Finally got around to playing this in 0.8.1 for the past week.
Started a game in Corvus mode, as the Player's "followers" faction. Took the high level military start with Eagle, Sunder, and Brawler.
Started in Corvus, and the first major thing I did was take over the Pirate planet next to Jangala, made possible with help from passing Hegemony patrol.
Later, went around on a killing spree and took over Kanta's Den. Then, I got the idea that Luddic Path may be the easiest faction to attack because nearly all of their ships have Safety Override, and I can win by outlasting them. Also because most of their cruisers are the pathetic Colossus II. I struggle to kill SIM Hammerheads while piloting Colossus II, so I thought I could try to kill them off. I managed to capture both Pather markets, and they were gone.
Later, went around killing off more pirates and taking their bases. Since the start of the game, I have been slowly but steadily losing money. Salary helps slow it down, but not quite enough. I did a few more income sources. Some time later, I get sucked into an alliance, then it declares war on Tri-Tachyon. I need to deal with an enemy I cannot win in a fair fight, so I had to pick my fights wisely. Managed to take over a few small more bases.
Then, I stumbled on a mission to conquer the biggest supply depot planet in Aztlan. Reward was worth about four or somillion. I got my fleet, started an invasion, left the planet immediately so I can avoid the response fleet, ran away, then came back to invade the now undefended planet. Succeeded and got the big pay day.
Next, slowly went to eliminate Tri-Tachyon, and did it after some difficulty. Next, attack the Luddic Church and wipe them out. After that was done, I had only one non friendly faction left: Sindrian Diktat. After various events, they became hostile, and I started taking over their planets. However, one planet I wanted to conquer but was too hard at the time: Sindria. Size 7 and military. Needs lots of marines.
Some time later, I get another multi-million credit mission to conquer Sindria from the League. I had to scrounge from my old bases for marines. Eventually, I got my marines, but when I came back for Sindria, I had a problem. The conquests for previous Sindrian planets and evading all of their patrols left the system crawling with huge defense fleets that would ruin my fleet. No way I could afford all of the ships myself for the meat-grinder. Then I got an idea, hire two or three defense fleets worth 120k or so each and have them follow me. For the few fleets I could not kill myself, I brought my friends along. I get in a fight, I get help. I deploy only one capital while the hired help serve as escorts. The help gets cut down to pieces, but better them than me. The best 120k I ever spent. My followers probably lose about a million credits worth of ships, but I only pay 120k for hiring them. I repeat this a few more times. The attack of Sindria was a total meatgrinder - for my hired help and the Diktat. Eventually, I managed to capture Sindria with only a day left to spare on the money, and I more than made up the money spent. After that, Askonia was all mine, and I splurged on deploy all to kill all remaining detachments. With only a few markets left for Diktat, and the League competing with me for more planets, it was only a matter before the Diktat was eliminated and the game won.
I could have killed everyone, but I was tiring of the game, and I wanted it to end. Persean League was the only major player left with somewhat fewer markets than my followers, and Hegemony was down to three.
I did not fight more than a few bounties, and I did not bother searching for Remnants and their fighter chips.
Overall, Nexerelin plays much as I remember from the 0.7x days.
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Topic: [0.97a] Nexerelin v0.11.1b "Clausewitz Protocol" (update 2024-02-11) (Read 3039286 times)