Succession Game - The Sticky Mouse Academy Strikes Back

[Straybow]

I had made that pic Friday and shut down when I was done. I played the last 2 turns Saturday, and the numbers were the same. It's still the same today. Is there a patch for MGE of which I'm not aware?

[-Jrabbit]

Originally posted by Scouse Gits
-Jrabbit Over to you.
-----------------------------------
SG(2)

ON IT!

Downloaded save. Will zip and send to home base for evaluation and gameplay.

[Scouse Gits]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit

ON IT!

Downloaded save. Will zip and send to home base for evaluation and gameplay.

What are your thoughts about this monster?

------------------

SG(2)

[-Jrabbit]

Well, it's just that -- a monster. Took awhile to drink it all in. At this point, I've played 5 turns, and plan do do a couple more before I turn it over for completion.

I've been toying with the various enemy civs, taking a few cities, and building tons of Freights. Everyone has Adv flight, so every city within 8 spaces of an enemy city needs at least one Fighter. Several civs building SETI, so they're hot on our heels.

I bumped science rate back up to 3 turns (50%) so we can finish the job. Stayed commie, just cuz it was a real headache to figure out whether the Demo bonuses would require adjustment. Biggest bummer was being forced off the tech path. We still need Superconductor and Nuclear Power before getting to Fusion. This means it's not my game to finish. But once we start building, we should be able to construct the whole ship in one turn. (Hmm, OK, maybe 2.)

random notes:
Seaborne enemies are making it tough to get trade done.
Have enjoyed beating the WoW-containg caps so as to make their flags drop.
No one started Manhattan Project yet, but at least 2 civs could...
Population is 18MM.

Should be able to finish my turn tomorrow. Look for something before dinner (Chicago time).

Happy New Year to all!!!!

[-Jrabbit]

It was grueling. It was exciting. It was tedious.
...and it's over!!!

We launched our SS in 1892, and will alnd in AD 1901.

A nefarious (actually, amphibious) assault by the English cost us the one extra Component needed to keep the travel time to 5.7 years, which would have meant a 19th Century landing. Would have been nice...

Oddly, the assault on Liverpool did not take the city -- just caused a red face, which cost me the 4 shields needed to build the 15th compnent. sigh.

anyway, I'll post details tomorrow. here's a zip of the launch.

[-Jrabbit]

By the way, the Egyptians copped Manhattan Project one turn back (1891), so technically, we still have to protect ourselves from nukes before we win. Next OEDO is 1895, so the run to Fundy and SDI isn't quite automatic.

No other civ has yet begun a SS, so we should be able to hang on. Oh and btw, the 1892 turn has not been played out -- just got through the build cycle and launched.

Next player in line should feel free to mop up...

[Scouse Gits]

Aha - it is we! (2) actually, but looks good for Friday!

SG[1]

[Scouse Gits]

Looks like you had a good game our lagomorphic friend...

SG[1]

[La Fayette]

JRabbit

Champagne!!!

[-Jrabbit]

The year is 1883. With some trepidation, the Academy entrusts its fabled Sticky Mouse to the inexperienced -Jrabbit.

1883 -- Study Hall. We're Commies now (gee, wonder how that might've happened!), with a fat (9K GP) treasury, a half-dozen Freights on the loose, and Nuclear Power imminent.

Required tech path = Laser + Superconductor + Nuclear Power -->> Fusion Power.
But we're only at 20% research. Apparently continuing the research-through-trade policy of previous Sticky Mice.

Chats with all civs reveal they are determined to remain in a state of War with us. The fools!
Celts and English are in Fundy.
Japs and Chinese are Republics.
Egyptians are in Democracy.

What cities might we enslave, the wascally wabbit wonders alliteratively? We learn the following cities carry the protection of an active WoW and are thus hands-off.
Celtic cities of Carmarthen, Tintagel, Illaunanig, Caernarfon, and Swansea.
Egyptian cities of Thebes and Hieroncopolis.
English city of Canterbury.
Chinese cities of Beijing and Chengdu.

We note that Carmarthen, Caernarfon, Beijing, and Chengdu are already defenseless. Must keep their flags down. Check.

We also note a significant stockpile of Freights has been cached on our ancestral home island.

1884 -- With some trepidation, we decide it's time to leave the classroom and experience the wide, wide world.
--Celts trade Plastics to English for Advanced Flight.
--Egypt turns Commie, starts on SETI.
--Mongol Rabbit Horde (that's us!) gets Nuclear Power, begin studying Laser.
--We build 8 more freights.
--We insist that those flags stay down in Chengdu, Beijing, Caernarfon, and Carmarthen.
--New city taken -- the canal town of Shimonoseki, plunder = 64 GP.

1885 -- Chinese get Advanced Flight. Egypt discovers Plastics.
--Shimonoseki sacked by Japs.
--Trade freights are routed and scheduled. Food freights (7 more) delivered to caches.
--Shipment of Gold is smuggled into Abydos. Grateful residents cough up 340 GP. This is a nice payoff, but inadequate ship chaining leads us to decide that Trade Alone won't get it done. [bold]Science rate moved to 50% (3 turns).[/bold]
--We capture small island city of Edfu, plunder 150 GP.
another island city, Douvre falls, netting 161 GP.
--Celts chat, demand 700 gold for peace.

1886 -- Egyptian Fighter destroys a military transport with 3 units aboard. English DD takes out another, this one containing a peaceful consignment of Freight.
--English start SETI.
--Flags go up in our 4 "contained" WoW cities. Armor and Howies make sure they come back down.
--We capture Brighton, plunder 251 GP.
--MANY Freights are built. Serious caching begins on Germanic continent.
--Egypt has Fission.
--Our population hits 18MM.

1887 -- We discover the secrets of the Laser.
--We discover that we must learn about Refrigeration before heading to Alpha Centauri.
--spice delivered to Yokahama, nets 44 GP.
--We take another island city, Tientsin, gaining a few dollars and teaching us Guerilla Warfare.
--Encouraged, we also capture Oxford, netting 346 GP.
--S. Institute founded, on island south of The Institute.
--Flags up. Flags down.

1888 -- Japanese develop Trade!
--SE Institute founded, east of S. Institute.
--We capture Avaris and its 117 GP.
--Deliver Gold to Caernarfon = 104 GP.
--Deliver Dye to Beijing = 75 GP.
--Food Freights accumulating quickly. Good thing we're studying Refrigeration -- wouldn't want this stuff to go bad!!
--Fighter on patrol runs out of fuel. Comrade Rabbit pauses to get some much-needed coffee.

1889 -- Japanese diplomatic corps causes rebellion in Kagoshima! The steal Steel.
--Mongol Spy buys Kagoshima back for 80 GP, minus 39 plunder (and minus some population).
--Kagoshima garrisoned with spies, tanks, and howitzers. WE SHALL NOT FORGET.
--Japs go Communist.
--We now have 92 active Freights, 35 more in production.
--Egypt starts SETI in 2 more cities.
--Our spy persuades Celtic city of Tara to revolt, costing 2484 GP - 285 plundered.
--Celts request cease fire. We accept and demand tribute, resulting in a return to war.
--Celt DD takes out another Transport with 3 units aboard.
--We move Science to 70%, thinking MAYBE we have enough Freight cached to end this game... :hopeful:

--SMILIE COUNT DICTATES THAT THE DRAMATIC CONCLUSION CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE POST--

(+1)

[-Jrabbit]

1890 -- We see our first bomber attack -- from Japs, hitting Shimonoseki (which appears to be extremely strategic in their eyes).
--Egypt now has Space Flight, nearly done with SETI.
--Another bomber appears -- Egyptian, vs. Avaris.
--We gain REFRIGERATION, begin studying SUPERCONDUCTOR.
--Population = 19MM
--Gems delivered to NoVotesForWomen = 56 GP.
--Silver delivered to London, nets 620 GP
--Gems to Nottingham = 124 GP.
--London demands more silver ( ) and we deliver, netting another 187 GP.
--We overrun Liverpool, plundering 246 GP and ridding another island of undue foreign influence.
--Gold delivered to island city of Pithom, which produces another 112 GP.
--Pithom revolts to Mongol cause (934 - 93 GP).
--Checking on Science progress, things are looking good. We begin our SS build in earnest. (Well, actually, in many many cities. )
--Planning committee decrees we go for a fast, sleek ship (33 / 8-8 / 1-1-1, travel time of 5.7 years).
--We have 58 cities. 9 on home island, 12 on German continent, the rest scattered.
--We begin SETI study in dozens of other cities.

1891 -- Egyptians build SETI. another Egyptian city switches to Manhattan Project -- and builds it instantly. Comrade -Jrabbit checks his charts are realizes with a sinking feeling that NO MORE WOWS ARE AVAILABLE!!
This means that only cities already building SETI will be able to make full use of our many stored Freights.
-Jrabbit can't believe he didn't see this crisis coming. :idioti:
--Time to take a deep breath, and take stock.
--We just built 12 Strural and 14 Components.
--Superconductor is ours. We can make MODULES!
--Now studying Fusion Power @ 10%. Taxes set to 50% to make up for our aggressive deficit spending.
--Population = 20MM. A nice, round number.
--Wine delivered to Osaka, nets 18 GP!!
--Oil to Yokahama nets 40 GP.
--Hut yields Barb partisans.
--The city of Final City is founded by a bored Engineer.
THE FINAL BUILD COMES DOWN.
21 Structural needed -- 22 built (just in case).
02 Components needed and built.
03 Modules needed and built.

All remaining freights used, many at half value (disbanded) since we could not use the WoW Method of Construction anymore. Several military units also had to be disbanded (over the objections of our generals!), and most of our cash spent (treasury well under 100 GP now).

After a final systems check for happiness, double-checking the count of components (good thing, as I nearly screwed up by forgetting to change a SETI to Module!! ), and adjusting the remaining defenders, we take a deep breath, press Enter and end the year.

:fingercross: :fingercross: :fingercross:

1892 -- Celts and Japanese sign Newcastle pact ag'in us.
--Kagoshima revolts again. Japanese take Rocketry.
--English transport delivers amphibious assault on Liverpool. Well-fortified city repels the revolt, but English Armor takes up residence in our countryside. Net result = an unexpected Red Face, the mayor fleeing in terror (the cowardly cur!). Whew. Not so bad.
--BUT WAIT! We were building a needed Component there, which now can't be built until next turn! Egad!!
--How badly does this screw us??????????? wonders the Lagomorphic One.
We watch the build results...

34 Structural
15 Components (7-8)
03 Modules (1-1-1)

Travel time = 9.5 years (instead of 5.7 as planned).
Probablity = 100%
Arrival = 1901 AD

"LAUNCH THAT MOTHER!" quoth Comrade -Jrabbit.
----------------------------
Watch pretty pictures.
Save game.
Breathe.
-----------------------------

[Scouse Gits]

Sounds great fun ...

Call me picky and churlish - but would it not have been better to wait for the laggard Module and launch in 1893 for an 1899 landing?

SG[1]

[-Jrabbit]

It was a long, hard battle. I was hot, sweaty, and short of sleep. I just wanted it DONE.

...and that "Launch" button is ssooo friendly and inviting. I just couldn't resist...

Seriously: I never considered it (especially with enemy nukes just around the corner). Felt like I'd just run a marathon, and "one more mile (turn)" just was not as attractive as --
Probability of Success: 100%

[Scouse Gits]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
It was a long, hard battle. I was hot, sweaty, and short of sleep. I just wanted it DONE.

Waits with trepidation to see what the lagomorph has left me

-------------------------------

SG(2)

[-Jrabbit]

It's been posted since 010103 (yet downloaded only onece...), just about 8 posts north of here...

[Scouse Gits]

-Jrabbit
Yes, that was me with the download. I have played 1892 (the turn you started) but am waiting to see what happens when I hit enter

-------------------------------------

SG(2)

[Straybow]

Of course, the wascally wabbit could post the 1892 auto so we can build the fastest ship before launch…

[-Jrabbit]

i don't think that's cricket, is it? Everyone plays their turn, and it is what it is...

[Six Thousand Year Old Man]

I'm with Jrabbit on this... basically, that's just the same as reloading after rethinking a move that didn't pan out.

I didn't reload after my accidentally sending cities into disorder in the no science game... even though it was only a minor flaw to correct, it wouldn't be fair play, lads!

[La Fayette]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
i don't think that's cricket, is it? Everyone plays their turn, and it is what it is...

... and no Git would ever be afraid to fight the enemy one more turn.

(BTW what's cricket?
I have heard of people oddly twisting their arms in remote parts of the world... must explore that)

[Scouse Gits]

...Breaking News... It's now 1893... over to our war correspondent in the recently captured Egyptian city of Abydos.

"Yes I'm speaking to you from the eastern edge of the town on the road to the other city on this island -Hieraconpolis. This is still in Egyptain hands as it houses two wonders. However, the army are placing blockades along the route to prevent diplomatic activity.

The Sticky Mouse Joint Military Chiefs have realised that an assault on the Egyptian home continent would be foolish. There are insufficient forces in the area to capture further cities and to protect them from theft of the Superconductor.

Needless to say all scientific activity is frozen to stop Fusion Power becoming available to enemy intelligence.
We are in a containing and consolodating position gradually shipping troops to the war fronts through a growing network of airports.

SDI will be operational in the capital from next year"


SG(2)

[Scouse Gits]

Analysis of 1892 Position
With a scheduled landing in nine years time there are only two ways we can lose.

a) Our capital is captured.
Fortunately our policy of expansion has meant that we are fighting some distances away from our native shores, and there appears to be no imminent threat around our home waters. As a precaution the capital defences will be strengthened and SDI constructed as both the Egyptians and English have nuclear capabilities.

b) The AI builds a faster spaceship.
Looking at the techs available to foreign powers only the Egyptians have a remote possibility of launching a rival attempt. They have Space Flight and Plastics and as soon as we lose any city they will have Superconductor too. With such a sprawling empire we could lose the advance to theft at any time so security must be tightened.
The Egyptians are the prime military target but no large scale invasion force will be attempted on their main continent as it would allow them too many opportunities to steal.

Total shutdown of Science. We are researching Fusion Power which can now only benefit a foreign spaceship.

To finance the new military imperatives, redundant city improvements will be sold. The network of Airports will be expanded.

We have high levels of pollution on our home continent and not enough engineers to clean up!
_________________________________

1892 - Fighter spots Egyptian transport off Douvres and sinks seven units. These boys do mean business.
Carmarthen destroyed (JSB now red) Celtic government escapes to Tintagel.
Rhymney captured 124 plundered.
Fighter kills Jap Bomber over Liverpool ... leave my home town alone eh?
Battleship sinks Celtic Cruiser off Durrow.

1893 - Aegis sinks Celtic sub off Durrow.
Kagoshima Armoured Division kills Dip/Cannon/Cavalry
Cruise Missile Sinks Egyptian Battleship! And I had a reserve ready
Demand Tribute from the English and they declare WAR!! Battleship sinks English Transport and 3 other units near Liverpool... what were they hoping for ... a tour of The Beatles' Museum
Oil/Coal to One Wonders282/259/222; 155g for Wine to Not the Gardens;
Abydos Captured by the Cruise Missile/Paratrooper trick - 158g plundered; Egyptian Govt overthrown ... they are now Communists. Engineers shipped from former Germany to clean up pollution at home. The former English island with Oxford etc, is reinforced by an influx of Paratroopers.

1894 - One Wonders builds SDI. Egyptians discover The Laser, now working on Superconductor. They begin Spaceship building but I think we can relax as its too late for the construction of a fast ship.
Cruise Missile sinks Egyptian Battleship.
Freights: 115/98g
Fighters kill two Celtic Bombers

1895 Yes, an Oedo year but no revolution! If the game was progressing further than 1901 Fundamentalism would have been an attractive option. The loss of revenue caused by anarchy isn't worth the government change with only six years to go
Egyptians have 3 S/ship Structurals + 3 Components.
Japanese Bomber kills paratrooper ... in turn killed by our fighter. Another Japanese espionage attempt - dip killed.
Dye to ByeMike 96g; Oil to Not the Gardens 478g; 2 x Copper to One Wonders260/682g
Rhondda captured 104g plundered.
Fighter patrol spots and kills Celtic transport and 6 other units.
English sub sunk off Avaris

1896 Egyptians develop Superconductor ... but time has run out for them! Silk to Elephantine 816g.
Elephantine liberated 210g plundered. An interesting feature was the complete lack of Partisans after capture. Although the major defensive tiles like forts were already occupied some squares were vacant.

We have won! The Egyptians have only completed 6 spaceship parts. We land in 5 years. As they now have only 12 cities they can never recover the position.

Thanks to all who took part. I enjoyed a succession game that took us into the modern world. It's a change to use Paratroopers instead of knights. If you look at the game you'll see what I mean

-------------------------------------

SG(2)

[La Fayette]

Hurrah!
Lively endgame, SG(2)


(the sticky mouse academy now relaxing)

[Hydey]

[Six Thousand Year Old Man]

Nice work, and it looked like a fun game, sorry I missed it...
...time to start another game!

Oh right... already done

Nevermind then... I'll start a successor to the no trade monster once Hydey finishes it off...

[-Jrabbit]

ALL HAIL SG (2) !!!!

Well done, you Git! Excellent analysis and action plan, flawlessly executed. And, yes, paratroopers can be great fun, especially when the navy and air force have succeeded in bringing a distant city to its knees.
(See, that wasn't such a huge challenge, was it?)

(Oh, what the heck... )
ALL HAIL SG [1], too...

[Scouse Gits]

Good turns (2) - and not a nuke in sight

SG[1]

[Bloody Monk]

Congratulations all on a very interesting game.

You guys are way too good!!!

[Straybow]

Hydey got skipped and might want to play out the last 5 turns just for the formality of finishing the game. Shoot, we could've claimed we won 50 turns ago.

[Straybow]

BTW, SGs, I'm still getting the anomolous trade route value at Nil…