Neptune's Pride, free browser-based MoO/Spaceward Ho geared toward Diplomacy

Not sure about the games the rest of you are in, but the one Staats and I are in has devolved into half of the players being AI controlled. Remains to be seen whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Also, I've started playing OGame, the space game that Mixolyde mentioned above (found at http://en.mmogame.com/) and actually ran into Mix on the server Andromeda. If anyone is interested it seems to be a decent game so far. I've started up a GWJ alliance, feel free to join up if you start playing.

Yea, that's disappointing. Our current target won't last long, and then we have to fight through the AI to even see the other player. Moves the focus from diplomacy to logistics.

Two of my neighbors turned to AI and a third backstabbed me over the weekend. I am getting raped, but have learned some valuable lessons about leaving garrisons and industry centers while expanding. Can't wait to start my second game and play a bit smarter.

Anyone got this thing to run in IE 6 (yes really)? Enterprise IT won't let me install the Flash plugin for Firefox.

My game only has one AI player so far, and I think that guy dropped because he was getting routed. The rest of my galaxy exists in a uneasy truce for now. I think I have a good relationship with my northern neighbor and think I have a defensive pact with two southern neighbors. If that hold true I only have one direct threat... With that being said, I'm fortifying my industry centers.

I've found my game has a interesting mix of role playing in it. Communication with some neighbors has been quite entertaining, while others are very straight forward.
IMAGE(http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2696/capture3qd.png)

The game I am in with Vector and Mudbunny has gone surprisingly well. After about a week, nobody has been turned over to AI, although it would appear that several players are not as active as I have been (Vector and Mud included).

The second game I started only has 3 of the 5 players actively playing. Two have been turned over to AI and three seem to log in every couple of days.

Teneman wrote:

Also, I've started playing OGame, the space game that Mixolyde mentioned above (found at http://en.mmogame.com/) and actually ran into Mix on the server Andromeda. If anyone is interested it seems to be a decent game so far. I've started up a GWJ alliance, feel free to join up if you start playing.

I've applied to your alliance, woo!

Mixolyde wrote:
Teneman wrote:

Also, I've started playing OGame, the space game that Mixolyde mentioned above (found at http://en.mmogame.com/) and actually ran into Mix on the server Andromeda. If anyone is interested it seems to be a decent game so far. I've started up a GWJ alliance, feel free to join up if you start playing.

I've applied to your alliance, woo!

Got you in and put you at Senior Executive rank so you can process any other apps if we get any. Sorry for the delay, was tied up all day.

So, I've been enjoying this game somewhat since I jumped in. I'm in two games, the first one I was still figuring out how everything works and basically made a bunch of dumb decisions, then promptly got attacked simultaneously by both my neighbors. I had basically built up a couple planets really high and wasted a bunch of money on higher level facilities. Didn't take very long for me to be completely screwed, so I haven't even logged back in to check that one. Call it a learning lesson.
The second game I played I got stuck right in the middle, sharing borders with all but two of the players. But I played a bit smarter. I expanded very quickly and spread my production and econ over several systems, so that even if I was attacked I wouldn't lose a major production center overnight. This does present the problem of having to send fleets to several planets to pick up ships here and there, but it has proved a better move so far, especially with more fleets moving around simultaneously. I worried at first about getting too big too fast, and basically being a big target for the "take out the biggest guy first" mentality. One guy even sent a message over global chat to that effect, stating that I had grown too fast and couldn't defend my territory, so everyone pile on. I was in communication with several and trading intel and tech, and most were already engaged with someone else. It was pretty much bluster and bluff anyways. I think most were unwilling to be the one to take me on though, putting them in a bad place to get taken over by the next guy. Two players went under AI control at one point, so I started gearing up to take over the closest one, and protect my backside at the same time.
Then the loudmouth sends and large attack fleet from the last place I expected. It was probably the worst attack vector on the board. The only retreat was through the same system, and it was two long jumps to get to my important systems. Not to mention he was basically jumping in blind, because his scanning tech didn't extend far enough to see the planet he was jumping to. I'll admit it did surprise me and I didn't have the forces over there to defend, so score one for the surprise attack. But as I said, two long jumps to get to anything important giving me time to get my main fleets into a defensive position. He also only sent one carrier for the entire force, limiting his mobility. Seems like a really a really poorly planned attack, unless it was just to unbalance me while someone else moved in, but further attacks have not been forthcoming. What's more interesting is that he's just sitting at the first planet and hasn't made a move for anything else, giving me time to pull my trousers up and get to work, not that I hadn't already planned out a contingency for and all out attack. I was actually hoping he'd make an all out dive for my core systems. I can't figure out if he's playing smart and there's something I'm not seeing, or he just thinks playing smart. Always bet on stupidity, right?
All that being said, I don't think I'm going to be signing up for any more games. As much as I'm enjoying the tactical thinking and backroom diplomacy skulduggery, I think I'm getting a little too addicted, if you know what I mean. For a slow moving game I'm logging in quite a bit to see if anything new has developed, and plan out/adjust my course of action. Thinking 3 moves ahead and still being surprised is great and all, but I'm constantly thinking about the game and what options I have with each course of action, time to destination, troop movements, etc. I've been wide awake the past two nights till 3 or 4 in the morning because I can't turn my brain off from thinking about the game and sneaking in to check the 1/4 inch further my ships have gotten to their destination. If it were a faster game, I'd have resolution quicker and could go do something else, not the horrible waiting. So after this I'm pretty sure I'm done. Not that the game isn't great, but I just don't have time or energy to get sucked in like that.

Edit: Oh yeah. And I guess the server is down this morning, and I haven't been able to check my progress since last night. It's making me a little anxious.

Sounds like a pretty interesting game, Rob. Thanks for the cool recap.

I'm down to two planets and a harassment force in my first game. I definitely learned a lot about the initial land grab and defense. I'll be starting my second soon.

My game's devolved to pretty much Staats and me vs. all AI. At this point I'm paying for a combination of poor central starting point and over rapid expansion. The AI has me on three sides and is harassing me rather mercilessly.

Overall I like this game, but I think I'm enjoying OGame more. Just sent my first expedition out and I'm getting ready to colonize a second planet. I like the more detailed buildup that is offered by the game vs. Neptune's more simplistic buildup possibilities.

Yea, everyone dropped. We ganged up on the one guy actually playing and now it's just a comp stomp. I'll probably drop myself.

I've sort've dropped myself to be honest. I check in and move fleets around a bit, but haven't bothered keeping up with development of econ or industry at all. You ought to look into the OGame, more to do day to day, with longer term objectives.

Stengah wrote:

Game 255: Delta Megrez has 6 spots open as of typing this.

Just found this thread. I've been playing in 3 games, losing badly in two of them. The one where I actually have a chance to not come in last is Delta Megrez. Anybody else here playing in it? I'm pangmao.

Also, anybody kicking my butt in Game 219: Psi Azha or Game 283: Phi Alcyone

I'm still not sure if I like the game or not although I have a much better idea of strategy now.

Anybody play a non-free game yet?

I've just started a game yesterday. Not really sure what I'm doing but I'm chalking this one up to experience fromt he start anyway. I'm pignoli on there too. the name of the game I'm in is Lambda Kleeia. Maybe we should pick another one to both join? Might be better to play with a GWJer in there as well as randoms.

Don't think I'm going to go for any paid stuff on this one, still trying to avoid spending on games at the moment.

I'd totally be up for a GWJer game but coordinating everybody to get into the same game might be tricky.

I'd do it, but other attempts I've made have all failed. They fill up really quick.

I've slowly learned not to neglect Industry. Science is important to a point, but I've found I can keep up pretty well using tech trading. You point about Economy is true; it takes 2 days to get a profit out of a $20 E upgrade, but you still need the upgrades to afford MORE industry and fleets, so there is a balance there. I have yet to strike the correct balance.

My first game I was screwed by location and expanded VERY slow which hurt everything. My second game I expanded too quick and spread myself to thin. I think turtling might be the strategy of choice... we'll see. Even time I finish a game, I tell myself I'm done, but I just start a new game. More than anything else, Neptune's Pride has made me want to get back to MoO.

So I think I want to like this game but I'm not sure. It might help my enjoyment if I actually figured out what the strategy is for various parts of the game.

Currently I'm spread very thin and getting steamrollered by superior numbers and technology. I'm obviously not spending my money in the right places.

If your income is just 10 times your economy rating why would you spend more than 10 to increase the economy rating? Wouldn't it be better to save your money and spend it elsewhere? The answer is obviously not since I'm hopelessly underfunded compared to my enemies but where is my logic wrong?

And with tech, what's the best research strategy? I've tried various but nothing except high weapons have worked for me. But that usually means my fleets are out ranged, super slow, and flying blind.

Ah yes, I forgot that you will get an eventual return on your economy investment. Ok, that makes more sense.

It also took me a while to realise the difference in upgrade prices depending on resources. There's a nice trade off with making a star too tempting to somebody else and making it useful.

I know what you mean about the 'one more game' syndrome. It's a shame they dropped the free game limit to 2 games, especially when I'm effectively out of play on one of my games but I have to sit and wait for somebody to win.

Of the two games I was playing one finished and I got third place. The other is almost over. The game has devolved into a contest between myself and another guy and both of us seem to have lost interest. He just went to AI yesterday and I can barely move myself to log in.

This is a very fun browser game but the games just last too long and when people start to lose they stop playing and the game loses all its challenge.

My verdict: fun for a while but not a long-term time waster.

Copingsaw wrote:

Of the two games I was playing one finished and I got third place. The other is almost over. The game has devolved into a contest between myself and another guy and both of us seem to have lost interest. He just went to AI yesterday and I can barely move myself to log in.

This is a very fun browser game but the games just last too long and when people start to lose they stop playing and the game loses all its challenge.

My verdict: fun for a while but not a long-term time waster.

So once you defeat the AI you be using the credits you win to start a GWJ private game?

clever id wrote:
Copingsaw wrote:

Of the two games I was playing one finished and I got third place. The other is almost over. The game has devolved into a contest between myself and another guy and both of us seem to have lost interest. He just went to AI yesterday and I can barely move myself to log in.

This is a very fun browser game but the games just last too long and when people start to lose they stop playing and the game loses all its challenge.

My verdict: fun for a while but not a long-term time waster.

So once you defeat the AI you be using the credits you win to start a GWJ private game? ;)

That I could do if there is enough interest.

Copingsaw wrote:
clever id wrote:

So once you defeat the AI you be using the credits you win to start a GWJ private game? ;)

That I could do if there is enough interest.

I know tonkatsu, and Pignoli voiced interest earlier in the thread but we lacked the skill necessary to win... we'll see if there are any more takers.

Yeah, let's round up a game of losers! I'm in!

I realize I should only be speaking for myself when I say "we lack the skill necessary to win", lest I anger future rivals and am again the first to lose.

I've pretty much lost interest in the game I'm playing. I don't really know what I'm doing and I think I'm just finding it hard to motivate myself to learn the game so I can enjoy it properly; playing with GWJers would probably remedy that. I definitely lack the skill necessary to win at the moment!

I managed to luck my way into winning the game I was in. My biggest threat was on a fast track to 1st place, then went under control of an AI that allowed me to beat it down to 3rd place. I now have 10 credits, but I'm not sure I really care to use them.

I got my ass handed to me in my game as expected. But the game did start to click towards the end, despite my being in a totally unwinnable situation. I'm a bit warmer to it now and can see it getting more interesting now I'm more aware of how it works. Also reading the great RPS coverage of their game will drum up anyones enthusiasm. So I'm still up for getting a game going with some folks from here. Unfortunately, my incompetance means I have no credits to start a private one but if anyone else decides to, I'm in.

I got first in one game and third in another. I'm playing my third game right now. Not sure how they assign galactic credits but I have only 11 right now and it takes 50 to start a private game that I can password protect and invite other people to join who do not have galactic credits. I'm thinking about doing it. This game is definitely fun and I can imagine would be much more fun with a group of internet friends who won't suddenly go afk.