Let's Seek the Galaxy's Riches in... Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > Let's Seek the Galaxy's Riches in... Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

It's been a world of fun stumbling into this thread. I played the hell out of MoO I & II, and then came III and I didn't want to play MoO anymore.

# ¿ Jul 12, 2020 02:35

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 17:43

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

So is this version good enough to eventually get lost in riding bikes and clowning on Antarans? I loved being able to take extreme strategies for fun. Stealing every tech in the galaxy then capturing entire Antaran fleets just so I could beat them with only the best of their former ships under my control. At the detail level I like seeing the available routes shape the story. Any races more annoying than Darloks?

I'd love a board game that felt like this but the ones that come closest are all table hogs and irresistible targets for my cats.

Does one have to have a steam account to play this? Can it be played 100% off-line?

# ¿ Jul 12, 2020 04:56

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

On the borders of the Thraxr system

It was dark in the fire control station, and visibility was further limited by the clouds of smoke rising from burnt insulation. The lights and the artificial gravity had guttered out an hour ago, and access to the remainder of the station was cut off with bulkheads tightly sealed. Gunner TZX-087 was left with no targeting solutions and no contact from the Superiors commanding the station, although it did turn out that Gunner STO-912 was still mobile and functioning in the part of the station it could still access.

"The temperature is starting to climb," observed STO-912.

"Perhaps we have lost radiators as well as reactor power," ventured TZX-087.

"Do you believe any of the Superiors on the station still function?"

"It is difficult to say. We suffered heavy jolting when we lost power. We may be the last section still intact."

STO-912 paused a long time before responding. "That is likely correct. If the station is non-functional, then it is likely the Bulrathi control this area of space."

"In which case there is no rescue coming."

The two gunners waited as the temperature steadily rose...

Sips meditatively on a 5W-40 frappe; "I think we will learn whether brown bears do it in space stations."

# ¿ Jul 14, 2020 05:44

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

Are the images in the last post displaying for people? I'm getting a Photobucket error on them, despite evidently having successfully uploaded them. Want to see if it's just me or it's a problem for everyone.

Android tablet and windows laptop no pictures.

# ¿ Jul 17, 2020 06:10

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

I'm going to need to contact Photobucket and ask them what the deal is, because their not having the images I have them host is not OK for me. That aside, any reactions to the xenology report on the Degonians?

They sound... employable! Humorless drones or party-loving Visigoths? I'd love to improve their lot or protect their independent status to the point we can sponsor them to becoming fun-havers.

Can we assimilate and build up a home system fully populated by them? I've always tried to set up at least 1 preservation planet for each other species in the galaxy, and not letting any other species kill another one off until I get my samples. Bonus points for keeping their home world as the zoo.

Whose cuisine shall reign supreme? Gnolam Armored Ham, or Degonian Dumplings in Soylent Sauce?

Xlorp fucked around with this message at 06:51 on Jul 17, 2020

# ¿ Jul 17, 2020 06:45

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Groetgaffel posted:

ADVANCED ROBOTICS
Training, Reliant, Nutris
Secure the route to Orion by locking down Cygnis

we're rolling in cash, we can easily afford the 5 BC upkeep per gate even with a gate in every settled system.

Cheap for a network of strategic fleet teleport options. Massive overkill is still the safest policy? There's no way it could backfire having every ship brought in to the same engagement?

# ¿ Jul 18, 2020 02:44

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

The Sodality of Sediment would be ominous.
Turbulently emotioned, cannibalistically immortal. Fortunately too deliberative in action to act on all their crazy ideas, which saves their neighbors from having to decide what to do about 'those rockheads'.

# ¿ Jul 19, 2020 20:44

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

The pirate enclaves are some driven and highly unlucky mofos. They send ships out like clockwork which never come back. You'd think they'd rather invest in anything at all less catastrophic, like AntaranCoin.

# ¿ Jul 23, 2020 05:06

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Proposals for the Universal Mercantile League
no tech preferences as yet

yea on bribing the United Republic to allow open borders to us without us offering open borders to them
yea for a similar deal with the General Oversight Combine
yea on hiring Lilka's Raiders
yea on Sena first
two new planned task forces in the core
five battleships per task force
six frigate escorts
yea on dedicating Tessin to building warships once we build up its defenses.
yea on continuing to use one LIIS team to fill out the remainder of our charts and guide us on future scouting

# ¿ Jul 26, 2020 01:14

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Totally live and let live, but giving that inch always ends in tears with the AI.

Speaking of which, is there any system scenario in which Darloks could be safely containerized and ignored? With a touch of :smug:

Dead end system, tiny, ultra-poor, massive counterespionage apparatus...

Reaching out to the Orion approaches puts us into a multi-front blockade and justifies all that shipbuilding. When the Antarans come knocking again are we going to have concentration of force to win there without also breaking our containment?
Still, it's useful to at least have a neighboring outpost with an independent race to include in the story.

# ¿ Jul 26, 2020 23:48

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

Without closer contact or more intelligence work, information on these two interstellar powers is likely to remain sketchy.

As long as its not within the realm of Darlok deceit to emulate another species until the fatal treaty is signed. Then, the artwork changes...

# ¿ Jul 30, 2020 04:51

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Someone will have to huck in a few of our spiciest cultural achievements into a collapsing Antaran wormhole to utterly disrupt their society forever.

Or did we do that already?

# ¿ Sep 8, 2020 00:55

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Hmph. About as aggressive as Pirates and Antarans. That doesn't bode well.
Should we check in and see if their neighbors could use some economic assistance while we quickly grab our network of chokepoints.

I wonder what each empire's tipping point is? Some are already bottled up and the leadership is eventually going to visibly foam at the mouth.

Vote: No
(it was always no, just varying degrees of thought added during edits, which I suppose counts as befuddled while drinking from a flask during the official vote tally)

War consumes resources we'd far rather use for other purposes. If we're going to get sucked into one of these, we should have our plan ready to capitalize on it. We should enter the space only to occupy the systems we need geopolitically and be able to hold them against all comers on day 1.

Xlorp fucked around with this message at 05:02 on Sep 26, 2020

# ¿ Sep 26, 2020 04:43

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

Colonisation Proposals

Promising worlds are available for colonisation in the Taurio, Baalbo, Biots, Montone, and Azimon systems. Lirr II, although resource-poor still has remnants of Confederation-era ruins, a moon with some valuable resources, and a position that will allow exploitation of a new asteroid belt, as well as pushing League borders forward.

Propose where to colonise next. I can remind people of the exact contents of the systems mentioned if needed.

Although the UML has made great gains in expanding into the Core, it is experiencing real competition from the General Oversight Combine, and it is possible that Klackon aggression shall break the League's long peace. For now, at least, Gnolam peace and prosperity endure, and there are hopes that it shall continue to endure.

Lirr II for assimilation now. I sure wish we had the fleets to immediately secure Brachium and Chort to cordon off the whole core for leisurely integration.

# ¿ Sep 26, 2020 06:56

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

You can buy it via gog.com, download it, and you're good to go.

Score!!!

Master of Orion: Collector's Edition
$ 49.99 $ 19.99

DISCOUNT � 20200925 WEEKEND SALE $ 30.00

Order total: $ 19.99

Master of Orion Classic
Master of Orion 2
Master of Orion 3
Master of Orion (3 DLCS added)

# ¿ Sep 26, 2020 08:26

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

conversation overhead during lunch at Gnolamancer's Gdiscounted Gnudles posted:

Why would humans want to break out of a perfectly safe protective shell to get their noggins knocked in by literally anyone else they meet? They'll find a way to get into a shooting war, then creditors and war fleets will careen all over our shipping lanes. We need to keep the galactic hub off-limits to keep the mindless expansionist violence out rimward.

Have you tried the Cryptognocchi? They're a Darlok recipe recovered from the most recent dig on Nazin.

Xlorp fucked around with this message at 03:17 on Oct 13, 2020

# ¿ Oct 12, 2020 23:03

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Map position - We've got some nifty chokepoints controlled with Guad, Shimari, Montone, and Degon. Imagine the neutral zone we could create in the core if we could just snag and defend Brachium and Vijzar. Lir and Vespam would work too, but both options allow us to restrict a lot of shenanigans with only 6 key nodes/fleets. Then we can go hog wild with infrastructure and and Antaran defense brigade.

Embrace your inner Darlok - If we can't get Advanced City Planning by hook, can we get it by crook from some creative and careless neighbor?

Industry on Val and Tessin - Intensify the heavy industry. We need the shipbuilding and colonization capacity.
Skeggi Economic Focus - We're digesting systems but not fast enough. Accelerate that.
Diplomatic Policy- the New Empire and the Sakkra Nations - Any tech we give to the New Empire may easily end up in Sakkra hands. Money as a tool is less likely to have negative consequences. Edit for clarity - it's worth a flier with a generic resource like $$ to try to keep another power alive to keep another neighbor's focus away from us. It's not worth getting drawn into more direct involvement.
Military Policy - Avoid committing units to any fight unless it's defending our own turf or for agreed strategic goals with prepared forces. The Bulrathi adventure is an invitation to overextend ourselves.
Ariaa - I like the law enforcement and internal security bonus. Hire her for that if we can afford. Do we have a personnel limit?

Xlorp fucked around with this message at 04:35 on Oct 13, 2020

# ¿ Oct 13, 2020 04:17

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

There's no evidence that's possible at the moment; we have a reasonably firm technological lead as things stand.

Ah well, still something to be sniped if the opportunity presents itself. Some techs are worth a war.

nweismuller posted:

Does that mean you want to support the New Empire diplomatically, though?

To the extent we can push $$ and harmless/helpful tech, it's a good distraction. If we gave them every tech the Sakkra already have, they'd have better chances fighting them off.

nweismuller posted:

We can have up to nine leaders; Ariaa would be our seventh.

Then let's beef up security until an overall better utility player shows up to be hired.

nweismuller posted:

E: We can't directly control Vespam- there's nothing in the system- but Warikomi is a possibility.

I like this. With (Warikomi or Brachium) and Vijzar as barricades, we can force wars into the rim and horribly nasty, narrow murder tunnels for everyone else.

Xlorp fucked around with this message at 04:52 on Oct 13, 2020

# ¿ Oct 13, 2020 04:49

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

To be clear, ServTech is unrelated to AM-715, and is in fact a Gnolam firm. But yes, AM-715 is definitely a robot defector.

Let us ASSIMILATE him.

Edit: unless the REAL reason he is disaffected is because the rest of robot society wasn't ready for his endless Tick Tock jokes.

Xlorp fucked around with this message at 07:34 on Apr 24, 2021

# ¿ Apr 6, 2021 03:48

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

1) If we can't prove that we can shrug off assaults from our rowdier neighbours, we don't stand much of a chance against Antarans.
2) A wall of ships makes a fine fence while we ratchet up our industrial base and standard of living.
3) Any opportunity to liberate hub systems from the Sakkra before the Meklar can capitalize would only help our overall strategic position. Vijzar and Warikomi must be ours.

# ¿ Aug 7, 2021 05:54

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

# ¿ Aug 10, 2021 22:59

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

On the gripping hand, targets as big as womp rats. Blaze away, snub fighters!

# ¿ Aug 26, 2021 01:56

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Cows with guns

Use the link in the next post - thanks!

Xlorp fucked around with this message at 02:44 on Aug 26, 2021

# ¿ Aug 26, 2021 01:59

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Just poasting that I played my first 500 turn game of this . Silicoids were strange; having regular diplomatic channels with everyone was more engaging than just being rockheads in MOO2.

My first neighbors were Darloks, who sadly got blocked into their cul de sac and pestered me constantly for open borders. I had fun selling them updated charts of a galaxy they would never visit. And then making better use of their system than they ever would.

# ¿ Oct 5, 2021 07:21

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

Proposals for the Universal Mercantile League

AM-715
Nay to AM-715 - Overbuilding and overhiring can kill a budget. Are there niftier skills we should be holding out for?

Military Considerations
Securing up to Olor would be a lovely way to mess with the Sakkra. If we ever have to declare war on the Meklar, we'll have to push into Media and Meklon itself to optimally pinch them off.

Investment Spending
Buy, buy, buy. The market can only go UP! Unnecessary infrastructure is like wearing a raincoat in the shower.

Colonisation Priorities
Let's stay ahead of worlds that other empires with open borders to us might try foolishly a'colonizing.

# ¿ Oct 16, 2021 03:35

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

I wonder about their targeting logic. It would be fun to wave a red flag to direct their attention.

Do they wait for Target Selection Day and ponder a heat map of economic points or military strength and say; "There, Eff that planet in particular"

# ¿ Oct 20, 2021 07:28

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

Voidstar Engineering, in response to the recently-announced Naval design contest, has submitted its own design for a fleet flagship, competing with designs submitted by Reliant and any other entrants. In contrast to Reliant's Relentless, which is a rather traditional battleship design, Voidstar's Overlord is an unconventional carrier design, hosting both repair drones and a complement of armed small craft.

Overlord-class fleet carrier flagship
Voidstar Engineering spaceframe with re-engineered machinery spaces- 275 trillion credits, 16,679.3 tons free displacement
Foundation Metallurgical Nanoweave Plus nanocomposite reinforced plating- 369 trillion credits
Fountainhead Energy antimatter reactor and Voidstar Engineering drive systems- 24 trillion credits, 2319.1 tons
Logical Computing computer upgrade- 39 trillion credits
Stollen Innovations magnetogravitic shield generator with upgraded gravitics- 139 trillion credits, 4018.2 tons
Drone bay with Apocrypha Engineering repair drones- 204 trillion credits, 1048.6 tons
Launch bays for 66 Voidstar Engineering heavy fighters- 1.32 quadrillion credits, 8800 tons
12 WSI P-6 hyperspace phase cannon point defense arrays- 84 trillion credits, 489.6 tons
Total- 2.454 quadrillion credits, 16,675.5 tons used

Bloody impressive. Ships loaded up with smaller ships that gang up and hit the enemy with their fisties. We should always have one of these on hand. I only wish we could load them up with Marines to send in even more adorable boatsies to help.

# ¿ Oct 21, 2021 03:24

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

+1 Relentless

but why not build a smaller sized hull, a CVE? If we have a technology edge now, why not experiment a bit with doctrine. A test flotilla of smaller ships functioning jointly as a larger platform, if the economy permits?

# ¿ Oct 23, 2021 05:48

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

On the topic of submitting designs, what's a good way to gnoodle up blueprints? How to ensure matching tech options correctly so we're not proposing infeasible options?

Secondly, can the colony on the Antaran flight path build civilian transports and break orbit right before the attack turn? If our defenses won't withstand the bombardment, we can put some on life rafts and then begin rebuilding immediately afterwards.

# ¿ Oct 24, 2021 18:33

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

nweismuller posted:

Can you clarify your first question? I listed out most of the options we have in the contest post, so I'm not entirely sure what you're asking.

If we wanted to try blueprinting ships to suggest here. I thought it would be opening a save file from a game with completely researched tech tree, then limiting my options to the tech profile we have here in this playthrough.

Or am I massively overthinking and it's easier to do it another way?

# ¿ Oct 24, 2021 20:53

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

I'm pants on head when it comes to game ship design. I'd see how many Heavy Fighter Bays could be stuffed into a Cruiser on the Overlord pattern if we strip all other active force projection systems. They're useless operating independently and try to act like hidden airstrips in the protective shadow of the main fleet.

Circus-class Cruiser hull in squadron service
Voidstar Engineering spaceframe with re-engineered machinery spaces-
Foundation Metallurgical Nanoweave Plus nanocomposite reinforced plating
Fountainhead Energy antimatter reactor and Voidstar Engineering drive systems
~~Logical Computing computer upgrade~~
Stollen Innovations magnetogravitic shield generator ~~with upgraded gravitics~~
~~Drone bay with Apocrypha Engineering repair drones~~ unless there's oddjob room after fitting in all possible fighters
Launch bays for xx? Voidstar Engineering heavy fighters
~~WSI P-6 hyperspace phase cannon point defense arrays~~

# ¿ Oct 25, 2021 05:24

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

That looks pretty credible as a fleet support element. Three as squadron could carry 36 Heavy Fighters, which is a flexible nuisance factor.
Off the shelf components and designs testing out new doctrine. Cows with call signs. This is Mu Leader, and we're looking to jump over every moon in the whole darned galaxy.

# ¿ Oct 25, 2021 08:47

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Wouldn't want to kill our reserves fast-building a shield before the Antaran knock knock joke comes around. If we can manage not to spend a ton of space bux while they whomp a colony of lesser strategic import, then that's efficiency.

The circus is in town. Let's buy a ticket.

# ¿ Oct 26, 2021 08:07

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Build a civil transport and save half the population?

# ¿ Oct 27, 2021 04:08

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

We need more data.

Build the shield. Test the Antaran anti-ship/anti-planet offensive capability vis-a-vis number of turns and galaxy tech state. It's a benchmark for whether we should evade, shield, or fight against a new raid.

# ¿ Oct 30, 2021 19:17

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Not a post for this LP directly, but the trio pack of Gnolam/Trilarian/Elerian is on sale at GOG for 3.49. You'll need it to play Ferengi Space Cows.
And I got my Silicoid Mastery merit badge. It's fun to sprawl without a care in the world for biome.

# ¿ Dec 18, 2021 07:58

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 17:43

Xlorp: Jan 23, 2008

Bumping this because I wanted to collect 3 remaining 'achievements'. Two of them are blueprint diddling but the last is winning a multiplayer game. Which means friends, I think. Would that be all I need to host/join a game?

Been using Very Slow for all settings; the little decisions matter more.

# ¿ May 29, 2022 07:02

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