Saturday, 15 November, 2003

Game statistics

Many feared System ¤ was too strong for its league. It seems as though those fears were unjustified.

In a great 1.5 hour game, Black Shadow's Bios were able to come back and sweep off the System ¤'s Belters. Sys ¤ were quick at taking over the map, placing a forward outpost very close to BS's home. Immediately, the multiple-fighter escort continued into BS' home and took down two miners, as a bomb rush was launching. The first failed, but quick pickups resulted in an immediate second strong assault. BS' mines and fighters were able to hold both and kept their home, but were lacking the expansion while Sys ¤ already had a forward Tele in another sector, along with a home expansion complex. The Bios were able to expand in the middle, also taking down a few enemy miners. They went sup and began the long research to full sup tech.

The main part of the game revolved around bombing and counter-bombing. BS was able to mount strong bomber runs and, using Bios cloak technology, often flew through probed sectors unseen and surprised Sys ¤ with an attack which was often successful. As the map was pushed one side or the other, Grey_Slayer was purchasing a Shipyard along with Missile Frigates. Quickly, two missile frigates launched and took down a lot, if not all of BS' expansion. Grey_Slayer was able to, piloting a MF, take down the enemy Starbase. It seemed all over for the Bios, but their long-developing technology was about to pay off.

Long trains of fighters emerged from BS' home Supremacy Center and headed for nearby expansion bases, using Galvonic Blasters to take down anything they could find. In reaction, the Belters switched to technology bases (ungalvable) to replace their lost outposts and teleport receivers. As the map was once again slowly coming back to them, the Bios struck, as expected, with teleport probes, taking down Sys ¤'s Tactical Laboratory and Adv. Expansion Complex, leaving the Belters with regular interceptors to defend themselves against incoming bomber runs, which stroke at the Belters' Supremacy Center. Quickly, another EXP was built, and more missile frigates were sent out. Sys ¤'s second shipyard, which served as an outpost, was also taken down.

The Belters were unable to take any more assets, other than a few miners and refineries. It only took a few minutes for a Missile Frigate not to remain home and let a known bomber run take down the last base, the Garrison, ending Sys ¤'s first squad game with a loss.

Overconfidence may have been a factor to explain many things (like choosing Belters??), but the System ¤ probably will be much better prepared for their next squad games.