Armchair Dragoons Forums

Wargaming => Intel Dump => Topic started by: Martok on December 04, 2020, 05:00:45 AM

Title: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on December 04, 2020, 05:00:45 AM
Posting shots from my current Stellaris campaign.  Because...well, I feel like it. 




An enemy paid one of the marauder clans to attack the Yv'Zorak Confederation (me).  The marauders then offered to call off their attack in exchange for me "contributing" a generous "donation".  However, I told them to stick it.  Thus commenced the Battle of Pharrim V... 


(https://i.imgur.com/qJQaXxh.jpg)

Both fleets consisted largely of corvettes & destroyers (raiders & frigates for the marauders), so the battle quickly devolved into a general scrum.  The ships with purple contrails and firing (mostly) blue lasers are mine; those with yellow contrails and shooting auto-cannons (the yellow-ish staccato fire) are the marauders. 



(https://i.imgur.com/I8F2xK3.jpg)

A closer view.  Things are heating up now:  In the left foreground, an enemy frigate's shields partially absorb a concentrated barrage from multiple Yv'Zorak warships.  In the middle foreground, one of my corvettes recklessly charges headlong through the middle of the battlefield, closing on its next target.  In the right foreground, an enemy raider dies, its back broken by withering Yv'Zorak laser fire. 



(https://i.imgur.com/Rx3l2Th.jpg)

A partially zoomed-in shot of the ISS Shieldmaiden, one of the only cruisers in my fleet.  She's one of several unique ships you can discover/acquire as a result of anomalies and/or events, and is usually more advanced than anything in your navy at the time.  She initially started the battle in more of a standoff position, but is now moving in closer to take the fight to the enemy. 



(https://i.imgur.com/YDIBTeC.jpg)

The cruiser ISS Lightsaber in action.  She's the newest, most powerful vessel in my navy; and like the Shieldmaiden, a unique ship you can only get from anomalies/events.  This was the first time I've ever encountered her in Stellaris, which is pretty amazing when you consider how many hours I've put into this game the last 3-4 years. 



(https://i.imgur.com/SeSqmTh.jpg)

Victory!!  That'll show those tossers. 



Title: Re: Screenshots thread
Post by: Undercovergeek on December 04, 2020, 06:47:25 AM
Did we come this far without a screenshot thread?!

Awesome shots by the way - it has been years since I played - the last time I did I had missive cruisers who would stand back and bombard the enemy and I had carriers loaded with bombers that would move in for close range attacks - I used to love watching the battles
Title: Re: Screenshots thread
Post by: trailrunner on December 04, 2020, 08:07:09 AM
Your screenshots: MacOS Catalina
My screenshots: DOS 3.1



Title: Re: Screenshots thread
Post by: Martok on December 04, 2020, 06:25:16 PM
Did we come this far without a screenshot thread?!

Awesome shots by the way - it has been years since I played - the last time I did I had missive cruisers who would stand back and bombard the enemy and I had carriers loaded with bombers that would move in for close range attacks - I used to love watching the battles

Thanks, 'geek!  Yeah, I love the battles in Stellaris as well.  They're aesthetically pleasing, plus I like the level of control you have -- there's enough player agency, but you're not micromanaging your ships either. 




Your screenshots: MacOS Catalina
My screenshots: DOS 3.1





It's all good!  Part of the reason I started this thread was so that we could all share stories about our games.  :2thumbs: 


Which one is this, by the way?  It looks like there's some fighting around a village or outpost(?). 


Title: Re: Screenshots thread
Post by: bbmike on December 04, 2020, 06:28:53 PM
I just wish you could have come up with a more interesting thread title and thread icon.  :whistle:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on December 04, 2020, 06:47:54 PM
Is that better, Ed?  ::) 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bbmike on December 04, 2020, 06:50:46 PM
(https://www.aarcentral.com/emoti/new/facep.gif)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bbmike on December 04, 2020, 06:51:48 PM
Ok, I'll start off the list of possibilities and pray others will chime in:

1. Screenshots of Awesomeness!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on December 04, 2020, 07:13:33 PM
When did BBMike become Mrs Dragoon.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on December 04, 2020, 07:14:38 PM
Martok, those are great. I love watching battles in Stellaris
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bbmike on December 04, 2020, 08:26:35 PM
When did BBMike become Mrs Dragoon.

 ???
Title: Re: Screenshots thread
Post by: trailrunner on December 04, 2020, 08:27:35 PM
It's all good!  Part of the reason I started this thread was so that we could all share stories about our games.  :2thumbs: 


Which one is this, by the way?  It looks like there's some fighting around a village or outpost(?).

That was my most recent game of ASL.  The scenario had the Russians counterattacking the Germans in a village outside Moscow in February 1942.  To win, the Russians had to take two of the two-hex buildings in the center.  The Russians had a strong force of stout elite units and partisans, but not many support weapons.  The Germans had a moderate force, but had to defend along the entire top and right edge, so they were initially spread pretty thin.  Snow on the ground slowed movement. 

The Russians put pressure on the Germans on the right, top, and left, and turn-by-turn collapsed the defense.  I was playing the Germans, and with a half turn to go, I thought I was sitting pretty with two medium machine guns, two squads, and a leader defending the top victory building, and a couple of squads, a light machine gun, and a leader defending the lower building.  I also had the 20L flak gun out front, and a 1st line squad on the left.  That should have been impregnable, especially with those MMGs, but the dice were not my side and those stupid machine guns shot nerf and the defenders wet their pants instead of doing what they were paid to do: kill the commie bastards.  The 20L crew and the squad on the left had too much schnapps and also managed to avoid actually hitting anything.  Despite this disappointing display of defiant defense, the tattered remnants of a squad managed to hold on to one hex in the lower building, and another squad in the upper building was locked in melee, preventing the Russians from controlling that building.  No Iron Crosses were awarded, but nonetheless, it was a win for the Germans.

Here is a representative picture of the German 20L gun in the center of the map.


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on December 04, 2020, 08:54:51 PM
When did BBMike become Mrs Dragoon.

I thought it was more like that kid that never moves out of the house after college. After all, he has his own room in the basement around here. And if you listen real close you can hear him yelling up to Brant that he is out of Mt. Dew and Cheetos  :2funny:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on December 04, 2020, 09:22:04 PM
When did BBMike become Mrs Dragoon.

I thought it was more like that kid that never moves out of the house after college. After all, he has his own room in the basement around here. And if you listen real close you can hear him yelling up to Brant that he is out of Mt. Dew and Cheetos  :2funny:

 :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bbmike on December 04, 2020, 09:22:39 PM
 ???
WTF? Maybe it's time I thought about moving on from here.
Title: Re: Screenshots thread
Post by: Martok on December 05, 2020, 12:37:21 AM
^  I forbid it!  I need someone to share in my rage against the nuTrek!  :kling: 




That was my most recent game of ASL.  The scenario had the Russians counterattacking the Germans in a village outside Moscow in February 1942.  To win, the Russians had to take two of the two-hex buildings in the center.  The Russians had a strong force of stout elite units and partisans, but not many support weapons.  The Germans had a moderate force, but had to defend along the entire top and right edge, so they were initially spread pretty thin.  Snow on the ground slowed movement. 

The Russians put pressure on the Germans on the right, top, and left, and turn-by-turn collapsed the defense.  I was playing the Germans, and with a half turn to go, I thought I was sitting pretty with two medium machine guns, two squads, and a leader defending the top victory building, and a couple of squads, a light machine gun, and a leader defending the lower building.  I also had the 20L flak gun out front, and a 1st line squad on the left.  That should have been impregnable, especially with those MMGs, but the dice were not my side and those stupid machine guns shot nerf and the defenders wet their pants instead of doing what they were paid to do: kill the commie bastards.  The 20L crew and the squad on the left had too much schnapps and also managed to avoid actually hitting anything.  Despite this disappointing display of defiant defense, the tattered remnants of a squad managed to hold on to one hex in the lower building, and another squad in the upper building was locked in melee, preventing the Russians from controlling that building.  No Iron Crosses were awarded, but nonetheless, it was a win for the Germans.

Here is a representative picture of the German 20L gun in the center of the map.

Very cool!  Sounds like a properly tense scenario. 

Although...given you managed to win despite RNJesus apparently hating your guts, it seems like the Soviet side would have a hard time succeeding in this one regardless.  Yes?  No? 


Title: Re: Screenshots thread
Post by: trailrunner on December 05, 2020, 06:31:49 AM

Although...given you managed to win despite RNJesus apparently hating your guts, it seems like the Soviet side would have a hard time succeeding in this one regardless.  Yes?  No?

I'd say it's a pretty balanced scenario, and the results in ROAR also show it to be balanced.  My opponent thought he should've been more aggressive, and maybe if he had he would've attrited me more and not allowed me to be a strong defensive position at the end.  As the attacker, he has to move, and the special snow rule that slowed movement bit him in the ass a few times.  And despite my grumbling about luck turning against me on the last turn, if I was objective I should admit that I might've been on the better side of luck earlier in the game, which contributed to me being able to be in the strong position at the end.  My opponent did masterfully place a demo charge on a key stack of my units, but he rolled high on the attack and I managed to survive without a scratch.  But then next turn, he nailed those units on a low firepower shot, so who knows?

But yeah, it was tense.  Games that come down to the last turn are the best!  I went from being full of confidence to biting my nails.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on December 05, 2020, 09:44:27 AM
Markok, are you using the 2.8 test version.
Title: Re: Screenshots thread
Post by: Martok on December 05, 2020, 10:58:57 AM
I'd say it's a pretty balanced scenario, and the results in ROAR also show it to be balanced.  My opponent thought he should've been more aggressive, and maybe if he had he would've attrited me more and not allowed me to be a strong defensive position at the end.  As the attacker, he has to move, and the special snow rule that slowed movement bit him in the ass a few times.  And despite my grumbling about luck turning against me on the last turn, if I was objective I should admit that I might've been on the better side of luck earlier in the game, which contributed to me being able to be in the strong position at the end.  My opponent did masterfully place a demo charge on a key stack of my units, but he rolled high on the attack and I managed to survive without a scratch.  But then next turn, he nailed those units on a low firepower shot, so who knows?

But yeah, it was tense.  Games that come down to the last turn are the best!  I went from being full of confidence to biting my nails.

Awesome!  Yeah, those kinds of battles/scenarios are great (nerve-wracking as they are).  :) 




Markok, are you using the 2.8 test version.

Nope, still playing v2.1.3 (with mods). 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on December 05, 2020, 12:18:56 PM
???
WTF? Maybe it's time I thought about moving on from here.

No, sorry, I was just in a smart ass/jack ass mood last night.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on December 05, 2020, 03:17:54 PM
???
WTF? Maybe it's time I thought about moving on from here.

No, sorry, I was just in a smart ass/jack ass mood last night.

Same  :-[

Plus you can't leave I need someone enabling the solo player in me against all the solo haters out there.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bbmike on December 05, 2020, 04:05:34 PM
I'm not going anywhere yet, you'd know if I did decide to leave. I wasn't in the best mood either last night.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on December 10, 2020, 11:01:53 PM
Another marauder clan was hired to invade my territory (argh!).  They gave me the same ultimatum as their previous (and unfortunate) "colleagues", which I likewise rejected.  Soon afterwards, sensors picked up their fleet headed towards my borders.  In response, the Yv'Zorak 3rd Fleet was deployed to the Barthheart system, its location being the key to securing the eastern half of the newly-established Dragoons sector.  The stage was set for the Battle of Barthheart II. 




(https://i.imgur.com/gM7B0OW.jpg)

Both sides fire their opening salvos.  On the right, the marauders continue to make heavy use of auto-cannons (particularly on their Outrider-class raiders), along with the usual lasers and railguns.  On the left, my ships are likewise sporting lasers and railguns (both newly-upgraded), and -- for the first time -- disruptors.  Disruptors do less damage, but they penetrate both shields and armor; they're pretty nice to have overall. 



(https://i.imgur.com/BSdAnKh.jpg)

The fight rages above the uninhabited planet Barthheart II, which rotates serenely unaware of the struggle taking place only several thousand kilometers beyond its lethally toxic atmosphere.  In the center, a Yv'Zorak destroyer and an enemy frigate barely miss colliding into each other.  (Knowing the marauders, it's entirely possible they tried ramming the destroyer on purpose.) 



(https://i.imgur.com/cSgZ9lI.jpg)

A couple of my destroyers circle around the heaviest fighting in an attempt to flank the marauders while still taking fire.  While not as effective as their auto-cannons, the sheer number of enemy lasers and (especially) railguns is taking its toll; I've lost quite a few ships to them. 



(https://i.imgur.com/iFgqPAM.jpg)

I entered this battle with the superior force -- but only on paper.  In addition to the aforementioned auto-cannons and particle beams, there's the problem that the marauders have cruisers...and I don't.  Here, we see one of them shrugging off a group of Yv'Zorak corvettes attempting to harry it. 



(https://i.imgur.com/uXOXftI.jpg)

Two more enemy cruisers in action.  It may not be apparent in this shot, but they're absolutely pounding my fleet.  They've actually begun turning the tide, and I'm now in real danger of losing this battle.  This could be...bad. 



(https://i.imgur.com/lJSje16.jpg)

Thankfully, the enemy admiral makes a crucial mistake:  They decide to simultaneously engage Fort Vance, the starbase guarding the Barthheart system, while still mopping up my fleet.  (Not sure how obvious it is, but some of the weapons fire on the left is coming from the starbase.)  Fort Vance packs a bigger punch than I think the marauders were expecting... 



(https://i.imgur.com/UnS1jhG.jpg)

Victory -- again...but at a far greater cost this time. 




[Note to self:  Must.  Research.  Cruisers.] 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Barthheart on December 11, 2020, 07:26:08 AM
 :bigthumb: Ft. Vance FTW!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on December 11, 2020, 07:29:38 PM
:bigthumb: Ft. Vance FTW!

Heh, yep.  They definitely pulled my feet out of the fire that time!  Thanks to the valiant efforts of 3rd Fleet and Ft. Vance, the marauders were stopped from ravaging nearby systems, including Anguille, Cyrano, Panzerde, Stelgrav, and Tuna.  8) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: tuna on December 12, 2020, 08:48:10 AM
:bigthumb: Ft. Vance FTW!

Heh, yep.  They definitely pulled my feet out of the fire that time!  Thanks to the valiant efforts of 3rd Fleet and Ft. Vance, the marauders were stopped from ravaging nearby systems, including Anguille, Cyrano, Panzerde, Stelgrav, and Tuna.  8)

Those aren't Klingon names!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on December 12, 2020, 09:38:41 AM
A bit of an anti-climax.

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: trailrunner on December 12, 2020, 11:12:10 AM
We played two turns of an ASL scenario yesterday.  The Americans have to capture one of two victory hexes, denoted by the red counter.  The Germans have to prevent this.  I'm playing the Germans.

In this scenario, the challenge for the Germans is to defend a broad front, and keep the Americans out of *both* victory hexes.  This means they are strung out a bit trying to guess where the Americans will attack.  The Americans have a a lot of firepower, and they can choose their attack vector.  The Germans do get some good reinforcements, but not until the 3rd turn, and the reinforcements enter in the lower part of the board.  When I set up the Germans, I kept this mind and made the left side a little weaker.  I also figured the stone buildings would help me on defense.

Well, that was the plan.  Stone buildings are great, until the opening artillery barrage (a special scenario rule) pins my forward defense.  Then the Americans massed their forces on the left side and took some high firepower shots at defenders in stone buildings, which broke them, then attrited them to vapor.  They were sacrificial but were barely a speed bump, and I lost a good leader.  The Americans are making good progress on the left side, and the way their units are positioned, my reinforcements are going to have a hard time entering unscathed.  The few defending forces I have there don't have much firepower.  I have managed to stymie the American attack on the right side, and I also repulsed the attack in the center, but my defenses on the right are thin with no depth.

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on December 12, 2020, 03:03:49 PM
Those aren't Klingon names!

Neither are the rest of these.  (Of course, I'm not playing as a Klingon in this game either.)  :biggrin: 


(https://i.imgur.com/Dbbj1Dv.jpg)

The Newcastle system (guarded by the starbase Fort Bawb) sits closest to the sector's "geographical" center, with the sector capital of Guillory just a hyper-jump to the southwest of it.  To the west of Guillory, the Banzai system boasts a habitable planet not yet colonized (it's on my "to-do" list).  Up north, the strategic importance of the Panzerde system will soon increase by a couple orders of magnitude, as I'm currently researching the necessary technology to traverse the Gateway located there.  8)


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on December 12, 2020, 03:08:03 PM
A bit of an anti-climax.

Hey, at least it's a happy ending.  :peace: 

Which game is that, by the way? 




We played two turns of an ASL scenario yesterday.  The Americans have to capture one of two victory hexes, denoted by the red counter.  The Germans have to prevent this.  I'm playing the Germans.

In this scenario, the challenge for the Germans is to defend a broad front, and keep the Americans out of *both* victory hexes.  This means they are strung out a bit trying to guess where the Americans will attack.  The Americans have a a lot of firepower, and they can choose their attack vector.  The Germans do get some good reinforcements, but not until the 3rd turn, and the reinforcements enter in the lower part of the board.  When I set up the Germans, I kept this mind and made the left side a little weaker.  I also figured the stone buildings would help me on defense.

Well, that was the plan.  Stone buildings are great, until the opening artillery barrage (a special scenario rule) pins my forward defense.  Then the Americans massed their forces on the left side and took some high firepower shots at defenders in stone buildings, which broke them, then attrited them to vapor.  They were sacrificial but were barely a speed bump, and I lost a good leader.  The Americans are making good progress on the left side, and the way their units are positioned, my reinforcements are going to have a hard time entering unscathed.  The few defending forces I have there don't have much firepower.  I have managed to stymie the American attack on the right side, and I also repulsed the attack in the center, but my defenses on the right are thin with no depth.



So is the lesson here that stone buildings in this scenario are really a trap?  (Did you even have a better choice, given the circumstances?) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on December 12, 2020, 03:50:42 PM
Its Urtuk, The Desolation. I got it in a sale and its actually surprisingly good. I've been playing for quite a while and got something like 300+ hours on it.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on December 12, 2020, 04:48:42 PM
The few defending forces I have there don't have much firepower.  I have managed to stymie the American attack on the right side, and I also repulsed the attack in the center, but my defenses on the right are thin with no depth.

yeah, having to cover multiple potential victory locations when the other guy only needs one of them is a pain
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: trailrunner on December 12, 2020, 08:40:19 PM

So is the lesson here that stone buildings in this scenario are really a trap?  (Did you even have a better choice, given the circumstances?)

Stone buildings are usually good defensive terrain because it's hard to dislodge units from them.  But with enough of the powerful American units, they can firegroup to get enough power to have a good chance to overcome the defensive benefit of stone buildings.  They can also advance and use their strong assault fire capability to both move and shoot.  (The disadvantage of American units is that they have low morale and break easily.)  My forces are too weak to counterattack effectively, so I have to hide rather than shoot.  The best I can do is skulk (a tactic to move out of LOS during your turn to avoid defensive fire), or move back a hex at a time to slow him down as much as possible.

In retrospect, my forward defense on the left didn't work too well, but I didn't want to let him just walk across the street and get himself into the stone buildings.  Perhaps I could've moved my medium MG to cover that approach, but my placement of it in the center turned out to be very effective.  I expected to lose my forward defense, but I was hoping that they would slow them down just a bit longer until my reinforcements arrived.  Perhaps I should've set up a hex or two back, but if I would've done that, they could have swarmed across the street and then surround me pretty quickly.  I also had to carefully balance my meager forces to defend all across the front: if I would've had a stronger defense on the left, then I would have had to give up something in the center or the right, and he could've concentrated his attack there. 

Ah well, that's what makes this fun, and it's not over yet.  I've had a lot of ASL games that I thought were won or lost, only to have the tables turned.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on December 16, 2020, 04:39:01 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/wyXEuo9.jpg)

In the remote Thabit system, the Yv'Zorak Confederation's 1st and 4th Fleets battle something out of myth and legend.  It's like watching a kraken being attacked by a school of piranhas. 



(https://i.imgur.com/XkOBsu3.jpg)

Nearly two hundred warships and their crews were dispatched to take it out.  Barely half of them would survive to return home. 



(https://i.imgur.com/ncHNbnw.jpg)

Yet they did prevail in the end.  After some deliberation (and with a fair amount of urging from the Admiralty), the Yv'Zorak government decided to repair the mighty vessel to serve as the navy's flagship. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on January 26, 2021, 03:50:41 PM
Rome 2 with the DEI Mod. Check-out Rome's newest class of warship, The BAB Class or, Big Ass Ballista Class. She wallows like a pregnant hippopotamus in the water but she can put a flaming bolt through your front room window from down-town Cleveland.

One of the things I like best about this mod is the way it handles navies. What you can build in your Shipwrights is limited by your Culture and the Tech you research. Rome can't build crap by herself for a very long time and a big naval power like Carthage, Athens, or Egypt will put their boots to your buttocks easily until you can catch-up. But you can conquer their Shipwright Cities and adapt their Tech to your use. Then you still have to have the coin and the right class of citizens to man them but you can build a First Class Navy. And with a good Admiral to lead them and a little Experience, you've got a truly powerful force.

It takes longer than vanilla does and costs a lot, both the build and to maintain them but your navies feel more real and like a true national treasure not be wasted on sight-seeing. Add in the mod's Supply Mechanic where you suffer Attrition when in a Sea Region without a friendly port adjacent, and you got a lot to consider rather than just build and sail, build and sail. Fortunately you can, with the right Tech, build Supply Ships that allow your fleets to stay in supply wherever they go. Then you can start to project some real Naval Power.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on January 27, 2021, 01:52:51 AM
Dang it, Sir Slash, and I had just started new campaign in Warhammer II.  Now I want to fire up DEI again.  :P 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on January 27, 2021, 12:11:41 PM
Sorry. The Orks would LOVE this ship.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on January 29, 2021, 09:05:13 PM
Desperately trying to get a game started but always lured away by mini painting - must out brushes down
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: judgedredd on January 30, 2021, 02:10:46 AM
We (bob and I and Tuna) were talking about you the other day UCG...about painting.

We were talking about modelling and that my least enjoyable part about model making is painting. I love building them but then I get myself all hett up when it comes to painting. My A-10 has been sitting waiting for more than just a coat of undercoat for about 5 months. AND - I won't touch another model until I've got it painted and done.

Bob was saying how much you enjoy painting mini's and do commissions now...good on you. I've seen your work - it's very good.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on January 30, 2021, 02:34:58 AM
Cheers JD - I find it a very calming and relaxing hobby - its one of the few things I can do that clears my mind of everything - if I watch tv or play a pc game I’m either thinking about what to paint or work or the weather but painting just zones me out

I will say the issue with monetising the hobby is when you stop it makes you think you’re losing money but I take a relaxed approach to it - fortunately I don’t play the games I paint for so I never feel my own minis are suffering
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 16, 2021, 04:52:53 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/bzZqLEv.jpg)

Back in the game!!

I feel instantly familiar with the Empire although i never played them on the table top - this is the first battle triggered by a mission on starting the campaign - i took 601 men and lost 109 after destroying the heinous Empire cessationists
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on February 16, 2021, 06:22:08 AM
 :bigthumb:

Looks like a match between Birmingham City and Man U.

C'MON THE BLUES!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 16, 2021, 06:30:54 AM
Ahem - I’m the reds!!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on February 16, 2021, 06:31:44 AM
You poor misguided person :-)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 16, 2021, 06:39:42 AM
I would never support man United but my empire friends here have donned the red of altdorf
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on February 16, 2021, 07:45:06 AM
Claret and blue would be better, some would say. I have to stick to black-and-white if I value the integrity of all me dangly bits. :biggrin:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 16, 2021, 08:57:15 AM
 ;D ;D
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 16, 2021, 12:36:58 PM
VERY nice, UCG.  :applause:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 16, 2021, 04:28:04 PM
Back in the game!!

I feel instantly familiar with the Empire although i never played them on the table top - this is the first battle triggered by a mission on starting the campaign - i took 601 men and lost 109 after destroying the heinous Empire cessationists

Fantastic!  :bigthumb: 

I'm not sure why, but I absolutely love the Empire in Warhammer TW/WH2.  There's something about them that just resonates with me.  Not even the Dwarfs (who I enjoy both thematically and their play-style) get as much love from me. 


One quick tip regarding the Empire:  I've found it's wise to always keep at least 1000 Prestige in reserve, as otherwise you may be forced to make a choice you don't want to when a Dilemma pops up.  (Stupid secessions and civil wars; grr...) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 16, 2021, 04:36:26 PM
As for me, I find myself in a fairly unusual starting position in my current game of Stellaris


(https://i.imgur.com/kuxHWx5.jpg)


In short, the first three star nations I've encountered are all Fallen Empires: the Ancient Caretakers (robots) to the east, Enigmatic Observers (Fanatic Xenophiles) to the west, and Keepers of Knowledge (Fanatic Materialists) to the south.  I kinda feel like a kid learning to ride a bike, with all the adults hovering nearby, ready to grab me if I wobble...  ;D 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bbmike on February 16, 2021, 05:04:45 PM
What's with that tan-ish looking blob on the map? It looks like that thing that was on Spock's back in Operation -- Annihilate!  ???
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Barthheart on February 16, 2021, 06:44:36 PM
It’s the space he has explored.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 16, 2021, 09:02:43 PM
^  Correct.  People just tend not to notice it as much normally, as the map is busier with names, icons, etc. (which I temporarily removed for simplicity's sake). 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 01, 2021, 02:48:00 PM
After a very easy fight which I auto'ed the first quest mission was triggered - Middenheim is sending reinforcements to the cessationists and I have a chance to ambush the ne'er do wells whilst theyre marching - we wait quietly in the woods

(https://i.imgur.com/70H9yzt.jpg)

whilst the missile troops start pinging the baddies from the rear

(https://i.imgur.com/5lMNY8l.jpg)

The first column is destroyed easily, the reinforcements sent next dont get far past the pistol toting militia - the prize - a Grey battle wizard who has a spell thatll take your breath away

(https://i.imgur.com/wikhIku.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 01, 2021, 07:01:39 PM
Nice screeshots!  :bigthumb: 


I love that quest battle.  Being able to go all Teutoburg Forest on their asses is highly satisfying. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on March 01, 2021, 10:49:44 PM
NICE UCG! Ne'er-Do-Wells deserve to get whacked from the woods.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 02, 2021, 07:46:50 AM
Nice screeshots!  :bigthumb: 


I love that quest battle.  Being able to go all Teutoburg Forest on their asses is highly satisfying.

Onto the cash cow that is Marienburg next

The last time I played the empire was on day 1 release - I have no idea what all this prestige and authority is about!!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 02, 2021, 06:13:09 PM
Onto the cash cow that is Marienburg next

Recruit Gotrek & Felix if you can!  They often offer their services to the Empire first, in which case they'll typically show up in the first 10 turns. 




The last time I played the empire was on day 1 release - I have no idea what all this prestige and authority is about!!

Imperial authority needs to stay above 0 in order to avoid negative effects; having it at 1 or higher bestows positive effects.  You also suffer a -3 penalty to Authority every time you confederate an Empire province, so actually keeping your authority at 4 or higher is ideal. 

Prestige is used for a variety of things, including "spending" some to recruit better-quality Lords, or being able to increase your Authority when certain dilemmas pop up.  Prestige can also be used to avert a lot of the more negative outcomes from other types of dilemmas (including civil war between you and an Empire province, or war between other Empire provinces), so it's a good idea to keep at least 1000 Prestige "in the bank" for emergencies. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 02, 2021, 09:34:44 PM
Can I adjust authority manually or is it earned?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 02, 2021, 11:16:26 PM
It is earned, although you can gain a fair chunk via dilemmas as well.  Prestige works in a similar fashion. 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 02, 2021, 11:20:11 PM
Thanks martok - I’ve only had a few decisions to make so far - the majority been XXX demands this province and your popularity rises and falls with the gainer/loser
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 03, 2021, 12:52:04 PM
You're welcome, ucg.  :)  Yeah, a fair number of dilemmas are essentially a way to boost fealty with Empire provinces more quickly (although it will still rise gradually over time as well). 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 06, 2021, 12:40:48 AM
From my current Stellaris campaign.  I was fighting my second (defensive) war against the XT-489 Eliminators, a powerful machine empire bent on destroying all organic life in the galaxy (starting with me, apparently).  The "Battle of the Belt", taking place in the Tropallum system, proved to be the turning point in the war. 

I freely admit I was only able to win this one thanks to the combined might of myself, the Varelviv Union, who are a protectorate under my overlord-ship, and the Blorg Commonality, my vassal.  Having their fleets fighting alongside mine made for a nice "Gondor calls for aid" moment. 



(https://i.imgur.com/hnd5OnR.jpg)

This was before the mid-point of the game, so everyone's fleets still consisted of corvettes & destroyers (hence the general scrum).  The XT-489 ships' contrails are red, mine are green, the Veralviv's are blue, and the Blorg's are purple. 



(https://i.imgur.com/QDxOZZa.jpg)

Near the heart of the battle, where the fighting was most intense. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on March 06, 2021, 08:01:37 AM
That's a lot of pew-pew
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on March 06, 2021, 02:26:20 PM
Quite the epic fight
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 06, 2021, 04:40:37 PM
Yeah, it was a fairly big battle, at least by near mid-game standards (y2293).  The XT-489 fleet consisted of nearly 200 ships, and the combined allied fleet had around 250. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 06, 2021, 11:26:21 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/hnd5OnR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QDxOZZa.jpg)

Looks like a Daft Punk concert  ;D
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 07, 2021, 02:59:00 AM
Hard disagree.  Not enough lasers. 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 07, 2021, 07:52:46 AM
What was the ship count at the end of that Martok
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on March 07, 2021, 08:02:06 AM
Looks like a Daft Punk concert  ;D

not anymore....   :(
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 07, 2021, 03:29:06 PM
What was the ship count at the end of that Martok

If memory serves, the enemy fleet was down to around 165 ships, and me & my clients/allies numbered ~225. 

Losses weren't actually that high for either side, but the XT-489's fleet was reduced enough that I was able to seize both the offensive and the momentum from them.  Since the Battle of the Belt, I've taken around 75% of their territory, including most of their colonies.  I'm not going to be able to completely eradicate them before war exhaustion forces an end to the current conflict, but they won't be a serious threat again. 

My third war with them -- when it inevitably breaks out -- will be their last.  8) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 09, 2021, 06:56:44 AM
Since the first release the devs have added an extra town to the start up province and moved one to a much harder place - this is the extra one, not a problem in itself........

(https://i.imgur.com/rEXC6BN.jpg)

......except its just around the corner from this one - the enemy lord here can reach Obersreik in one turn, sack it, steal all the gold and retreat behind these walls in the mountain again. His army plus the garrison in the mountain hold is too much for my forces to take so we need a cunning plan, as cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ck8OXeV.jpg)

It took a while but i finally remembered the ambush stance - hide in the woods outside Ubersreik and wait for the Mountain Lord to come by, he avoided the ambush for 3 turns but on the fourth I caught him, slaughtered him and his personal army in the forest and then rode into the mountains and took his keep - a very satisfying 'pour a whiskey and smile slyly' moment

Just before the end of the turn we get a notation that Nuln and Wissenland may be ripe for revolt and civil war - have to keep an eye on them

(https://i.imgur.com/m9kjoJY.jpg)

Heres the last of the towns needed to secure the province - theres some good news and bad news here - as we attacked a solitary cessationist lord ran out of the back of the territory and disappeared - a victory here will not destroy the faction and in all likelihood hell return with an army to cause trouble later on - but on the positive side we took the place against the odds with some thanks to the wizards spell - something Pendulum, it produces a huge swinging axe and you can steer the direction of the swing - perfect for lines of infantry that have engaged my front line, it appears in the sky and hacks through everything in the direction youve lined it up, in one swing 147 enemy were destroyed as it chopped through 2 lines of swordsmen and a spearman unit who routed and took the majoirty of the army with them

(https://i.imgur.com/v9mobWu.jpg)

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 09, 2021, 09:49:23 PM
Nice job!  Especially with taking care of the Mountain Lord.  He likes to raid/sack Ubersreik and/or Helmgart if left unmolested.  >:( 


Be ready for Wissenland to openly revolt and declare war; it seems to be inevitable most of the time.  Subsequently, maxing out Grunburg's defenses & garrison is usually a top priority for me, as is recruiting a second army to defend it.  (Of course, the second army can also be used to support Karl's force if you choose to invade Wissenland instead.) 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 10, 2021, 04:41:57 AM
Going to have a bash at Marienburg first and then will look to wissenland if I can’t get them inline
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 10, 2021, 01:29:32 PM
Solid plan.  Especially since Louen often seems to get his hands on Marienburg first otherwise, which can make things...awkward. 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 12, 2021, 03:23:27 AM
Marienburg has 3 times the armies i have and a standing garrison - its suicide to attack them until theyre distracted by other forces. Whilst pondering the problem the solo cessationsist leader emerges from the forest and attacks - him and whos army? Nope, no army, just him - he fails miserably and dies with the last hope of the cessationists

(https://i.imgur.com/2S9tZ39.jpg)

We recruit the Sons of Sigmar - a band of unbreakable swordsmen - they will hold the centre of every line with Karl Franz

(https://i.imgur.com/9ZFWdsL.jpg)

Wandering the lands looking for a fight I trigger the next quest - a rogue Vampire Lord fancies a fight after stealing the silver seal from the Empire - we meet on top of a hill - its touch and go for a while after my missile troops become distracted by 36 huge crypt monsters behind them - once theyre dispatched they can turn their attention to picking off the undead leadership and the flanks of the stinky dead - job done

(https://i.imgur.com/eC8gbhR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DawvTp0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VkVfn69.jpg)

After roaming the lands looking for an enemy other than Marienburg and becoming desperate we're presented with this dilemma - Talabecland are almost at the point of bowing their heads in fealty and Middenland....... arent - we declare war on the troublesome midlanders

(https://i.imgur.com/IZs7sza.jpg)

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on March 12, 2021, 06:09:56 AM
Nice one, 'geek  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: trailrunner on March 12, 2021, 07:33:27 AM
I finished an ASL game recently.  I was the defending Germans.  My opponent played the Americans, and had to control one of two hexes.  The map was quite large and, since I didn't know which victory hex he would go after, I had to defend across a wide area.  As the defender, I never feel like I had enough units, and the Americans seemed to have plenty of powerful troops, MGs, and demolition charges.

The Americans launched strong attacks on both the right and the left.  The attackers on the right ran into bad luck.  I only had two squads, a leader, and a MMG on that side to defend, but they hunkered down in a building and did a great job holding off the attackers, and nothing really developed there.

The attack on the left was a different story.  The Americans swept through the village and advanced rapidly.  The screenshot shows the action near the end.  The victory hex is the upper left hex, with an LMG and a red counter underneath the stack.  My defensive anchor on this side was an HMG with a good field of fire, but it malfunctioned, then broke, early in the game.  Sigh.  I did have some strong reinforcements coming in on the left, but the Americans cut them down when they entered and decimated them before they could do anything.

On the last turn, the Americans pushed towards the victory hex.  They tried to place a DC on a fine stack of elite Germans (this is shown in the screenshot), but the American squad couldn't survive the defensive fire, so the DC was not set, and they fell short of the victory hex.  Close, very close.

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 12, 2021, 10:44:08 PM
@Undercovergeek:  Taking it to Toddy!  Most excellent.  8) 


@trailrunner:  Nice.  Sounds like a satisfyingly tense battle all the way to the end.  :) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 27, 2021, 04:28:46 PM
After saving Stirland from a Skaven attack their fealty crosses the magic 10 number and they offer to confederate - the Emperors lands double over night - the bad news is we now border the Vampire lands and theres 2 extra armies i need to cull to rebalance our books but this is godd news all in all

(https://i.imgur.com/DZwkOrT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SmcKNT4.jpg)

Meanwhile in Middenland, we blow right through Carroburg and take Weismund after a huge battle that i got so excited about i forgot any shots - needless to say my 1500 versus their 2500 but we won - after resting to replenish we march east and stand at the walls of Middenstag - its empty

(https://i.imgur.com/gSPjGNP.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 27, 2021, 11:00:43 PM
Whoa, Middenstag is empty?  Where the heck is Toddy at??  Surely he didn't just abandon his own province.  ??? 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 28, 2021, 05:26:45 AM
He escaped with literally a scrap of his life from the battle of Weismund - there’s one province left Middenheim? The capital, I’m guessing he’s in there

I just need to take a turn or two sorting stirland

Had a battle where the orcs attacked helmgart and resolved it to save time and lost - went back and played it and lost 8 troops in a heroic victory
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 29, 2021, 03:16:36 AM
Nice.  :bigthumb:  Yeah, it seems like the auto-resolve screws you even more than normal when it comes to defending Helmgart, or any of the other pass fortifications you happen to own. 


Good luck with going after Toddy! 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 29, 2021, 09:12:15 AM
I must admit to using a legend of total war tactic with helmgart

I let them have the walls and come marching in column up that central slope - parked 5 crossbow men and the mortars in the central keep behind that unassailable wall and just shot them like fish in a barrel - it’s slaughter - don’t even know how I suffered 8 casualties as they never got past that wall
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 29, 2021, 04:19:54 PM
I don't think anyone can deny his tactics are effective.  ;) 



don’t even know how I suffered 8 casualties as they never got past that wall

I've long suspected there's a certain amount of inevitable casualties one suffers from friendly fire, even if it's only a handful. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 29, 2021, 05:15:11 PM
don’t even know how I suffered 8 casualties as they never got past that wall

I've long suspected there's a certain amount of inevitable casualties one suffers from friendly fire, even if it's only a handful.

You sure it's "friendly fire" and not "having a few too many pints and falling off the wall?"  ;D
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 29, 2021, 06:36:29 PM
Unless there’s an ACD like revenge mechanism whereby if the officers not looking you just hoy your least favourite over the wall
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 29, 2021, 08:08:01 PM
Nearly 5 years after purchasing Stellaris (and over 2000 hours invested), I finally managed to play long enough to achieve one of the victory conditions.  :D 


(https://i.imgur.com/Nxkd6hp.jpg)



The current galactic map:  I'm overlord of 4 other star nations, including 3 custom-created empires (that randomly spawned in). 

(https://i.imgur.com/DB3zzFL.jpg)



The starbase of Fort McKinley and Bubbles the space amoeba stand guard over my home system. 

(https://i.imgur.com/sLLyxE1.jpg)



My homeworld & capital planet. 

(https://i.imgur.com/MscPYzE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Fh4Gjln.jpg)





This is definitely not the end of the game, though:  I elected to continue playing, as there's still so many things yet that I want to do and/or see!  Those four protectorates/vassals need to be integrated into my empire, I need to launch more liberation wars against some of my neighbors to make them more "friendly" ( >:D ), a few Leviathans still need to be hunted down, I just got the Horizon Signal, and of course, I'd really like to deal with the end-game crisis (in whatever form it shows up in).  And those are just the things I can think of off the top of my head...  :) 

This is the most fun I've had with Stellaris in a very long time, and I intend to make the most of it.  If necessary, I'll even delay upgrading to 3.0 in order to finish this campaign (if it comes to that).  Now if you'll excuse me, the stars beckon.  8) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on March 29, 2021, 08:19:28 PM
Very cool!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 30, 2021, 04:14:34 AM
Awesome - never done that
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bbmike on March 30, 2021, 07:52:17 AM
That is cool!  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on April 05, 2021, 08:27:35 PM
Been playing the ARMA 3 campaign recently and after getting stuck on a mission for awhile finally eliminated the AFV I had been stalking.

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 05, 2021, 10:56:54 PM
Nice!  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: judgedredd on April 06, 2021, 02:28:57 AM
Almost there. I had an 88 hold me up for a while until I dropped some HE on it. I've lost all 3 squads of 3rd Platoon...I do have 3 fire teams I can reconstitute into a squad again should I have the commands to spare.

It's turn 9 next and I have one objective to grab but there's an MG squad in trenches sitting on it...+4 cover so I'm going to have to do some more HE if the command cards will just run right for me.

I haven't had a whole lot of luck with the cards. The Germans have been getting away with misses on 0s and -1s and I've been getting hits on +1 and +2s
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 15, 2021, 11:55:46 AM
Rome 2 with the DEI Mod. The proud soldiers of the Macedonian Silver Shield Pikes await their foes, the Spartans.  Booo!   :thumbdown:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on April 15, 2021, 02:48:19 PM
Go, Macedon! 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 15, 2021, 11:40:00 PM
They like to form-up with their backs to a giant Red Line. It both confuses and intimidates their enemies.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on April 17, 2021, 04:36:30 AM
 ;D 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on April 18, 2021, 01:34:55 PM
Half-track making short work of infantry who are desperately trying to lay a smoke screen as they advance.

Game - Graviteam Tactics Mius Front

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on April 18, 2021, 04:43:15 PM
Nice.  Red Army? 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on April 18, 2021, 07:44:41 PM
Nice.  Red Army?

Yes
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on April 29, 2021, 08:43:04 AM
Boomer and 2 of my fleets ambushing an enemy fleet as they jumped into the system.  The slaughter was great!!

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on April 29, 2021, 10:09:25 AM
Boomer and 2 of my fleets ambushing an enemy fleet as they jumped into the system.  The slaughter was great!!

Nice fleet you have there
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on April 29, 2021, 05:25:34 PM
Awesome.  :bigthumb:  I take it that's Boomer in her 3rd-stage (fully mature) form? 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on April 29, 2021, 08:51:12 PM
Awesome.  :bigthumb:  I take it that's Boomer in her 3rd-stage (fully mature) form?

She's 100+ years old, so yeas, I believe that is 3rd stage.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: tuna on April 30, 2021, 07:46:34 AM
Me getting slaughtered by Marauder fleet (and he's got bigger ones)!.. What the heck is a Boomer, I think I need one of those, is that the amoeba thing I can research?

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1786217296718338497/85C42DEA87E0AB2914A615AE11246D06645F6467/)

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on May 01, 2021, 06:44:52 PM
Me getting slaughtered by Marauder fleet (and he's got bigger ones)!.. What the heck is a Boomer, I think I need one of those, is that the amoeba thing I can research?

Yeah, ouch.  While not as powerful as Fallen Empires or the endgame-crisis, Marauder fleets are still no joke.  Losing that system with the ruined Ringworld is gonna smart. 


If you own the Distant Stars DLC, you can get the "Lost Amoeba" event as the result of the "Movement in the Clouds" research anomaly.  Once you've researched the anomaly, you'll get the option to "adopt" it into your empire (as long as you're not playing as a destroyer empire (Fanatic Purifier, Devouring Swarm, Determined Exterminator)), and it will join your fleet. 

After a certain period of time (180 days?), the amoeba matures into an adult, with a power rating of 400-600 (depending on your tech level).  At this point, you get the option to name it, with "Boomer" being one of the options. 

Several decades later, the amoeba matures even further, reaching 100 years of age.  She'll typically have a power rating of 5-6k, comparable to a battleship. 


I try not to throw my amoeba (I usually name her "Bubbles") into a fight unless I'm desperate, but she's definitely nice to have around.  :) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on May 04, 2021, 10:44:50 PM
Khannnnn!!!!!

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on May 04, 2021, 10:45:59 PM
Destroying the trapped creature from another dimension.



Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on May 05, 2021, 03:33:37 AM
Khannnnn!!!!!

Nice!!  Congrats on wiping the floor with them!  :rockon: 

Is the Annihilator Cannon a new tech (from Nemesis)?  Looks pretty gnarly. 




Destroying the trapped creature from another dimension.


Of all the Leviathans in Stellaris, the Dimensional Horror freaks me out the most (although the Stellar Devourer is a close second).  Kudos to you for killing it! 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: ojsdad on May 05, 2021, 07:59:35 AM
Khannnnn!!!!!

Nice!!  Congrats on wiping the floor with them!  :rockon: 

Is the Annihilator Cannon a new tech (from Nemesis)?  Looks pretty gnarly. 


I think it's in one of the mods I'm using.  It's an Extra-Large weapon, costs 2000 alloy and takes 1080 days to build.  But nice to have when 3 of the Khans fleets, with 3 galleons, which I believe are titans, attack. 
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on June 04, 2021, 02:28:45 PM
An old favorite, Empire Total War with the American Revolution Mod. This game reminds me of that Hot Cheerleader I used to date in High School, dumb as a post but EASY to look at. OK, OK. We didn't actually date....I took her home from school...once. After her car got a flat tire...suddenly, unexpectedly while I was parked next to her..... Could've happened to anybody.

English Colonial Line Infantry vs French Sepoys outside Calcutta.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on June 04, 2021, 02:30:39 PM
I blame the hats.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on June 05, 2021, 11:16:21 AM
I agree. If they made me wear a hat like that, I'd definitely want to fight somebody.  ;D
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on June 18, 2021, 04:19:39 AM
A crystalline entity (an "Ancient Crystal Sovereign"), one far larger and more powerful than its pacified kin, launched a sneak attack on my colony of Tei'laria, "bombing" it with crystal shards and devastating the planet.  An official inquiry has already begun into how and why the crew manning the system's starbase failed to detect & engage the entity. 

[Seriously, ouch.  I'm lucky more people weren't killed!] 

(https://i.imgur.com/u9pMjUv.jpg)



Sadly, Talon Fleet arrived too late to protect the citizens of Tei'laria.  (I'd had to quickly divert it just as I was about to launch a powerful counter-offensive in a war I'm currently in the midst of fighting.)  Fortunately, it was at least able to intercept the monster while it was still in-system, thus preventing it from wreaking further havoc & destruction. 

[My main fleet brings the creature to battle over Frost II, the system's solitary gas giant.] 

(https://i.imgur.com/C1M7Sgy.jpg)



The entity doesn't go down easily, yet it is destroyed in the end.  The "spoils" from the battle are paltry in comparison to the death & destruction it wrought, but perhaps something more worthwhile can be obtained from studying its remains. 

[The minerals and (especially) rare crystals are nice to have, but I'm more interested in the results from that Special Project...] 

(https://i.imgur.com/SVRI8dc.jpg)


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Hethwill on June 18, 2021, 04:28:25 AM
(https://wargamercoffeebreak.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/20210606_003100-edited.jpg)

https://wargamercoffeebreak.com/2021/06/06/june-6-1944-somewhere-in-normandy-part-1/

https://wargamercoffeebreak.com/2021/06/09/june-6-1944-somewhere-in-normandy-part-2/

https://wargamercoffeebreak.com/2021/06/17/june-6-1944-somewhere-in-normandy-part-3/
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: W8taminute on June 18, 2021, 03:44:01 PM
Nice screenshots Slash.  I always liked ETW.  Might play some of it over the weekend thanks to you. 
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on June 18, 2021, 06:20:11 PM
A crystalline entity (an "Ancient Crystal Sovereign"), one far larger and more powerful than its pacified kin, launched a sneak attack on my colony of Tei'laria, "bombing" it with crystal shards and devastating the planet.  An official inquiry has already begun into how and why the crew manning the system's starbase failed to detect & engage the entity. 

[Seriously, ouch.  I'm lucky more people weren't killed!] 

(https://i.imgur.com/u9pMjUv.jpg)



Sadly, Talon Fleet arrived too late to protect the citizens of Tei'laria.  (I'd had to quickly divert it just as I was about to launch a powerful counter-offensive in a war I'm currently in the midst of fighting.)  Fortunately, it was at least able to intercept the monster while it was still in-system, thus preventing it from wreaking further havoc & destruction. 

[My main fleet brings the creature to battle over Frost II, the system's solitary gas giant.] 

(https://i.imgur.com/C1M7Sgy.jpg)



The entity doesn't go down easily, yet it is destroyed in the end.  The "spoils" from the battle are paltry in comparison to the death & destruction it wrought, but perhaps something more worthwhile can be obtained from studying its remains. 

[The minerals and (especially) rare crystals are nice to have, but I'm more interested in the results from that Special Project...] 

(https://i.imgur.com/SVRI8dc.jpg)

There’s such a thing as stealth attacks now - or this attack just took you by surprise?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on June 19, 2021, 05:22:20 AM
There’s such a thing as stealth attacks now - or this attack just took you by surprise?

Actually, I'm pretty sure this was from the More Events Mod (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=727000451) that I recently installed.  I believe it was scripted for the starbase to not notice the crystal monster, as otherwise it would have almost certainly engaged & destroyed the entity before it could have even reached my colony (I have a maxed-out Star Fortress in that system). 


It was actually kinda neat, the death & destruction notwithstanding:  What I forgot to grab a screenshot of was that in the aftermath of the attack, I also then got to choose 1 of 3 options for my colony, each one providing different perks/bonuses (due to all the crystal shards that were dropped on the planet).  My colony is recovering from the devastation pretty quickly, so it appears it will have been worth it in the end. 

Besides, just seeing a crystalline creature that *big* (it had a power rating of 2.4k) was kind of awesome, if terrifying.  8) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on June 19, 2021, 07:38:27 AM
Excellent - I really need to start a grand strategy campaign of something otherwise I have a 1000 pound paperweight doing nothing at all

I think tw1212 

I’ll have a ponder
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on June 19, 2021, 03:12:43 PM
A 1212 campaign definitely sounds like your bag.  :bigthumb: 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on June 26, 2021, 05:58:32 AM
I encountered the "Flock of Clouds" event-chain for the first time, which affects both me and my federation allies.  This is what my home system currently looks like as a result of the event-chain: 

(https://i.imgur.com/vtfsIlH.jpg)


Same scene, but with the UI removed. 

(https://i.imgur.com/mVZLG1y.jpg)



There's something about that shot that just blows me away.  I find the billowing clouds completely mesmerizing. 

I also like that this is a federation-wide event:  We'll need to work together to figure out what's going on (no spoilers please!). 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on June 26, 2021, 06:15:30 AM
‘Fascinating’

 ??? :o
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Hethwill on June 29, 2021, 04:45:38 AM
Operation Charnwood underway. The commonwealth forces virtually destroy the 12SS despite heavy losses.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E4zc2fDWYAAw7dS?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on June 29, 2021, 12:21:17 PM
OUCH! That looks like a right-proper Dust-Up.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: trailrunner on June 29, 2021, 02:33:19 PM
I played the ASL scenario Zon With The Wind with the local game club this past weekend.  The scenario is set in September 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden.

I was the defending Germans.  I had two 88s, one of which is under the trench counter, and the other is two hexes above that, hidden in the woods.  My infantry is pretty weak, consisting a few second-line squads and a couple of LMGs.  The Americans enter from the top of the board, and have to exit enough units off the bottom of the board, but they can only exit in the three hexes behind and to the right of my rear-most 88.  The Americans had a bunch of strong, stout paratroopers, with a couple of bazookas (useful against buildings and against the 88s), and a MMG.  The Germans have a lot of buildings to help their defense, but that also can screen and protect the attacking Americans.

This turned out to be a very short game.  My wimpy LMG and 2nd line troops managed to break the initial probe.  But then my 88 hit a stack that my opponent brought on board.  He wasn't expecting me to shoot with my 88.  After I got the hit, I rolled snake eyes for the effect, killing a leader (the only one on that flank), another squad, and breaking everyone else in that stack. 

The next turn the Americans got some strong reinforcements, but my relatively weak attacks kept rolling low, shredding his troops.  Then the 88s opened up and more carnage ensued.  I think I rolled at least 3 more snake eyes, none of which cowered.  He managed to get close and trap one of my squads in an upper level of a building, but my squad fired back and eliminated that problem.  At the end of the second turn, he surveyed his shattered forces, realized that he had zero chance of winning, and conceded.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZIM1pIW.jpg)



Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on June 29, 2021, 06:32:13 PM
^  Wow, impressive.  Better keep those dice around for time.  ;) 




Operation Charnwood underway. The commonwealth forces virtually destroy the 12SS despite heavy losses.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E4zc2fDWYAAw7dS?format=jpg&name=large)

Nice!  Were you able to liberate Caen after that, then? 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: judgedredd on June 30, 2021, 01:00:42 AM
I played the ASL scenario Zon With The Wind with the local game club this past weekend.  The scenario is set in September 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden.

I was the defending Germans.  I had two 88s, one of which is under the trench counter, and the other is two hexes above that, hidden in the woods.  My infantry is pretty weak, consisting a few second-line squads and a couple of LMGs.  The Americans enter from the top of the board, and have to exit enough units off the bottom of the board, but they can only exit in the three hexes behind and to the right of my rear-most 88.  The Americans had a bunch of strong, stout paratroopers, with a couple of bazookas (useful against buildings and against the 88s), and a MMG.  The Germans have a lot of buildings to help their defense, but that also can screen and protect the attacking Americans.

This turned out to be a very short game.  My wimpy LMG and 2nd line troops managed to break the initial probe.  But then my 88 hit a stack that my opponent brought on board.  He wasn't expecting me to shoot with my 88.  After I got the hit, I rolled snake eyes for the effect, killing a leader (the only one on that flank), another squad, and breaking everyone else in that stack. 

The next turn the Americans got some strong reinforcements, but my relatively weak attacks kept rolling low, shredding his troops.  Then the 88s opened up and more carnage ensued.  I think I rolled at least 3 more snake eyes, none of which cowered.  He managed to get close and trap one of my squads in an upper level of a building, but my squad fired back and eliminated that problem.  At the end of the second turn, he surveyed his shattered forces, realized that he had zero chance of winning, and conceded.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZIM1pIW.jpg)
I just love reading other people's gaming stories.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on June 30, 2021, 08:39:27 PM
I played the ASL scenario Zon With The Wind with the local game club this past weekend.  The scenario is set in September 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden.

I was the defending Germans.  I had two 88s, one of which is under the trench counter, and the other is two hexes above that, hidden in the woods.  My infantry is pretty weak, consisting a few second-line squads and a couple of LMGs.  The Americans enter from the top of the board, and have to exit enough units off the bottom of the board, but they can only exit in the three hexes behind and to the right of my rear-most 88.  The Americans had a bunch of strong, stout paratroopers, with a couple of bazookas (useful against buildings and against the 88s), and a MMG.  The Germans have a lot of buildings to help their defense, but that also can screen and protect the attacking Americans.

This turned out to be a very short game.  My wimpy LMG and 2nd line troops managed to break the initial probe.  But then my 88 hit a stack that my opponent brought on board.  He wasn't expecting me to shoot with my 88.  After I got the hit, I rolled snake eyes for the effect, killing a leader (the only one on that flank), another squad, and breaking everyone else in that stack. 

The next turn the Americans got some strong reinforcements, but my relatively weak attacks kept rolling low, shredding his troops.  Then the 88s opened up and more carnage ensued.  I think I rolled at least 3 more snake eyes, none of which cowered.  He managed to get close and trap one of my squads in an upper level of a building, but my squad fired back and eliminated that problem.  At the end of the second turn, he surveyed his shattered forces, realized that he had zero chance of winning, and conceded.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZIM1pIW.jpg)
I just love reading other people's gaming stories.

+1
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Hethwill on July 01, 2021, 05:15:56 AM

Nice!  Were you able to liberate Caen after that, then?

Rests to be seen. Game still going, a turn every other day.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: BanzaiCat on July 01, 2021, 10:37:08 PM
Oops

(https://i.imgur.com/RGKfe5L.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: judgedredd on July 02, 2021, 01:18:45 AM
Just like my wife, you never took length into account  :hehe:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on July 02, 2021, 07:26:55 AM
Just like my wife, you never took length into account  :hehe:


"Tonight, on Double-Entendre Theatre..."
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: BanzaiCat on July 02, 2021, 01:37:10 PM
What's not pictured is the station wagon that I hit/hit me. The map had me turning right at that intersection you see in the background, then doing a u-turn, then going in the direction I'm pointing.

F that, I thought. I'd done it before where some construction routed traffic off the freeway to a cross-freeway to do a turn-around, and traffic was bad, so I said screw it and did a U-turn on the freeway, crossing the median. No traffic coming so, why not? Saved me a lot of time.

Here, though, I tried (and failed, obviously) to do a wide turn to the left. I kept looking out the window...no cars coming, no cars coming, no cars coming, OK let's do this, then turned and checked again as I started my turn and BAM, came out of nowhere.

Then I got stuck as I tried to power through it, dragging the white station wagon with me, then got stuck on the median. Figured I screwed it up royally so I exited, then got back on, and the car I hit was gone. Magic!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on July 02, 2021, 04:11:53 PM
I was thinking it was something like that, just not BC.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Hethwill on July 13, 2021, 11:19:53 AM
Finally yesterday pulled a recent acquisition off the shelf. Given the unorthodox nature of it tried to get the first lady interested but to no avail. ( comes down to the - serious history stuff - not being the household interests apart from me ). Anyway I am split brain enough to enjoy it solo.

It plays fairly fast and seamless with a very cool bounce between initiatives. A good game that combines a lot of mechanisms to tell the history of that little corner of the world.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6HoXpyXMAMhdvA?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6HvzTAXEAMJFqY?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6HwF1AWQAQNo7e?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6HwGeUXsAcNVuc?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6ILLxUXsAA5GSE?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6ILMJLWQAMPxTs?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on July 13, 2021, 11:35:01 AM
so, uh....  when are you sending me your review of the game to add to our front page?


(and shut it, all-a-youse)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on July 13, 2021, 11:41:03 AM
LOVE that map!  :dreamer:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Hethwill on July 15, 2021, 06:29:49 AM
so, uh....  when are you sending me your review of the game to add to our front page?


(and shut it, all-a-youse)

I suck at reviews, for me everything is pretty and awesome  :)

I'm still learning it, discovering the particular history theme and playing it a few times before I come to a conclusion. So far I can only say it is really a nice "story unfolding" wargame. It has lots of nice chrome "hidden" in plain view and the evolution and regress of the fight between the reds and the whites in the city ( before germans manage to support ) provides some good tension and even good laughs ( Finnish humour is great ).

Combat may not please the "salty grogs" but that's the design process in plain view. It is not the concern of the player how many combatants each unit has and what type of rifles and how many packs of smoke herrings. It really does more good being that simplistic than not. It kicks the ball forward and the storyline moves in a credible way - turns are counted in German Intervention initiatives in intervals of 15 minutes ( average ) with also night time turns.

Is not your shiny glossy pretty game. It is a fantastic graphic design in play good sturdy paper. All the visuals just scream the era the game portrays.

As of today not much more to say. The Whites had some luck with red and germans drawing initiatives so they get to go and their cells popping all over western helsinki. Reds has to counter it by sending troops and starting arrests. Germans facing very hard fighting in the NW approaches to the town.

Last turn I played the Reds won 2 consecutive initiatives and reinforcing the lines outside the town and at the same time preparing to sweep through Helsinki to win decisively early on before the Whites start to properly organize combat units.

Is a fantastic game.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: W8taminute on July 16, 2021, 01:17:33 PM
That does look like a pretty good game.  Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on July 18, 2021, 04:20:26 AM
My science officer discovered an ancient graveyard for a billion soldiers on a desolate planet in the middle of nowhere.  Unfortunately, too much time has passed for  anything further to be discovered, so the story of these fallen warriors will remain forever unknown.  It left me feeling kind of sad, or at least melancholy. 


Damn this game for giving me feels. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Bison on July 18, 2021, 12:32:54 PM
Martok that is a good RPG element added into your game.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on July 18, 2021, 03:36:55 PM
Indeed.  It's a textbook example of why Stellaris has me in its clutches; the story elements really do grab me. 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on July 18, 2021, 10:43:30 PM
That is sad. Planet Arlington?  :o
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on July 19, 2021, 03:33:38 AM
^  Pretty much, yeah.  I was actually thinking of renaming the planet to that (assuming I end up annexing the system it's in).  Seems fitting. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 27, 2021, 07:49:22 PM
Opened the Aragon campaign for 1212AD - it starts immediately with a battle between the Catholics and Muslims, an alliance of Castille and Aragon vs the Moors

This is me on the hill looking down into the valley

(https://i.imgur.com/wg5AzIG.jpg)

This is them in the valley below - holy crap

(https://i.imgur.com/DZ34arI.jpg)

Here comes Castille

(https://i.imgur.com/QqLpgoQ.jpg)

I decide to cover the left flank, and go all sneaky

(https://i.imgur.com/Ew58f9g.jpg)

and Castille hit the centre

(https://i.imgur.com/8pWRQ13.jpg)

It starts getting messy on the downward slope

(https://i.imgur.com/1uLW126.jpg)

I move to the forest on the left flank where the Almohad missile troops are massed

(https://i.imgur.com/gDDLGK4.jpg)

and lay into the crossbowmen hiding there

(https://i.imgur.com/qq2dpHY.jpg)

The left flank is pretty much ours

(https://i.imgur.com/5dr7HTj.jpg)

But we find a few infantry men hiding in the trees

(https://i.imgur.com/JeDIaPE.jpg)

Castille kill the enemy leader and the rout is on

(https://i.imgur.com/YERLyk9.jpg)

its all over
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on July 28, 2021, 04:33:13 AM
Nice!  :bigthumb:  I still can't get over how good the units look. 

(Was Navarre part of the battle as well?  I seem to recall they participate too, although their army is smaller than that of Aragon and Castille.) 


Let us know how the campaign is!  I'm curious as to the progress the mod team has made so far. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on July 28, 2021, 10:48:58 AM
Damn, that's pretty UCG.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: W8taminute on July 30, 2021, 11:19:57 AM
Is that mod for Thrones of Britannia, RTW2, Atilla, or MTW2?  Looks good.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 30, 2021, 11:38:55 AM
Atilla- big big mod on steam
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 02, 2021, 08:39:04 PM
I discovered baby Kal-El's escape pod.  He never made it to Earth.  :( 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: W8taminute on August 03, 2021, 03:00:59 PM
^Pretty cool.   :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 03, 2021, 11:00:59 PM
I can't top Superman but I did run into an old friend while playing Baldur's Gate 2 recently. Korgan Bloodaxe, an NPC and a right proper bastard but there's nobody better to have on your side in a brawl. He has 120 Hit Points and maximum Proficiency with axes. I give him the Two-Weapon Fighting Style, put an axe in each hand, and it's like a Buzz Saw and an Octopus had a baby together. But he's still a bastard. That's why I love him.  :hehe:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 04, 2021, 12:26:56 AM
^  He looks like fun. 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 04, 2021, 08:35:37 AM
On turn 4 the Pope excommunicates Toulouse - France, busy in a war with England intends to take their lands - Aragon, with only 2 territories intends to beat France to it.........

We bring ladders and rams and head for the walls, we're outnumbered pretty much 2-1 but a lot of the enemy are crossbowmen - if i can get the cavalry into them we should score big morale hits

(https://i.imgur.com/N1x4vSs.jpg)

The garrison stays behind the walls, the actual Toulouse army defending the place arrive by sea!

(https://i.imgur.com/ubNiOh3.jpg)

and they head for the castle gates - the cavalry chase them all the way in and they leave the doors open - which i thought would be great news but apparently despite them been 84% damaged and open i'm not allowed across the threshold until theyre completely destroyed - i send some men back for the ram they dropped

(https://i.imgur.com/HUxW0qF.jpg)

The main aragon force hits the walls

(https://i.imgur.com/eDJtEym.jpg)

After a couple of minutes its carnage - the spearmen hold the line against cavalry charges, and the melee infantry like Roman velites throw spears into the advancing swordsmen

(https://i.imgur.com/HJYMbxe.jpg)

The enemy are pushed to the top of the entrance ramp just as the gates are destroyed - the cavalry and King charge in and mop up the left overs - the castle falls  - Montpellier belongs to aragorn

(https://i.imgur.com/kCkgMeU.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 04, 2021, 10:24:17 AM
Hurray for Aragon!  :applause:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 04, 2021, 07:28:40 PM
Awesome screenshots, 'geek.  :2thumbs:  Looks like it was a pretty intense fight.  Congrats on the conquest of Toulouse! 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 07, 2021, 06:01:26 AM
Of all the leviathans in Stellaris, the Infinity Machine is my favorite by far.  I mean, really:  How often do you meet an aeons-old sentient calculator who likes having a pleasant chat about the nature of the universe?  :D 

And on top of that: to be able to help the Infinity Machine solve the great equation it's been working on for so very long, to see its final ambition fulfilled at last...  It honestly gives me a lump in my throat every time, even though I've lost count of how often I've experienced this one over the years now.  Man, I love it. 



(https://i.imgur.com/DjFz9VB.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/vBYfQZa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/l5qpDsc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/pb5aDHU.jpg)


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 07, 2021, 06:10:52 AM
Can you go wrong with these interactions and incur fury from them?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 07, 2021, 04:46:17 PM
Can you go wrong with these interactions and incur fury from them?

Not with the Infinity Machine, no -- it doesn't suddenly go berserk on you, or anything like that.  However, you *can* attack & destroy it if you wish (although you'd better have a 30k fleet, bare minimum -- a 50k fleet or better is preferred), and this will yield a somewhat different set of rewards than what you saw in the screenshots I posted.  I generally don't fight it myself, as the Infinity Machine is the only leviathan where any interaction other than combat is really possible. 


All the other leviathans in Stellaris are essentially "boss monsters", who automatically attack & destroy anything that enters the dungeon system they inhabit/guard.  (Note:  A few leviathans don't always stay in one place...)  If & when you manage to take out a leviathan, however, you'll gain some pretty neat rewards; and the systems they guard are typically worth having as well. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 07, 2021, 05:46:12 PM
I think I remember a dragon/drake? And he was pretty hardcore at the time
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 07, 2021, 09:13:16 PM
There is the Ether Drake, yes.  And he is indeed a tough bastard to bring down.  >:D  Defeating him brings a variety of rewards, including eventually being able to research Dragon-scale armor, the best armor in the game. 


The leviathans that personally freak me out the most, though, are the Dimensional Horror and Stellar Devourer.  Those two always feel like they *need* to be killed. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on August 08, 2021, 09:26:42 PM
Working on an Imaginations campaign and trying to see if I can utilize TTS to help track the campaign and maybe even run some of the battles.

Here is a shot of my campaign map uploaded and put on a TTS table. Now I'm just fooling around with force markers and figuring out how I want to run it.

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Tolstoi on August 09, 2021, 10:32:37 AM
Working on an Imaginations campaign and trying to see if I can utilize TTS to help track the campaign and maybe even run some of the battles.

Here is a shot of my campaign map uploaded and put on a TTS table. Now I'm just fooling around with force markers and figuring out how I want to run it.

That is fantastic! What time period will your Imagination campaign take place? It looks like you are off to a great start. I look forward to seeing what you share next.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on August 09, 2021, 08:05:05 PM
Working on an Imaginations campaign and trying to see if I can utilize TTS to help track the campaign and maybe even run some of the battles.

Here is a shot of my campaign map uploaded and put on a TTS table. Now I'm just fooling around with force markers and figuring out how I want to run it.

That is fantastic! What time period will your Imagination campaign take place? It looks like you are off to a great start. I look forward to seeing what you share next.

I'm leaving myself some leeway in case this goes well and I want to expand the scope but right now it will mostly be around the Dark Ages era.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 11, 2021, 02:35:18 PM
After a couple of turns consolidating and renewing troops (more on that) Provence, a one town nation declares war on us for literally nothing - theres only one thing for it

(https://i.imgur.com/xogwj0H.jpg)

Im outnumbered 2-1 again, this time by proper melee troops - its going to be a close call - I see reinforcements going in through the east gate

(https://i.imgur.com/4RSeO8K.jpg)

We reach the walls pretty intact and head for the top

(https://i.imgur.com/RK0qb8o.jpg)

And the fight for the south gate starts straight awaay - i see here how ineffectual crossbows are when i think im scouring the walls with them!!

(https://i.imgur.com/1RvOnEQ.jpg)

Its hard won, and we're in but the majority of the enemy are at the eastern gate and we have to get them

(https://i.imgur.com/3KpACHC.jpg)

The last desperate heroes head for the town centre to clear ouut the last of the enemy - this will cost us the Kings life

(https://i.imgur.com/4LrITjg.jpg)

Yep, Pere has gone - theres a decent stand in, his son is too young so a regent takes over -  :-[

(https://i.imgur.com/fpGGW6I.jpg)

Wait.... what? But Poooooooooope - thats not fair

(https://i.imgur.com/ENeZmhD.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 11, 2021, 05:18:55 PM
Dang, that was quite the turn -- figuratively and literally. 



Nice job taking Provence!  Bummer about the Emperor declaring your conquest illegal, especially since Provence was the one who started it.  Perhaps he'll need to be dealt with at some point... 

RIP, King Pere.  :(  You died well. 


Question:  In taking the city, did you use a second, token force to trick the enemy into concentrating their troops on the eastern gate?  Or were they just slow/not paying attention? 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 11, 2021, 05:54:23 PM
The Total War enabler in me likes to think that the surrounding buildings, the untaken towers and the defensive properties of the eastern gate led the AI to decide staying put was the better option and it really was - i was all in at the Southern gate no other forces anywhere

or they just decided to clump up until i passed a certain trigger point and then decided to attack - either way it was the better choice by them
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 11, 2021, 10:47:33 PM
Great pics UCG.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 12, 2021, 12:27:53 PM
thanks Slash

As peace settles across Aragon and we can hopefully start to prep for cleansing the mainland of muslims - another French province gets upset with us. The lone city state of Vienne not only declares war but marches straight into the empty Provence. I had left the place empty because it had run out of people - the army that conquered the area would not replen because the population was so low - but there was recruits available at Montpellier so thats where we were garrisoned - I dont remember if this is a feature of the mod or total war as a whole - you cant just turn up in a city and build army after army - there needs to be the population to do it and that population needs to contain excess nobles if you want fancy armoured guys and knights - i think its brilliant........

Anyway, after sieging Provence for a turn the Dauphin de Vienne decides to come out fighting. In the fog. At the top of a hill. Thing is, he attacked, i can wait at the bottom of the hill all day - he'll lose not me.

I hide the cavalry in the woods

(https://i.imgur.com/v5Bk1KF.jpg)

After 20 in game minutes he decides to come sneaking down the hill, this is all i can see but i can hear shouting in the woods near my cavalry - we wait

(https://i.imgur.com/ucAHrN1.jpg)

Here he comes, theres a good amount of crossbows at the rear too

(https://i.imgur.com/79aGQjK.jpg)

We retreat to the top of a hill at the back of the battlefield - the cavalry stay in the woods unseen - he has 8 crossbow companies - i can hammer his morale if i cant take these out

(https://i.imgur.com/ncBeM7Y.jpg)

The Dauphin charges into our lines and decimates a spear unit almost instantly, and disrupts a crossbow unit, and 2 melee units - its a tank of a unit, in wedge formation too, never seen the AI do that - we send in another spear unit and point the crossbows at him - the Dauphin is in here somewhere - the loss of the General doesnt seem to have as much effect in the mod or im used to Warhammer where the loss a general is fatal - the French stay on the field

(https://i.imgur.com/2SguwgZ.jpg)

We unleash the cavalry on the unprotected crossbows - French butter, meet hot Spanish knife

(https://i.imgur.com/0GI8821.jpg)

As the crossbows start to melt we gain enough confidence to take on a few isolated spearmen to mop up the field

(https://i.imgur.com/bBDJyMG.jpg)

Ive found the use of crossbows quite frustrating until this battle, ive always managed to impede their view or get in their way and their use has been limited - on an open field like this and staying out of their field of view they are devastating, full strength units can be routed after maybe 3 rounds of firing

(https://i.imgur.com/GYBOj95.jpg)

So with the crossbows taking on the spearmen and the horses taking on the crossbows we start to push the French back to the forest

(https://i.imgur.com/zuRLAzW.jpg)

and further

(https://i.imgur.com/hm3oYtU.jpg)

Job done - we lose 398 troops to 2250 French, Vienne is devastated and sues for peace next turn - idiots

(https://i.imgur.com/u5d4Qmv.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 12, 2021, 02:36:59 PM
Damn, those are some great screenshots, 'geek.  :2thumbs: 




I had left the place empty because it had run out of people - the army that conquered the area would not replen because the population was so low - but there was recruits available at Montpellier so thats where we were garrisoned - I dont remember if this is a feature of the mod or total war as a whole - you cant just turn up in a city and build army after army - there needs to be the population to do it and that population needs to contain excess nobles if you want fancy armoured guys and knights - i think its brilliant........

I do believe that's specifically a feature of the 1212 mod.  (The DEI mod for Rome II has a similar feature.)  And I agree it's absolutely brilliant. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 13, 2021, 09:32:48 AM
Toulouse itself is the final target for our northern enterprises for now - we have Montpellier from them and now their capital remains. After finishing a castle in Barcelona i have access to some pretty snazzy troops and consider this army to be the first real army of Aragon as opposed to make dos and compromises - this is the best army we can field right now - their health has taken a battering because right now disease is raging thru every army and every city i have, and if i win this then Toulouse too  :'(

(https://i.imgur.com/YK6YywM.jpg)

We scale the walls with relative ease - there are no relief reinforcements coming for France and our attack is wider than their defence - some troops scale the walls unopposed

(https://i.imgur.com/gIAutXv.jpg)

Where we are opposed, the old RTW2 tactic of melee troops holding the line whilst javelin troops stand behind them throwing spears into the enemy is working great

(https://i.imgur.com/iaZYL5R.jpg)

The southern gate soon falls and we gather the troops for the push to the centre

(https://i.imgur.com/FJZDYeW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/C4u47E9.jpg)

The defenders head to the town square to make a last stand - i put spearmen at the exits and call in the crossbows to pepper them

(https://i.imgur.com/jtgktSw.jpg)

its over quickly

(https://i.imgur.com/teF6uta.jpg)

As someone once famously said 'the North is secure' - north of Toulouse is Bordeaux in english hands, im not at war with them and not too far from a non aggression pact which would free up troops here to start the real mission of reconquista. Vienne lies to the north of Provence and i dont think well be having any more trouble from them and to the east Genoa - more concerned with trade than conquest

Ill deal with the disease, tidy up the new provinces as there are buildings there we cant use and build a second elite army - then we head south to liberate Spain

(https://i.imgur.com/fgas0LZ.jpg)


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 13, 2021, 11:54:39 AM
 :applause: :applause: :applause:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 13, 2021, 01:03:42 PM
Fantastic.  Let the Reconquista begin! 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 14, 2021, 04:07:28 PM
I dont know if im furious, impressed, just happy to myself that PC gaming does things that make you feel any number of things but this was fun/not fun - anyway..............

We employ a priest, im not too concerned with his ability to spread Christianity - i just need an agent on the outskirts of enemy territory so i can peep at the garrison and surrounding forces

(https://i.imgur.com/OEyhgOH.jpg)

Thats not too scary - its has been a test of patience getting the army ready again, it took an age for the plague to leave the army and then the province so they could start recovering again - im not too worried by this garrison

(https://i.imgur.com/1BRayjg.jpg)

And here we go, what the f****ng f**k - you're on my side you Castillian ass hat. I'd seen them declare peace with the Almohads a while ago, theres no military alliance with the pair - hes just decided to be a c**k - i'm literally stood at the gates of our enemy aand he comes out of the trees and attacks us

(https://i.imgur.com/IimVzPK.jpg)

You'd better run.......... i was so engrossed in the battle that i forgot any pics, foggy, massive forest and i spent a long time trying to hide in the trees hoping to avoid any contact and run the clock down but i ran out of space eventually - it was similar to the French fight, we kept the cavalry back, waited for him to engage and then used flank attacks to cancel his numerical advantage - in the end it was pyrrhic victory for me - his army split in two very small armies on the strat map but as i moved to kill him and wipe his dumb ass off the continent we were now in range of the Almohads who tried to join the fight - we ran

(https://i.imgur.com/8ADnxdF.jpg)

Crazy ass Dauphine de Vienne attacked the english

(https://i.imgur.com/g1xD00d.jpg)



Theres a small caveat here - this was my 4th try at the turn - i was actually all set to conquer southern europe and work my way towards the pope. On the first 3 goes everytime i got the army back up to scratch and marched away from montpellier or provence, first Genoa, then Savoy, then Vienne attacked me - all one city provinces who i could have wiped off the map and worked my way east with. So on this go i waited in the North ready to go for it but some inter euuropean holy war kicked off and they all started fighting each other - so we set off for the reconquista and then this ass hat jumped out of the woods  :censored:

The army has retired to Barcelona to heal and then well set off again and see what happens!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 14, 2021, 04:40:05 PM
^  Your post perfectly encapsulates why, in pretty much any medieval strategy game, I love/hate playing a faction on the Iberian peninsula:  Those who would/should be your allies are no more trustworthy than your adversaries, which always keeps things...interesting.  :D 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 19, 2021, 05:39:33 AM
Scenes from the Battle of Raprix. 

While carrying out offensive operations inside Raxar and Zanaami space, the 5th Fleet was ambushed [read: me not paying sufficient attention] by the First Order Corps, the Zanaami's main battle fleet.  Reacting quickly to Admiral Merg Inik's call for help, Admiral Rald Mikon used the 4th Fleet's new jump-drives to immediately warp into the Raprix system and counter-ambush the First Order Corps in turn.  What followed was a chaotic affair, though it ultimately ended in a significant victory. 



[An overview near the beginning of the battle.  My 4th Fleet (comprised of corvettes and destroyers) is on the left, the enemy First Order Corps is in the center, and you can see some of the carrier-cruisers from my 5th Fleet off to the right.] 

(https://i.imgur.com/A6yZ2I4.jpg)



[A Zanaami cruiser's shields taking a concentrated burst of fire from my ships...and holding.  These bastards were tough.] 

(https://i.imgur.com/K08LPuD.jpg)



[Another enemy cruiser (upper-right) takes some concentrated firepower on its nose, while one of its brethren (center-right) is about to disintegrate and explode.  Both sides are employing Amoeba Flagella (the little tadpole-like things flying all over the place) as biological fighter-craft in this battle.] 

(https://i.imgur.com/NUTKrVe.jpg)



[My cruisers gang up on one of the (fortunately few!) enemy battleships, while smaller vessels continue dog-fighting in the background.  I was not expecting to see battleships already; it was a good/bad surprise.] 

(https://i.imgur.com/wIQlxaf.jpg)


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 19, 2021, 11:38:14 AM
Way to GO Admiral Mikon! Opened a can of, 'Raid' on them didn't he?  :hehe:  That's the prettiest Fleet Battle I've ever seen I think.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 19, 2021, 04:48:45 PM
Thanks, Sir Slash!  Yeah, battles in Stellaris can definitely make for some nice spectacles.  :) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on August 19, 2021, 07:38:27 PM
Love the screenshots and narritive!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 19, 2021, 09:46:03 PM
Thanks, TCT!  I enjoy providing context/backdrop for them. 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 22, 2021, 01:31:49 PM
Intrigue, back stabbing, stabbing back and wrong way round friends

It starts - Murcia falls - they have Grenada left on the mainland, and the other muslim province is the Emir of Grenada in Andalusia to the west

(https://i.imgur.com/9Sl9a2i.jpg)

'Yesterday..... all the muslims seemed so far away, oh i believe in yesterday'

Almohads appear from nowhere, 1000s of them - four full sized armies - two surround Mercia, two guard Grenada - time to put my fighting trousers on

(https://i.imgur.com/wQR6BDW.jpg)

Every battle i have i always wish i had just a few more crossbow men, i cant afford a second army so built a relief force of crossbows that could tag behind the main force within reinforcement range of each other - except i didnt quite calculate the distance properly and the Almohads pick off the little missile army - however, it does pull the two armies at Mercia away from the city.......

(https://i.imgur.com/XXQHaGB.jpg)

........but now they both head north to undefended Barcelona

(https://i.imgur.com/MS2l1mG.jpg)

As they did to me, i do to them - i attack the southern army out of range of his main northern force, non but a few suurvive and he heads west, the main force seiges Barcelona

(https://i.imgur.com/mbKBzzw.jpg)

And then this happens - back stabbing catholic assholes!!

(https://i.imgur.com/igB85Gm.jpg)

We relieve Barcelona and smash his main force, thats two armies down, I head back south to Mercia now close to revolt and place a small force in Barcelona

(https://i.imgur.com/rTxaiwu.jpg)

And then this happens - back stabbing catholic assholes!! I decide now that the goal is to make peace with the muslims and wipe everything off the mainland thats Spanish except me - WTF is wrong with these people

(https://i.imgur.com/yfg40hH.jpg)

Its armageddon as the Muslims get their shit together and decide to gang up

(https://i.imgur.com/yqyzNuu.jpg)

The Almohads come for Mercia again, i feel that if i can smash this lot theyll be in the market for a peace treaty

(https://i.imgur.com/HnGfZ3j.jpg)

And there it is, stalemate, we still have Mercia, they remain in Grenada but i have to secure everything north of here before we start this up again

(https://i.imgur.com/Vrf5hhQ.jpg)

My peeping priest tells me everything i need to know about Valencia and Castile

(https://i.imgur.com/8kOzNjp.jpg)

Well looky here, turns out the mighty Emirate of Grenada has just that one province, i thought he was some big ass muslim from further south - now the plan is to sweep thru Castile and bounce this guy out of Spain as we head south

(https://i.imgur.com/FEfRnTa.jpg)

Valencia, my first Castilian fight in the first Spanish Civil War....... they had no chance - now bring your f****ng war to me Castile (i was finding it hard to settle into the game with no real immersion or connection to anything but theres a few generals ive started following and liking, and this act of treachery finally triggered the immersion in me)

(https://i.imgur.com/CDgmd98.jpg)

Oooops - they were a one province power, last i looked

(https://i.imgur.com/Z9jZqan.jpg)

Not a chance buddy

(https://i.imgur.com/RrE7C6o.jpg)

Toledo falls next and with it come some high tier elite troops as they have a mustering house from the orders - hospitaliers, templars, mounted and dismounted - the rest of Castile and Navarre have no idea whats coming

(https://i.imgur.com/MiC6Lao.jpg)

Im going to take this - i want to lockdown the Catholic asshats first, although 2 peace outs from the muslims suggests some shenanigans in the homeland i cant see from here

(https://i.imgur.com/gp7PyE4.jpg)

All in all im feeling like a bad ass strategist right now, i had a plan and it worked! peace with the muslims, war with the Spanish! The next goal is to take out Castile who are struggling with Portugal too, and then Navarre
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on August 22, 2021, 01:46:51 PM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 22, 2021, 03:31:34 PM
That sounds like one bad-ass Iberian free-for-all UCG. Better to just Nuke them from space to be sure.  ;D
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 22, 2021, 04:22:40 PM
Way to show 'em, geek!  Kick their asses -- all of them! 


Iberia seems to be a viper's nest in pretty much every Total War game, going all the way back to the original MTW/VI.  Playing as Castille or Aragon, I would almost always end up taking out the other first, *before* going after the Muslims (due to the former inevitably backstabbing me). 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Tolstoi on August 22, 2021, 04:26:24 PM
UCG: Thank for the report on how your campaign is going. It look like an amazing game.

The pictures are great. Which leads me to a question for you: I see you are using Imgur to host your pictures. Do you have an account, or do you use the free upload? I'm looking for different, possibly better methods to share images on the forum than Postimage, which is what I've used in the past.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 22, 2021, 04:59:20 PM
Sure, I have an account at imgur but it’s free
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 22, 2021, 05:02:02 PM
Way to show 'em, geek!  Kick their asses -- all of them! 


Iberia seems to be a viper's nest in pretty much every Total War game, going all the way back to the original MTW/VI.  Playing as Castille or Aragon, I would almost always end up taking out the other first, *before* going after the Muslims (due to the former inevitably backstabbing me).

To be fair Navarre have only broken the non aggression pact - nothing else yet

Castile got pissed because I had to keep crossing Valencia to get to Mercia from Barcelona but they could have given me military access - I’ve tried researching it - I’m not sure how friendly or tied the 3 Spanish kingdoms were
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on August 22, 2021, 05:17:24 PM
Thats a great story being told UCG thanks for sharing it with us!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Tolstoi on August 22, 2021, 07:39:16 PM
Sure, I have an account at imgur but it’s free

Okay, sounds good. I'll give it a try and see how it works. Thank you!  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 22, 2021, 07:45:09 PM
Thats a great story being told UCG thanks for sharing it with us!

Sure, I have an account at imgur but it’s free

Okay, sounds good. I'll give it a try and see how it works. Thank you!  :bigthumb:

Youre both very welcome and thanks TCT
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 23, 2021, 12:43:33 PM
Back stabbing (sigh), glory, and nearly an early finish


It all started at 02:00 am and finished at 11::30 am when i realised id been putting off the toilet for 4 hours!! I'd forgotten the beauty of these kind of gaming sessions - i actually went to bed and then got up again because when i closed my eyes my brain said - what will you conquer after Spain?

The revenge of the Aragonese restarts with Leon - their capital

(https://i.imgur.com/sLcw2ID.jpg)

and then Braga

(https://i.imgur.com/eS6WGNV.jpg)

There will be no dawn for Castile

Portugal beat me to Badajoz - doing me a favour actually as there was a roaming stack of Castilians i couldnt find

(https://i.imgur.com/VOz1LxX.jpg)

and Cordoba

(https://i.imgur.com/TCgayeo.jpg)

Without a home province and suffering from huge attrition the last of the Castilian forces attempt to take Zaragoza - suicide by Aragon

(https://i.imgur.com/NyF5pnu.jpg)

And the last bit of Spanish treachery dies with them

(https://i.imgur.com/rB70x1b.jpg)

WTF? Who are these guys!! Missed somehow as we took Leon, the actual Kings of Leon were hiding in Santiago - their city will be on fire soon as well as their sex

(https://i.imgur.com/EgHGB4Q.jpg)

Tidying up forces and cities now that Castile has gone, i realise the King is 70, the Queen is 72 and they have no children - literally the end of my royal line and the game

The Aragon hero of the moment Bernat-Guillem, a five star general, scourge of Castile, the terror of Toledo is adopted by the pensioners in charge, and made heir to the throne

(https://i.imgur.com/OnxunZI.jpg)

After years and years of trying our top diplomats finally hammer out a non aggression pact with the English, our northern borders are secure, peace, stability at last

(https://i.imgur.com/UDAqIYu.jpg)

Wankers

(https://i.imgur.com/cTjaMlG.jpg)

My hopes of the Emir of Grenada taking Grenada itself from the Almohads and then been crushed by me leaving the mainland muslim free is over

(https://i.imgur.com/tsmqQpc.jpg)

The big one then.......

We take Bordeaux as a pre-emptive strike and to see if theyre really wanting afight and might peace out after this. We have Bernat-Guillem and his full stack in Bordeaux and a second stack rounding the coast - i know theres 5 English stacks out there somewhere

(https://i.imgur.com/Yv91Bxu.jpg)

In retaliation England take Provence, but dont keep it - they return it to Provence and the once aresholey region of Provence is put back on the map

(https://i.imgur.com/AMSUkBY.jpg)

There they are in our old friends back garden, Vienne - our sneaky spy has eyes on Vienne, them and Orleans

(https://i.imgur.com/zlo46LF.jpg)

Ironically, my biggest friend so far, im stuck on an ever increasing friendship train here - i accept the offer to secure the south and that just makes him happier and happier, im expecting a military alliance request soon

(https://i.imgur.com/cqS8Nd1.jpg)

Provence also want peace, i have no time for any petty squabbles and annoying armies that are going to turn up and disrupt the supply train and any reinforcements whilst i deal with England - we accept, for now

(https://i.imgur.com/3GN8n4M.jpg)

When outnumbered the key is not to get stuck in a city, theres no retreat option and ill be crushed by all the English armies - we bypass Orleans as its in range of the Vienne foursome, and sack Paris - medieval drone pilot sacked for ruining dramatic shot

(https://i.imgur.com/aHCalDF.jpg)

The four stacks come for revenge and i retreat, BUT he leaves 2 armies outside Paris and sends 2 back to Vienne - i can do 2 armies, we destroy the English on the plains south of Paris

(https://i.imgur.com/tyTQjPq.jpg)

The other 2 stacks reinforce Orleans but now theyre trapped in their own walls, the pitiful survivors of the previous battle and these 2 stacks and England are wiped from France in a glorious battle on the fields of Orlean

(https://i.imgur.com/KcbXKSQ.jpg)

and sure enough they beg for peace with a gift of 10000 - which turns out to be the repair costs for paris and orleans!

On a sunny day i can see England from here  :Loser:

(https://i.imgur.com/PzGfwfT.jpg)

Bernat and the princess have a boy and a girl of their own, not before they adopted Felip as Bernat was striding thru France killing English men it was too risky not to have an heir. I marry Felip off to the Portugese princess tying our nations and everlasting harmony - we'll see!!

(https://i.imgur.com/IbJJwzV.jpg)

I hadnt realised the game had gone all Crusader Kings with the family shenanigans - if id left that untended the king would have died leaving me with no control over the politics and pretenders would have risen all over the map - its looking ok for a while now
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on August 23, 2021, 01:38:38 PM
Ooh! Dirty doings!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 23, 2021, 09:46:32 PM
Wow, what a train of events!  :o 


Nice job getting rid of Castille, and humbling the English.  I note, with petulant merriment, that the latter dipped from #2 in strength down to #5, while you rose from #3 to #2 during that same period -- most satisfactory.  >:D  And the Almos being your most steadfast pals so far is simply hilarious! 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 23, 2021, 10:56:14 PM
 :applause: :applause: :applause:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 24, 2021, 04:05:34 AM
Wow, what a train of events!  :o 


Nice job getting rid of Castille, and humbling the English.  I note, with petulant merriment, that the latter dipped from #2 in strength down to #5, while you rose from #3 to #2 during that same period -- most satisfactory.  >:D  And the Almos being your most steadfast pals so far is simply hilarious!

Barring some disaster or other I think it will be between him and me - I’ll keep my eye on goings on the African coast hopefully civil war will break out there
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 24, 2021, 07:11:16 AM
Also:  Fingers crossed that Portugal doesn't back-stab you in the meantime... 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 25, 2021, 04:27:50 AM
That’s why I tied them in with a marriage alliance - I don’t know how rock solid that makes the friendship
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 29, 2021, 04:40:11 PM
Heh.  This was a new one for me; I've not come across this item before. 


(https://i.imgur.com/iCkF6YB.jpg)


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 29, 2021, 05:12:56 PM
Fallen enchantress?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on August 29, 2021, 09:29:33 PM
Heh.  This was a new one for me; I've not come across this item before. 


(https://i.imgur.com/iCkF6YB.jpg)

Cool item, let us know what it does if you get to use it.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on August 29, 2021, 09:31:31 PM
First attempt at making a battlefield in TTS. This battle is generated from a little imaginations campaign I'm messing with.

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 30, 2021, 12:00:36 AM
^  Nice!  Random encounter? 




Fallen enchantress?

Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes, yes. 




Cool item, let us know what it does if you get to use it.
Yeah, I gave it to one of my Champions, as my Sovereign was maxed out on the number of items he can use.  It's a nice little item, bestowing +5 bonuses to Defense, Dodge, and Spell Resistance to its wearer. 

It's not super-powerful, but it's hard to argue with free.  ;) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on August 30, 2021, 09:45:36 PM
^  Nice!  Random encounter? 


Not quite random, allow the terrain was randomly generated with in the confines of the strategic map. I'm thinking about posting more in an AAR
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on September 05, 2021, 12:07:38 AM
I have over 700 hours in Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes, yet I'm honestly pretty sure this is the first time I've encountered this particular Wild-land.  Love how the game is still throwing "new" things at me after all this time. 


(https://i.imgur.com/xDuGDT7.jpg)


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Tolstoi on September 10, 2021, 12:06:10 AM
First attempt at making a battlefield in TTS. This battle is generated from a little imaginations campaign I'm messing with.

Looks great! Looking forward to your AAR, or any other info you share with us in the future.  :)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on September 10, 2021, 09:04:34 PM
First attempt at making a battlefield in TTS. This battle is generated from a little imaginations campaign I'm messing with.

Looks great! Looking forward to your AAR, or any other info you share with us in the future.  :)

Thanks, Im still kicking around with it a little at a time but when some action happens I'll make sure to post about it.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Agragor on September 19, 2021, 10:38:56 AM
From Arma 3 - SOG Prarie Fire (Official Vietnam Mod/DLC).

I definitely think 40K orks built this base in the jungle. The landed chopper and the angles of the lamps are the icing of the cake. I hope the guys who build the base were drunk at the time they were playing. It was an interresting build to say the least.

Leaving basebuilding to the players is an interresting way to encourage... creative thinking.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on September 19, 2021, 08:49:46 PM
I'm glad you explained this base was built by other players.  Trying to make sense of that was really hurting my brain...  :idiot2: 




Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on October 17, 2021, 11:00:09 AM
Enjoying Frostpunk at the moment, settlement is slowly growing, not necessarily a good thing!

Ive tried to keep all the homes to the right and all the industry to the left, all these tents at the front are medical stations - we were running at 68 sick with just 2 so i spammed them and this pic was taken as the last guy left a tent leaving us at 100% healthy, no ones hungry but hope is wayyyyyy low - this happens after youre encouraged to look for other settlements and find one, but everyones dead - it crashes the hope and a number of increasing settlers want to leave and go back to London - the londoners graphic you see bottom left - 61 want to leave. The way round this is to build guard stations, propaganda centres and a prison which is slowly happening now ive opened level 2 of the improvements and can build a factory to make massive steampunky automotons to work instead of the chilly folk down there leaving me free workers to puut in these security improvements

its an exercise in micro management im enjoying, i dont have enough coal to get me through the night when all the little fellas go to sleep so i move the automoton from the steel works to the coal mine in the night, and when they all get up again i move him back. Ive just broken into surplus for meals, again needing way more than the one hunter hut and 1 kitchen i built

(https://i.imgur.com/1u8UoZc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NZGdy40.jpg)

And i now have 2 scout teams to look for stuff up top, discovering supplies and hopefully finding more people

(https://i.imgur.com/ciWMYop.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Gusington on October 17, 2021, 02:50:17 PM
Age of Darkness is quite fun and seasonally appropriate here in the middle of October. I have it on the easiest setting and it has kicked my ass handily the first two campaigns I attempted playing  :Loser:

Still in early access but I am expecting greatness from this title eventually.

If you like tower defense and er...darkness...you will dig this title.

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1734440787207653573/2DDCD2478C0ED88F2C213F867B39F15F660BEF25/?imw=5000&imh=5000&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Gusington on October 17, 2021, 02:53:21 PM
One more. A 'Death Night' is the onslaught of evil creatures trying to rip your town to shreds. Light and dark add different buffs to both the player and the enemy. Fear the dark!  :rockon:

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1734440787207653491/7E40FCC59DE8B729188086A25716CCF7BCD14274/?imw=5000&imh=5000&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Gusington on October 17, 2021, 02:56:50 PM
Final shot, promise. When these crystals 'ripen' a 'Death Night' begins. There is no way to stop them from ripening, as far as I know, yet.

(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1734440787207653415/3A1B1E13567930101E4FAB6E0CA3E9C83B524189/?imw=5000&imh=5000&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Bison on October 17, 2021, 03:00:54 PM
Nice screen shots. I don't recall having heard of this game before today. It looks interesting.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Gusington on October 17, 2021, 04:20:35 PM
I suck at it but love it. It's like Age of Empires meets They Are Billions. 22.00 on Steam, early access.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on December 08, 2021, 08:59:51 PM
Playing my current Stellaris campaign with an Aquatics race (Fanatic Authoritarian Xenophobe), I discovered that one of my neighbors, the Finnu Trade Association, had the Doomed Homeworld origin. 

I say "had", because unfortunately, they didn't colonize another planet before their home went all Krypton on them...   



(https://i.imgur.com/fOZf2mx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rB2eMMZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/L1rHAE5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8UDByRm.jpg)




It's so strange:  One moment, they're there; and the next...they aren't. 


(https://i.imgur.com/9ZKcBP7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/e6ODg7I.jpg)




In an absolute sense, this is very good news:  The Finnu and I didn't exactly get along, and their destruction opens up an enormous swath of territory I can expand into.  (There is another empire who will also probably gain some of the Finnu's former star systems, but I'm in a far better position to take advantage of the overall situation than they are.) There's not much question that ultimately, I'm going to be the major beneficiary of their demise. 

On the other hand, I can't help but feel a bit bad for them:  While the Finnu Trade Association were not friends, neither were they enemies; nor were they evil.  And as I've begun to explore & survey the star systems that used to belong to them, I can't help but notice a dearth of inhabitable planets anywhere near their now-shattered homeworld.  I fear that they may have been truly doomed from the very beginning.  :( 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on December 08, 2021, 10:55:45 PM
So the Finnu are Finn-ished. Sorry to hear that. They seemed like such a nice Alien race.  :brokenheart:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on December 09, 2021, 05:54:22 AM
I like that you’re that immersed that the doom of a neighbouring empire generates a certain amount of empathy - not just a game so to speak but as the leader of your empire there’s a collective sense of loss - it’s great
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on December 09, 2021, 12:33:20 PM
Rome 2 TW with the DEI Mod. Roman Heavy Cavalry await the Nervii hordes at the Battle of Medlahan (Milan).
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on December 09, 2021, 05:51:27 PM
So the Finnu are Finn-ished. Sorry to hear that. They seemed like such a nice Alien race.  :brokenheart:
I like that you’re that immersed that the doom of a neighbouring empire generates a certain amount of empathy - not just a game so to speak but as the leader of your empire there’s a collective sense of loss - it’s great

Unless I'm playing as a destroyer empire (Fanatic Purifier, Determined Exterminator, etc.), it feels almost obligatory to mourn in those sorts of situations.  *Someone* should remember them... 

On a more meta level, I really wish randomly-generated empires were forbidden from having "Challenging" origins, including/especially the Doomed Homeworld.  The AI simply doesn't know how to handle them.  I *have* seen an AI empire survive the Doomed Homeworld origin, but they were so crippled (after their homeworld exploded) that they were never really able to compete the rest of the game -- not even with the other AI empires, much less myself. 




Rome 2 TW with the DEI Mod. Roman Heavy Cavalry await the Nervii hordes at the Battle of Medlahan (Milan).

It looks like they're facing uphill.  ???  Were you still able to crush them? 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on December 09, 2021, 10:49:35 PM
Yes, the Nervii had 1 full-strength and one smaller army coming over the high ground in the distance. I had 2 full-strength armies with the second of them coming from my right rear to join the fight about 3 minutes after the battle began. So I just sat tight and let them come to me, then crushed them between my 2 larger forces. If they had tried to stay back, my Ballista's would have smashed them from a distance. It was a fun fight.  :devil:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 07, 2022, 10:54:12 PM
Medieval 2 Total War with the Stainless Steel Mod. Who knew there was a thriving Camel Market in Western Poland in the Middle Ages? Could this be the actual, "Camel-lot"?  :ROFL:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 07, 2022, 10:57:03 PM
Forgot to put the picture in the post, dammit!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on February 08, 2022, 06:13:31 AM
Are they Bactrian or dromedaries?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 08, 2022, 11:48:01 AM
Hard to tell. I'm thinking if they're in Poland, they're probably very confused. And cold.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 09, 2022, 04:27:13 AM
^  Very likely both, yes.  :P 

The last time I saw camels that far north was when I invaded Denmark as the Fatamids in an MTW/VI (XL mod) campaign.  Kinda felt bad for my troops shivering in all that snow... 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 09, 2022, 12:15:04 PM
There are also, 'Dog' resources that allow you to recruit War Dog Units. This is kind of bizarre. I never run into anything like this when playing as the Normans across North Africa or Egypt where you'd think camels would actually be. And so far, I have no dog or camel units in my list of units to recruit. I am perplexed and intrigued at the same time. Which happens often to me.  :o
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 09, 2022, 03:32:35 PM
^  Weird.  I thought "war dogs" went out of vogue after the Late Antiquities/Early Medieval period.  I wouldn't have thought they were still a thing in the time span during which MTW/Medieval 2 takes place. 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 10, 2022, 12:08:11 PM
Right there with you Martok. I don't even believe there were War Dog Units in any version of vanilla M2TW that I recall.  :dunno:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on February 17, 2022, 09:48:30 PM
My FO calling in a barrage in tonight's Chain of Command game on TTS.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Barthheart on February 17, 2022, 10:42:27 PM
F#@%ing FOs!  :censored:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on February 17, 2022, 11:16:53 PM
F#@%ing FOs!  :censored:

 :nerd:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 18, 2022, 07:05:55 AM
 :2thumbs:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 18, 2022, 12:13:37 PM
Where's his radio? Doesn't he need a radio or something to call-in arty with? Maybe those binoculars are the new, 'I-Binoculars' I've heard about.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on February 18, 2022, 08:00:55 PM
Where's his radio? Doesn't he need a radio or something to call-in arty with? Maybe those binoculars are the new, 'I-Binoculars' I've heard about.  :biggrin:

Shhhhh that's top secret
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 18, 2022, 10:43:10 PM
 :nolisten:  I hear nothing. I hear...no-thing.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Hethwill on February 19, 2022, 08:17:31 AM

(https://wargamercoffeebreak.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/fltmjhowyacmj-q.png?w=1024)

A fun game with a non wargamer ( and won't become one ). Grasped the rules fast and easy and we had some fun at the office hours ( don't tell anyone! )
The action story is on the blog.
https://wargamercoffeebreak.com/2022/02/19/flying-colors-cuddalore-1758/
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 24, 2022, 08:31:04 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/YasmV8H.jpg)

Trying out gears tactics between Shadow Empire turns
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 25, 2022, 06:40:47 AM
Did everyone time-warp back to late Victorian London?  (Sorry, I'm not familiar with the game at all.)  ???  Nice screenie, though! 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 25, 2022, 09:55:17 AM
Same here - it was cheap and xcom like

Apart my game with huw everything I play seems to be something to do until dw2 arrives!!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 26, 2022, 12:00:00 AM
everything I play seems to be something to do until dw2 arrives!!

Preach it, brother!  I've been trying very hard to not think about it too much between now and then... 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on March 23, 2022, 11:07:29 PM
Rome 2 with the DEI Mod again. Here we have the ever friendly British Townsfolk set to welcome unexpected visitors who drop-by unannounced outside their charming village.  :peace:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on March 23, 2022, 11:11:48 PM
Which is why visitors should always travel like this.  :waiting:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 24, 2022, 02:00:39 AM
A pity they couldn't just settle things over a pint.  :peace: 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on March 24, 2022, 12:08:16 PM
I agree. Liquor makes speaking harder, but talking easier.   :hug:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 24, 2022, 03:45:03 PM
^  You are a very font of pithy truths.  8) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 29, 2022, 06:02:21 AM
Well this was embarrassing... 


(https://i.imgur.com/3WzrUlC.jpg)



I killed the Tiyanki Matriarch, one of the dozen or so "Leviathans" that can be found in Stellaris (if you have all the DLC).  However, I forgot that doing so counts as a violation of the Tiyanki Conservation Act, which is one of a number of laws you can help pass (or reject) as a member of the Galactic Community (essentially the United Nations IN SPAAAACE!). 

What makes this especially embarrassing is that *I* was the one who originally proposed passing the Act in the first place.  :doh:  Whoops... 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on March 29, 2022, 06:19:51 AM
ha!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 29, 2022, 06:37:59 AM
Big game Hunter shame for martok

Did you pose for a photo over the body
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on March 29, 2022, 03:22:53 PM
"Slain" can be conservation by another means. I see no problem here. You need Johnny Cochran, "If it saves the Nation, It's got to be Con-servation".  :hehe:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 29, 2022, 03:24:23 PM
^  ;D 




Did you pose for a photo over the body

Well of course!  Gotta make my Militarist faction happy, after all...  :P 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Bison on March 30, 2022, 07:36:00 PM
What good are treaties if you cannot violate them while creating a galactic hegemony?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on March 30, 2022, 11:11:32 PM
Exactly! In space, when you stab someone in the back, it doesn't make a sound.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on May 12, 2022, 01:41:29 AM
On the eve of the release of Overlord, Stellaris' 6th major expansion, I finally decide to take advantage of a feature from the previous expansion, Nemesis:  I get myself elected Galactic Custodian... 


(https://i.imgur.com/l15XXEm.jpg)



...And I am immediately kicking myself for not having done this before.  Those are some very nice abilities the Custodian gets.  Holy crap. 

(https://i.imgur.com/Do46meD.jpg)



In fact, they're so nice, I decide that I should become the galaxy's permanent Custodian. 

(https://i.imgur.com/NQMZam5.jpg)



Fortunately, the vast majority of the other galactic powers appear to be in hearty agreement that I should remain Custodian as well. 

(https://i.imgur.com/NQMZam5.jpg)




Now to see about transitioning from Custodian to establishing the Galactic Imperium...  >:D 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: judgedredd on May 12, 2022, 01:57:40 AM
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on May 12, 2022, 10:04:20 PM
Maybe?  We shall see.  My intentions are genuinely altruistic and/or well-intentioned for the most part.  Granted, that doesn't mean I won't (ab)use my new powers to smack down those who are being stupid and/or piss me off...  :whistle: 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on May 12, 2022, 11:09:55 PM
As any good Galactic Ruler should.  ;)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 13, 2022, 08:54:47 AM
Maybe?  We shall see.  My intentions are genuinely altruistic and/or well-intentioned for the most part.  Granted, that doesn't mean I won't (ab)use my new powers to smack down those who are being stupid and/or piss me off...  :whistle:

Says the emperor from Foundation
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on May 14, 2022, 03:43:24 AM
Her title is "Star Queen", actually -- and don't you forget it!  >:D 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Tolstoi on May 30, 2022, 11:15:06 AM
We interrupt your Science Fiction wargaming of Battles Yet to HappenTM, to share with you all some pictures of Battles From the PastTM. I thought about posting an AAR from a game of Blücher (2015) I participated in a couple months ago; however, this battle wasn't that exciting. It was great to get together with friends, push lead around the table and have a good time in person. We hadn't played Napoleonics face to face for two years, so for me, that was the best part of the day, sharing good times with friends.

The scenario didn't turn out to be that great of a battle. We decided to have late war French force battle the Austrians. We used Scharnhorst to determine the battle field and where the forces would start. It played out that the Austrians were on the defense and the French would need to break the Austrians in order to win. The terrain favored the Austrians and they formed a defensive line behind a bend in a river, which the French didn't attack quickly enough, so by the end of the game, the Austrians were victorious. Here are some highlights from the game.

This is after our set up. The stands/trays we place our figures on are upside down to help keep a semblance of uncertainty when we start.
(https://i.postimg.cc/PJ499Nng/01-battle-start.png)
The white stands are the French and the green are the Austrians. This gives you an idea of the starting positions.

Upon seeing this I'm sure you're thinking, "Where are the rest of the Austrians?" There were two forces of Austrians off the table that would arrive as reinforcements. Neither force played any role in the game!

Here are some French Dragoons Advancing.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rmt4FYVj/04-french-dragoons-advance-02.png)

Here we have the French Old Guard and Guard Cavalry advancing toward the Austrians.
(https://i.postimg.cc/xdsCDGLR/06-old-guard-advance-02.png)

Austrian cavalry charging French horse artillery.
(https://i.postimg.cc/FFTxWwfd/09-austrian-cav-charge-french-horse-arty.png)

Here's birds eye view of the Austrians cowering, er, I mean, valiantly defending from behind the rivers.
(https://i.postimg.cc/7Z8X00Gm/20-austrian-def-2.png)

Here we see a brigade of veteran French infantry storming across a bridge, which is defended by Austrian Grenadiers.
(https://i.postimg.cc/pr1jkbLD/21-vet-french-atk-aus-grenadiers.png)

Here is a birds eye view of the game as the final turn transpired.
(https://i.postimg.cc/jd0nxXJq/25-end-game.png)

As I wrote, an excellent time with friends and not the most exciting of battles. We now return you to your regularly scheduled Battles Yet to HappenTM.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on May 30, 2022, 12:00:55 PM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on June 11, 2022, 02:16:05 PM
Should have fired this up much earlier - had a great time mid 80s warfare all to a carpenter/stranger things synth sound track

(https://i.imgur.com/P4ze80m.jpg)

ive got Abrams guarding the approach rd

(https://i.imgur.com/oNmjJeQ.jpg)

A phantom lining up a shot on the Mi-8

(https://i.imgur.com/lmVubch.jpg)

general overview of the left flank where i expect an infantry attack from the trees in the distance

(https://i.imgur.com/rvcrjO0.jpg)

and here it comes into the bradleys and prepared infantry

(https://i.imgur.com/kEVcOrO.jpg)

The departing A-10 leaves an exploding Mi-8 dropping off infantry

(https://i.imgur.com/N6sf4Za.jpg)

on the right flank Bradleys drop off rangers to cover the forest

My first win on the new game, the post battle scores are great - each friendly and enemy unit with their individual kills and then the chronology of all kills

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on June 11, 2022, 08:52:31 PM
My current game of Interstellar Space: Genesis, playing as the Kaek Collective (the two screenshots are four turns apart): 


(https://i.imgur.com/6rtEns6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ROkkR3s.jpg)




I've just founded new colonies in the Cra and Thecitune systems, where I'd previously established footholds by building Outposts.  They're my first colonies *not* of my species "preferred" planet type -- something I intend to address soon, as I've now researched the technology to terraform worlds to something a bit more hospitable. 

I've made contact with the Human Federation in the west, and have established a decent relationship thus far.  Just off-screen to the north are the Draguul Kingdom, who are unfriendly, but not openly hostile at this point.  The Vxma and (especially) Cra colonies will be getting their defenses beefed up as a precaution. 

I've built up a modest fleet for protection, which is stationed at my capital in Rhinelander.  It's going to need to be a lot stronger than it currently is, however, before it can successfully engage & destroy the space dragon inhabiting the Jers system in the south. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on June 13, 2022, 04:28:48 PM
is it very different to DW2 and Stellaris?

In my Warno game, it embodies the very essence of my childhood - wanting to play soldiers with forces from my era, hinds, tornados, harriers, abrams

Here an Mi-8 is causing absolute carnage

(https://i.imgur.com/C4wu8Et.jpg)

So we send in Mr Warthog

(https://i.imgur.com/YsIHeHn.jpg)

and its the little personal battles, vignettes you find across the map - i noticed that AA fire kept coming from these trees so sent 2 squads of rangers in - they landed out of sight in black hawks, which is laready cool, crept through the woods and found these assholes!

(https://i.imgur.com/mfZ5jkc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fY3A9yA.jpg)

This forest would turn into a burning hell shortly, men would die here, helicopters would crash here and tanks would explode - it was great
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on June 14, 2022, 04:33:16 AM
is it very different to DW2 and Stellaris?

There are a number of differences, yes. 


Interstellar Space: Genesis is a more of an "old-school" space 4x, in the vein of Master of Orion 2 -- though it does its own thing, unlike too many copycats and would-be spiritual successors.  The game is turn-based, not real-time (including combat).  It's also smaller in scale & scope, with the largest map sizes having just 280 star systems -- and only around half of those are visible at the start of the game. 

Empire management in IS:G is overall simpler, and strategy is generally *not* centered around an early "land rush" where you're churning out colony ships to grab as many worlds/star systems as possible.  The game also has "Space Culture" and Evolution perks (somewhat similar to Traditions and Ascension Perks in Stellaris) that give your empire powerful bonuses and help guide its development down certain paths.  IS:G has leaders you can hire (or on occasion you can get for free via events), and these leaders can develop their skills, and also gain desires, which you can fulfill or thwart -- either will have consequences. 

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't also mention the game's excellent remote exploration system, which allows you to keep making cool new discoveries long after the galaxy has been "explored".  It's probably IS:G's single most brilliant feature. 




This forest would turn into a burning hell shortly, men would die here, helicopters would crash here and tanks would explode - it was great

Nice!  I trust you were able to take out the AA weaponry in the process as well.  :P 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 18, 2022, 10:01:52 AM
Just some pics -

Down in the harbour

(https://i.imgur.com/ZJl8gcJ.jpg)

Got here by climbing down there - i dont think any part of the map is off limits

(https://i.imgur.com/4bgCUup.jpg)

After finishing with harbour im going to climb up here

(https://i.imgur.com/GwoRtgk.jpg)

and thats the harbour back down there

(https://i.imgur.com/fxhYZYX.jpg)

baddy on the opposite ridge

(https://i.imgur.com/evfCoLz.jpg)

shots on the way

(https://i.imgur.com/9PORiAW.jpg)

going to need a new dentist

(https://i.imgur.com/XoPQS8z.jpg)

maps are lovely

(https://i.imgur.com/tabdxWI.jpg)

when you put yourself between one baddy and another - killed by his own man

(https://i.imgur.com/eDZdoCM.jpg)

1st major objective - here to kill 4 officers - heres no.1

(https://i.imgur.com/3qtoSS0.jpg)

Two more in the villa up there, bridge guuarded by so many baddies, can go around or brute force way thru

(https://i.imgur.com/96pm6nZ.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: W8taminute on July 19, 2022, 04:09:10 PM
^Very nice pics UCG.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 19, 2022, 04:16:08 PM
^Very nice pics UCG.

It’s a great looking game
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: W8taminute on July 19, 2022, 04:18:51 PM
Sure is.  I was watching a YouTuber play it a while back and was intrigued. 
Now I gotta go check my gaming wallet and see if I should pull the trigger or not.  LOL
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 19, 2022, 04:38:12 PM
Don’t know if it’s still on sale but elite 4 was 6 pounds on green man last week
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 19, 2022, 04:39:19 PM
Yep still 88% off  :biggrin: :biggrin:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: W8taminute on July 20, 2022, 08:39:57 AM
Whoa, only $7.20!  Guess I'll have to create an account there then.   :)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 16, 2022, 05:19:16 AM
We're off - setting sail for new lands in Anno 1800

(https://i.imgur.com/AzfOybc.jpg)

The docks and first housing settlement

(https://i.imgur.com/QXEk2qT.jpg)

Homes to the minions - the furthest brick fancy ones have just been upgraded

(https://i.imgur.com/SfKVobi.jpg)

What you might call the industrial zone - sheep farms for wool and cloth makers, potato fields and distilleries for schnapps

(https://i.imgur.com/Z8e2TR6.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Barthheart on August 16, 2022, 06:29:56 AM
Are there any maps in this series that are real world shapes and locations? That about the only thing that has put me off the games….
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 16, 2022, 07:13:58 AM
I don’t think so - but I think the scale would be far too small for you to recognise anywhere anyway considering it has to be undeveloped open land to start playing on
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 16, 2022, 12:44:13 PM
Mutton , Schnapps, and wool underwear.  You're off to a great start, UCG.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: GROGnadsUSA on August 16, 2022, 06:57:45 PM
We're off - setting sail for new lands in Anno 1800

(https://i.imgur.com/AzfOybc.jpg)

The docks and first housing settlement

(https://i.imgur.com/QXEk2qT.jpg)

Homes to the minions - the furthest brick fancy ones have just been upgraded

(https://i.imgur.com/SfKVobi.jpg)

What you might call the industrial zone - sheep farms for wool and cloth makers, potato fields and distilleries for schnapps


(https://i.imgur.com/Z8e2TR6.jpg)

??? ANYBODY still has NES/SNES 'Video Cartridge Games'? SHOULD this 'inquiry' become 'placed' into "Console Games"?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 22, 2022, 09:17:33 PM
Potato farm looked a bit griddy and generic so i created a little farm community instead

(https://i.imgur.com/CC3005J.jpg)

Towns growing - church and fire station added - only needed fire station once so far  :-[

(https://i.imgur.com/WPzqTVm.jpg)

Sail makers up and ruunning - using excess cotton from sheep farms and prepping for our own sail boats to trade

(https://i.imgur.com/Stzxrb9.jpg)

Speaking of which - this guy buys soap and potatoes for the prison - have a decent trade going with him for spuds

(https://i.imgur.com/e3bYxhC.jpg)

next up is grabbing a few of the empty islands, and starting the wheat and sausage production for the workers - the farmers are happy with fish



Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 22, 2022, 11:31:19 PM
Better make that soap the non-slippery kind because in prison you definitely don't want to drop it in the shower.  :notme:  That looks like an interesting little game. I thought it was supposed to be very hard?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: judgedredd on August 23, 2022, 12:56:42 AM
I found it hard - but then I'm not great at these kinds of games anyway.

I think I thought the maps were really small too...not an awful lot of wiggle room.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 27, 2022, 12:23:17 PM
The farming community is established - did the same as the potato fields - instead of looking all square and sim city i built random roads and houses and put the fields around them

(https://i.imgur.com/FjWVBGh.jpg)

From a small industrial/support network.........

(https://i.imgur.com/9VDVipD.jpg)

To a bigger one....... the piggy industry is established along with bread - bacon sandwiches to be exported soon

(https://i.imgur.com/2BntwIk.jpg)

So great are my achievements the workers come out for a street party and festival - most of them dont know their houses are on fire by the docks  :Loser:

(https://i.imgur.com/hvaWYBk.jpg)

The town at dawn

(https://i.imgur.com/ReyeC3D.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 27, 2022, 03:36:26 PM
Nice screenshots, geek.  :bigthumb:  So why were their houses on fire? 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 27, 2022, 03:44:56 PM
its an in game limiter - theres no official reason given other than houses and businesses too close together - if you hover over a fire station it gives you the fire risk in their patch - the best thing to do is just pop in another fire station

weirdly the last 3 game starts after a save - a fire always breaks out when the game boots up - easily containable
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on August 27, 2022, 07:32:30 PM
Found the Jedi Temple.  8) 


(https://i.imgur.com/AJ7bKws.jpg)





its an in game limiter - theres no official reason given other than houses and businesses too close together - if you hover over a fire station it gives you the fire risk in their patch - the best thing to do is just pop in another fire station

weirdly the last 3 game starts after a save - a fire always breaks out when the game boots up - easily containable

Odd.  ???  Well at least you know it's coming -- not the worst of bugs (if that's what it is). 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 28, 2022, 05:53:51 AM
That’s brilliant - didn’t know the Jedi temple was a thing
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 29, 2022, 12:00:16 AM
Did someone say, Bacon Sandwiches? Seriously, I know I heard someone say it. I have a Bacon Detector right next to my computer and it was flashing like hell.  :o  UCG City looks like a beautiful place to visit. I'll make sure my Fire Insurance is paid-up before I come.  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 30, 2022, 04:53:16 AM
The grand vista - 3500 occupants and growing

(https://i.imgur.com/5Sp7XQ5.jpg)

The agriculture zone - wheat produce has been doubled by adding more farms - to supply the malt factories in anticipation of starting the beer industry

(https://i.imgur.com/87q5Zjd.jpg)

ive put some industry behind victorian looking mill walls - it also condenses the space between producers allowing greater use of trade unions and their specialists

(https://i.imgur.com/nloSMYA.jpg)

The dark satanic mills have also been established this is my fledgling steel industry

(https://i.imgur.com/moOjECx.jpg)

Tough work been a piggy on the island - you turn left youre sausage, you turn right you get turned into soap

(https://i.imgur.com/EpSvzbM.jpg)

The seat of learning - my first school ticking all the boxes to move onto artisan level inhabitants - but not yet

(https://i.imgur.com/9spB7xS.jpg)

One of my other islands - this one benefits from rich minerals allowing a fertile area to grow hops - the missing component of the beer industry

(https://i.imgur.com/LU5lC8Z.jpg)



Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on August 30, 2022, 11:58:20 AM
Very nice!  :applause: :applause: :applause:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on September 02, 2022, 03:32:15 PM
I liked it, so I put a ring on it.  8) 


(https://i.imgur.com/QsAQ9CC.jpg)


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 03, 2022, 02:33:36 AM
Fancy - never got round to building one yet
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on September 03, 2022, 05:04:13 AM
It's the first Orbital Ring I've built myself.  My homeworld was the obvious choice, especially since it's only a few jumps away from a hostile power. 

To be honest, at the moment I'm underwhelmed by them:  Orbital Rings just don't appear to be worth the cost in alloys and influence, versus the benefit you receive**.  They either should be cheaper to build/upgrade, or provide stronger bonuses to your planet. 


In contrast, building Hyper-Relays (the other "lesser" mega-structure introduced in the Overlord DLC) have been a far better investment in my experience.  They're maybe not as sexy, but damn if they aren't effective.  Constructing a chain of those along my main hyper-lane routes has turned them into virtual freeways in space -- it's fairly impressive how much they cut down on travel time. 




**(I reserve the right to change my mind later on if and as events warrant it.) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 03, 2022, 02:14:24 PM
The nobs have moved in

(https://i.imgur.com/7qdlk3Q.jpg)

Theyre up in the hills looking down on the plebs - it was nearly looking down on the pig farms so i moved them further out

(https://i.imgur.com/q3JhZsT.jpg)

and then i find..........

street view

(https://i.imgur.com/jESAUwi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XnIXYwN.jpg)

The cornfields

(https://i.imgur.com/nFl7vye.jpg)

The potato farms

(https://i.imgur.com/H4Ns6mo.jpg)

The docks

(https://i.imgur.com/cw31lJn.jpg)

The pub

(https://i.imgur.com/i0I91HI.jpg)

im so charmed by street view i could spend hours walking the streets that are built marvelling at the detail - its a proper world with people haggling in the market, drinking in the pub and sweeping out their homes before going to bed
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on September 04, 2022, 04:35:19 AM
Wow!  I agree that's very cool.  :D 

It reminds me -- in a very small way -- of Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes, where you can zoom in on your towns and watch your people going about their business.  Or in the original Rome: Total War, where you could "walk" down the streets of your settlements on the campaign map.  (I still hate that CA removed that feature in later titles.) 


This is on a whole other level, though:  As you said, it's an entire world, with people actually interacting with each other and living their lives.  Love it! 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on September 05, 2022, 01:11:13 PM
Me too. Don't they look happy? And well-fed. I want to live there.  :'(
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 10, 2022, 01:33:41 PM
HMS Endeavour sets off to find the New World

(https://i.imgur.com/UUz7xod.jpg)

We find 3 islands - this one will be for sugar, and eventually rum

(https://i.imgur.com/NzzDLuc.jpg)

This one that ive started to develop will be for cocoa and eventually chocolate

(https://i.imgur.com/aNOk6ub.jpg)

And this one is for coffee and gooooooollllllllddddddddd

(https://i.imgur.com/f1XrcRm.jpg)

and then you realise theres a whole other map system over here, a completely new area to develop and then mention of an arctic expedition which i imagine leads to another polar map - game is huge!!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: thecommandtent on September 10, 2022, 03:33:01 PM
That is one gorgeous looking game!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Bison on September 10, 2022, 05:01:02 PM
It really is very nice and makes one want to play the Anno series again.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 17, 2022, 05:02:23 PM
The docks by night

(https://i.imgur.com/Ssx9qoi.jpg)

The swanky new theatre in the artisan section of town

(https://i.imgur.com/QMQt1rJ.jpg)

Starting to populate the new islands - this is Chocolate Town, subsequently renamed Bourneville - it will be where most of the chocolate comes from when its unlocked

(https://i.imgur.com/WufpRg5.jpg)

El Bufero is where the sugar cane is grown for the rum distilleries, now named Barcadi Island

(https://i.imgur.com/9zdkElz.jpg)

I decided to spend a bit of time personalising the dock area, walling off the town and adding some flavour items

(https://i.imgur.com/ehsmPxh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XHhxbuH.jpg)

Bacardi starting to grow

(https://i.imgur.com/hUpgPa7.jpg)

So much so we can upgrade the inhabitants and unlock coffee and the gold mines

(https://i.imgur.com/Ogfl5VI.jpg)

And theyre having a street party in Bourneville!

(https://i.imgur.com/TwoBrS3.jpg)

And now some fancy shots of the islands

(https://i.imgur.com/gCRKUXw.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IQX9gvE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/MWhheWD.jpg)

Posh part of town overlooking the home island from behind the theatre

(https://i.imgur.com/DWTp2Ld.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 02, 2023, 05:23:19 AM
The Great Khan has arisen, and has been making alarming headway.  He caught me off-guard by making a play for the strategically-critical Terminal Egress system and its master L-Gate, far sooner than I was anticipating. 

Fortunately, I was not completely unprepared:  I had earlier constructed a standard Gateway immediately adjacent to the L-Gate, which allowed both of my primary fleets to quickly counterattack and engage the enemy.  The Khanate would be more careful in the future. 


(https://i.imgur.com/Ecx81Gc.jpg)


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Barthheart on February 02, 2023, 05:34:09 AM
Great pic!  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 02, 2023, 12:10:45 PM
I agree! That Great Khan sounds like trouble to me. Better kick his, 'khan' as soon as you can.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 02, 2023, 03:16:45 PM
Thanks!  I'm working on it.  Though I do have a mod installed that makes the Khan way more powerful than normal, so I have to be careful...  :-\ 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 02, 2023, 05:09:44 PM
If anyone can do it you can!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 02, 2023, 11:48:15 PM
I see what you did there.  :go-on:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 07, 2023, 03:49:34 PM
The struggle against the Great Khan continues: the first empire surrenders to the Horde... 

(https://i.imgur.com/pIoYfac.jpg)


[This one also hurt on a meta level, as my girlfriend created the Londinum Star Empire, so I naturally make a point of including it in my playthroughs.  She doesn't play Stellaris herself,  but she enjoys the story/RPG aspects of the game, including creating empires with me, as it's similar to creating characters in RPG's.] 




Calling them "spineless cowards" for becoming a satrapy of the Khan might be a little unfair, however.  They didn't exactly have much of a choice -- or a chance... 

(https://i.imgur.com/2tWqeCW.jpg)


[This screenshot doesn't really do it justice (especially since i don't have a "before and after" comparison, unfortunately), but Londinium has lost fully half its territory to the Lavan Horde (the Great Khan), including their capital of Elizabeth.  To date, they have -- by far -- borne the brunt of the Khan's brutal expansion.] 




In the Xikksei's Doom system (formerly owned by Londinium), two of my subject states fight a losing battle against a more powerful Horde fleet.  Brave idiots... 

(https://i.imgur.com/P6Wmqm6.jpg)


[To be fair, this was entirely my fault for forgetting to set my fleets to "Take Point":  Without that command, allied fleets go willy-nilly as they wish, which can lead to them ending up in bad situations, like this one.] 




...Yet perhaps they're smarter than I was giving credit for.  I belatedly realize that securing control of an additional secondary L-Gate system would be a good thing. 

Besides, they *are* my vassals, after all.  I wouldn't be a very good benevolent overlord if I just let them die... 

(https://i.imgur.com/GbG9Com.jpg)


[GERONIMO!!]




Victory!!  And a wonderfully lop-sided one, at that. 

(https://i.imgur.com/qr0QRge.jpg)


[Now the *real* battle begins...]


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 07, 2023, 04:14:47 PM
[GERONIMO!!]


izzat like an old-school "LEEEEEEEROY JENKINS!"  :silly:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 09, 2023, 01:30:21 AM
Pretty much, yeah.  It was very much a "This is stupid/crazy, and probably going to end up being the death of me, but I'm going in anyway" moment.  :P 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 09, 2023, 03:17:39 AM
Game is looking great - if only there was more time
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 12, 2023, 03:05:22 PM
Game is looking great - if only there was more time

Aye, that's always the problem for me as well. 




My empire's Talon and Peregrine Fleets fight a desperate battle against a massive Khanate/Horde armada in the Nodox system.  (Their ships are on the left, mine are on the right.)  Not pictured are my carrier battleships and missile cruisers, all standing off at range (as they should). 

(https://i.imgur.com/na65Zi4.jpg)


Despite the enemy outgunning me by a good 30% (at least on paper), my forces eventually prevail.  My losses are heavy, but theirs are absolutely crushing, and I know that even the Khan doesn't have unlimited forces at his disposal.  I allow myself to wonder/hope if I'm beginning to turn the tide at last... 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 13, 2023, 03:14:01 AM
Is it a race to rebuild now?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 13, 2023, 03:54:57 PM
At this point, pretty much, yeah. 

In addition, the Galactic Community is currently voting on the resolution to elect me as the Galactic Custodian -- every single nation is onboard, even the handful that hate me --  which would also be a helpful boost.  Problem is, there's almost two years to go yet before it passes; I'm not sure I'll have that much time.  We'll see. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 13, 2023, 11:44:57 PM
Galactic Custodian? Is that a paid position? It should be but, probably not enough.  :go-on:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 14, 2023, 12:01:11 AM
Second Front. Here the brave soldiers of Mother Russia defend her sacred, hex-covered soil against the hated Army of Blue Question Marks approaching.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 14, 2023, 02:42:49 AM
Galactic Custodian? Is that a paid position? It should be but, probably not enough.  :go-on:

That is only too accurate.  Like too many political offices these days, you almost have to already be rich in order to get elected.  :hehe: 



Second Front. Here the brave soldiers of Mother Russia defend her sacred, hex-covered soil against the hated Army of Blue Question Marks approaching.

Why are your own forces white question marks?  Are they suffering from an existential crisis? 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 14, 2023, 11:27:25 AM
That could be. It certainly couldn't be because they are questioning the capabilities of their Commander-In-Chief. Because that guy has no capabilities.  :nerd:  It's actually because until they move or fire they are in, 'Concealment' and the question marks are to denote that. Fortunately for me, the Germans aren't allowed to shoot at question marks, only real targets.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 17, 2023, 03:44:33 PM
While the war against the Khan and the Lavan Horde rages on, my empire reaches a major milestone in completing the construction of two vanity projects megastructures...


(https://i.imgur.com/yIvzh2V.jpg)


[This was my first time building an Interstellar Assembly.  A megastructure devoted entirely to diplomatic endeavors might seem a little underwhelming, but it felt right from a role-playing perspective.  And honestly, the perks are pretty nice.]





(https://i.imgur.com/ECcsJlN.jpg)


[The Science Nexus is my personal favorite megastructure in Stellaris; I generally make a point of building one in my run-throughs.  I always imagine Barthheart running it, cackling with glee as he runs his various mad totally safe experiments...]


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 17, 2023, 03:46:08 PM
On the other hand, perhaps my optimism was misplaced after all.  At the very least, it appears it was premature...


(https://i.imgur.com/Pe0PzR7.jpg)


[In the skies above his throneworld, the Khan has amassed yet another armada, even more powerful than the one I defeated at Nodox.  And it's headed my way.] 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Barthheart on February 17, 2023, 03:51:53 PM

  I always imagine Barthheart running it, cackling with glee as he runs his various mad totally safe experiments...][/i]

 :biggrin: You flatter me sir. But I do think your “mad” appraisal was actually correct.  >:D
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Tolstoi on February 17, 2023, 07:32:19 PM
On the other hand, perhaps my optimism was misplaced after all.  At the very least, it appears it was premature...

[In the skies above his throneworld, the Khan has amassed yet another armada, even more powerful than the one I defeated at Nodox.  And it's headed my way.]

Are each one of those red trails an individual ship?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 18, 2023, 08:00:28 PM
Every now and again crusader kings makes you put down your whisky and save the game so you can look at the screen and go 'wtf? i need a bit of time here to work things out'

So, heres our boy Oberto, son of Arduino - he of the famous AAR from ye ages past

(https://i.imgur.com/o1qtYwJ.jpg)

In maybe half a year hes been imprisoned for trying to kill his half brother, escaped, marched off to war with his step mother (matilda of Tuscany) who promptly died in battle, this fractured all the Tuscan lands between his half brothers, all sons of Arduino, leaving the Duchy of Tuscany to the half brother he tried to kill - because the half brother is chaste, hes 21 with no wife or children - his heir? Oberto - he must be stabbed but i have to wait another 2 years before i can try again to kill him

This is him

(https://i.imgur.com/CYJsstp.jpg)

I have to keep a close watch on him and prepare to stab any wife he makes and any of their children, OR can try and marry him to one of my family who is too old to conceive - then just wait for him to die

(https://i.imgur.com/TgaxhtJ.jpg)

In the meantime i decided it would be fun to succumb to this girls hotness - the princess from England with all the claims on the English throne, who became my soulmate. However, i forgot she was my spymasters wife who revealed the affair to everyone including my wife - before she died Matilda had her imprisoned on my wifes behalf. For that i killed my spy

For that my wife killed Christina

For that i killed my wife

(https://i.imgur.com/DqOg6CZ.jpg)

And the duchy of Spoletta passed to another of Arduinos sons and another half brother - but my dread is so mighty and scary he abstained and passed the title to Oberto who has now rocketed from the count of Parma trying to figure out how to increase his lands to the Duke of Spoletto with the King of England as an ally and the Duke of Apulia

If i can kill the half brother this second go round i can take power of half of north of Italy, have 2 duchys and start looking at the Duke of Lombardy - the true asshole of the tale

and then it was time to drink and rest - the scheming is real
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Barthheart on February 18, 2023, 08:36:38 PM
 :applause: Awesome!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 19, 2023, 04:02:28 AM
Damn, geek.  That's one heck of a(n hilarious) roller-coaster ride!  :applause: 





  I always imagine Barthheart running it, cackling with glee as he runs his various mad totally safe experiments...][/i]

 :biggrin: You flatter me sir. But I do think your “mad” appraisal was actually correct.  >:D

I'm glad we agree.  ;) 

You know, I just realized I maybe shouldn't have built my Science Nexus in an inhabited system...  :-\  Oh well.  :whistle: 




On the other hand, perhaps my optimism was misplaced after all.  At the very least, it appears it was premature...

[In the skies above his throneworld, the Khan has amassed yet another armada, even more powerful than the one I defeated at Nodox.  And it's headed my way.]

Are each one of those red trails an individual ship?

Yes.  Yes, they are. 


Incidentally, there are now *two* more Horde fleets of around the same size in the vicinity, with one of them also headed my way.  :worried: 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on February 19, 2023, 06:01:32 AM
Excellent  :bigthumb: :notworthy:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 19, 2023, 04:06:25 PM
Damn, that's impressive.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Tolstoi on February 19, 2023, 07:48:01 PM
On the other hand, perhaps my optimism was misplaced after all.  At the very least, it appears it was premature...
[In the skies above his throneworld, the Khan has amassed yet another armada, even more powerful than the one I defeated at Nodox.  And it's headed my way.]
Are each one of those red trails an individual ship?

Yes.  Yes, they are. 
Incidentally, there are now *two* more Horde fleets of around the same size in the vicinity, with one of them also headed my way.  :worried:

Wow! I hope you have something akin to the Vorlon ships, or maybe  a couple Space Battleship Yamatos you can dust off to help tackle those enemy fleets. Looking forward to reading the results of the impending battle.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on February 20, 2023, 03:41:49 PM
Thanks!  It's been a genuine challenge dealing with the Khan, which is a nice change of pace. 


I have additional screenshots ready to go, I just haven't had a chance to post them yet.  Hopefully tonight after I get home from work. 




Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bayonetbrant on February 21, 2023, 10:45:00 AM
Martok - why aren't you just making this whole thing a giant AAR thread of its own?!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 21, 2023, 12:50:58 PM
 :dreamer:

What he said
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on February 21, 2023, 12:59:42 PM
Please Daddy, PLEASE!  :'(
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 01, 2023, 02:15:24 AM
Martok - why aren't you just making this whole thing a giant AAR thread of its own?!

You mean like this?  :whistle: 


https://www.armchairdragoons.com/forum/index.php?topic=4850.msg99891#msg99891




I'd been working on it for a while, it just took me longer to put together than I'd wanted.  (Stupid OCD/perfectionist tendencies...) 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on March 01, 2023, 10:50:06 AM
OH Boy! There goes the rest of my week.  :groovy:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 04, 2023, 08:06:56 AM
Every now and again crusader kings makes you put down your whisky and save the game so you can look at the screen and go 'wtf? i need a bit of time here to work things out'

So, heres our boy Oberto, son of Arduino - he of the famous AAR from ye ages past

(https://i.imgur.com/o1qtYwJ.jpg)

In maybe half a year hes been imprisoned for trying to kill his half brother, escaped, marched off to war with his step mother (matilda of Tuscany) who promptly died in battle, this fractured all the Tuscan lands between his half brothers, all sons of Arduino, leaving the Duchy of Tuscany to the half brother he tried to kill - because the half brother is chaste, hes 21 with no wife or children - his heir? Oberto - he must be stabbed but i have to wait another 2 years before i can try again to kill him

This is him

(https://i.imgur.com/CYJsstp.jpg)

I have to keep a close watch on him and prepare to stab any wife he makes and any of their children, OR can try and marry him to one of my family who is too old to conceive - then just wait for him to die

(https://i.imgur.com/TgaxhtJ.jpg)

In the meantime i decided it would be fun to succumb to this girls hotness - the princess from England with all the claims on the English throne, who became my soulmate. However, i forgot she was my spymasters wife who revealed the affair to everyone including my wife - before she died Matilda had her imprisoned on my wifes behalf. For that i killed my spy

For that my wife killed Christina

For that i killed my wife

(https://i.imgur.com/DqOg6CZ.jpg)

And the duchy of Spoletta passed to another of Arduinos sons and another half brother - but my dread is so mighty and scary he abstained and passed the title to Oberto who has now rocketed from the count of Parma trying to figure out how to increase his lands to the Duke of Spoletto with the King of England as an ally and the Duke of Apulia

If i can kill the half brother this second go round i can take power of half of north of Italy, have 2 duchys and start looking at the Duke of Lombardy - the true asshole of the tale

and then it was time to drink and rest - the scheming is real

another WTF break required

after a couple of hours ive realised at the moment its too hard to kill my half brother the duke of tuscany, he then gets married and his wife is also too hard to kill, and then horror of horrors hehas a child, a son who i have the best chance of killing - so it might be the best option to let my half brother die and then kill the son leaving me the heir again

i turn my eyes to the duchy of lombardy - i have a claim here too after they declared war on the HRE, however i cant proceed with the claim because whilst i was a vassal of Tuscany i could declare my own wars, as a Duke in my own right now and a vassal of the HRE i cannot declare my own wars - theres too choices - change my contract with the HRE or get a hook on the Emperor

I discover ive already changed my contract, which i did, and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity, i need Oberto to die before i can change the contract again. We try and get a hook on the emperor by spying in his court - all kinds of dirty secrets are exposed but no related to the big boy himself - its looking bleak until Oberto drops dead at 71 - nothing to do with me and Falco his son takes over - hes rightly installed as the Duke of Spoletto, agrees a new contract with the HRE about declaring his own wars and marches off against Lombardia - recent strategic marriages to Croatia and Sardinia bring in much needed allies and mercenaries and we take the Duchy with ease - hail Falco, Duke of Lombardia and Spoletto

I need 7 more counties to create the Kingdom of Italy and get me a big ass crown

Time for some rum sipping and vassal sorting
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 18, 2023, 12:47:49 PM
as is ever the case with CK, i think ill give it a little go just to sort things out and then look out of the window and see its dark!!

I guide Falco into a career of intrigue - we need to get those murder scores up on the duke of tuscany and his son so we can steal that title long wished by the di Parmas

Over the next few years we take the Republic of Pisa, the County of Padua and other titles that move us closer to the big Kingdom badge. The bad news is Falco now has 5 sons - the duchies and counties will shatter when he dies and therell be claims all over the place - i try and bestow as much property to my son and heir, a useless tit with no outstanding qualities despite a career in stewardship. We'll see how that goes, i cant convince any of the others to take the cloth and its too damaging to imprison or kill them - sigh

Again while all this is going on my wife suddenly becomes this evil spymaster scheme making poisoner bad ass adding her intrigue to mine and my intrigue goes up as i study the backstabby dark arts and all of a sudden the murder score to kill the duke of tuscany goes from 12 - 80 percent chance, i start the scheme and 3 more stabbers jump on board - the chance is now 95 but the stress of it all has sent Falco bonkers.......

more soon to avoid wall of text
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 19, 2023, 07:28:02 AM
While briefly gaining control of his mental issues Falco then kills the son of the Duke leaving him the sole heir of Tuscany - he gains it and 10 counties, throwing him way over his ownership limit, this plus the stress of killing his half nephew begins to tip him towards madness - with enough counties within the DeJure territories Falco can claim the Kingdom of Italy - its a great day for the Di Parmas, and as the crown is placed on Falcos head his tiny mind folds in on itself and he dies at 47 - the kingdom is passed to his son but theres counties and duchies all over the place looking to rebel

Heres Falco after he shuffled off his mortal coil

(https://i.imgur.com/V69bbED.jpg)

and now his son King Giovanni of Italy

(https://i.imgur.com/shDbTEN.jpg)

and his kingdom

(https://i.imgur.com/3EwJdA1.jpg)

Within a month his 4 brothers start a faction against him claiming their right to the throne - its going to get messy
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 20, 2023, 10:33:39 AM
The first war of succession ends in a white peace - all it gives is Tuscany, Piedmont, Verona and Emilia and the King time to lick their wounds before going again

There are a few months of peace to gain allies and improve provinces before the 4 come again - this time we have already started a murder plot against Prince Guiseppe in Pisa and manage to take him out of the equation and remove a quarter of the forces against us - the plot is successful, however the cover up is not - im marked as a kinslayer and murderer, shunned by the HRE but the dread scores are brilliant - apart from the 3 arsehole brothers - everyones terrified of me, the plot collapses again in white peace but theyll come again - i realise my youngest brother who raised nary a boo to a goose during the war was mysteriously drowned and i gain his counties

The Kingdom of Italy brings in quite the coin, i started off with .4 gold a day, im now at 22.8, it gives us room to expand the armys proper soldiery and we hire more archers, spearmen and men at arms. We have a side tussle with the Doge of Venice and take the City of Venice but not the grand capital. The HRE grants us a duchy in Germany and four vassals that fall into our Kingdom that were under his

The three brothers come again, but this time they split their forces, i can raise 3500, they can raise 2000 each, as long as they stay apart i can do this - first the dick at Tuscany goes down, hes beaten into submission after 7 hard battles, and put into prison, Verona is next, hes killed in battle - i realise that if the actual Duke is leading the enemy force then go for that one, if i win theres a very good chance of killing or capturing them. And Piedmonte is also taken prisoner - this time im the victor and things are different. I banish Piedmonte and Verona from the realm, i would actually kill them but Guiseppe is kind, trusting, shy and compassionate, this is doing his mental health no good - and Tuscany i make an ally - keep your enemies closer blah blah

Peace descends across the kingdom enough to make some real improvements and decide where to go next, before the son of verona decides hes ready for it again - his proposal is to place tuscany on the throne who cant join him because hes my ally, hes raised piedmonte and pisa again but there armies a half mine now - i will fight them, i will take them and i will kill them - damn the mental health consequences
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 20, 2023, 11:35:55 AM
Proudest gaming moment so far - building a coal mining complex in geekrova

(https://i.imgur.com/aQhFjhb.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on March 20, 2023, 12:25:53 PM
Hurray for geekrova! Now the bad kids at Christmas will get their just rewards.  >:(
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 21, 2023, 09:27:47 AM
My little mining village, this here was built to provide workers for the mine on the hills, 3 blocks of concrete, a kindergarten and a school - otherwise the women with children wont go to work  and a little grocery store - everythings working re pathing and roads, im just waiting for the electricity to come on - in the distance high voltage power lines take 50% of our power and sell it back to the motherland

i could watch the little fellas all day - now i have to literally go thru the population and pick out the educated for teachers and foremen

(https://i.imgur.com/Aij06jM.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on March 27, 2023, 02:17:47 PM
Nice shots, 'geek!  Looks pretty fun. 


Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Staggerwing on March 28, 2023, 07:43:13 AM
What architectural building styles can you build? Can you do classic 18th and 19th century Central European stuff to get a Warsaw Pact vibe?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on March 28, 2023, 08:23:04 AM
I’ll have a look - my gaming ocd so far has attempted to recreate the scenes of my childhood which are big grey apartment blocks - seen now in Ukraine news stories
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on April 03, 2023, 10:15:28 AM
Our tiny state from above, split into domestic, mining, industrial and agricultural

(https://i.imgur.com/50B2NkC.jpg)

Agriculture here, crop fields still growing from starting the game, in the mean time importing crops to sustain the livestock farm and the slaughterhouse

(https://i.imgur.com/4TnP9hR.jpg)

Homes sweet homes - the workers live here and catch the bus to the mines or the coal refinery and powerplant or go to the train station and catch a train to the agriculture zone

(https://i.imgur.com/vGjbscV.jpg)

and heres the tiny industry zone - a distillery turning crops into alcohol and a food factory turning crops into bread - these two are then trucked into town to the pubs and supermarket and whats left is taken by the train here  up to the mining zone where it collects unused coal and then onto the border exchange where we sell alcohol, meat, food and coal whilst also exporting excess electrcity

(https://i.imgur.com/7IJxpnD.jpg)

the new link via the coal plant to the border to sell our stuff

(https://i.imgur.com/3rNIzgk.jpg)

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 03, 2023, 12:12:31 PM
WOW! Geek-topia is growing isn't it? Looks like a Happy Place to live.  :applause:  Any problems on the horizon?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on April 03, 2023, 12:46:57 PM
At the minute all is well - it’s paying for itself, citizens are happy - religion is going to rear it’s ugly head soon, health and education

The industry choices are fantastic - if I want to get into clothing I need a chemical plant, for that I need certain resources and buildings for those I need a research facility for that I need a university - there’s a long way to go
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 03, 2023, 10:56:20 PM
Wow! That sounds deep! I would probably never get to sleep at night thinking it through.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on April 05, 2023, 01:59:01 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/Ox42WHN.jpg)

got the heating up and running just in time
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 05, 2023, 11:11:44 PM
What's with the giant Red Star? Is this now, "Geekograd"?  :2funny:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on April 06, 2023, 01:12:26 AM
That’s the newly built technical university - it’s to remind the students who they’re studying for and boost their morale and errrrr loyalty
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Gusington on April 06, 2023, 10:43:58 AM
^I've always been a fan of 'GeekStyle.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 06, 2023, 11:20:49 AM
It does have a look all it's own doesn't it? Any brothels, asking for a friend?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: BanzaiCat on April 06, 2023, 04:33:49 PM
Last night I finished my playthrough of Outer Worlds Spacer's Choice Edition. I'd played the original, non-Spacer's Choice version last year. It's a fun game. I didn't really notice much difference in the SC version, though it's supposed to have much more stunning visuals. The game looked pretty to me already and I loved the storyline and environment, so I was probably too heads-down to really notice everything. I can't wait for Outer Worlds 2 to come out, as they left a lot of intangibles in place with 1, but I'm hoping it will tie in the same characters. I have a feeling it'll not really be similar, sort of like what Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas had in common - they're the Fallout universe, and some factions appear in both, but that's about it.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on April 06, 2023, 05:16:41 PM
It does have a look all it's own doesn't it? Any brothels, asking for a friend?

Not currently supported by the glorious motherland - there’s pubs and a burgeoning trade in alcohol
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on April 06, 2023, 05:17:26 PM
Last night I finished my playthrough of Outer Worlds Spacer's Choice Edition. I'd played the original, non-Spacer's Choice version last year. It's a fun game. I didn't really notice much difference in the SC version, though it's supposed to have much more stunning visuals. The game looked pretty to me already and I loved the storyline and environment, so I was probably too heads-down to really notice everything. I can't wait for Outer Worlds 2 to come out, as they left a lot of intangibles in place with 1, but I'm hoping it will tie in the same characters. I have a feeling it'll not really be similar, sort of like what Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas had in common - they're the Fallout universe, and some factions appear in both, but that's about it.

Sets off to steam to read about outer worlds
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: BanzaiCat on April 06, 2023, 05:38:58 PM
It's essentially sci fi with a Western vibe to it, much like Firefly...but, it's not Firefly. Maybe more like 50s era sci fi mixed in, but without the cheesy visuals and special effects? Eh. Check it out as you said, make your own choice. I loved the storyline and the game, myself.

I should say, the Spacer's Choice Edition version upped the level cap to 99. I don't think there's any way in hell you could ever get that high, unless you want to grind everything in sight on every planet, and even then it would be a stretch. I got to level 42 or so; the previous game cap was level 30. But I'm a completionist; I did 99% of the side quests and both of the DLCs in full.

The game has a lot of tongue-in-cheek comedy, but the storyline is rather bleak and serious. The voiceovers are nice, and the characters that ally with you can grow as characters, to an extent. It's pretty awesome from start to finish.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: W8taminute on April 07, 2023, 10:46:05 AM
Thanks for the assessment on Outer Worlds.  I've heard a lot of good things about the game.  I'll have to check out if there are any sales for it.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on April 16, 2023, 07:49:35 AM
The industrial heartland of Geekrova

(https://i.imgur.com/c1fNZD9.jpg)

The homestead

(https://i.imgur.com/FQgTkg2.jpg)

The golden fields

(https://i.imgur.com/ZGZEe9a.jpg)

The stone quarries and gravel processing plant have just gone live so a few adjustments to make there, next will be a lumber trade as im surrounded by trade - then cement and concrete

Bricks were taking too long to load for one train so theres now 2 cargo trains - one taking meat, vodka, bread and coal to the border and another one taking bricks and gravel

it has taken a shit ton of time to work out the railway semaphore system but to watch it all working is so rewarding
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 16, 2023, 03:38:40 PM
Geekrova the Beautiful.  :applause:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on April 27, 2023, 07:55:59 AM
Industry sector now with bigger coal enterprise and steel mill

(https://i.imgur.com/K1k6p8L.jpg)

Where the pixel comrades live and play

(https://i.imgur.com/Xs3zTrN.jpg)

And the arable stuff - shortly to be redesigned

(https://i.imgur.com/dJU8U6g.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 27, 2023, 10:42:45 AM
Just curious UCG, does the game have ways to entertain your people, like Sports Stadiums, Theaters, and the like?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on April 27, 2023, 11:19:45 AM
Yeah it’s reflected in their happiness score - they need access to jobs, healthcare, culture, food and alcohol, sports and are adverse to crime

I’m creating enough food and meat and alcohol to feed them - this needs supplying through stores and small shops and pubs  - at the minimum a small shop provides food and meat, the bigger stores supply clothes and electrical goods too, I’m providing clothes but importing electrics at the minute

Culture is museums and art and cinema - I have cinemas at the moment and indoor swimming pools and outdoor football pitches for sports - there are mods for much much more which I’m slowly getting into
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on April 27, 2023, 10:58:58 PM
That is very cool.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on May 12, 2023, 07:15:47 AM
The first oil train leaves - theres black gold near the lake

(https://i.imgur.com/Y7y34Vg.jpg)

The modest oil field - brings 20000 roubles a train - have to be careful not to crash the oil price though

(https://i.imgur.com/ZnNtYpx.jpg)

The expanded industrial sector - steel mill in the distance providing steel to the mechanical components factory - i produce enough steel and components to export both

(https://i.imgur.com/Fk0ccrz.jpg)

Engineering and city building at its finest

(https://i.imgur.com/z4pNlpK.jpg)

The new housing for this area - now consisting of a food factory, 2 distilleries, 2 clothes factories, a chemical factory and a fabric factory

(https://i.imgur.com/4pXTSfX.jpg)

i severely misunderstood the having your own resources aspect to the game - i thought it was enough to build bricks, steel, boards, wood, asphalt, cement and concrete and gravel and house them in yards and SIm City like the game would recognise the resources and go 'ah i will construct our mills and buildings from our own stockpiles' oh nooooooooooooo..........

i need to build construction yards and nominate the correct vehicles to the correct jobs, mixers, pavers, cranes, dumpers and wagons, even the workers and actually ship the stuff to the building site in question

so that will be the next project, to become independent of the west and build everything using our own stuff - its a huge undertaking but it will be a proud moment to build a complete project with our own resources

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on May 12, 2023, 07:28:19 AM
That is pretty impressive!
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on May 12, 2023, 08:08:18 AM
That is pretty impressive!

thanks bob - all this here is probably 2-3% of the playing area
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: bob48 on May 12, 2023, 08:27:49 AM
I didn't realise it was as big as it obviously is. Its not a game that was ever on my radar, so maybe I should take another look.
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on May 12, 2023, 11:59:54 AM
Bob City, full of prescious grandchildren.  :bigthumb:   Very impressive UCG.  :applause:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on May 12, 2023, 02:00:16 PM
I gotta say, 'geek, that looks damn cool.  :cowboy: 
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on May 22, 2023, 11:24:53 AM
This junction will be the death of me - by the time the game notifies you of any problems the trains have been held up that long that the coal, iron and steel industries have come to a stand still - 6 trains cross it at regular intervals dropping workers off to the right and left - so that a train can drop off workers to the left part of the track needs to be two way which other trains then jump on and result in the head to head like we have on the right and then trains coming up from the bottom have to stop - i will fix it somehow

(https://i.imgur.com/VkLEM90.jpg)

Best way of getting to work ever

(https://i.imgur.com/5Cx6hL1.jpg)

Every building needs connecting to a road so that emergency services can access it in case of fire - and then i found this by accident - you can use helicopters to put out fires - not only do you get to ride to work on a mountain gondola in my state, when youre a fireman - you put shit out with helicoptors

(https://i.imgur.com/E8MOB12.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3zJ5p2C.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mPeymaM.jpg)

The sun sets on the secret police headquarters - they have their own houses and red cars for driving round the city and revealing inhabitants loyalty

(https://i.imgur.com/Q3TFJPL.jpg)

A refinery is built near the oil fields to turn oil into fuel and bitumen - both very good exports - a town sprouts up in the distance to provide workers, this is the end of a long rail line to the border to sell the fuel - i might build all the way up the line interspersed with warehouses for export - plastics, electronic components and eventually the vehicle industry

(https://i.imgur.com/YZ4IeWv.jpg)

The self sufficiency sector - here be cement, concrete, pre fab boards and bricks - ready to be shipped to the new building sites

(https://i.imgur.com/iqbrnxj.jpg)
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on May 22, 2023, 11:16:15 PM
Damn, the place is getting BIG Geek. Any idea what the population is now?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on May 23, 2023, 04:54:43 AM
As of now it’s about 22k - I’ll post some stats later
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on May 27, 2023, 07:09:03 AM
The growing new refinery town

(https://i.imgur.com/5wBinP9.jpg)

The scale of the plastics operation by night - this is the industry and infrastructure just to support the electronic components sector

(https://i.imgur.com/ZPtJvIO.jpg)

Sunset strip - these are the homes and businesses for the guys working in the refinery and plastics sectors - by either design or good luck a train arrives and takes 450 to the chemical plants and plastics area and the second one arrives exactly halfway thru the cycle to take about 400 to the refinery and rinse and repeat - almost the exact numbers required

(https://i.imgur.com/Afb1iFE.jpg)

The chemical sector - 4 chemical factories providing the chemicals for the plastics factory alone

(https://i.imgur.com/ABeCXzi.jpg)

The whole operation

(https://i.imgur.com/vdxNJIx.jpg)

Unlike the main town where proper planning didnt occur the industries are almost self reliant - the chemical plants need oil, wood, crops and gravel to produce chemicals - the oil is been piped in underground from the refinery, this is the gravel factory providing the aggregate.....

(https://i.imgur.com/S3cCLbe.jpg)

Which relies on stone from the local quarries.....

(https://i.imgur.com/GucFWtA.jpg)

.....and the sawmill out of town providing the timber

(https://i.imgur.com/imFFRU9.jpg)

The plastics factory and the electrical components factory in white

(https://i.imgur.com/Od7Zt2l.jpg)

The new refinery/plastics/electrics town at dusk

(https://i.imgur.com/Wk4XQbT.jpg)

This area steel needs steel components and crops of our own to be entirely cost free - steel components are on the other side of the map so a new steel mill be built here as soon as a seam of iron is discovered, and a new farm area will be built

None of this industry actually makes a profit - nothing it produces is bound for the border to be sold - its all a continuous food chain of production to feed the next rung on the ladder which will be electrical goods

These will be then sent back into the state to provide the workers with radios, televisions and satiate their demand for electrical goods that are currently imported at a cost to the state, production will be increased with a second factory to supply the vehicle production market where licences will be bought to produce our own vehicles for sale to the workers and eventually exported
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on June 06, 2023, 05:23:19 AM
Holy crap.  That really does look amazing. 


I keep meaning to ask, how much do you need to manage yourself?  Do things pretty much run themselves, once you have the initial operation up and going?  Are you constantly tweaking things?  Somewhere in between? 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on June 06, 2023, 06:54:53 AM
It’s generally a real world looking sim city - there is some micro -  but essentially build a factory and then build the workers houses and a transport link between the two and they’ll go to work and make XXX -  the workers will want free time to take in culture and pub/shopping for food but they’ll tell you what they need - if you hover over a block of flats it will say blah blah % haven’t been able to access culture - build a cinema/theatre, haven’t been able to get to work as there’s no child care - build a nursery, can’t get food - build a store but then these things need manning too - it looks a lot more complicated than it is

As any fan of city builders will tell you the joy is watching it work, tweaking an extra train carriage here and watching production go up or building a services depot in winter and watching all the snow ploughs come out to clear the roads and make everything run faster

Buying vans to take the food you make to the supermarkets and watching the local populace get happier now they have access to food or meat or clothes or electronic goods

Next set of shots will show the tiny impact I’ve had on the map
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on June 08, 2023, 07:25:08 AM
So now this is the same shot after incorporating the steel industry and all its subsidiaries - i completely forgot that with steel comes a need for iron, and iron refineries, and coal, and coal refineries - you cant just build a steel mill

(https://i.imgur.com/wJMHoO1.jpg)

This is now the west side of 'refinery' town

(https://i.imgur.com/tFR2FN6.jpg)

Up on the hills are the men and women who provide the state with the manpower for the coal mine and iron mine, the raw coal and iron ore is brought down the mountainside and connected to the coal processing plants and iron processing plants

(https://i.imgur.com/Wr3CfZC.jpg)

And this is their view from the hill top as the sun comes up behind them

(https://i.imgur.com/5BFr4t0.jpg)

The extension of the project with the steel mill, beyond the steel mill another mechanical component factory to feed the electrical component factory and the new electrics factory........

(https://i.imgur.com/mPhuP1Z.jpg)

........shown here

(https://i.imgur.com/dakLZSe.jpg)

What any state mogul - wants to see - trains queuing up at the border to export - i started this turn with 9.5m roubles having spent 4 million on the entire steel project - at the end of this session i have 17m roubles in the bank

(https://i.imgur.com/nQyWD6U.jpg)

Next i will go back over the mountains to the original town to make sure everything is still working and will then look at connecting refinery town with the first town to deliver the newly made electrical goods





Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on June 08, 2023, 10:23:14 AM
Wow. This is starting to get complex is it not? Any way to completely screw-up your country by mistake in this game?
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on June 08, 2023, 04:58:54 PM
Wow. This is starting to get complex is it not? Any way to completely screw-up your country by mistake in this game?

It can all come to a screeching halt if the transport system isn’t right - if a train gets stuck and then holds up other trains - no one is going to work, nothing gets produced for a while and the nines are empty and the subsequent industries dependant in those resources - you do get a ‘this train is stuck’ notice but not immediately

The other thing I guess is not keeping citizens happy - they will ‘escape’ if their happiness is too low - I’ve had a block of flats just out of range of the local store and everyone there with no access to food or meat but again the game does a good job of telling you citizens are unhappy
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on June 08, 2023, 10:56:54 PM
Damn. I think that would make me crazy trying to get it all just right. Clearly you've got some aptitude for this sort of thing.  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Martok on June 10, 2023, 02:32:12 AM
That's pretty damn cool.  I'm genuinely enjoying following Geekrova's growth & development.  :2thumbs: 

Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Undercovergeek on June 10, 2023, 03:15:02 AM
Thanks chaps - it’s an ongoing project - looking at a car factory next and a new farming town
Title: Re: Post your screenshots! Share your game stories!
Post by: Sir Slash on June 11, 2023, 11:07:31 PM
GM: Geek Motors. I wouldn't mind cruising down Main Street in a shiny, new Geek Sedan.  :bigthumb: