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Home » Stars! 2.6/7 » Challenges » Challenge 2 - Kill AI
Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Sun, 18 May 2014 13:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
Commander

Messages: 1608
Registered: January 2011
Location: GMT +5.5

The key for me was to get jihads early on.
I had jihad stations up by year 27 (2477). I was in touching distance of elec11 (BSC) + con13 (BBs) in an additional 3 years.

> Building fully decked out stations is more than enough, with the occasional jihad BB fleet.
> Before I had jihads, I had to tailor build DDs/CCs against the enemy fleets.
> I ensured that there wasn't a single year that my station went down, so that I didn't give those pesky AI bombers a chance to drop their bombs.
> I built mine-layers only in year 37 (2487). Before that it's pretty much a waste of resources.

I've played about 9 hours so far, on my 2nd attempt.
When the challenge came out, my 1st attempt lasted all of an hour before my HW station was killed :s.

I didn't reload my save files in my first attempt, but I shamelessly abused reloading saves in this attempt.
In this go, I played
> Using well planned stations & support suicide fleets to take out enemy fleets.
> Leading AIs to ambushes and making them kill each other in orbit of my planets.
I'm obviously not using the station building bug Wink.

I've also noticed there's a lot of dead open space in this map. Big empty spaces with no planets to use as jump points.
Sadly, no wormholes or MTs to exploit here, to negate that factor.

The game log so far.
Year 0 - 2450 - 16th rank, 1 planet, 1 station, 0 cap, 20 tech, 1079 res.
---------------------------------------
These are the fun and challenging parts ... and I want to see how others play the starting period. I can share these 2 milestones though.
Year 27 - 2477 - Jihad station up.Just in time!
Year 35 - 2485 - By year 35, I had jihad BBs supporting my stations.
---------------------------------------
Year 50 - Blue Giant, Spittle, Mars, the HW, Wizzle, No return, Witter, Distopia, Hill and Yuppie Puppy.
Year 50 - 2500 - 12th rank, 10 planets, 6 stations, 19 cap ships, 79 tech lvls, 6300 res.
Year 60 - 2510 - 10th rank, 11 planets, 6 stations, 26 cap ships, 89 tech lvls, 7500 res.
Year 70 - 2520 - 9th rank, 18 planets, 9 stations, 38 cap ships, 97 tech lvls, 9600 res.
Year 80 - 2530 - 7th rank, 31 plants, 14 stations, 44 cap ships, 106 tech lvls, 15000 res.
Year 90 - 2540 - 2nd rank, 53 plants, 26 stations, 56 cap ships, 116 tech lvls, 22000 res.
Year 95 - 2545 - 1st rank, 57 planets, 30 stations, 103 cap ships, 119 tech levels, 27000 res.
---------------------------------------
I'm about to hit the AR AI, so I should get a boost of 13-15 more planets by 2550. I just have to make sure that my colonists are coming along smoothly in the supply chain.
I'm 95k res from weap26 and 300k from con26. I have an exponential res curve now with 17 breeder planets (80%+) at 40%cap and 31k res.
I estimate that I can get weap 26 nubians in another 10 years, if not sooner.

I have to confess, I'm hitting my interest ceiling in this map now..
The winning conditions seems like a lot of MM and tedium, now that the fun part seems to be over.


Edit - Just for ma.stars Wink
Year 85 - 2535 - 5th rank, 43 planets, 18 stations, 46 cap ships, 112 tech lvls, 18811 res, 1429 score.


[Updated on: Sun, 18 May 2014 13:33]




I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Sun, 18 May 2014 13:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mrvan is currently offline mrvan

 
Officer Cadet 1st Year

Messages: 220
Registered: May 2014
3d attempt underway. 51 turns played, building my first juggernaut + supercomputer BBs, about ready to start conquering some worlds. Haven't had a serious threat to the HW for a long time, so I guess I'm slow to get off my rock, also given the reports above.

I'm playing the initial game a lot better now I think. I'm managing my 'tech salvage scouts' more actively. Also, when the HW is under threat from only one force, I jump a scout back to lure more enemies to the HW; and if a scout is under attack from a single force I jump to another fleet or planet.

I will now start bombarding and conquering some enemy worlds, we'll see how that goes! Wish me luck Smile

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Sun, 18 May 2014 13:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
Commander

Messages: 1608
Registered: January 2011
Location: GMT +5.5

Overbuild bombers to ensure 1 year bombing runs.
Doing a mix of lbu-s, smart bombs and cherries will help you clear out the planets faster. You have to decide what type of bombing run you want to use.

Using stars calculator is something that aids me a lot while designing my bombing fleets against enemy shield techs.
If you want to use it:
http://wiki.starsautohost.org/wiki/Utilities/Index#Stars.21_ Calculator

A rough guide is 40 cherries to kill 100% of pop on a 0 defence world.



I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Sun, 18 May 2014 19:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mrvan is currently offline mrvan

 
Officer Cadet 1st Year

Messages: 220
Registered: May 2014
Pfffff.... played until around 2550. Captured a couple of planets and made it to doomsday missiles, but it is very tedious to hold planets because of the packets (forcing me to build defenses before anything else and keeping freighters + defensive fleets hovering) and juggling fleets around to see which world needs more protection than the space station. Just underestimated an attack and lost my starbase and most of the pop on blue giant, so I think I will give up on this one.

I am constantly pop/resources constrained so I think I should have tried to expand earlier. If I would have kept my HW at 40% I guess I would have spare resources a lot earlier. Also maybe instead of attacking one planet, holding it, and continuing once I'm happy with the defense I guess the main fleet should press on and take out the main worlds of an AI and then take and hold the territory later.

Quite a fun challenge, maybe not so difficult for the real vets, but much more so than a normal PvAI game.


[Updated on: Sun, 18 May 2014 19:38]

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Mon, 19 May 2014 02:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
Commander

Messages: 1608
Registered: January 2011
Location: GMT +5.5

Use your backup save files and reload a turn from 5 years ago.
Send a lf to quick load the packet minerals from space if possible.

Stars.ini backups=99



I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Mon, 19 May 2014 06:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
Commander

Messages: 2765
Registered: October 2004
Location: Third star to the left
nmid wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 19:18
I have to confess, I'm hitting my interest ceiling in this map now..
The winning conditions seems like a lot of MM and tedium, now that the fun part seems to be over.

Now you know why I chose to fight the strongest AI 1st, even if weaker ones could have given me more planets per the same effort. Also, I can't seem to find focus enough to play with maximal efficiency. Asleep at cptr



So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Mon, 19 May 2014 14:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ccmaster is currently offline ccmaster

 
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Dueling Club Administrator

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Location: Germany

nmid wrote on Mon, 19 May 2014 08:16
Use your backup save files and reload a turn from 5 years ago.
Send a lf to quick load the packet minerals from space if possible.

Stars.ini backups=99



Hi ,


you should play with

Backups=999

as you need all years backuped.


ccmaster

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Mon, 19 May 2014 15:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
Commander

Messages: 1608
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m.a@stars wrote on Mon, 19 May 2014 15:46
nmid wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 19:18
I have to confess, I'm hitting my interest ceiling in this map now..
The winning conditions seems like a lot of MM and tedium, now that the fun part seems to be over.

Now you know why I chose to fight the strongest AI 1st, even if weaker ones could have given me more planets per the same effort. Also, I can't seem to find focus enough to play with maximal efficiency. Asleep at cptr


Do you have a choice here? Confused
The only AIs you can attack are the ones next to your starting position.. which is what I've attacked. Nod
I've cleared right up to the north edge which had the top ranked AI HE player, east against the PP/another AI and south against the other HE AI. Cool
It's only after that can you reach the AR AI. Rolling Eyes

Are you attacking some different AIs Frown... using WHs Silly hair



I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Mon, 19 May 2014 17:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mrvan is currently offline mrvan

 
Officer Cadet 1st Year

Messages: 220
Registered: May 2014
nmid wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 13:18
The key for me was to get jihads early on.
I had jihad stations up by year 27 (2477). I was in touching distance of elec11 (BSC) + con13 (BBs) in an additional 3 years.


The game log so far.
Year 0 - 2450 - 16th rank, 1 planet, 1 station, 0 cap, 20 tech, 1079 res.
---------------------------------------
These are the fun and challenging parts ... and I want to see how others play the starting period. I can share these 2 milestones though.
Year 27 - 2477 - Jihad station up.Just in time!
Year 35 - 2485 - By year 35, I had jihad BBs supporting my stations.
---------------------------------------
Year 50 - Blue Giant, Spittle, Mars, the HW, Wizzle, No return, Witter, Distopia, Hill and Yuppie Puppy.
Year 50 - 2500 - 12th rank, 10 planets, 6 stations, 19 cap ships, 79 tech lvls, 6300 res.



That's quite a bit faster than I can manage. I have Jihad BBs in year 50 and so only really start expanding around that time (the BBs aren't the main catch, but it seems that it all comes together around the same time). I guess I need to learn some more tricks on how to get "muiltiplayer involuntary tech trading" working out well. I can usually sustain 2-3 battles per turn, but that means quite a number of turns pass without a trade. I guess I should also focus on researching cheap tech myself to make sure that I get interesting stuff from the AI. I am curious to learn how the vets here manage to keep more AI-AI battles going on. Do you use 3 jet FF's to have more chance of escaping the turns with too few or too many opponents?




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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Tue, 20 May 2014 07:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
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nmid wrote on Mon, 19 May 2014 21:15
Do you have a choice here? Confused
The only AIs you can attack are the ones next to your starting position.. which is what I've attacked. Nod
I've cleared right up to the north edge which had the top ranked AI HE player,

The top ranked AI HE player (the Hicardis in my game) has planets all around, only a few of them northwards of Mars-Spittle. The rest belong to far weaker AIs. Rolling Eyes



So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Tue, 20 May 2014 08:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
Commander

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mrvan wrote on Mon, 19 May 2014 23:05
I should also focus on researching cheap tech myself to make sure that I get interesting stuff from the AI.

Yup, that's what I did, not having anything better to spend my Res on. Sherlock

You should also try invading the 2-3 planets nearest the HW. Just defending your SBs there will double your "techtrade" chances. Pirate



So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Tue, 20 May 2014 16:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mrvan is currently offline mrvan

 
Officer Cadet 1st Year

Messages: 220
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*cough* Wink

I will try that, I guess doing so before access to jihad missiles would make it very difficult to hold both planets. Will see how far I get Smile

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Tue, 20 May 2014 16:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
Commander

Messages: 1608
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m.a@stars wrote on Tue, 20 May 2014 17:28
nmid wrote on Mon, 19 May 2014 21:15
Do you have a choice here? Confused
The only AIs you can attack are the ones next to your starting position.. which is what I've attacked. Nod
I've cleared right up to the north edge which had the top ranked AI HE player,

The top ranked AI HE player (the Hicardis in my game) has planets all around, only a few of them northwards of Mars-Spittle. The rest belong to far weaker AIs. Rolling Eyes


So we both had to attack the same AIs.. I fail to understand the point of your earlier message Rolling Eyes
m.a@stars wrote on Mon, 19 May 2014 15:46

Now you know why I chose to fight the strongest AI 1st, even if weaker ones could have given me more planets per the same effort. Also, I can't seem to find focus enough to play with maximal efficiency. Asleep at cptr


Were you trying to say something else? Confused
You not playing with maximal efficiency is understandable for not having more planets Smile .. but your choice of fighting the strongest AI doesn't make sense Confused , considering that I cleared out ALL the surrounding AI on MULTIPLE fronts at the SAME time Twisted Evil.



I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Tue, 20 May 2014 22:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ron is currently offline Ron

 
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nmid, m.a..., let's not ignite a flamewar here, trash-talking each other is ok as long as you can handle it and don't get upset.


Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Wed, 21 May 2014 04:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
Commander

Messages: 2765
Registered: October 2004
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nmid wrote on Tue, 20 May 2014 22:57
So we both had to attack the same AIs.. I fail to understand the point of your earlier message Rolling Eyes

Yup. The best path was obvious, but I didn't follow it. I went South and have only fought the Hicardis so far, because only they had the techs and the strength to keep things interesting enough for me. Now that I've booted them from the cluster I wanted, I'll probably turn North, which should be a piece of cake with Weap24. Dueling

That's why I'm not likely to beat any speed record. That and having rushed many turns, which means I've been playing the Humanoids far from their optimal performance. Whip

Note: It's year 97 (2547), techs are 18, 24, 20, 20, 18, 12. I have 10k Res, 17 planets, 10 SBs, 150 Cap ships and 880 chaff. I'm still ranked 10th, but my growth just turned exponential and I'm nigh unstoppable, so that's gonna improve fast. Work at computer


[Updated on: Wed, 21 May 2014 04:42]




So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Wed, 21 May 2014 05:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
Commander

Messages: 1608
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Ron wrote on Wed, 21 May 2014 07:45
nmid, m.a..., let's not ignite a flamewar here, trash-talking each other is ok as long as you can handle it and don't get upset.


Hmm.It's not trash talking imo... atleast from my side.

I understand part of his post about not maximising his efficiency.
After all, I did the same in the 1st challenge.
I wasn't really trying that time, you see.

What I don't understand is him saying attacking the toughest AI slowed him down.
I did the same (if not more, as I attacked the rank 2 AI as well...) and I didn't find it slowing me down.

That's all we are talking about Smile



I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Wed, 21 May 2014 05:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
Commander

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m.a@stars wrote on Wed, 21 May 2014 14:03
nmid wrote on Tue, 20 May 2014 22:57
So we both had to attack the same AIs.. I fail to understand the point of your earlier message Rolling Eyes

Yup. The best path was obvious, but I didn't follow it. I went South and have only fought the Hicardis so far, because only they had the techs and the strength to keep things interesting enough for me. Now that I've booted them from the cluster I wanted, I'll probably turn North, which should be a piece of cake with Weap24. Dueling

That's why I'm not likely to beat any speed record. That and having rushed many turns, which means I've been playing the Humanoids far from their optimal performance. Whip

Note: It's year 97 (2547), techs are 18, 24, 20, 20, 18, 12. I have 10k Res, 17 planets, 10 SBs, 150 Cap ships and 880 chaff. I'm still ranked 10th, but my growth just turned exponential and I'm nigh unstoppable, so that's gonna improve fast. Work at computer


I rechecked my game files Wink. You really are playing a different game, I think. Sherlock
You should check you have the correct files Whip

In my game, I have Hicardi to my south and east (ranked 1) Hi and
Picardi to my north (ranked 2) Hi.
Both are HE AI. Exclamation
There are no other AI touching my borders. Rolling Eyes



[Updated on: Wed, 21 May 2014 05:34]




I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Wed, 21 May 2014 14:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
Commander

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nmid wrote on Wed, 21 May 2014 11:19
What I don't understand is him saying attacking the toughest AI slowed him down.

Well, perhaps not so much "slowed me down" as "kept me from speeding up". But they're pretty much over by now, as their rank dropped to 6, with Eagles and Ferrets racing for #1. Hit over head

I still have the House Cats and Golems nearby, and the Berserkers and Uberts throwing packets. And pretty much everyone else still sending me batches of variously-manufactured minerals. Meh. Whip



So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Thu, 22 May 2014 23:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Braindead is currently offline Braindead

 
Officer Cadet 2nd Year

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Is it me or does it really take minutes to generate a turn?

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Fri, 23 May 2014 04:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
Commander

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Braindead wrote on Fri, 23 May 2014 05:40
Is it me or does it really take minutes to generate a turn?

Most turns take just secs to gen on my HW, but others do seem to take longer. Not so long, tho. Sherlock



So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Sat, 24 May 2014 15:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Braindead is currently offline Braindead

 
Officer Cadet 2nd Year

Messages: 237
Registered: April 2005
Location: Ohio
m.a@stars wrote
Braindead wrote
Is it me or does it really take minutes to generate a turn?

Most turns take just secs to gen on my HW, but others do seem to take longer. Not so long, tho. Sherlock

Fixed. Apparently, pointing stars.exe from VM to the host machine slows it down.

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Tue, 03 June 2014 12:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
Commander

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http://i.imgur.com/pTpbkdp.jpg
2567.

Got it using a tactic I always wanted to try out... but I'm pretty sure if I don't use it, I can do it faster.
I'm going to try it out again Razz


[Updated on: Tue, 03 June 2014 14:22]




I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Wed, 04 June 2014 10:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Altruist is currently offline Altruist

 
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nmid wrote on Tue, 03 June 2014 18:39

2567.


Gosh! That's fast.

I am at year 2526 with 28 planets. To beat you I'd need to conquere almost 4 planets per years from now on. Mmmh...

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Wed, 04 June 2014 13:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
Commander

Messages: 2765
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I just reached 2580 with #2 in score, killed my 3rd AI (and soon another) and am bombing out 4-6 AI planets per turn. In a couple turns the Eagles will be getting the repayment of all they've been sending against me, with interest. At this rate, it will take me another 20-25 turns of mop-up to reach the Challenge VCs. Whip


So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Challenge 2 - Kill AI Wed, 04 June 2014 17:19 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
nmid

 
Commander

Messages: 1608
Registered: January 2011
Location: GMT +5.5

Thanks Smile

I set up bombing chains that pushed the frontlines quite hard..
A starting bombing fleet would hit the 1st planet in year 1 and move to a new planet further away in year 2... while a newly built bombing fleet would hit the 1st planet in year 2.
My final bombing fleets were very rarely staying stationary in orbit of any enemy planet.

Also, it really picks up pace towards the end, when you get your gatable nubians.



I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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