My Space Fleet is Invincible! — Let's Play Twilight Imperium Third Edition

Accepted.

N'orr 1
Letnev 1

I've got two 2-value resource contracts up for grabs. Snake, you can have one if you want. Google, I'll give you a 2-value for your 3-value!

I've already traded all mine away...

I could theoretically make an agreement with Googleshng (they're broken when an attack occurs, but can be reformed as usual), but that didn't do much to help me last time. Even the loss of Trade Goods if he attacked me again wouldn't be a great one, since he has the most resources available of anyone. I can't trust him with his ships parked over Jord. If he moves out I'd be amenable to an agreement in the future.

Since severian has attacked me but would lose out on Trade Goods next round if he did so again this round, I'll accept his offer (with all respect and appreciation toward `Hrist's overture; the Letnev have been good neighbors to Sol).

TRADE CONTRACTS
N'orr 2
Yin 1

Well, then, I've got a Muaat 2 contract going free. What can I get for it?

Sure.

So... 1 for 1 to Sev and 3 for 2 to Egar are where mine are going it seems.

Would you like to re-up with the Barony?

So! My main computer (the one with all the TI files and the InDesign I use to keep the map updated) fizzled out this afternoon. I'm thinking it's just the power supply, which should be a quick fix if nothing else went with it. So let's just keep the game as normal going until I figure out what's wrong and if it's something that I'll need to suspend the game to fix.

If I don't get a 2-value contract, I'll take that for sure.

Wait, do you have two 2s, or a 2 and a 1?

He has two 2s. All the races' vital stats are on the first page.

Here's the current trades, the red are still up for grabs. Epithet still has to approve all new trades.

Epithet (N'orr)
L1Z1X 1
Sol 2

Sarc (Sol)
Yin 1
N'orr 2

SilentSnake (L1Z1X)
N'orr 1
Letnev 1

severian (Yin)
Jol-Nar 1
Sol 2

'Hrist (Letnev)
L1Z1X 1
Letnev 1

Google (Jol-Nar)
Yin 1
Muaat 2

Egarwaen (Muaat)
Jol-Nar 3
Muaat 2

Nobody (Mentak)
Mentak 1
Mentak 1

OK, assuming Epithet isn't nixing anything, Egarwaen is up!

Alright, looks like your only option is me, lol. So are we doing this thing?

Yeah, let's go.

I'm continuing the construction spree and SACCing to get two Fighters on my War Sun at Muaat.

THE EMBERS OF MUAAT

SPECIAL ABILITIES
>As an Action, spend one Command Counter from Strategy Allocation to place 2 free Fighters or 1 free Destroyer in any one system containing one of your War Suns

COMMAND COUNTERS
Command Pool: 3
Strategy Allocation: 1
Fleet Supply: 3
Total in play: 7/16

UNITS (Deployed/Total)
Space Dock - 1/3
Ground Forces - 6
Fighters: 4
Carriers: 1/4
Destroyers: 1/8
Cruisers: 1/8
Dreadnoughts: 2/5
War Suns: 1/2

UNIT DEPLOYMENT
Muaat - 1x Space Dock, 1x Dreadnought, 4x Ground Force, 1x War Sun, 2x Fighters
El'Nath - 1x Cruiser, Control Marker, 1x Destroyer
Coorneeq - 1x Ground Force
Lesab - 1x Dreadnought, 1x Carrier, 2x Fighter, 1x Ground Force
Resculon - Control Marker

Reproducing turn order here for reference:

1. Googleshng (SPEAKER) — Leadership
2. SilentSnake — Diplomacy II
3. Severian — Assembly
4. `Hrist — Production
5. Epithet — Trade II
6. Egarwaen — Warfare
7. Lucas — Technology II
8. Sarcasmorator — Bureaucracy

Lucas is up! (By which I mean Sarc is going to play Tech II, I presume?)

Also, at the end of this pass, can we please get an updated map?

Nothing has changed on the map since the last update except your 2 new Fighters, Egarwaen.



The Mentak execute Technology II, claiming Nano Technology as the freebie and forgoing the purchase of a second.

TECHNOLOGIES OWNED
Hylar V Assault Laser
Enviro Compensator
Micro Technology
Nano Technology
Stasis Capsules
Cybernetics
Gen Synthesis

Sol passes on the secondary

The Mindnet will spend one from their Strategy Allocation and exhaust 0.0.0. and Rigel II to purchase the technology War Sun.

COMMAND COUNTERS
Command Pool: 3
Strategy Allocation: 0
Fleet Supply: 5
Activations: 0
Total in play: 8/16

PLANETS (Resources/Influence)
[0.0.0.] – 5/0
Mellon – 0/2
Zohbat – 3/1, Blue tech specialty
Rigel I – 0/1
Rigel II – 1/2
Rigel III – 1/1, Blue tech specialty
Quann – 2/1, Green tech specialty

TECHNOLOGIES OWNED
Enviro Compensator
Stasis Capsules
Cybernetics
Hylar V Assault Laser
Deep Space Cannon
Sarween Tools
War Sun

Muaat passes on the secondary. We used too many scientists producing the second Death Star.

DEAR SILENTSNAKE I THINK I PLAYED MINDNET BETTER THAN SOL WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRADE RACES Y/N?

Activating Technology II's secondary, and tapping Fria, Vefut II, and Ashtaroth to purchase Enviro Compensator.

COMMAND COUNTERS
Command Pool: 2
Strategy Allocation: 0
Fleet Supply: 4

PLANETS
Quinarra – 3/1
Tren’lak – 1/0
Ashtroth 2/0
Abbadon 1/0 (red tech specialty)
Loki 1/2
Perimeter 2/2
Abyz 3/0
Fria 2/0 (Blue tech specialty)
Vefut II 2/0 (red tech specialty)

TECHNOLOGY
Hylar V Assault Laser
Deep Space Cannons
Antimass Deflectors
XRD Transporters
Cybernetics
Enviro Compensator

Activate Technology II secondary. Tap Arc Prime and Wren Terra for 5 resources (-1 for Green Tech Spech) and purchase Cybernetics.

COMMAND COUNTERS
Command Pool: 1
Strategic Allocation: 1
Fleet Supply: 4 (+1)

CONSUMABLES
Action Cards: 3
Trade Goods: 1

PLANETS (Resources/Influence)
Arc Prime – 4/0
Wren Terra – 2/1
Qucen'n - 1/2
Primor -- 2/1 (Ground Troop Refresh)
Rarron -- 0/3 (Green Tech Spec)
Hope's End -- 3/0 (Shock Troopers)
Lirta IV -- 2/3 (Green Tech Spec)
Bereg -- 3/1 (Orange Tech Spec)

UNITS (Deployed/Total)
Arc Prime/Wren Terra -- Space Dockx2, Dreadnoughtx2, Carrierx2, Fightersx4, 3x Ground Forces
Qucen'n -- Ground Forcesx1,
Rarron -- Ground Forcesx1
Primor -- Ground Troopx2
Hope's End -- Dreadnoughtx3, Carrierx1, Fightersx7, Destroyerx1, Ground Troopx1, Shock Troopx2, Space Dockx1
Lirta IV: Cruiserx1, Carrierx1, Fightersx4, Ground Forcex1
Bereg: Ground Forcex1

TECHNOLOGIES OWNED
Hylar V Assault Laser
Antimass Deflectors
XRD Transporters – +1 Carrier movement
Enviro Compensators
Stasis Capsules
Micro Technology
Cybernetics

TRADE CONTRACTS
Mindnet 1 (+1)
Muaat 2 (+1)

VICTORY POINTS: 2

We'll activate this, exhausting a ton of planets for an Enviro Compensator.

COMMAND COUNTERS
Command Pool: 1
Strategy Allocation: 0
Fleet Supply: 4
Activations: 0
Total in play: 5/16


PLANETS (Resources/Influence)
Darien – 2/4
Arinam - 1/2, Blue Tech Specialty
Meer - 0/4
Centauri - 1/3
Gral - 1/1, Blue Tech Specialty
Tar'Mann - 1/1
Usis - 2/2
Velnor - 2/0, Red Tech Specialty
Sumerian - 2/2, Trade Goods
Arcturus - 1/1



TECHNOLOGIES OWNED
Hylar V Assault Laser - Cruisers and Destroyers gain +1 on combat rolls
Automated Defense Turrets - Destroyer Anti-Fighter Barrage gains 1 extra die and +2 to hit
Antimass Deflectors: Move through Asteroid Fields
XRD Transporters: Carriers gain +1 movement
Cybernetics: Fighters receive +1 on all combat rolls
Assault Cannon: Before battle Dreadnoughts fire one free shot.
Enviro Compensator: Space Docks production capacity is +1.

Oh boy! It's time for my favorite strategy card again! At this point, I really do need to start thinking about grabbing these yellow techs I can't get at a discount. So for my freebie, I'll take Nano Technology (for general peace of mind), and Type IV Drive, so my dreadnoughts quit dragging their feet everywhere. Just call me Mr. Counterattack today I guess! Tapping Capha and Jol for the resources.

COMMAND COUNTERS
Command Pool: 1
Strategy Allocation: 2
Fleet Supply: 3
Activations: 0

PLANETS (Resources/Influence)
Jol – 1/2
Nar – 2/3
Capha – 3/0
Arnor 2/1
Lor 1/2 (Red Tech Specialty)
Starpoint 3/1
New Albion 1/1 (Green Tech Specialty)
Mehar Xull 1/3 (Blue Tech Specialty)
Mirage 1/2 (Fighters)
Tsion 2/2 (Trade Goods)
Bellatrix 0/1 (Red Tech Specialty)
Wellon 1/2
Vega Major 2/1
Vega Minor 1/2 (Blue Tech Specialty)

TECHNOLOGIES OWNED
Hylar V Assault Laser
Deep Space Cannons
Magen Defense Grid
War Sun
Antimass Deflectors
XRD Transporters
Type IV Drive
Cybernetics
Gen Synthesis
Hypermetabolism
Neural Motivator
Enviro Compensator
Sarween Tools
Microtechnology
Nano Technology

I think you're 1 resource short, chief. You have to pay 5 for Type IV Drive (6, -1 for your untapped blue tech spec). Jol and Capha only give you 4.

Tapped matters? Since when?

And for that matter, if it does, can I just retroactively switch when I tapped, say, Jol and Vega Minor? It's not like I was using that one for production because I was afraid I was going to lose it before tech came up or anything. I don't see anyone in a position to take invade it this round.

... or, if it has to still be untapped after I'm done with the purchase, Nar in place of both Vega Minor and Lor, then tapping Lor and Capha now would leave me in the exact same place as far as I can see.

I went over it some pages back. Somewhere in the teens, I think. Basically, any time a planet gives you something (resources, influence, tech specialties, refresh abilities), it has to be untapped to take advantage of it. The exception is when it's something like counting up the influence of controlled planets, because you still control planets with X influence even if those planets have already been tapped to spend it.

The tech spec planet doesn't have to remain untapped after the purchase, just before. If no one else objects you can go ahead and take the discount this time given your exhaustion rejiggering, but take note of the rule for the future.

OK, Sol's move:

I activate Mecatol Rex, moving the Carrier there to Thibah to pick up a Ground Force and both PDS installations, then returning them to Mecatol Rex for drop-off. I also move 2 Cruisers and the Destroyer from Thibah to MR. Last, I tap Jord for 4 resources to build a Space Dock on MR.

If Googleshng wants to take PDS shots at the system and there are hits, the first hit will be applied to the Dreadnought, the second to the Destroyer. Note that Direct Hit cannot be applied to PDS hits (potshots aren't space battles).

COMMAND COUNTERS
Command Pool: 1
Strategy Allocation: 1
Fleet Supply: 5
Activations: 1
Total in play: 8/16

PLANETS (Resources/Influence)
Jord – 4/2
Lazar – 1/0
Sakulag – 2/1
Thibah – 1/1
Mecatol Rex — 1/6

UNITS (Deployed/Total)
Space Docks: 3/3
Ground Forces: 9
Shock Troops: 0
PDS: 2/6
Fighters: 0
Carriers: 1/4
Destroyers: 1/8
Cruisers: 3/8
Dreadnoughts: 1/5
War Suns: 0/2

UNIT DEPLOYMENT
Jord: Space Dock x1
Lazar: GF x1
Sakulag: GF x1
Thibah space: Cruiser x1
Thibah: Space Dock x1, GF x1
Mecatol Rex space: Dreadnought x1, Carrier x1, Cruiser x2, Destroyer x1
Mecatol Rex: GF x6, PDS x2, Space Dock x1

Googleshng is up!

ATTN: MAP

(I'll Photoshop any PDS casualities.)

Well, we aren't on the friendliest terms, and any ships I can down here are less that can come seeking revenge, so yeah. Let's see if these guys have learned to aim straight yet.

PDS Fire: 3, 10

Preeeeeetty sure that's one hit, one miss. So, damaged Dreadnought if anyone wants to climb into that nasty mess and finish it off I guess. Also, this is as good a time as any to double check on this- PDSes can fire on ships as they arrive somewhere, and as they leave, just not at systems they pass through on the way, and you can't fire at someone twice when they do this sort of out and back hop, right?

Anyway, for my actual turn, since someone asked me nicely and I like to be neighborly about these things, I'll go ahead and play this puppy:


For me, I'll take 1 on each... and I'll exhaust Mehar Xull and Bellatrix to grab extras for Command and Strategy, because who knows how long before I can pull this card again?

COMMAND COUNTERS
Command Pool: 3
Strategy Allocation: 4
Fleet Supply: 4
Activations: 1

PLANETS (Resources/Influence)
Jol – 1/2
Nar – 2/3
Capha – 3/0
Arnor 2/1
Lor 1/2 (Red Tech Specialty)
Starpoint 3/1
New Albion 1/1 (Green Tech Specialty)
Mehar Xull 1/3 (Blue Tech Specialty)
Mirage 1/2 (Fighters)
Tsion 2/2 (Trade Goods)
Bellatrix 0/1 (Red Tech Specialty)
Wellon 1/2
Vega Major 2/1
Vega Minor 1/2 (Blue Tech Specialty)

The Mindnet passes on the secondary.