Lady Defiant of the Gaians

[Defiant47]

No, I'm not a lady ... I usually play University, but occasionally I'll play Gaians.

I've figured out an insanely effective strategy. Land is not the most ocean-kind (preferably the most land). Life forms on abundant. Now go forth, capture exponentially more and more mind worms, and conquer everyone else. Hey, you don't even need to support them if you just keep them in xenofungus.

I know I'm probably late to shout this out, but how do you guys evaluate this? What about in comparison with other strategies?

 

[Verily]

It's one of the better and more effective rushing strategies, but it is intentionally hampered by the game's design. The odds of capturing a mind worm (or other native life) decrease with each mind worm you control, so it becomes somewhat difficult to maintain the rush. Fortunately, it becomes easier if you lose a lot of forces, and the planetpearls from battles will easily sustain your economy.

 

[elgado]

It'll also give you a good advantage on the seas, as the increased navy you get allows you to grab those credit-rich pods first.

 

[Defiant47]

It's one of the better and more effective rushing strategies, but it is intentionally hampered by the game's design. The odds of capturing a mind worm (or other native life) decrease with each mind worm you control, so it becomes somewhat difficult to maintain the rush. Fortunately, it becomes easier if you lose a lot of forces, and the planetpearls from battles will easily sustain your economy.

I did not know that! Thanks!

How much is it decreased? I thought a 75% chance was a 75% chance...

 

[CheScott]

It seems to me, based on only my observations, that there seems to be either a cap on captures or a extreme curve at which capture rates decrease.

I find that after I've captured 5 or so, I won't capture any after that, until one of them is lost. After that, I will almost certainly capture one in my next few attempts. (Assuming I have a high ecological bonus).

In hind sight, I think a better way of dealing with would have to prevent Xeno-units from capturing other Xeno-units, and a less dramatic decrease in the capture rate.

 

[Verily]

I'm not sure what the formula for calculating capture rates is. 75% is the base rate at +3 Planet, but it declines with each mind worm; I don't know exactly how much it declines, but if you have a lot of mind worms, capturing is difficult. (There is also an additional setting that makes you always capture the first mind worm you attack, provided you have at least +1 Planet.)

 

[CheScott]

I'm not sure what the formula for calculating capture rates is. 75% is the base rate at +3 Planet, but it declines with each mind worm; I don't know exactly how much it declines, but if you have a lot of mind worms, capturing is difficult. (There is also an additional setting that makes you always capture the first mind worm you attack, provided you have at least +1 Planet.)

The thing is, I think it only counts captured mind worms. I can have a lot of mind worms and not capture any, until one of my badass old captured ones gets killed.

Maybe it's just coincidence, but I find that a pretty odd coincidence.