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AP Mission 8
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I seem to haven gotten stuck here - playing on normal difficulty. Missions 6 and 7 were hard but doable, but mission 8 is screwing me every time. I've tried grabbing as many planets as I can, then switching to research to catch up in tech, but the AI seems to get death knights while I'm still stuck with defenders. I've tried using diplo abilities to trade for techs with the Altarians to keep up - didn't work. I've tried sticking to only 3 or 4 planets and letting the Altarians take the brunt of the attack, but they get wiped out even quicker than I do. The problem seems to be the Korx - the Torians pretty much stay out of the whole thing or remain peaceful with me. Any hints on how to subdue the Korx?
  
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#1
by Citizen Daynarr - 1/9/2005 11:06:59 AM
I'm just finishing off that mission (mop up phase) on normal as well. As far as I know there are 2 ways to finish this one off. 1st is to bribe Torians to go in war with Korx (they don't start as teams, just friendly). 2nd is military conquest which is what I did.
Here is what I did.
- First what you pick for this mission is critical. If you want to make Torians go after Korx you should max out diplomacy at the start. If you go for military go for war party, +40 repair rate, +50 Military production and you will have 1 pick left (I took sensors but it wasn't really useful for this mission)
- Colonize all you can. "All you can" includes all planets on your side of the cluster you start with Altarians and the one that is right between you and Altarians (that’s one you should colonize first).
- YOU should take most of the attacks because Altarians aren't so good in combat and don't do well in defence.
- That purple star is your best colony so use it as a centre of your empire. You need to make it manufacturing capital as soon as possible and boost up his production with improvements. Then get those trading goods and wonders ASAP (Tri-Strontium Steel and Galactic Stock Exchange should be targeted first). I didn't manage to get GSE because Torians beat me to it but I did get everything else). That colony is also best suited for combat ship production so use it to build up fleet.
- Set up your defences in your colony closest to the enemy. It's a star with 2 colonisable planets on it. Make sure you research battle axe technology fast and make both colonies produce them because you will need them while you set up your defences. Later on switch their production to combat ships and later, when the time comes to combat transports.
- Your best defence in the beginning is starbase. As soon as you colonize all you can set all colonies to build constructors. Take those resources and maximize their production. Go for research boost first. Then build a starbase in sector where you are being attacked and max out its defence and then combat bonuses. Combat bonuses are a must when you start getting attacked by frigates and bigger ships, as battle axes are no longer sufficient defence.
- When enemy starts using frigates you should at least have battle cruisers and preferably battle hammers (not so hard to get them). Have your purple star colony switch to battle hammer production as soon as possible and switch some more of your colonies to that production if it gets tight.
- Continue building constructors and hammers. Make 2 or 3 starbases with max bonuses in your endangered sector (yes 3 bases in 1 sector). You should be getting at least +15-20 attack bonus and 2-3 defence bonuses for all your ships in that sector (bonuses from each star base in sector stack). Place all your combat ships there and intercept any enemy that enters that sector (be careful not to leave that sector as you will lose all your bonuses and your ships will be far more vulnerable.
- High HP and repair rate should keep your ships alive while killing hordes of enemy. When your fleet gets big enough (about 10-15 battle ships or death knights and 5 combat transports) make an invasion on his 2 closest systems (in the centre of the map). Make sure you leave a few ships behind to protect your colonies while you go on invasion.
- After you take his 2 front colonies, fortify, and then go for the head - a system with 3 planets and probably huge population (he had 90 billion people there when I invaded). I managed to take them out with a fleet of 4 full combat transports. Fortify your position and you are basically in a mop up phase like me.
- I'll take Torians out first and then Korx to get max score.
- Balance your income. I had 30/40/30 distribution almost whole game (at the start it was 50/25/25 to get those colonizers going). You will need ships, improvements (wonders and trading goods) and to keep up with research so you need a good balance of everything.
When you race for manufacturing capital and trading goods go for 25/50/25. Getting them will take some time so you can't afford to cripple your fleet production and research for too long by using anything lower then 25 for them.
- Some resources are located in sectors with your colonies. Max out social and military production on bases to help those colonies (makes a lot of difference, trust me). Set trade routes with Altarians from your purple colony in straight line to his most profitable colony. You will notice that it will lead through 2 sectors where your resources are located. Make modules on those bases to boost up your trade.
- It’s wise to make a few sensor drones and send them to Altarian territory to see how they are doing. If they start to get beaten too much send few ships to assist them. Your ships should be much better because of your military bonuses (from resources) and your high HP/regen rate. I needed only 4 battle hammers to keep Altarians alive. If they crumble, you will crumble so this is also important.
Hope this helps. 
   
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