Scott Tortorice
13 Feb 08, 00:56
Sins of a Solar Empire is proving to be one heck of an addictive game. I just had an interesting battle on a random map. In a change of pace, my Advent empire is doing well enough to start invading some AI neighbors. My first foray was to take a volcanic world known as Saitama.
Using my stealthy Seeker vessel (a scout), I observed that there were only two enemy frigates guarding the whole system. Attack!
Well, just as my fleet warped in, NPC pirates launched a raid at the exact time! The enemy AI must have forseen trouble because a large fleet of his also warped in around the same time. In short, my simple push-over attack instantly became a three-way fleet action.
Why should I get my hands dirty when I can just warp out and wait for the NPC Pirates and the AI to maul each other? So that is what I did. Watching through the remote eyes of my scout, I saw the two slug it out until, surprisingly, the AI had enough and made a run for it, leaving his planet at the mercy of the pirates.
Time to go back to work.
We warped in and attacked the remaining pirates - about half the original fleet remained which made my work easier. Here are some shots of the action:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins1.jpg
My flagship Augustine, a Radiance-class battleship, leads the attack! The explosion in the back marks the demise of one of my two Aeria-class Drone Hosts - basically a 'baby carrier.' The enemy AI fleet logic loves to go after these defenseless vessels first, and clearly one of mine suffered as a result.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins2.jpg
Here we see some of my drone bombers, launched from the remaining carrier, doing an attack run on a Kodiak heavy crusier.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins4.jpg
The enemy cruiser is taking a pounding from all sides!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins5.jpg
Ultimately, the Kodiak's shields failed and its hull buckled.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins6.jpg
We had reduced the pirates but there was still work to be done. He we see three Disciple frigates, one heavily damaged and venting, observing the main battle from a safe distance.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins7.jpg
Augustine is seen taking on the last two NPC pirate vessels here. With nowhere left to run, the pirates were all but sitting ducks at this point.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins8.jpg
Here we see my fleet, strengthened by the arrival Aquinas, a newly christened Progenitor-class Mothership (the big vessel in the back), lined up for a planetary assault.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins9.jpg
One of my Purge-class planetary assault frigates launching some orbital missiles at the enemy AI colony.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins10.jpg
Lastly, the rest of my fleet gets in on the act and eliminate the last vestiges of the AI colony.
Victory! Next up, a neighboring asteroid belt ripe for the taking.
Using my stealthy Seeker vessel (a scout), I observed that there were only two enemy frigates guarding the whole system. Attack!
Well, just as my fleet warped in, NPC pirates launched a raid at the exact time! The enemy AI must have forseen trouble because a large fleet of his also warped in around the same time. In short, my simple push-over attack instantly became a three-way fleet action.
Why should I get my hands dirty when I can just warp out and wait for the NPC Pirates and the AI to maul each other? So that is what I did. Watching through the remote eyes of my scout, I saw the two slug it out until, surprisingly, the AI had enough and made a run for it, leaving his planet at the mercy of the pirates.
Time to go back to work.
We warped in and attacked the remaining pirates - about half the original fleet remained which made my work easier. Here are some shots of the action:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins1.jpg
My flagship Augustine, a Radiance-class battleship, leads the attack! The explosion in the back marks the demise of one of my two Aeria-class Drone Hosts - basically a 'baby carrier.' The enemy AI fleet logic loves to go after these defenseless vessels first, and clearly one of mine suffered as a result.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins2.jpg
Here we see some of my drone bombers, launched from the remaining carrier, doing an attack run on a Kodiak heavy crusier.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins4.jpg
The enemy cruiser is taking a pounding from all sides!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins5.jpg
Ultimately, the Kodiak's shields failed and its hull buckled.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins6.jpg
We had reduced the pirates but there was still work to be done. He we see three Disciple frigates, one heavily damaged and venting, observing the main battle from a safe distance.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins7.jpg
Augustine is seen taking on the last two NPC pirate vessels here. With nowhere left to run, the pirates were all but sitting ducks at this point.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins8.jpg
Here we see my fleet, strengthened by the arrival Aquinas, a newly christened Progenitor-class Mothership (the big vessel in the back), lined up for a planetary assault.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins9.jpg
One of my Purge-class planetary assault frigates launching some orbital missiles at the enemy AI colony.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd70/CrusaderScott/Sins10.jpg
Lastly, the rest of my fleet gets in on the act and eliminate the last vestiges of the AI colony.
Victory! Next up, a neighboring asteroid belt ripe for the taking.