#more civ pod

[snappedsky]

Fanatics 99.13

The Tallest try to figure out what the Battalion is up to.

*Links to previous and next chapters in reblog*

--

The Greatest in the Galaxy Part 13

“Attention. This is an announcement from your Irken overlords. Tourney is under lock down. All guests must remain within their houses for interrogation and arrest by Irken guards. Do not attempt to resist. And if you are part of the Earth team, turn yourselves in! Thank you.”

The message rings out across Planet Tourney while the streets are in chaos. Audience members race in a panic, trying to get into their guests houses as Irken guards march after them. They capture any alien they can grab and anyone who tries fighting back gets shocked into submission. In just a handful of minutes, the streets are empty as the Irkens take away anyone they’ve captured and anyone who’s gotten away hides.

An eerie, deafening silence fills the once bustling and exciting city-planet.

In the penthouse of the Irken tower, the Tallest sit on a luxurious couch, staring at a series of screens, all of them black. They’re both getting increasingly more annoyed.

“Status update!” Red barks. An Irken soldier slides in front of them and salutes.

“The streets have been cleared,” he announces, “our prisons are packed with approximately 2000 alien guests.”

“Fine, fine,” Red grunts, “but what about the Battalion?”

“Uh, the remains of the Earth house have been scoured and we can confirm that nobody was inside it when it exploded,” the soldier replies, “the Battalion have not been found and all of the cam-bots are still missing.”

“That’s not an update,” Purple groans, “we already knew that.”

“B-but, you asked...”

“Beat it!”

“Yes, sirs,” the soldier bows before scampering out of the room.

Red and Purple both sigh angrily.

“What a disaster this has turned into,” Red laments, “this is supposed to be a joyous event, celebrating the amazingness of Irkens.”

“And instead it’s displaying our monstrous ruthlessness.”

They turn at the voice to see Rory entering the room.

“Well, yes, I suppose it’s showing our amazingness in a different way,” Purple agrees.

“Rory, what are you doing here?” Red demands.

“I wanted to see how things were going,” Rory replies, “and I see you’re doing what you do best when you panic- ruining everything. Is capturing all of the guests really necessary?”

“Everyone is a suspect,” Red insist, “any one of them could be in on the Battalion’s plan.”

“Which is?”

“Something nefarious, no doubt,” Purple replies.

“Right,” Rory grunts, “well, I will be having no part of this nonsense. If you need me, my bots and I will be in the Massive. Later.”

He gives a cheeky salute as he leaves and the Tallest scoff after him.

“That smeet has our combined DNA,” Purple points out, “how did he become so insubordinate?”

“He’s got a mind of his own,” Red replies, “it’s his greatest strength, and our greatest curse.”

Rory marches through the halls of the tower to the tele-pod that’ll take him to the Massive, which is parked outside the atmosphere. “Civ, Viv,” he calls for his bots, but they don’t rush to his side in their immediate manner. He slows to a stop, glancing around suspiciously. “Civ? Viv?”

The twin SIR units fly down the hall and stop in front of him. “Apologies for our tardiness, Master Rory,” Civ says.

“It’s fine,” Rory replies, “let’s get-.”

“Ah, Master Rory,” Viv says quickly. “We have something we must show you...privately.”

Rory blinks with surprise and glances up and down the empty corridor before nodding. The robots lead him to his private chambers, which are dark with the lights off and the drapes drawn.

“Why’s it so dark in here?” Rory questions and moves to turn on the lights.

“Leave the lights,” a familiar voice orders from within the darkness. “And keep your voice low.”

Rory stops and strains to look through the darkness. He cautiously approaches until he’s able to see who he already knows is talking. “Zim?”

Zim grins as he leans back in a chair. “Hello, Rory. We need to talk.”

---

Devi flips through the competition channels, each one a black screen. After a couple minutes, she groans and tosses the remote aside. “Still nothing.”

Johnny cries out angrily and punches the floor. “What the fuck is going on? How are supposed to know if Squee is okay?”

“And the others,” Tenna adds.

“Yeah, sure, whatever.”

“This isn’t because of the competition,” Skoodge says, “this has never happened before. I bet Zim and the others caused this.”

“So we don’t have to be worried?” Colton asks.

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“But what are they doing?” Carmen asks, “and why? I thought they wanted to win this competition, not ruin it.”

“We’ve been watching them all week, but we don’t actually know what’s going on in the background,” Maddie points out.

“She’s right,” Devi agrees, “something must’ve happened.”

“All we can do is wait, I guess,” Tenna says.

“Argh I hate waiting!” Johnny barks.

They sit around for another hour, periodically flipping through the dark channels. Devi checks them mechanically, automatically clicking the button, until she flips through one that isn’t black.

“Whoa!” she exclaims.

“What?” Tenna questions, everyone startled.

“I saw something!” Devi replies as she flips back and stops on an actual view.

The cam-bot is high up on a building, looking out at the city. It’s glancing around, as if confused. Then the sound of fingers snapping is heard and it turns around to Squee.

“Squee!” everyone gasps.

On Tourney, the Tallest are also watching and Red pounds the couch’s armrest. “Somebody get his location!”

Zim and Rory are also watching in Rory’s room, as are any planet guests that have evaded capture and at-home viewers waiting for the show to come back. Right now, Squee has the whole galaxy captive.

He’s fully dressed with a pair of black, wraparound sunglasses and some kind of metallic bands on both of his forearms. He doesn’t have any bandages and small burn marks can be seen scattered across the bare skin of his arms and face. He stares at the camera with an emotionless expression before pointing above his head.

The cam-bot looks up to see a large digital billboard in the distance cheering for the Irken team. But it’s been graffiti-ed with a smiley face in purple spray paint.

Squee lifts his hand into view and wiggles it before snapping his fingers. The spray paint explodes, rendering the billboard into smouldering dust that crumbles to the ground, shocking everyone watching and even the cam-bot.

Squee grabs the camera and lowers it so it’s looking at him. “Follow me while I destroy every last bit of Irken propaganda on this planet,” he says darkly. “Catch me if you can.”

He suddenly shoots off the screen and the cam-bot turns to see him flying off the edge of the building, cheering. It rushes after him.

“He’s having fun,” Zim remarks in Rory’s room.

“What was that?” Rory demands, “what’s Squee doing? What’s going on?”

Zim grins hungrily. “Revolution.”

[kyledefoor]

How many doubles?… All of them.

Doubles as a training strategy for non comp shooters to learn grip and vision, I have found, to be very beneficial. Particularly, the 15 yard line for pistol and the 30 yard line for rifle. I sometimes will run these yard lines twice with students. The benefit is worth the extra rounds and time. Competition guys will see the benefit as this is the pace of the game. @benstoeger is the og here.

I have seen and heard of doubles being taught incorrectly. I would suggest anyone wanting to give it as instruction first be able to shoot at a high level and seek out those that have developed it to learn the nuisances associated with it. Training with those well versed in it will be an advantage over trying to learn it via video in my experience.

I was very fortunate to sit through four classes watching @xray.alpha.llc teach it both Pistol and Carbine. Living together for a couple of weeks also fast forwarded my understanding and approach since I could pick his brain the entire time.

Since then I’ve tailored it to each class with my end state being transitioning to reactive shooting since this is the only engagement strategy a “working” gun carrier can use 99% of the time.

I’ve already instituted doubles into scoped rifle in bipoded and tri-podded positions as well as traditional prone. I believe @followthroughbuck is already on this train as well. I have seen enormous gains in the military snipers that I train and LE, civilian and competition scoped guys. This has equated to faster multiple round hits on targets at 300 and beyond with wind calls and still on holds.

Doubles has personally changed my vision slightly with a rifle, but very dramatically improved my grip with a pistol. I’ve been able to institute these changes into my curriculum, and I am getting a major performance increase from students, across-the-board no matter MIL, LE or CIV.

The transition from predictive to reactive sighting is what interests me the most. As an instructor I have found that it is very class dependent on what yard line I do this at depending on the average class skill. The end state being that everyone gets faster and more accurate through the spectrum of the gun they’re shooting and its capabilities.

Although this takes a little bit of time in a class compared to a more traditional cadence based template……i.e.- the old way of learning these skills…….it actually ends up freeing up more time in the long run for movement, multiple target engagements, and combatives. I have already revamped the combatives piece as well because now I can add more to what is important with a pistol or rifle in an integrated scenario.

You’ll hear me say “jump into the deep end of the pool with me” when training this. It’s a counter intuitive commitment that most won’t bother with but the rewards are many………just come on in, the waters fine.

[1uppod]

Join Andy, Ben, Orange, and Foxy for a uniquely 1UP Pod look at the best and the worst of video games based on the movies and TV shows that we know, but not always love! The Movie Tie-In games!

Andy, the only OG 1UP Podder representing on this episode, has been left in charge of our three newest team members and that goes about as well as you could hope for – as he accidentally insults everyone introducing the ‘What Have We Been Playing?’ segment. This section includes games like Divinity: Original Sin 2, Gris, Civ 6, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Powerwash Simulator, and Andy inflicts another one of his unhinged game choices with Torrente 3: The Protector (a movie tie-in game!) and we’ll let Andy explain what’s so wrong with that game!

The movie tie-in games discussion starts out quite positively with everyone sharing some of their personal favourites – featuring The Thing, RoboCop 2, Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets, Disney’s Aladdin, Revenge of the Sith, Disney’s Adventure Game featuring Hercules, Blade Runner, and Alien Isolation.

Discussion turns to the negative side of the spectrum with talk/rants about Disney’s Story Studio: Mulan, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (on the Atari ST), Minority Report: Everybody Runs, and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Video Game Adventure!

Unexpected movie tie-in games were up next – and we’ll keep that a secret – followed by games that stray far from the source material including Chronicles of Riddick, Small Soldiers, and more!

The big discussion of the show is ‘do movie tie-in games still have a place in modern gaming?’ so stick around for some enlightening/depressing thoughts!

Please do drop us a like, share, subscribe, and drop us a review/rating:

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Please reply to this survey if you’d like to share your thoughts on the show to help us understand our audience better.

And always remember to get a life and play video games.

[istherewifiinhell]

More civ pod qna Austin saying “do you ever get the feeling cad bane and obi wan would begrudgingly respect each other if circumstances forced them to work together they would hit off” is gonna take so fucking long to pay off I’ll just be vibrating at a low frequency for years now

[clementineskesh]

Blame the Unions, say the Jedi!

[samedmunds]

My litany thoughts on 1999 cult classic strategy video game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

Alpha Centauri is a game of the early Civilization variety from the EA golden age and ranks very highly in my top ten. While you probably heard of it if you were playing video games around the turn of the century, I've found members of my age cohort to be tragically unfamiliar with this masterpiece.

Alpha Centauri is an unofficial sequel to Civilization II, a game where the only way to way to win is either completely eliminate all competitors to the last city or, rather more easily, send a spaceship loaded with colonists to the title star system. Shortly after leaving home, the ship loses contact with Earth, which would make sense to a player of Civilization II where the bonuses to science and trade from democracies evaporate when technology ends, upon which point all the AIs revolt and become militant fundamentalist theocracies and climate change rapidly destroys the planet, leaving the player with an endgame that is literally 1984. Either way, when the already strained ship arrives at the Alpha Centauri system an unknown partisan assassinates the captain of the UNS Unity and the population fractures into seven opposing factions before firing the colony pods and exploring an inconveniently hostile planet.

The player starts here, in typical Civ fashion: a scout, settler, and absolutely no technology to speak of. That isn't to say you are a bunch of primitives, all your units start out with some approximation to modern guns and judging by the amazing quotes and wonder videos your society is well beyond the 21st century--more on the story later. The gameplay is incredibly well-balanced in spite of its age and quirks (with the exception of the freight-train progression of Yang). Rapid early expansion as the bountiful Peacekeepers may leave you at serious risk to the relentlessly martial Spartans, who are in turn threatened by the uber-specialized technocratic University--but be careful to underestimate the backwards Lord's Believers, their probe teams will just as quickly rob you of your gains. The Morganites can afford to sparsely defend their home if they're willing to pay off their aggressors, but they'll struggle expand over great swaths of territory without irking civil unrest drone riots from corruption. Meanwhile the Gaian Acolytes can harness the permanently-dangerous mindworms to great effect from the beginning of the game. Yang just... builds. And keeps building, and next thing you know he's conquered the Peacekeepers and turned Miriam into nothing more than a puppet and where are all these cruise missiles are coming from?

In short, the strategic design of this game is nothing less than a work of art, but that isn't to say it doesn't have its anachronisms. The User Interface has taken its inspiration from early versions of Microsoft Word and it rapidly pays off to know the hotkeys. The wonder videos are resolution locked and can sometimes cause problems depending on your display configuration. The unit creation system is simultaneously wonderful and horrendous. It allows me to create special long-range nerve gas bombers that eradicate cities shortly before orbitally-dropping specially-trained garrisons to quash all resistance. On the other hand, if you do not accept the cumbersome slew of computer-generated options, keeping your new weapons systems up to date with your latest technology (especially when playing as Zakharov) rapidly becomes a chore.

That said, there are a variety of features in the game that I think deserve to make a reappearance in the Civ Games. The pick-your-government system is incredibly balanced and fun to roleplay. You can't get away with crimes against humanity when solar storms hit in Civilization VI, nor can you weaponise climate change to flood your rivals cities, or strategically terraform to alter weather patterns and deny your neighbors arable land. At the bare minimum, we should be given the option to nerve staple rebelling cities when our control runs out!

All that said, there is also the story to contend with. One is at first tempted to think that a 4x strategy game with a marked emphasis on replayability would necessarily have a tacked-on story, if one at all. After all, the point is for the player to create it through their actions, not have it spoonfed to them. The majority of what you learn about your world that isn't printed in numbers and small pictures on the mapscreen is through blurbs that accompany each discovered technology or new building. The aforementioned wonders even have their adorable early-CG renderings, sometimes mixed in with some experimental film footage. There are occasional interludes that describe the mindworms and machinations of Planet, but the bulk of the wordage comes from epigrams of the faction leaders and the occasional bit of Nietzsche or Plato. It's so good that I can't help but stop and listen to CEO Nbwadibuke Morgan ramble on about supply chain economics or Sister Miriam's apocalyptic warnings every single time. Take some examples.

Proper care and education for our children remains a cornerstone of our entire colonization effort. Children not only shape our future; they determine in many ways our present. Men and women work harder knowing their children are safe and close at hand, and never forget that, with children present, parents will defend their home to the death!

--Col. Corazon Santiago, "Planet: A Survivalist's Guide"

Or perhaps, a more on the nose one:

"The Academician's private residences shall remain off-limits to the Genetic Inspectors. We possess no retroviral capability, we are not researching retroviral engineering, and we shall not allow this Council to violate faction privileges in the name of this ridiculous witch hunt!

--Fedor Petrov, Vice Provost for University Affairs Accompanies the Retroviral Engineering technology

The game often doesn't directly tell you what Retroviral engineering is, nor does it labor to explain just what having someone nerve stapled means, or the precise function of the Recycling Tanks, but through its quotation it beautifully circumlocutes the world you are shaping--and being shaped by. It really never pulls any of its punches, even if its just on Organic Superlube--great stuff--and I still catch muself quoting it regularly.

Ursula LeGuin once wrote

"Science fiction is often described, and even defined, as extrapolative. The science fiction writer is supposed to take a trend or phenomenon of the here-and-now, purify and intensify it for dramatic effect, and extend it into the future. 'If this goes on, this is what will happen.' [...] This may explain why many people who read science fiction describe it as 'escapist,' but when questioned further, admit they do not read it because 'it's so depressing.'"

Alpha Centauri is absolutely extrapolative fiction and very firmly rooted in the 1990s and I love it. It was released in the Aaron Sorkin TV, pre-9/11 days where the word Internet was more often than not followed by the words, "is like an information superhighway" and it absolutely no efforts are made to cover it up. The main factions are a cross-section of the New Millenium's hopes and anxieties. A New Russia that went a very different path before Putin took over, a cheerful clan of ruthless Western capitalists hellbent on putting Morganvision on every network set, a group of vaguely Scottish free-love peaceniks hellbent on defending the most-of-the-time incredibly hostile environment. There's the Second-Amendment preaching Spartans or the optimistically-influential UN which, judging by its naming scheme for its bases, seems to dedicate entire cities to bureaucratic agencies. The All-American Christian fundamentalists don't entirely butt heads with the frighteningly powerful Human-Hive (if your country calls their cities names like "Huddling of the People" and "Paradise Swarming" you might not be the good guys). The expansion also brings in more dynamic characters like the Information Wants to be Free! data angels Brian Reynolds very clearly came up with after watching Swordfish and Hackers back to back or the Nautilus Pirates who have no right to be as fun as they are.

The visions of the future are at once both anachronistic and prophetic; while elements may come off as cheese, I see it as a sort of window to the past, a way to examine what was once (and sometimes still is) on our mind. All in all, I give Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri 4 out of 5 stars and a definite all-time favorite, warts and all. You can pick it and its expansion up for $6 on Gog.com and play it through a built-in emulator that works for most systems. If you're willing to brave a dated interface and an older-fashioned gameplay style, I would definitely recommend it.

[aboyandhisstarship]

Humans are weird Purity/ the emergency broad cast system

The TV tones pulsed three times before a forth long one the TV flashed “this is not a test.” As a voice said “this is the Emergency broadcast system, colonial authorities advise the public to proceed to safe area’s and to follow the lead of lead of armed Military Personal, be alert and carry with you one personal bag, this is not a drill…this is the emergency broadcast system…”

A jet engine blasted over head as the TV flickered off.

24 hours earlier:

T’Las sat in her quarters as she started to write “being on a human warship puts me in a strange circumstance…many people have contacted me hoping to learn if the humans have as powerful weapons as some rumors claim…well after much cajoling and the agreement to let a Human military officer read and if necessary reedit this report (say hello LT!) Hey guys…this is weird…does this microphone actually work…anyway don’t worry not much ended up being cut.

 Now first off is the main offensive weapon of Human war ships, the Magnetic  Accelerator Cannon (M.A.C.) a M.A.C. gun speeds up a shell to a percentage of the speed of the speed of light (for ships usually between 12 and 15 percent) firing the shell into the enemy ship…this is incredibly effective it is predicted a low powered human M.A.C. round could punch through 4 ships before slowing down and being combat ineffective.  It is also the main planetary defense platform of earth and her colonies, these M.A.C.S are two kilometre long behemoths.  This one works the same way but fire there slugs 25 % of the speed of light…and spirits help you if it hits your ship.

 Rail-guns: the secondary weapons on a human ships fire rounds rapidly and are designed mostly to take out missiles and rockets (more on those later) but are also use for anti-fighter and anti-ship activates.

Missiles: now humans are quite keen on these and every ship is equipped with several tubes to fire these things.  Human have 2 major kinds

 Nuclear: a nuclear missile or Nuke as the humans call it are the most powerful in ship to ship combat, it is a reactor rigged to blow and destroy an area usually about 50 km wide.

Electromagnetic plus: the humans want you alive so they fire a different kind of nuke at you, knocks out your power and allow you to be boarded.

T’Las was about to say more when all of a sudden lights went red and The captain went over the inter com saying “we are now in a War state, all hands battle stations.”

*the following report was granted by the SICON Office of Naval intelligence under the freedom of information act*

Cahlti star empire is the official name for hat we have called “fanatical Purifier’s.”  a heavily militarized state that believes all other alien life is an front to the their spiritual existence as such relations with these groups are no existent in a peaceful sense, they have often attacked other neighboring species claiming that it is bandits well aware that any race that wishes to fight a war against them would have bad time…there is a phrase on earth “don’t fight a land war in Asia.” Trying to invade the Cahlti would be like fighting a land war in Asia,7 years of hard fighting and would result in millions of dead.

  Valley Forge:

The camera flew through the bridge as the ships lights were blaring red a Human Crew member said “ma’am we have 45 boogies on our scanners, all armed…it is unknown how much of the force is left, but they engaged the M.A.C platforms, and have won the engagement.”

Hernandez said “Alight, Chief, where is Battle Group Fortress?”

A coms officer turned her chair around “picking up black box’s ma’am, it seems Fortress was forced to retreat….Manticore is 45 seconds behind us…they will engage the fleet…I am picking up confirmed reports of ground combat.”

Hailey took a deep breath “hard launch we are coming in, get Dagger prepped, there mission is locate the governor, arm rail guns load nukes and Get the M.A.C online…open up as soon as we drop out of Chekov, dump dagger same time.”

Hernandez said “T’Las get geared up…you are dropping.”

The camera cut out and changed to a rocking motion as T’Las screamed in a metal pod as Ericson’s said “Dagger 0-1 to Overlord come in.”

A voice with a drawl answered “we are picking you up Dagger 0-1…”

Ericson said “everyone hold on, we are almost to touch down …Over Lord do you have contact with the Governor!”

Overlord said “that’s a negative Dagger 0-1 we have not been able to locate her before the winter contingency was activated…we will pass on the address to her  house, however we have confirmed enemy presence in the region, happy hunting.”

Ericson called “Roger…detach in 4, 3, 2,1!”

T’Las screamed again as her metal shell blew and she was in the air above some neighborhood a pair of human jets blasted through the air above them and her body jerked as her jets kicked in and she crashed through the roof of a house, a human family lay on the floor in a pool of blood, the TV blasting a series of tones...as a robotic voice said “this is the emergency broadcast system…”

 Ericson said “Futuba turn that TV off.”

Futuba responded “on it boss!”

Porthos sniffed around as Abebi said “boss, the coordinate’s Overlord gave us are…4 blocks east of us.”

Ericson nodded coldly “Safety’s off, but pick your targets…combat wedge, T’Las you’re in middle stay close.”

T’Las nodded as a jet blasted overhead again the camera cut again.

 The camera turned back on as Ericson entered saying “woof….Depoint?”

The woman advanced taking one look at the body saying “can confirm she is dead…tortured to death sir…”

Ericson groaned “confirm it’s her…Overlord this is Dagger o-1 we have a possible ID on the governor…”

Over lord responded “uhh Roger that, Dagger 0-1 what is her status?”

Depoint called “can DNA confirms it LT.”

The camera panned to show T’Las bent over with Abebi patting her back as Porthos whinnied Abebi said “easy let it out.”

Ericson said “Depoint check on T’Las, Overlord…Governor is confirmed KIA…who is next in the chain of command…”

Overlord was clearly nervous cursing “fuck…uh let me get back to you Dagger 0-1.”

T’Las vomited again, a Green sludge coming of her mouth as Depoint said “easy…do you feel dizzy?”

T’Las nodded “a bit.”

Ericson walked over saying “how is she?”

Depoint said “I’m no expert sir, but she is in shock….she may need some care Sir.”

T’Las was visibly shaking saying “they gutted her like fish…I have seen videos of it on earth…but to a living thing.”  She bent over again vomiting.

Ericson smiled “what you are feeling is perfectly normal ok, just breath through it…if you ever feel like you are in distress let us know ok.”

Ericson radio cracked to life “Uhh Dagger 0-1 this is overlord…what is your rank?”

The squad look at each other as Ericson said “lieutenant first class, ODT…”

The voice dropped the southern drawl speaking in a British accent “Lieutenant Junior Grade Marco Paul-son sir…uhhh I’m in the logistics core sir…I was in the command center by sheer chance, in the opening attack the hostile’s hit a building…where the rest of Civilian and military leadership, calls came in for the command center…so I pretended to General Barrows….I know I wasn’t supposed to, but no one would have listened…they needed orders…a calm voice in there ear…but I’m over my head…I found it who is highest ranking officer on the planet…it’s me.”

The squad went quiet as Ericson stood straight “listen good son because I am only going to say this once, you have been doing a great job, so stop doubting and start commanding.”

Ericson flicked off the private channel saying “Over lord Dagger 0-1 mission ended in failure  where do you need us.”

Overlord had tears in their eyes but shook it off saying “uhhh Right, Dagger 0-1…we have reports of a squad of marines trying to lead a group of civs to safety, these guys are under equipped and terrified, show the flag and help them, it will do wonders for them to see a ODT team.”

Ericson nodded “roger Sir…we have their location.”

  3 hour later:

T’Las leaned on a wall as Bullets flew past mowing down the aliens before she look up seeing hundreds of metal pods, Overlord said “all friendlies be aware ODT teams are dropping in quadrant 4 and 6, link up with them if at all possible, all air units cover there landing.”  With that the camera cut.

 5 hours later:

 T’Las was on a stretcher Depoint said “you will be ok.”

Ericson plucked down next to a young man hitting him on the shoulder “how you are holding up?”

The kid formally known as overlord said “I’m a hero apparently…don’t feel like it.”

Ericson grinned “you saved a planet…that sounds like hero work to me.”

The kid laughed “thank you sir.”

The camera cut out.

[pippki-writes]

Project 341271-1: Alleium's Arrival

Content Notes: here's my short story for February, some first person writing about an alien on earth. I have some thoughts on continuing this at some point from other POVs.

Word Count: ~1.5K

Project 341271-1

[initiate segmented record keeping files. calibration to local time complete :: planetary revolution time 86164.0905 atomic seconds per local day : approximately 31,557,600 atomic seconds per local year]

Project Log: project local day 1

successfully arrived on planet

assimilated appearance to local forms

one-way transport disposed without incident

To do

Secure a base for observation

Establish connections with local sapients

Record observations

[timestamp: project local day 2]

[timestamp: log entry backdating—attempt unsuccessful, project local day 2]

[timestamp: log entry backdating—attempt unsuccessful, project local day 3]

[timestamp: log entry backdating—attempt unsuccessful, project local day 6]

[timestamp: log entry backdating—attempt unsuccessful, project local day 37]

Locked Diary of Allieum Zedderithe: project local day 1

I’m not sure if that could have gone worse if I’d tried.

Well I suppose I could be dead, or on the wrong planet, or crash landed in a civcluster and captured for tel knows what ends. I’ve heard of that happening, not in any recent memory of course but a long time ago when expeditions were much less careful and far more violent-tempered planets weren’t as readily identifiable from a distance, and—anyway. I can at least be thankful that the freighter had good aim for the drop, and the cloaking held, and that the planet is covered in so much liquid ocean. I’m not sure if you’d call it a crash landing or not. Certainly not how I would have been landing if I’d gone with Professor Galagan’s contact project, but nobody gets famous as a backup assistant researcher on a class III contact project. That’s safe. That’s boring.

It’s not that I’m trying to be famous. I just want my work to mean something. More than a byline in a footnote anyway. And that’s not something you get to by playing it safe, by following step by guided step toiling away for countless cycles and hoping you’re right about actually being on a tenure track while you alphabetize the professor’s latest scattershot bibliography (handed to me in stacks of papers, three tote bags full of books, and several copies of the same outdated bibliography file each with at least one entry different from the others!).

Oh, I didn’t even mention the problem with the scanner. That’s my fault, I should have packed better for lodgings on a freighter, I know, but it must’ve gotten knocked around or something on the trip, because the first pass molecular restructuring got me a very beautiful squishy body with all sorts of tentacles, suited perfectly for all that liquid ocean, which is apparently NOT where the civ is. And me frantically trying to actually FIND the actual civ before the whole drop pod dissipated into the ocean, trying to reboot the scanner, trying to push through another restructure pass before all my stupid supplies dissolved into the salty water. A kretting mess.

[scanned attachment, added 29 local days after entry: mysterious_blob_washes_ashore_in_north_carolina_and_baffles_experts.xrl]

We’ll skip the details, but suffice it to say the pass was NOT complete until well after all my supplies were lost or disintegrating and I was, ok, look, captured is obviously not the right word. We’re not even going to call this a first contact event. Like I said, the pass was NOT, repeat, NOT complete, and they had NO idea what they were looking at, and really, it was just a minor inconvenience to me at best. I got away unnoticed before they came back with a bucket.

[timestamp: project local day 2]

Project log: project local day 2

Established logbook connection; updated records

continued to maintain confidentiality of project

To do

Secure a base for observation

Establish connections with local sapients

Record observations

[timestamp: project local day 2]

Locked Diary of Allieum Zedderithe: project local day 2

I can probably figure out how to update the timestamp. It’s really important in a project like this to record observations and project updates as soon as possible. I don’t care how tired you are, you can jot down something while it’s fresh and come back to it later. It gets questionable when your data is full of recordings done days or more after the fact.

Speaking of which, these days — I don’t think the scanner restructured my circadian response to local time at all. The sun’s already going down AGAIN. Hopefully this isn’t going to be a problem.

At least I was able to get to the logbook finally. And made contact with absolutely nothing else on this planet. Oh but I do have hands now, two of them, five digits per hand, and I bet they look spot on. I’ll pretend like I had some sort of influence over how good they turned out.

[timestamp: project local day 2]

Project log: project local day 3

Local sapient population identified

Processed scanner data on population

Completed pre-contact checklist, see attachment

To do

Secure a base for observation/operations

Establish connection with local sapient population - next local day

Record observations

[timestamp: project local day 3]

[pre-contact checklist: file attachment not found]

Locked Diary of Allieum Zedderithe: project local day 3

Some of my research may have been incorrect.

When I reassured the department that my information was based on more than third-hand joyrider accounts and barroom boasts from backwater space pirates, I may have been overselling things.

I was dramatically overselling things.

I was entirely inventing things where I didn’t even actually have things to sell.

All I really had were some maybe promising readings and a feeling that I ought to gamble on this planet and this star and the hope that there would actually be a civ there, and more than that, a civ worth candidacy for new contact. I hoped and I hoped and I bet my whole life on the hope that I was right, and–

Oh tel, I never actually expected I would be right.

Project log: project local day 4

Prepared for making undercover contact with local sapient population

Observation files: compiled condensed primer on local sapient society and customs, see attachment

To do

Secure a base

Establish connection - next local day

Record observations

[timestamp: project local day 4]

[Project log: project local day 4: no file attachments found]

Locked Diary of Allieum Zedderithe: project local day 4

I’m just making sure I’m totally prepared, that’s all. There’s no rush, and if I’m hasty I’ll probably make mistakes. I’m just being careful, and that’s a good idea. I’m not freaking out, absolutely not. And even if I were freaking out, which of course I’m not, writing it out wouldn’t actually help me not freak out so WHY AM I WRITING IT OUT–

[timestamp: project local day 4]

Project log: project local day 5

Continued observation of local plant life - photosynthesis based - appears optimized for 610-700 nanometer wavelength light - likely good candidate for nutrient analysis - brightly colored soil may be worth further study

Continued contact preparations

To do:

Base of operations

Make contact

Record observations

[timestamp: project local day 5]

Locked Diary of Allieum Zedderithe: project local day 5

I haven’t slept yet – not, not, to be clear, because I’m putting off contact, which I’m not, but it just hasn’t been a day for me personally yet and the circadian sync definitely didn’t take, and that’s gonna be really great when I’m unconscious for days and days of local time. Which, by my calculations, will be soon. Smart planning then, I’ll find somewhere to hide out tomorrow instead, sleep, and then make contact. Yes. Good plan. Definitely on purpose. Yeah maybe I can edit that in the log later, first week I prepped everything totally knowing I’d be knocked out for days and then woke up fresh and five-fingered, ready to blend in and really begin my observations.

Yes I know I haven’t been able to edit the log yet but it’s got to be possible, I’m sure.

[timestamp: project local day 5]

Project log: project local day 6

-unplanned- -unintended- took advantage of opportunity to study local fauna in active behavior patterns. Intelligent but non-sapient organic lifeform, local designation: bear

To do

Base

Contact

Observe

[timestamp: project local day 6]

Locked Diary of Allieum Zedderithe: project local day 6

I AM IN A TREE. I DID NOT DIE. I AM GOING TO SLEEP AND WHEN I WAKE UP I WILL DEAL WITH THIS STUPID PLANET.

[timestamp: project local day 6]

Locked Diary of Allieum Zedderithe: project local day 13

Time to deal with this stupid planet.

Personal note: sleeping in trees, not super comfortable. Depending on how this goes, I may not be able to update the project log or this diary for a while, because I need to blend in like any other sapient on this planet. Maybe I’ll be able to make some observations in a notebook or something, but even that could be dangerous in terms of getting myself found out. But I’ve trained for this possibility. I’ve got a very good memory. I’ll make sure I come back and update the project log later with how things went, once I can.

[timestamp: project local day 13]

Project log: project local day 13

[Entry pending]

Locked Diary of Allieum Zedderithe: project local day 37

Everything on this planet is strange to me. I’ll write more later. I’ll remember.

I think I’m blending in just fine.

[timestamp: project local day 37]

[last entry viewed]

[ _ > Go to Project log]

[ _ > Go to Locked Diary]

[anamelessknight]

Episode 19: The Alliance Strikes Back!

Previous Episode: 18 No Muse Is Good Muse

Episode Master List

Let’s Compare Voltrons

No, Zarkon is your father!

So, Zarkon made his “attack” but he got his ass kicked.  Hunk narrates how Planet Zal threw off Zarkon, how Zarkon’s attempt to invade Stride the Tiger Fighter’s planet failed and how Hunk’s little buddies managed to kick off Zarkon’s invasion forces.  Hell, they even captured the bots, and sent them to Mary-Anne for reprogramming into peaceniks.  The Alliance fleets have Zarkon’s fleets on the run!

Coran responds they have their first advantage over Zarkon.

YOU CONQUERED PLANET DOOM.

It’s time to put an end to this.  Again.  The Force is in agreement and launch.  (After flipping between pilot suits and civs a dozen times.)

Zarkon’s flagship returns to Planet Doom.  To no fanfair, which pisses the King off.  He calls up a Doombot who presents that they’re under too much threat to throw parties.  Like, even he’s being attacked right now!  Then he explodes, lion-style.

The lions blow up some ships then form Voltron.

Voltron Forming Rallying Cry:

Let’s go Voltron Force!: 17

Let’s go Voltron Force! (with Sven): 1

Only Allura and Hunk Do the Rallying Cry: 15

Voltron Formed: 18

Zarkon sends out his robot ships in response (using GoLion endgame footage so things are actually colored correctly for once).  Voltron blows through them effortlessly.

Voltron’s Even More Absolutely Absurd Arsenal:

Lion Head Bite x 4

Blazing Sword

Isotopic Missiles

Spinning Laser Blade

Tornado Blaster x 2

Flamethrowers / Thermo Blaster / Lion Torch / Fire Blasters x 5

Tracking Coils / Ray Beam x 2 / Electro Blasters x 2

Electro-Force Cross / Insignia Crest

Eye Beams

Heat Beams / Lion Torch x 4

Proton Missiles x 2 / Stingray Missiles x 2 / Mega Missiles x 2

Electro-Saber

Lion Torch x 4

Stingray Missiles x 2

Deflector Shield

Argon Force Field

Lion Lariat x 2 (Nunchuks)

Star-fire

Ion Darts

Lion Head Attack

Rotor Guns

Crusher Ball

Neutron Needles x 2 (Head)

Electro-force Cross Sword Edition

Ice Ray

Mega Missiles (A Different type from above)

Electro-magnetic Light Pods

Light Pods

Magna Blaster

Opta Blast

Double Barrel Attack

Wing Slash Attack

Star Beam

Needle Wave Attack (Legs)

Blast Pods

Lion Bow and Solar Arrows

Mega Rays

Voltron finishes off the ships and Zarkon goes ““big whoop”.  He’ll handle this personally, he was the greatest warrior, ever!

But Lotor’s already hijacked Zarkon’s ship.  Somehow.  Remember when Lotor declared war?  But Lotor declares he’ll stop Voltron and take the throne for sure this time.  Haggar points out like son like father.  Zarkon’s gonna crush the little upstart, he doesn’t have the King’s suave sophistication, after all.

Merla catches up to Lotor on the ship’s ramp and warns him.  She’s “fond” of him.  Lotor isn’t listening because he’s not ruled by “emotions”.  Lotor, you are like the most ruled by emotions person in the show.  Merla tries to mind control Lotor into following her but he shrugs it off and leaves.  Merla watches him go.  She doesn’t feel as evil as she used to be. 

Lotor and his ship land on the Uranium Plateau on a satellite between Arus and Doom that Voltron will have to pass by.  But the ships launched earlier came from Castle Doom on Planet Doom!  Oi...

Lotor readies a battalion of skull tanks.  Voltron flies by in complete coincidence and the tanks start shooting.  Voltron just floats there and takes it.  Haggar warns Zarkon if Lotor takes out Voltron, Zarkon will lose all authority.  So, Zarkon taps a button on his scepter and takes control of the skull tanks.  They load canisters and fire, trapping Voltron in cables.

Pretty great override there, Zarkon.

The cables are lason powered, so Voltron can’t snap them.  But Voltron still isn’t shooting back because

Lotor’s baffled to what’s going on so Zarkon calls him up to explain.  Then he takes control of the ship and laughs in Lotor’’s face once again.  Oh Zarkon, you silly man you.  He’s gonna ram the ship into Voltron and destroy them both.  Haggar falls to her knees pleading for Lotor’s survival, but Zarkon shuts her up by threatening she’ll join him.

Merla watches this and tries to mind control Zarkon to spare Lotor but it just isn’t working.  She stomps off.

Neither Voltron or Lotor can get free.  This is it!

Except Merla comes riding along in a pegasus hover float and uses fire breath to melt the cables and free Voltron.  (The craft looks like it should belong to Planet Pollux...)

Voltron wipes out the skull tanks with some photon rays.

Voltron’s Even More Absolutely Absurd Arsenal:

Lion Head Bite x 4

Blazing Sword

Isotopic Missiles

Spinning Laser Blade

Tornado Blaster x 2

Flamethrowers / Thermo Blaster / Lion Torch / Fire Blasters x 5

Tracking Coils / Ray Beam x 2 / Electro Blasters x 2

Electro-Force Cross / Insignia Crest

Eye Beams

Heat Beams / Lion Torch x 4

Proton Missiles x 2 / Stingray Missiles x 2 / Mega Missiles x 2

Electro-Saber

Lion Torch x 4

Stingray Missiles x 2

Deflector Shield

Argon Force Field

Lion Lariat x 2 (Nunchuks)

Star-fire

Ion Darts

Lion Head Attack

Rotor Guns

Crusher Ball

Neutron Needles x 2 (Head)

Electro-force Cross Sword Edition

Ice Ray

Mega Missiles (A Different type from above)

Electro-magnetic Light Pods

Light Pods

Magna Blaster

Opta Blast

Double Barrel Attack

Wing Slash Attack

Star Beam

Needle Wave Attack (Legs)

Blast Pods

Lion Bow and Solar Arrows

Mega Rays

Photon Rays

Voltron’s outta power and falls.  Merla muses on how saving Lotor’s manged to give her a more feeling of satisfaction than conquering a thousand planets.  Zarkon is incredulous at Merla turning good, and so am I.  This is like, as lousy as Jareth Sartoris's “redemption”.

Lotor crawls from the wreckage but the doombots grab him for King Zarkon.  Merla spots this and hopes in her steed-craft to free him, but, after exchanging a dozen misses with the doombots, the crashed ship explodes knocking the stead-craft over.

Lotor is then banded to a tree.  A group of aliens and doombots are here to laugh at him.  This is probably GoLion footage again, since the original season stuff lacks aliens.  Lotor desperately bargains for freedom but no one’s listening.

Zarkon and Haggar arrive to taunt Lotor.  Lotor’s gonna be an example, in the Pit of Skulls!

Merla’s vulture wakes her up.  Also it talks and tells her about Lotor’s fate.

Back on... Arus, I guess, the Force talk about what just happened.  Pidge is vaguely familiar with Merla’s craft but can’t place it.

Voltron Force Pilot Color Error:

Pidge: 61

Lance: 7

Keith: 2

Allura: 1

Then Merla arrives.  Hunk draws on her but Keith stops him from shooting.  Merla tosses her blaster down and asks for their help rescuing Lotor.  Lance laughs at the idea.  Merla responds that no one’s born evil but anyone can be redeemed for no good reason.

Also this is Voltron so bad guys are probably born evil.

And Pidge remembers the stead-craft was hers.  This gives the Force enough reason to attempt rescuing Lotor.  Mostly to annoy the guy, honestly.

They arrive on... well, it has the Pit of Skulls so it has to be Planet Doom, right?  The Force take out the guards and Merla rescues Lotor.  Search beams ruin the attempt, and the Force cover them as Merla and Lotor flee.

Voltron Force Pilot Color Error:

Pidge: 62

Lance: 7

Keith: 2

Allura: 1

Lotor is baffled by the kindness as he and Merla take off in her completely functional horse ship.

Zarkon watches, and uses Castle Doom’s super-lase to blast the head off the pegasus (so, it was Doom).  Merla and Lotor sort of sling out.  Merla telephaticlly contacts her dwarflings who fly out and save her while Lotor lands next to the ship wreckage, apparently none the worse for the wear.

She mind-contacts Lotor to convince him to be good but he shrugs it off and staggers away.  He wouldn’t even know how to be good.  And yet... what would it feel like?

The Force are running away when Haggar shows up to split the earth and summon a giant piranha Robeast.  It fires spikes and traps the Force before they duck behind a rocky outcropping and it mouth-beams at them.

Voltron Force Pilot Color Error:

Pidge: 63

Lance: 7

Keith: 2

Allura: 1

Keith makes a run for Voltron (why isn’t te Robeast blasting Voltron?) and the others cover him.  Keith makes it, and the others then follow without any difficultly.

Voltron readies up and fires some Ultra Beams / Ion Darts into the Robeast.  The Robeast counters with a mouth beam that knocks Voltron down then flies forward to bite him.  Voltron stops it with a blue lion lion torch.  The Robeast shoots some spike, which blue lion shoots down, then Voltron uses eye beams before kicking it.  The Robeast shoots more spikes, which get through, but Voltron FORMS BLAZING SWORD!

Red Lion tosses the sword which bisects and destroys the Robeast.  Then throws it again to attack the explosion.

Robeasts Defeated: 21

And the explosion is right next to Haggar’s Castle.

Voltron flies off for repairs.  But he’ll be back!  And Zarkon will be waiting.  There’s a personal grudge now!

Planet Doom’s New Wall of Failure:

Cossack the Terrible: 13

Haggar: 19

Lotor: 11

Largo: 1

Merla: 6

Zarkon: 3

Previous Episode: 18 No Muse Is Good Muse

Episode Master List

Let’s Compare Voltrons

Next Episode: 20 Breakin’ Up Is Hard to Doom (Lion Force Season 2 Finale)

[beingmad2017-blog]

10 Best Space Strategy Games for PC

New Post has been published on https://beingmad.org/10-best-space-strategy-games-for-pc/

10 Best Space Strategy Games for PC

Did You Know?

The plot of the game Deus Ex, released in the year 2000, is centered in the year 2052. The skyline of New York City depicted in this game did not feature the twin towers on the game’s release. The developers reasoned that they had been destroyed in terrorist attack previously in the game. This was over a year prior to the 9/11 attacks.

In a Space strategy game, the decisions that gamer(s) take during the course of the game makes a difference in the outcome of the game. When playing these games, players need to be aware of the developments that take place in the game. What seems like a minor happening can have a momentous impact on the final outcome of the game. These games demand, from the players, the ability to think ahead of the current scenario and have a second plan ready in case the desired outcome is not achieved.

Many are fascinated by space. They are hardcore fans of Star Wars, Star Trek, and the like. Add some strategy-building abilities to this fascination, and be ready to be entertained for hours together, by some of the best space strategy games available.

Space-based Strategy Games for PC

Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri

This turn-based game has been developed by Firaxis Games. It belongs to the 4X genre. In this genre, players need to expand, explore, exploit, and exterminate an empire. The plot is futuristic and set in the 22nd century. The gameplay is from a third-person perspective, and it has been directed by Sid Meier. The strategies in the game revolve around the idea of colonization of space. Players can choose to be the leader of any one of the seven available factions. This game is a spin-off of the civilization series. It was released in 1999 and is compatible with Linux, MAC OS, and Windows platforms.

Alpha Centauri is built around the framework of Civilization, and as such, a lot of it looks like a sci-fi re-skin. Wonders are replaced with secret projects and workers with terraformers. Cities are colonies, while chariots are scout buggies. But make no mistake, Alpha Centauri is its own game. Each unit is a combination of various components that you can rearrange to your heart’s content. It’s not as frustratingly complex as many 4X games, but it gives you just enough tactical flexibility to tweak units to fit your style. You can stick with the presets, or you can make heavily armored colony pods mounted on speeders. It’s only as weird as you make it.

Early in the game, you encounter the native Mind Worms, rolling monsters that attack with psionic powers and make the heads of lesser men explode. They spawn from nasty tiles of Xenofungus, which hinder movement, strangle resources, and more importantly, produce more Mind Worms. They might look like re-skinned barbarians, but unlike their primitive Civ brethren, the Mind Worms are with you the entire game. In fact, how you decide to deal with them is one of the most compelling reasons to still play the game today.

You see, each faction is divided along ideology. You have the warriors and the peacekeepers, the industrial capitalists and the hive-mind communists. Those ideologies not only give each faction various inherent bonuses (not unlike the governments in Civ IV) but can also influence the story. That’s right, Alpha Centauri actually has something of a real storyline revolving around the native life on the planet. At various points, you’ll receive text-based interludes describing your leader and his various struggles with the Mind Worms. The planet treats the colonists as an invasive species, one that is utterly alien to its integrated, psionic environment. As a world leader, you can either eradicate the natives, merge with them, or just ignore them; it’s up to you. It’s a clever design choice that makes you think about the game as more than just a fancy spreadsheet.

I had a really easy time getting back into SMAC, but it might not be quite as smooth to the palate for those weaned on later Civ titles. The interface is large and bulky by modern standards, and many important features are hidden away behind menus. For example, common actions like automating a scout or terraformer can’t be found under the right click menu, but rather require you to click the main menu button and dive a few levels deep. It’s only an initial annoyance until you learn the hotkeys, but it does remind you how far games have come, interface-wise.

As with so many time-honored games, Alpha Centauri sold poorly in its day. While there are plenty of mods that seek to recapture the magic inside the modern confines of newer engines, nothing ever quite matches up. And that’s ok because Alpha Centauri is still playable. It still has a unique flavor that is unlike anything else. If you’ve ever lost an evening (or morning) to Civilization, Alpha Centauri is well worth the $5.99

Sins of a Solar Empire

This game has been developed by Ironclad Games. It is a real-time game and belongs to the 4X strategy genre. Here, players can choose to be the leader of any one of the three races – Trader Emergency Coalition (TEC), Advent, and Vasari. Leaders have control of their space empires. The goal here is to conquer different star systems. There are four packages of the game that have been released so far. The first was Entrenchment, followed by Diplomacy. The third package was Trinity. The rebellion was as the fourth stand-alone package of this game. This game was released in 2008 and is compatible with the Windows platform.

The  DLC not only embiggens pirates, it adds militias to the game that “will grow, raid nearby systems, and repopulate over time”. As with pirates, you’ll be able to pay militias to do your bidding, using them “to help defend your worlds, or coordinate your attacks with their strikes for maximum impact”. Why can’t everyone just get along?

Outlaw Sectors will set you back $4.99/£3.99 and promises to add plenty of new options, along with 11 new maps. Here are the main bullet points, from the Steam page:

Smuggling Specialization: Choose this planetary development to grab a cut of everyone’s trade income – but at a cost. The increased corruption from this black market activity will reduce that planet’s tax income.

Rampant Militias: Autonomous planetary militias will grow, raid nearby systems, and repopulate over time. Use them to help defend your worlds, or coordinate your attacks with their strikes for maximum impact.

Pirate Turf: Vicious when in their home sector, pirates can now raid multiple players simultaneously, drastically changing the art of the bidding war. And, just to make sure they are fully motivated to do what they do best, all credits spent on bounties will receive an automatic bonus.

Star Wars: Empire at War

This game has been developed by Petroglyph Games. The showdown in this game is mainly between Empire and Rebels. Players can choose from three available game modes. These are Campaign, Galactic Conquest, and Skirmish. In this game, at times, there are land battles along with space battles. It is a real-time strategy game, which was released in 2006. Later, in the same year, an expansion pack was released for the game. This was titled Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption. This game is compatible with Windows and MAC OS platforms.

Galactic Civilizations

This is another turn-based strategy game, which has been developed by Stardock. The plot of this game is based in the 23rd century. Players are only assigned the human race. The player becomes the leader of the human race, and the goal to be achieved in this game is of galactic domination through colonization of the space. This game does not support multiplayer gameplay. The player has to play against AI (Artificial Intelligence) opponents. He can choose from various civilizations, which are Terran Alliance, Drengin Empire, Altarian Resistance, Arcean Empire, Yor Collective, Torian Confederation, Dominion of the Korx, and Drath Legion. This game was released in 2003 and is compatible with the Windows platform.

Lords of the Black Sun

This game was previously titled Star Lords. It is a turn-based game of the 4X strategy genre. You can play this game with multiple players along with AI. Players have eight races to choose from, and they are assigned as the leader of the race they choose. These leaders rule their empire, where the goal is to achieve space colonization. The game has been developed by Arkavi Studios. It was released in 2014 and is compatible with the Windows platform.

Master of Orion

This again is a turn-based game and belongs to the 4X genre of mystery games. It has been developed by Simtex. Like most other games on this list, the goal here is to develop colonies in space. This game has its focus on colonization of the star systems. There are ten races available for the player to choose from. This is not one of the multiplayer space strategy games for PC. It is a single-player game, and players are pitted against AI. This game was first released in 1993 and is compatible with MS-DOS, Apple Macintosh, and Commodore Amiga.

Sword of the Star

This game is also from the 4X strategy genre. It has been developed by Kerberos Productions. Players get to choose to play from the various races, and the goal is to colonize the star systems. This is also a multiplayer game, besides providing an option to pit a single player against AI. Its sequel was released in 2011, while the game was originally released in 2006. It is compatible with the Windows platform.

Homeworld

This game has been developed by Relic Entertainment. It is the first 3D game in the real-time strategy (RTS) category. There are two races to choose from – Kushan and Taiidan. Players are provided with the option of playing individually against AI or in a group. The game was released in 1999 and is compatible with the Windows platform.

Endless Space

One more game in the category of the 4X strategy genre, this is a turn-based game, which has been developed by Amplitude Studios. This game has options for multiple players to play the same game, as well for a single player to take on AI. The plot takes place in 3000 A.D., where players are the leaders of their interstellar empires. Here, they can create their own civilizations, and one of the ways to achieve victory is by universal colonization. The battle scenes in this game take place in long-range combat, medium-range combat, and combat at close quarters. The game was released in 2012 and is compatible with the MAC OS and Windows platform.

Planetary Annihilation This is a real-time strategy (RTS) game and has been developed by Uber Entertainment. Players are provided with a map consisting of various planets and asteroids. They have to capture these planets, which can also be annihilated by other planets. A player loses on losing the last commander of the fleet. This game draws heavy resemblance to Total Annihilation. It was released in 2014 and is compatible wit the MAC OS, Windows, and Linux platforms.

These were some of the top space strategy games for PCs, that provide a balanced mix of best of both the worlds or should I say, many other worlds.

[istherewifiinhell]

Pressure washing my brain free of my cobbled together understanding of mandalorian legends lore and the Fetts to listen to more civ pod make very good points about how mainline canon gives us NOTHING to care about

[istherewifiinhell]

This is truly a post for no one but I am reading the first of those 2004 medstar novels and it’s honestly like. Laughable how bad it is. Just how fucking ridiculously “mash but in Star Wars” it is and idk it is now my burden to be able to picture the exact sets and gags the author was envisioning to emulate I guess

[istherewifiinhell]

Referencing Beethoven and mr poppers penguins in the first 20 minutes of a Star Wars podcast is a targeted move specifically for me and I almost slid completely off my chair laughing

[istherewifiinhell]

bobbiegordon: ive been picking up the uh austin walker star wars podcast recently making me want to watch clone wars anyways but cube ............................ cube might get me there. lol

My special technique... cube movie posting... it’s episode 17 of season 4, pretty self contained, like it’s part of an arc but all that really matters is weird alien bounty hunter contest in A Cube, and really what more do you need

I don’t care if the clone wars ep “The Box” is convoluted is it not enough to see Cube in Star Wars?

[istherewifiinhell]

Okay so that’s a partial success for kenobane and bonus for cube movie respect. guess we’re waiting for the kalluzeb ship wreck now

More civ pod qna Austin saying “do you ever get the feeling cad bane and obi wan would begrudgingly respect each other if circumstances forced them to work together they would hit off” is gonna take so fucking long to pay off I’ll just be vibrating at a low frequency for years now