First time through

[wufeylong]

I randomly reset the map definition, so now the bonus areas are brand new and the keystone areas are randomly dispersed. I am going to give it a shot and play this test round. 

I'll give some ideas and tips here, since although I don't know where the keystone places are I do know the mechanics of the gameplay.

First tip: remember that only your Main Base and Research Outposts can do the geological research at a keystone area. So you cannot build a scout outpost or mining outpost in the first keystone area from the start to jump out the gate. If it turns out that area is within 4 clicks of your starting location though, you can use your 2 free base moves to get there (your base can move a maximum of 2 clicks per move).

Second tip: although a lot of things are different here, the hidden researches are the same as the main game, with the exception of any hidden unit researches since you can now purchase unit plans directly. So I'll plainly state that the first thing I am doing is unlocking power mines, especially since main bases get the mining bonus here. There are many expensive items to purchase, so having a lot of resources will be important.

[wufeylong]

I've traded all of my starting crystals for kdrones and have a good mining operation going. Scout Outposts only cost 100,000, so while I am waiting in my main base at the first keystone element area, I am building scouting outposts in various random spots around the map searching for another keystone element area. Everytime I build one, I check the map. If the map marker is yellow, that means it is just a normal area. If it is blue, I know I will need to either start moving my main base in that direction or get close enough to build a Research Outpost there.

If it turns out I'm the first one there, I might also build a military outpost there to destroy any other research outposts that anyone else builds there. 

Also, since the main base starts so well defended, I feel fairly safe doing only mining researches for the time being and not building anything to guard my kdrones. In fact, at this point I haven't even bought any unit plans, though I'm thinking about which ones I will buy first. Probably Demolishers or Devastators. I don't yet know how hard it will be to take out an outpost, we'll see. I know the research outpost only has the following to start with:

1 Command Center
50 CDS-50
100 Azimuth Cannon
200 Great Walls

So I am also considering getting the Warthog-X and Hunter among my first unit plan purchases to defend my own outposts.

I've already wondered whether I should have built a few Advanced Mining Outposts (these start with level 3 mines) and just researched powermines, mineshafts, double time to make some extra resources. I will probably do that tomorrow, it still might be safe this early.

If anyone else would care to share what they are doing, please feel free. This is just a test round and it will probably help others get an idea of what this game is all about.

[wufeylong]

I've been active enough to find some of the keystone element areas, but the war side is picking up now. The RIP board shows me that Cvelle just destroyed fortress. Fortress had been at the top of the list for having finished research at 4 keystone elements.

Since I knew I wouldn't be active enough to research espionage daily, I set 100 kdrones on clear crystals and maxed out the crystal mining research early on. I now have plenty of CC for scans.

I'm wondering where Cvelle is, since I know he just destroyed someone he probably still has a formidible army and I know I better beef up my defence. I have a lot of outposts scattered about, I figure I'll check the map and take a look at all areas I can view to see if I can find him. I don't need to look far - he's in my area!

A CC scan shows how he must have beaten Fortress, and I see if I don't do something quickly his armes are all set to do it again to someone - probably me.

I have a lot of resources saved up, so I purchase plans of what I think are the best units to stop his army, set them to the mechanics bays and place my orders. Now all I can do is wait and hope they arrive in time.

(being the somewhat inexperienced player that I am, I traded in my free 3 BC for kdrones as soon as I logged on! If I had not done that, I could have use BC TV to get my defensive army here on time. Lesson learned, don't spend up all BC as soon as logging on.)

[fortress8]

i have now know my mistakes. because i was modifying my strategy i wasted probably 4 mill res. next round i am positive i can get it down before cvelle can find me next time

[wufeylong]

Apparently the units got there in time to save me, although I must have logged on one day and went to the news page without actually checking the news. I see a lot of my buildings are gone, but my base is still alive.

I also wondered why I am not earning as much resources as I thought I would - then I remembered the whole resource coffer thing. What a pain to have not remembered that, so many resources lost. Big tip, espeacially if you are not highly active - build lots of coffers.

I just ordered them. I will tell you now that although they can be destroyed, the way the game is now you won't lose resources in coffers if they are destroyed, you just won't be able to accumulate any more. I was going to program it so that you lose them but from a player's perspective, I see what a big setback that would be.

I checked the RIP board and saw that Cvelle has struck again. That's three he's taken out. I've got to figure out a way to stop him before he comes back to finish me off 

I went to Communications to talk to Ronin for the CDS-series plan. I see a lot of them were taken out, maybe they did some good in the fights.

[Drizzt]

Seems I have been destroyed as well.  Seems I need to build better defenses in the future.  That or move around more than I did.  Anyhow, I made it quite far in the round.  Almost had the endless shifting mines researched.