Did you abuse Knowledge raiding? a poll to cry on --- post 3.152 :'(

[RCIX]

This is actually a very good point -- Sci labs II have virtually* no advantage over MkI ones.

*= they are technically better for transporting between planets that are not friendly, but that's a bit moot since they're easy enough to build everywhere you need them.

[Buttons840]

I tend not to use mobile builders, and obviously if i wanted to k raid i would have to, but isn't that kinda over kill? how about a knowledge colony ship, with reduced building time, and ships at that system will only attack when it's finished?

I about fell out of my chair when I saw you post it.  Do I really see punctuation, paragraphs, and a complete thought in one of rubiks posts?!?


I just wanted to say, that if there were a knowledge colony ship or sorts, you would build it on your own planet, then send it through the wormhole to an enemy planet, and then build the research station.  Currently you build a mobile builder on your own planet, then sent it through the wormhole to an enemy planet, and then build the research station.

I don't must difference really.

[wyvern83]

At least you'd get multiple uses out of the mobile builder provided you didn't lose it.

Potentially having it be an alternate construction option for the colony ship might be interesting but we'd probably run into coding problems given the parameters for command center construction are different than that of the mk3 research station.

[rubikscube]

true that, still earlier i saw x say that mk3 science lab "name" will no longer be discussed. Keep it simple till more solutions come up, though i would really object if a official version comes out too soon without more discussion.

[Doddler]

I suggest configurable knowledge levels because while you have direct control over the size of the universe, you can't really adjust research available.  The smaller the game, the harder research becomes.  A 10 system game is almost impossible because there's no reasonable way to get any tech.

For example, I've been playing quick, 40 system games, 100% handicap (to speed things up), with double waves, high AI progress increases 10/15min, against level 8 AI's.  While this game type is fast and exciting, the end game is absurdly difficult because the options I have to gain knowledge are limited.  Trying to destroy a homeworld when you barely have any Mk III ships unlocked is frustrating.

[keith.lamothe]

Well, I imagine it's not much solace, but the knowledge and AIP cheats can now be used in a much more granular fashion if you want to simulate planets having more knowledge and costing more AIP.  I'll probably be giving it a shot, at least.

[dumpsterKEEPER]

I guess I wouldn't consider knowledge raiding something "abused" or "exploited" since it was a viable mechanic in the game. With the recent knowledge related changes, you can gather knowledge from the same set of planets, it's just more difficult on planets that you don't own (and easier on ones you do, with the science lab auto-travel option). The logic behind the change makes sense to me, and I think it's part of the natural process as the game develops over time.

Of course, I also remember back when supply didn't exist and you could knowledge raid anywhere on the map at any time

[rubikscube]

I guess I wouldn't consider knowledge raiding something "abused" or "exploited" since it was a viable mechanic in the game. With the recent knowledge related changes, you can gather knowledge from the same set of planets, it's just more difficult on planets that you don't own (and easier on ones you do, with the science lab auto-travel option). The logic behind the change makes sense to me, and I think it's part of the natural process as the game develops over time.

Of course, I also remember back when supply didn't exist and you could knowledge raid anywhere on the map at any time

i wish i was in your time especially op transports

[keith.lamothe]

Well, supply came about way before transports were useful.  Some things have become harder, some easier.  Some easier and then harder again, and vice versa

[rubikscube]

well, of course it's much more interesting now. no more big exploits

[eRe4s3r]

Tis a good change, as previously agreed - at certain game point one stops research raiding because its been.. laughable easy to do without danger.

I don't think this makes the game much harder - its not a unnatural game tactic to wipe AI planets out to create neutral buffer zones between long stretches of low value planets where you don't want to incur the additional penalty of +X colonized world but still want peace - now it becomes an essential part of tactical planning which isn't a bad thing at all.

And the MK3 lab allows to gather on planets where an full scale invasion would be cost prohibitive, once the fortresses get modules (or do they have already?)  beachheads will become that much easier to establish too ;p

[Winter Born]

[snip] once the fortresses get modules (or do they have already?)  beachheads will become that much easier to establish too ;p

fort modules -- not yet

[rubikscube]

they did say they already had a different solution and will consider fort modules

[keith.lamothe]

Yes, fortress (and superfortress) modules are definitely planned, and I was about to start in them when the whole desync thing really got ugly, and we're wanting to do an official fairly soon once those clear up so I didn't want to throw a ton of new balancing issues into the mix before that.  It generally takes me about 10 releases to get anything remotely balanced

[Affine]

I honestly thought it was both mainstream and intended - isn't there something about it in the tutorial?

I don't much mind the changes, though.