Cycle 8 just ended and the map is starting to look nice as the attacks on Ktoc gather momentum.
Stars: Gilgamesz (34) Necria (32) Inerz (26)
Total Ships: Inerz (2133) Gilgamesz (2103) Necria (1916)
New Ships: Necria (32.4) Inerz (27.6) Gilgamesz (24.5)
Cycle Income: Necria (1354) Darrow (1092) Inerz (1082)
Strategic
- A key priority at the moment is avoiding conflict with Inerz or Darrow. I think Darrow is a much higher risk than Inerz since I've stepped in the way of his attack on Ktoc. I've had a look at the numbers and I should be able to fight Ktoc and Darrow at the same time now, but it's a very close run thing. If I can delay this from happening for another 2 cycles Darrow won't be a problem.
Diplomatic
- I am considering having the talk with Gilgamesz about final places (a 1-2 interchangable between me and him) but I think it might be premature yet. I feel this alliance slipping away day by day, not in any significant way but I can feel it weakening. We're both viewing each other through the eyes of someone wanting to win the game and that's never healthy for an alliance. This next cycle I'm going to double down on being a good ally for Gilgamesz, quick and fast tech trading, lots of positive upbeat communications. Completely demilitarize the border (there's not much there, just some industry that isn't connected to the rest of my logistics network but what there is I'll pull away) Really try and rally this alliance. I want Gilgamesz to do well, I don't want to fight him, I'm not going to betray him. I'm happy if he wins. I'm in a strategic expansion race against him and I hope that we get to a point where we can just agree I'm the winner, but if he beats me in that expansion race then so be it.
- At the same time I want to do a single round of tech trades with Inerz for Weapons 5, not only is this a bit of a time-saver but I'm hoping it gives me flexibility and at the least keeps Inerz away from me for a couple of cycles.
- I've been engaging in conversation with Anita and they seem friendly, we just don't have much to bond over. I don't realistically see how we can have a strong alliance. I've asked them what their plan is after Denizen is conquered since they'll be boxed in by their ally and a NAP with Inerz.
- Ktoc is standing his ground. I engaged him in some chat just to pass the time and he's told me firmly that he'll be fighting to the death, which I respect. He'd have made a good ally under different circumstances I think, he rubbed me up the wrong way in the initial negotiations over Visya (probably for the best he did since controlling the wormhole was in my interest) but I'd be willing to work with him in future games for sure.
Tactical
- I've cut off Darrow from Ktoc's territory. This comes with a cost, meaning I now need to fight Ktoc without any of Darrows support. It also means Darrow might hit me since I've thwarted his expansion. The benefit though is that I get all of Ktoc's stars (hopefully) and I still strongly believe if I do that (fast enough) I win the game.
222 of the ships on Chothi belong to Darrow.
- Darrow is rallying ships to the border with me (and he still has 200 ships sitting on my Asteroid Field) I will have a big decision to make if he tries (with diplo set as allies) to move ships across to that field. I'm not going to let him choose when the fight stars. I'll probably diplo switch to enemies 1 tick before they land, wipe out his AF fleet and then destroy the inbound fleets if that happens. This will/should spark an unwanted war though. The only way I can mitigate against this for now is to consolidate strength on that border and put him off any such ideas.
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