AIs (no waves before we had the No Waves lobby option).

It still took three attempts.

[tadrinth]

Insanity and wanting to win need not be mutually exclusive.

I didn't think of taking 8 homeworlds on a 10 planet map.  That's mutually exclusive with a lot of the other cheese, but if this goes poorly I may give that a shot next.  If the 'no waves' modifier is allowed for double godlike, I guess the easiest AI opponent type would be... Mad Bomber, since it gets the least defenses/reinforcements?  Never thought I'd see 'Mad Bomber' and 'easiest' in the same sentence together. 

[Lancefighter]

biggest problem with the 10 planets would be that getting to the final nebula means going through a core system no matter what (i dont think two can spawn in the same place?)

Also, I was reminded earlier - Swallowers can show up in exo-waves when they are forbidden by lobby rules. Also, at some point autobombs gained the ability to hit aoe-immune units.. The autobomb .. buff? is nice, but they just feel so bad in the age of reprisalwaves (and still seem to fall off pretty hard in general)