Grand Strategy Thread

[Niklas]

I see no need to go for Synthetic Fibers early, we won't be able to start those Thrusters for a long while anyway. We need Apollo for that, so there's no reason whatsoever to go or SynFibers before Space Flight. We need to hold on to that Rubber, there really is no other way.

 

[General_W]

oh yeah... good point...

I'm still going to start a thread devoted to building a Space Ship when I get home and access to my Civilopedia to make sure I've got the right info.

We might as well work to get everyone on the same page - and talk strategy about it!

Now what to call this new thread?
I'm thinking CASA (Council Aeronautics and Space Administration). I'll even make a logo for us

 

[Niklas]

Sounds good. I'd been meaning to start that thread, but I'm sure you'll do a better (and much faster) job at it.

 

[donsig]

I'm not against launching a space ship but long ago we decided to try to do that in order to win the game. We thought it was our best chance of winning the game. I think right now we have a golden opportunity to snag a diplomatic victory. We've never really considered such a victory because we all though it was impossible. As AT pointed out, getting BABE to vote for us to win is a big achievement.

I do hope we will have a serious discussion about building the UN before BABE or GONG is eliminated.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

Casing: Synthetic Fibers, Aluminum, Rubber 640 shields
Party Lounge: Laser, Aluminum, 160 shields
Storage/Supply: Synth Fibers, Aluminum, 160
Stasis Chamber: Robotics, Aluminum, Uranium, 320 shields
Life Support: Superconductor, Aluminum, 320 shields
Fuel Cells: Superconductor, Uranium, 160 shields
Cockpit: Space Flight, Aluminum, 320 shields
Docking Bay: Space Flight, Aluminum, 150 shields
Engine: Space Flight, aluminum, 640 shields
Thrusters: Satellites, Aluminum, 320 shields

 

[AutomatedTeller]

btw - I don't, for a minute, think that BABE and GONG would vote for us. If we pop a useless SGL now, then I'd do UN, but I don't think we should waste 1000 shields on something that I do not think would lead to victory. We can ask, though...

 

[Paul#42]

As AT pointed out, getting BABE to vote for us to win is a big achievement.

I doubt that they'd vote for us to win. They'd rather vote for us to end this nasty game and their contractual obligation...

 

[Niklas]

I don't want to win by UN simply because it would cement this game as being decided by the things about it we would rather forget - the various BABE debacles in particular. Like Paul, I think the only reason BABE would vote for us to win is in order to end the game the fastest way possible - and I think that stinks. So no, I don't want to build the UN.

 

[Paul#42]

Does it make sense to build the UN to avoid elections?
SABER and FREE certainly won't hold an election unless the diplomatic scenery changed completely. GONG and BABE won't be able to get the necessary tech and shields to do so...

But if anyone ever built it, how would an election run? If any of the Big Three would vote for himself, GONG and BABE could make him the winner by voting for him and end the game. But if we all abstain, nobody can win by two votes and three abstains, right?

So there should be no need to build it unless BABE or GONG should build it - highly improbable...

So no, no UN building!
Does the First Chairman have a veto?

 

[donsig]

Does it make sense to build the UN to avoid elections?

It might. A diplomatic victory can also be had with two votes in a three way contest. Let's say BABE and GONG are eliminated. A distinct possibility since they both have a powerful civ pressing attacks against them. That would leave us, FREE and SABER. If one of them builds the UN they open the door for a diplo victory. All the UN holder needs is one of the other two teams to look like a lock to win and some sour grapes on the part of the other team and the UN holder can steal the game. To those of you who think a diplo win is cheap how would you feel if we suffered a humiliating diplo loss?

 

[Paul#42]

At least we could blame the winner (and his liege) for claiming the cheap victory.
I'd still feel like being the real winner.

That's what I'd also do if I were member of SABER or FREE and see The Council sneaking away with a diplomatice win...

Of course it's nice to have the UN as insurance... But I doubt we can afford to build it by hand...

 

[donsig]

Well, we won't need insurance if no one else builds the UN. Same goes for Manhattan.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

With GONG gone, there is no reason to build the UN.

I would like the Council to think seriously about offensive actions vs. FREE sooner than later. There is no doubt that FREE means to win via domination or conquest and it is either us or BABE next - in any case, I don't know that we can defeat an opponent with two and a half or three continents.

I'd like to see BABE and SABER stop their war and go in with us on a 3-way on FREE.

What do you guys think?

 

[donsig]

I think it's worthwhile to explore this. But if SABER continues and eliminates BABE aren't the odds good that SABER and FREE would clash soon after? Would there be any point for those two to join forces against us? That seems an iffy proposition if bother are trying for a domination victory.

 

[PrinceMyshkin]

My opinion is Free will be tough to stop if the other teams don't act together to stop them. I just don't have any idea to go about convincing Saber of the threat.

Domination will be very difficult on this map as long as 3 teams survive. 67% land may be possible, but 67% population will be difficult. The real danger is one team (Free in my opionion) becoming an unstoppable offensive juggernaut.

 

[General_W]

I agree with Donsig - I think our best option now is to research tech like crazy, build massive amounts of defenders and pray that Saber and FREE beat the crud out of eachother and are too busy to worry about us.

we need to...
1) Get back to peace with FREE asap - and see if we can encourage them to go after Saber.
2) Try to get Saber and BABE to unite and go after FREE.
3) Start building a lot more Mech Infantry.
4) Draft some more serious plans to look at a way to use forests to prevent a one-turn sweep like GONG experienced. IMO, This is worth giving up some bpt and spt if it gives us a chance to counter-attack without being completely eliminated.

 

[Yilar]

Things could get very ugly if Free goes for modern armor and just builds tanks till they get the tech, they could get some 50+ tanks to upgrade (with leo), which would make them almost unstoppable (without nukes) if they were to land anyone.

 

[General_W]

Our Newest Councilor, Yilar, posted this in the Pre-turn thread, and I think it merits discussion here...

I would put subs in the areas where an attack is likely as subs are quite slow, use recon planes for unlikely areas and whatever for the rest.
The likely areas is towards free and saber, as they will try to make ship chain. The important thing is to spot them so we can overload the city/cities with units, remember marines are only 12atk vs 18def mechs.

I think this is pretty sound. If we bite the bullet on our support costs - and get enough units to stack say 10-12 Mech Infantry in the cities that are in enemy-transport range - we might be able to thwart an invasion and/or force them to land outside of a city allowing us to counter-attack.

I like this plan!
Anyone see any problems with it?

 

[Aigburth]

Yes I like Yilar's idea though I think taking out as many of the transports with bombers/subs before they can get in range should still be the first line of defense.

Might it also be worth building civil defense in all coastal cities facing Saber and Free? Costs 120 shields and gives a 50% defense bonus.

 

[Niklas]

Any chance we could stack up a number of Radar Artys too? We're on our way to Robotics, so it might be an idea to start building some regular Artys for upgrading.