Interesting AI desperation strategy. . . ideas?

[amicusterrae]

Anyone have a strategy tip for me? I am a longtime player, but have encountered something new, and I never have been much of a military tactician. As the Cult of Planet in a blended Alien Crossfire game (mixed factions), I have attained all of the technology, and rather than build Voice of Planet, I’m just playing around. Zakharov got jealous of my supremacy and launched a surprise attack (he also turned Deidre against me with a framed probe team action). I repelled his lame assault and quickly took two bases on his main landmass with hurried string copters and some extra Locusts of Chiron. Rather than face my superior weaponry, he has decided to flood the area with mind worms and spore launchers of level two or three lifecycle. Even though my string copters are elite morale, and I have a +6 Planet rating, I can only defeat three of his alien units before a copter’s power is too low to risk another attack. Yes, much of the area is fungus, so that helps his defense. He has some sensors, too. I tried PSI copters but get even worse results—ie, they take more damage from less units. I have the secret project which gives +50% PSI defense, and Zakharov has the Dream Twister secret project. I think he can overwhelm the conquered bases despite talcon fields and one unit each of mind worms and AAA stasis sentinels. The alternatives I thought of: 1) Utilize my superior mineral output by quickly sending tons of ground units to the landmass with psi gates. Any ideas on what I should send? Mind worms? Or String infantry with empathy song enhancement? If I did that, then I think I could also surprise him by conquering his base with the Dream Twister. I have the Space Elevator and could sneak in there. That would give me a nice advantage with massive numbers of demon boil mind worms. 2) Build more copters and keep pounding away at the closest bases. This is no fun. Turn after turn of killing scads of mind worms and spore launchers really sucks. 3) Instead of just sneaking to the Dream Twister base, take a few bases on the other end of the landmass. He won’t be able to concentrate his forces then. 4) Get the UN Charter repealed and obliterate the landmass with several planet busters. As much fun as this is, I really don’t want to turn Planet against me, but it’s a quick solution! 5) End the Vendetta until I can launch a surprise attack with drop squads in all land cities, coordinated with a naval assault on the sea bases. I think Zakharov will still talk to me.
Any ideas? I don’t recall the AI resorting to native life forms (though I rarely end up with Diedre or Cha Dawn as a powerful enemy like this, as I usually play the Green path. When I’ve faced Miriam or Yang’s hordes, String or whatever the attack 24 weapon is prevail while inflicting minimal damage on the attacking forces. It seems you always take a bigger hit with PSI attacks though, regardless of the defender’s morale.

 

[Diviner]

i would do the first. just dropping 10+ string empath songed trained infantry squad (its easy with space elevator) and go for the +50 psi attack, which will be devastating for poor zakharov especially because you have +6 lifecycle and i think you have already produced demon boil planet units.

others makes less sense to me. using planet busters is so weird with cha dawn (yeah its true, you are free to use them, but if you would roleplay a little.. - well cha dawn would never engage the planet). signing peace is not the way as you are more than capable of winning as i see, personally i would win instead of preparing for a fast-kill. the copterattacks are less efficient if you face native units, so i wouldn't choose this.

and using native force are not at all rare AI strategy imo. well, i tend to have games recently, where always the nativist became the bastard of the world. surely believer and yang will never be the one, but if any AI has even a +1 planet bonus, he tend to abandon ordinary military force for mind worms and isle of the deeps.

 

[amicusterrae]

Thanks, Diviner,
I appreciate the advice! And, thanks for reminding me of Cha's agenda: you're right, he would not attack Planet like that. I like to play the factions consistent with their design.

 

[amicusterrae]

Well, playing a lot of Alpha Centauri lately has reminded me that this is a COMMON AI strategy. It makes sense, too, when your opponent has string resonance weaponry. PSI is the only equalizer right? Even stasis armor will not withstand string attack 30, it seems.