Octopus Overlords

Oops - I realize that ElGuapo set that up last time. He has all the invites.

Elguapo can you get it??

Double post

The new game is up. Just waiting on Zarathud and Punisher to join.

FYI.
Didn't forget. Trying to do some faction research before picking since a have little bit better understanding of the game.

Left you the Jol/Nar researchers, if you want them.

Went with sol for the extea command point as that was one area I was lacking.
Jol was in my top 3 though. They did have some combat weakness which was a deciding factor.
I also almost went with barony for their armada ability.

Punisher wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 10:30 pm Went with sol for the extea command point as that was one area I was lacking.
Jol was in my top 3 though. They did have some combat weakness which was a deciding factor.
I also almost went with barony for their armada ability.

Barony is a LOT of fun if you can get Dread II and their Non-Euclidian Shielding. With Duranium Armor you get some pretty powerful fleets. But they also require a lot of resources and score slowly because you have to focus on these elements.

Sol is one of my favorites to play. They are fast, durable, have a delaying action that is almost always useful (get 2 infantry for a strategy token), and their promissory note is pretty easy to trade (people always want it and it doesn't hurt you much). Carriers with Sustain Damage is nuts - particularly laden with fighters (preferably Fighter II). Their stock Spec-Ops is good and getting Spec-Ops II is pretty situational. Gravity Drive is a MUST (but it is also on the way to get their Carrier upgrade). Sol has, statistically, the most wins on the app - for good reason.

Jol-Nar is just nuts. They can get whatever tech they need, their note is something people will pay good money for (and doesn't hurt them in the slightest), and they tend to be adaptable at getting points. Sure, their combat is a disadvantage but like Zarathud did, you mitigate it with Assault Cannons and unit upgrades.

Sol is great - one of the strongest factions, and a pretty good beginner faction as well. FWIW Barony is widely viewed as one of the worst factions (although as Bael said Duranium + NES is a pretty broken combo).

Arborec is WAY down on the list too.

Jol-Nar is just fun to get the science toys. Until you fight with them, then you’re hoping to get lucky.

Congrats to the mighty Nekro Virus on a powerful victory! I had a great time as always, especially when you all decided to publicly execute me The new game Punisher has made is 14 points, so it should actually make it more fair for the "slower" factions, so might be a fun time to try out some new factions and see how they do with the extra round or two!

Lots of beautiful combat last game. It’s hard to stop the flying Neko star bases of doom, especially when the virus can grab travel-through tech just when they needed it.

And the star bases negated my ability to conquer and replace bases upon planetary invasions. Another round would have been interesting — I had 2 VPs lined up and the last VP was tech.

Very interesting to see how the different factions develop each game. Looking forward to the next one.

Didn't realize I'd get the first pick so that's cool.
I was gonna agonize over who to pick but I'm assuming that we will just keep playingband I'll be able to try a few different ones so did a quick pick of Jol. I am not aggressive for combat and since I'm still learning I appreciate everyone giving me room to learn and not just attacking me.. well, almost everyone, I've got my eye on you Bael!
So Jolie should be fine for me to play.
Now you're just go read up on who I picked..

Jol-Nar is solid. Basically get every tech (almost), and the -1 to hit isn't as bad as you might expect.

Punisher wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 7:23 pm I am not aggressive for combat and since I'm still learning I appreciate everyone giving me room to learn and not just attacking me.. well, almost everyone, I've got my eye on you Bael!

Hey wait! I believe it was YOU who took one of MY planets last game.

But no worries, I picked the Emirates of Hacan (my favorite faction). THE CATNIP MUST FLOW! Except wheeling and dealing and hardly any combat from me (I won a game as Hacan with only like one skirmish once).

Getting attacked is part of the game.

I like trying the different factions to see what they can do. The challenge is to do something with them as cool as last game.

Good luck, have fun.

baelthazar wrote: Wed Mar 05, 2025 11:16 am

Punisher wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 7:23 pm I am not aggressive for combat and since I'm still learning I appreciate everyone giving me room to learn and not just attacking me.. well, almost everyone, I've got my eye on you Bael!

Hey wait! I believe it was YOU who took one of MY planets last game.

But no worries, I picked the Emirates of Hacan (my favorite faction). THE CATNIP MUST FLOW! Except wheeling and dealing and hardly any combat from me (I won a game as Hacan with only like one skirmish once).

I realize my brain is screwed up but IIRC, I not only asked and got permission too, but I also asked for your faction card to save all your troops. Then, on the next turn, since I was done using it, I pulled all my troops out.
So there!

You and I were actually pretty good allies, for as little good as it did me. Zarathud bludgeoned me pretty hard, but I got him back. Ultimately, I think that hampered both of us.

Yes, in the second turn I was so excited about being successful attacking to homeworld (which really wasn't that critical to you) so I moved my ship forward and denied myself a VP. It's very easy to forget what you planned.

Zarathud wrote: Fri Mar 07, 2025 12:05 am Yes, in the second turn I was so excited about being successful attacking to homeworld (which really wasn't that critical to you) so I moved my ship forward and denied myself a VP. It's very easy to forget what you planned.

All the time. One game I went out of my way to drop 9 infantry on a planet to score the "9 ground units on a planet without a space dock" secret objective, only later in the same round I, well, put a space dock on that planet.

There is a "notes" section that I probably should use but don't.