Neptune's Pride

[Jason]

Linky Linky (http://np.ironhelmet.com/)

Discovered this in the 'currently being played' section of last month's EDGE magazine. Thought I'd have a look, and it looks very interesting indeed. It seems like it's somewhere between EVE Online, Civilization (in space, of course) and the last level of Spore.

It's got some major plus points - it seems relatively cheap to play ($20 to create four games, each of which can span anything from a couple of days to up to a year!), it's slow-time, which means that it doesn't require us all to be in the same place at the same time, and by the looks of things, it allows us all to be devious bastards and betray each other at every opportunity (as well as forming meaningful and powerful alliances, but who wants to do that?).

Anyone interested in this one?

[Lance]

That $20 isn't each either - if just one person spends $20 they can create 4 games and it's free for everyone else to join. Though I wonder - is there a limit to how many can join a private game?

I'll be in (I'll even pay for a batch of games, but I won't be able to every time) - this looks like great fun.... though I warn everyone now, I have a thing against bunnies, so if anyone chooses that race, we're blood enemies :P

Yeah, that's a definite in from me man

[Jason]

Yeah, good catch - I was going to point that out - only one person has to shell out the $20 to create the private games, so it could be either split between players or rotated, meaning it actually works out at about $1.25 per game for a party of four, and even less if there are more.

I'm definitely up for this, and don't mind coughing up for the first package.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Looks interesting enough. I'd certainly be willing to chip in/play along.

/edit: also just saw this on the site:For a limited time only, every time you win a game of Neptune's Pride you will be awarded some credits. It pays to win, never settle for second place! Third Place wins 1 Credit, Second Place wins 5 Credits, and First Place wins 10 Credits which is enough to join a Premium game!

[Lance]

3 down - maybe we can get 2-3 more

[Jason]

Yeah, this looks like the sort of game that's at it's best with 4-6 players. If either of you two know any mates who'd be interested, by all means give 'em a nudge.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I think we either want four or six. Odd number may result in odd alliances and well, we know how that ends :p


I may have a mate that can get in on it -- if so, it'll be 3 Aussies and you Jas, be afraid >:D

[Jason]

Where's that pesky Pole when you need him? Is he still in the land of the singing potato?

[Lance]

Nice little review of the game (http://www.gamesquad.com/node/1044)

[MyNameDidntFit]

The review seems to speak quite well of it. Now, we just need a few more people...

[Rob]

I checked out the description and the game looks interesting. If I can get away with logging onto it once a day and still make a reasonable impact on our game then i'll play.

[MyNameDidntFit]

That's one reason why we're looking at it for forum games -- you don't need to be here all the time, or at the same time as anyone else to play it.

[Lance]

Yup - it seems fairly slow paced so once a day log-ins won't hurt (I'll probably only be able to manage that too)

Should we put you down for Position 4 Rob?

[Rob]

Sure.

[Konrad]

YES!

[MyNameDidntFit]

That makes 5. Sounds good for a first game, if no-one else wants in by the time we get payment/etc work out, no?

[Jason]

Yeah, I'm up for a game involving 5. Ideally we need another Brit though, as it's two Aussies versus two US players versus me on my lonesome... oh well - UP THE EMPIRE! CHAAAAARGE!

[Konrad]

It's ok. I'm not all that emotionally attached to the US. Ill be on your side. Maybe.

[Jason]

Hell, I don't know what I'm being so team-orientated about... when it comes to strategy games I'd shoot my own grandmother if I thought it'd give me an edge.

Perhaps that's why I never win... I spend too much time shooting elderly people and not enough time concentrating on the game.

[Lance]

Nice, 5 players sound good :)

[MyNameDidntFit]

Alright. So, Jason, you're buying the first round of credits? If you want I'll throw half the cost your way.

[Konrad]

If you want ill throw 1/3 of the cost your way.

[Lance]

Ditto if you need it

Though if it's alright with everyone, I'll buy a round of 4 games and everyone can play free?

[MyNameDidntFit]

That's basically what Jason was offering originally :p

[Lance]

I know :p

I'd just find it easier that way (1 $20 charge over multiple smaller ones) - it's not so much an issue that I won't if that's what's decided though of course :)

[Jason]

So we going to work on taking turns to buy a round of four games each then? Seems like the easiest way of doing it.

And if we're doing that, who's up first? I don't mind going first, but if others are keen to, that's fine. :)

[Konrad]

If we're not done being polite by tomorrow, ill just buy it myself.

[Lance]

Game's set-up here (http://np.ironhelmet.com/detail?game=4557272) - I did a custom and it's free for you all to join. I'll PM you guys the password.

Settings:
5 players
Normal Speed (1 pay/24hr)
Alliances Enabled
4 Home Systems to start
$500 starting cash (double the normal)

Apart from that, standard settings this time around just so we can learn - we can always play around with the settings in later games.

[Konrad]

Sweet beans! I just joined.

[Jason]

I'm in. I'm going to rape your collective faces off.

(or die horribly. One of the two.)

[Rob]

I'm ready to conquer all.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Well the game has begun, my fellows.

[Konrad]

Meanwhile in the UK: Jason is too good to play with us, and will probably never recover.

[Conor]

I'd play if that's alright.

[Jason]

Ah, the game's started now, but the next time we start one you're more than welcome to join us! :D

[Jason]

Ah, things are looking interesting already... MNDF has surged into an early lead, but no-one's too far out of touch. Even Konnie, who took a bit of a battering early on from myself and MNDF (well, I think it was MNDF, he seems to have most of Konnie's stars now...) is still well in the game.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I'm in the lead?

...

Oh. So I am. Pfft. Number of stars means nothing, really. And, yes, I nom'd some of Konnie's stars :)

[Lance]

HEY! What about me :p I took some of Konnie's stars too

I'm going to my corner to sulk now

[Jason]

You did? I can't even see you yet... that's my excuse. :p

[MyNameDidntFit]

I barely notice. I look at a star and go "it's red" and don't think about what it used to be :p

[Konrad]

You all took my stars you bastards. I'm all huddled in my little CENTER OF THE FUCKING MAP. Good luck getting through though.

[MyNameDidntFit]

You took my stars first. It's not my fault I managed to get two other people to join in with my retaliation :p

[Konrad]

That's fair. I took a handful of planets from each of you at the beginning and in retrospect I should not have been pissing off all the competition.

Now ill make sure I stay on the map for a few more days, thankyouverymuch.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I don't know about anyone else, but for me the politics of this is the best part. I'm loving it.

[Jason]

Yeah, there are so many ways that the current situation can pan out... although through all the smoke and mirrors, there is one universal truth and constant that we all hold true:

If Rob comes back, we are all going to die.

[Lance]

Nah - I'd bitch slap him :)

But in seriousness - what we have here pardners is what you call a good ole fashioned standoff

Fun!

[MyNameDidntFit]

If Rob comes back, we are all going to die.
Truth to that. I don't even know how the fuck that AI has managed to get that much industry and economy AND science... O_o

[Konrad]

I'm sorry to say this guys but - holy shit this game is fun. I was just in the shower going over the current situation and what my options are and what you're all likely to do next. I love it when games do that, Braid did the same thing when I was solving puzzles without actually playing the game.

Edit: Note to self. AFK at the beginning of next round, profit.

[Lance]

Funniest moment so far: MNDF accidentally sending a fleet of 18 ships to attack one of my planets.... defended by 143 ships :lol:

[MyNameDidntFit]

Luckily we're in an official ceasefire, so I wont lose them.

*wipes brow*

[Konrad]

Robby [AI]

Total Economy: 64
Total Industry: 62


What. The. Snap.

[Jason]

I point the honourable gentlemen to my previous post on the matter:


If Rob comes back, we are all going to die.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Yar. Jasmine and I are planning to see if we can trim some branches off of Rob's tree.

[Konrad]

Heh, I actually just sent out a scout in that direction a few hours ago. :p

[MyNameDidntFit]

Alsafi's Line, I know ;) Let Jason and I know if you see anything significant?

[Jason]

Yar. Jasmine and I are planning to see if we can trim some branches off of Rob's tree.

Pffft, I was planning on using a chainsaw rather than trimming a few branches - it's like trimming a branch or two, but it's faster, messier, and there's a very real chance I could come back missing a few limbs.

[Konrad]

So I just took a peek at some of Robbie's border planets.


http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr101/NinjaManMike/Stuff%20For%20Teh%20Interwebs/Fffuuu.jpg

[Jason]

Pffft, you're such a pansypants Konnie, I bet there's hardly even a OHMYGODWEAREALLGOINGTODIEJEBUSTAKEMENOW.

[Lance]

o.O

Ahem..... tsk tsk, naughty boys

[MyNameDidntFit]

You mean me? Sorry...


... you were meant to be asleep :p

[Lance]

Yeah, don't you hate insomniacs? :)

Now, just so we're all on the same page....


IT'S ONNNNNNNNNNNNNN! :hammer:

[MyNameDidntFit]

Gah. I have to say... this... full-scale mobilisation... amazing feeling. I just wish there was more I could do right now. So fun. Better than most full games.

This isn't how I planned it, but it's how it's going down, and I'll fight to the last. Even if I don't get Wazm and Misam, I'll make you bleed Brett.... and, when that blood hits the water, the sharks will come swimming.

[Lance]

Ah yes, the Sharks

We'll both be bleeding - so who will the sharks go for is the question :)

[Lance]

Oh btw - I get a weapons tech in 5 hours or so

So when you get to Wazn, with my +1 bonus, we'll be fighting on 9 tech a piece.... and I have more forces arriving than your 219 :)

[MyNameDidntFit]

Wazn was lost the moment I didn't get a head start on you, the best I can hope for now is a reasonable dent in that fleet -- not likely, but it's up to the math, not to me :p

[Lance]

I may be dead between MNDF and Konnie, but I'm going to cripple MNDF's fleet :)

[MyNameDidntFit]

In ur sistems, nommin ur starz. (http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr343/MNDF_gfx/Other/GalacticNom.jpg)

If you can't tell what's going on there, the top of the screen capture is the Brett-MNDF border. All the orange amongst the red is me nomming his stars :D

[Konrad]

And the best part is that I had nothing to do with it,

[MyNameDidntFit]

Me: Smallest fleet in the galaxy - most stars... man are my forces overextended >.>

Best thing is that every time I leave 1 ship at a planet, it costs Brett at 10 ships to destroy it >:D

[Lance]

True

But lets look at the big picture here

To screw me over, you needed Konnie to help out (lets face it, he's the only one that's made a foot hold on my planets and I took 2 of yours that Konnie has since taken), Jason to not hit your flank and rip most of your planets away, the 3 of you to share tech and a sacrifice of most of your fleet - since you're now outnumbered 10 to 1 by Konnie and Jason

So for 3 vs 1, I think I've lasted longer than I should have and my fleet's still bigger than yours

So don't worry - I'm still going to be a bitch to kill until my last planet :p

[MyNameDidntFit]

Let's face it:

1) Jason has added a grand total of 1 range tech as his entire contribution to this.

2) Konnie has barely attack you.

3) Those two planets were meant to be taken by Jason as a bridge to you (hence left undefended).

4) I'm the only one that's given anyone tech (bar a single range).

5) Your fleet is scattered to the wind chasing down a tiny little fleet :p

So... 2v1 when the only one that has caused serious damage was weaker than you in the first place. C'mon, face it, you had 450 ships on our border and you couldn't stop me sacking your homeworld :p

[Konrad]

You should have told me about 3).

[Lance]

Jason's contribution I would have thought is Not attacking you while you're undefended :p

Konnie's taken 7 of my worlds which I can't take back

I'll give you props though, you crippled me and I've learned a lot about attack and defense from this little war. It won't work next time though :)

But you still crippled yourself achieving it :p

[MyNameDidntFit]

I told you not to take them, remember? Either way, Jason had a 'power outage' so he hasn't moved at all to assist like he was going to.

Oh, I'm far from crippled. You see, this game is about diplomacy, not fleet size... I thought you'd have noticed that ;)

[Konrad]

I figured once Brett got to them they were up for taking. Had I known I would have moved my forces away and let Jassie cross. :p

[Lance]

And you almost had me completely undefended too (and would have come out without a scratch) if I'd have attacked Menkib like you wanted me to (so you could attack Konnie's south) - You know I didn't believe that for a second right (or that you guys wanted to hit Robbie), hence why I kept the fleet right where it was :)

[MyNameDidntFit]

Oh. We DID want to hit Rob. Just that while we were talking about HOW to do that I went "oh, shit... I can kill Brett" :p

I didn't expect you to believe it, I mean, all that bullshit was just "it would be even better for me if he does this"... all I needed was you to not be online for that one damned hour... -_-

[Jason]

*munches popcorn*

Oh, I'm far from crippled. You see, this game is about diplomacy, not fleet size... I thought you'd have noticed that ;)

Ah, but the thing about diplomacy... the one thing about diplomacy is that people are always so much more willing to be diplomatic when you're holding a really big stick. ;)

For my part in this, I was originally planning on getting to the two planets Konnie eventually took and then making a decision on which side I wanted to be on from there. Unfortunately, a power cut during the small window I had to get online that day completely screwed me up, and I lost the chance I had to seize any initiative from the situation.

Back to the plotting board for me.

[Jason]

Okay, done with the plotting board. I've decided that one of Rob's border stars looks rather interesting to me, and have sent a couple of fleets to go 'negotiate' with the AI for it. If all of my stars are a slightly darker shade of blue by tomorrow evening, you'll know how it went.

[MyNameDidntFit]

You'd be much better off in that if you used those ~300 ships over on our border ;)

[Jason]

And turn my back on you? You must be crazy. I'm not dumb enough to turn my back on an Aussie. Even a half-dead one. :p

In fact, even a fully dead one. I don't trust you lot to even stay dead. :lol:

[MyNameDidntFit]

What am I gonna do? Get drunk and throw beer cans at you? That's about all I could do :p

[Lance]

Ahem

Should I point out you were in the same position against me MNDF :p

[Jason]

I should point out that the only reason there are 300 ships on the TP/MNDF border is that I haven't got 600 ships to put there. :D

[MyNameDidntFit]

Should I point out you were in the same position against me MNDF :p

Shhh.

[MyNameDidntFit]

In what experts are describing as "epic fail" Jasonian Empire forgot to declare war upon the Fellowship of the Beaver before launching her ships, leaving the admiralty of the Beavers' armada scratching their heads as they lazily rerouted their fleets to stand bulwark at the destinations the Jasonian captains so foolishly left unencrypted.


Meanwhile, this move by the Fellowship of the Beaver may well spell the end of the conflict that has plagued the galaxy for the last four and a half weeks by leaving its borders with the Imperium of Konnetia undefended in a bid to capitalise on the epic failure of the Jasonian forces.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I have to say, right now, my mood is accurately represented by this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z4m4lnjxkY

[Jason]

It was really quite funny, even though I lost about 300 ships from it.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Not to mention the over 9,000 dignity it cost you.

[MyNameDidntFit]

You know, TP, after 3 or 4 days of war... we're pretty much exactly where we started...

[Jason]

You're probably ahead of me now... I didn't manage to even touch my laptop all weekend between Red Dead Redemption and several social events (weather was glorious all weekend).

I'm almost scared to log in...

[MyNameDidntFit]

Well, you're AI controlled now >.>

[Jason]

That's good. Judging by what it did to Rob, I'll have about 4000 ships by tomorrow night. :p

[Konrad]

Hey. Shutup. That's my plan.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Oh man. I am so screwed. ALL OF YOU ARE AI.

[Konrad]

You will be assimilated.

[MyNameDidntFit]

You know, this really does mean I win by default...

[Konrad]

Not even close.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Search your feelings, Konnie, you know it to be true.

[Lance]

You know, from what I can see, Konnie could end this whole thing in a day or two....

[MyNameDidntFit]

He could have done that at any point in the last three weeks :p

I'm just going to let him do what he wants, this game is long overdue to end.

(I also think TP is back in the game, but I only looked for a few seconds so I may have been imagining it)

[Konrad]

I have so many ships I'm jsut launching them fairly randomly. I really want this damn thing to end.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I've decided I'm taking up residence on Jasmine's home planet :) Every ship I presently have is headed there aboard 18 different fleets... the flight path overview is amusing.

[Jason]

Hah, I logged in to check what was happening since I'd been away, saw that MNDF had obliterated most of my star systems in my absence, therefore killing off any chance I had. So I just set my remaining fleets to head to my home planet for the lulz.

[Konrad]

Chaaaaaaaaaaarge!

[MyNameDidntFit]

Hey. Konnie. Come take Betelgeuse. I dares ya.


*MANIACAL CACKLE*

My several hundred shall stand against your thousands! And it shall make for a great movie where everyone gets digitally enhanced six-packs!

[Konrad]

What does it look like I've been doing? All my ships are on their way to a central meeting point, from which I will launch the epicest attack EVAR.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Send them faster!

[Konrad]

I have to collect some units on the way! This is going to be epic, I'm also going to rofl if I lose since I can't be bothered to actually calculate the outcome.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Well you have more weapons and more ships... as far as I see it, so long as you have 20 or so more ships than me, you'll win... and you have a couple thousand more >.>

[MyNameDidntFit]

Hehehehehe.

http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr343/MNDF_gfx/Other/Orange.jpg

[Jason]

EPIC.

[Archangel]

All those names together is like a geek's wet dream.

I particularly like the one named after me.

[MyNameDidntFit]

And that was like a fifth of the names.

... and what? There's one named after you?

[Archangel]

Gamgee.

[Konrad]

And so it ends, ladies and gentlemen.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Yeah, but I have your home planet. Right now I'm sitting in your house, in your couch watching your TV and making love to your women.

True victory, good sir, is mine.

[Konrad]

pfft, sore loser is sore :p

[MyNameDidntFit]

Not at all, I concede that you have won, just pointing out that I'm all up in your Posterior :p