Thumbs up for othrym, what a great post to keep spectators informed. I'll share some of my thoughts as the Bird Man.
I started the game with the following principles
1) there can be only one Emperor. NAPs, border agreements, informal alliances, ship trades all have to be reviewed very carefully, knowing that the other party WILL turn against you at some point. If they don't do that then, well, they are already dead.
2) basically that means that do not trade any ships, period. Unless someone offers you a crazy deal, e.g. good carrier for one of my cloakers other than Resolute or Dark Wing, which isn't likely to happen.
3) That also means that for every agreement, be the one who discontinues the deal. Preferably in a civil way but if time calls for backstabbing, don't hesitate to do it. Otherwise you will be at the receiving end.
4) post some funny bird pictures in the process
And then onto my story on the game events so far.
Turn 1
Nice starting position! One of the largest clusters in the whole Echo Cluster. Now if only I get to grind my economy in peace for the first turns. Worst case scenario would be an aggressive Lizard neighbour...
Post a picture in the forum. Let's see if anyone sees the connection between mine and Angry Birds' home country.
Turns 2-4
Ghipsoldal, Participatory. Siliconoid, Monarchy. Siliconoid, Participatory. What is this? Only one Amorphous planet so far. Things are looking good!
Turn 5
Crystalline owned MDSF, Neighbourly Scout spotted south of our main cluster. Interesting name choice. Why not Aggressive Scout? :) Open hailing frequencies.
Post second picture. Immediately mocked by top-scoring Privateer player who declined the honor to fight in the Emperor game, using some military deployment excuses. Note to self: need to find or fabricate evidence to prove that he declined just because he's scared to play against the top dogs.
Turn 6
Soft border agreed with Crystals. Maybe he is aiming for economic expansion instead of early aggression. Note to self: find some Moly to start building up sweeping power, that will be needed eventually for sure...
First diplomacy contact with Empire, who is offering intel on homeworlds. Such information not needed at the moment.
Turn 8
Ooooooh crap. Lizards encountered on the northern front. Luckily our Resolute is cloaked so he hasn't seen me yet. It would be foolish to think they will settle for anything but aggression, so let's take the opportunity and show everyone that Lizard supremacy in ground combat is only a myth!
Post a bird picture in the forum mocking Lizard ground combat capabilities.
Turn 10
First CRYSTAL owned PL21 Probe spotted. Poor probe, probably jumped straight into a web field...
Tea Party Starter Set, an Emerald, spotted near our agreed border, something which luckily turns out to be a false alarm.
Turn 12
Lizard first attack deep in my core territory, captures a planet and LDSF. No surprises there. Make sure he doesn't get away with the captured freighter - at least I'll get the PBPs.
Stiff propaganda from Lizards's side in the forum. Time to post the ostrich.
Turn 14
Empire PL21 Probe spotted in Lizard space.
Second CRYSTAL owned PL21 Probe spotted almost in same exact spot as the first one. Sants can't be stupid enough to make the same mistake twice, so instead of capture those ships must have been traded. Now wait a minute. That spot is withing one jump distance from both (estimated) Crystal HW and Lizard HW area. This is getting suspicious.
Turn 15
War continues with the Lizards, experiencing LCCs doing ground attacks all over the place. Maybe the ground combat supremacy thingie wasn't a myth after all...
Previously seen Empire PL21 Probe now orbiting Lizard planet, together with a Lizard Eros hiss ship. This is getting even more suspicious.
Turn 16
Finally get to realize that both neighbours, Crystal and Lizard are brothers in real life. Quick look at their profiles.
"...My "The Art of Diplomacy" strategy guide strongly encourages players to establish at least one ally and to embrace the attitude and philosophy to do all you can for your alliance to succeed."
Several games, both normal and team, won in brotherly alliance. What the hell? Good starting spot suddenly turned into worst possible nightmare. Post a picture about the situation in complete frustration.
Both the PL21 Probe AND Eros orbiting that Lizard planet are in EMPIRE hands. Now wait a minute. If Empire came there to attack, he would've done so the previous turn. The Eros could have easily escaped. I understand why the brothers are working together, but what's in it for sants?
Turn 17
CRYSTAL PL21 Probe spotted in Lizard space close to the abovementioned planet.
Lizard has a Merlin called MEDIUM DEEP SPACE FREIGHTER. Funny name choice.
Turn 19
First LIZARD owned PL21 probe spotted. Lost count on Crystal and Empire probes, there are just too many. Now their three-way co-operation is just plain obvious. Before checking the diplomacy inbox I suspect the border agreement with Crystal is not going to last long. Coincidentally, same turn bond terminates the agreement. I have to appreciate the gentleman way though, to give notice before crossing the border.
Turn 20
Empire probe first time deep in my area. Dark Sense update before attack no doubt. First web mines scanned in Lizard area.
Turn 21
LIZARD owned Crystal Thunder Class Carrier spotted in Lizard space. That one is named MEDIUM DEEP SPACE FREIGHTER as well. Where is the imagination, DD? :)
That Carrier didn't fly there on its own. It is possible that they have developed some secret hyperjump technology for Carriers. Or maybe Crystals just have a base in Lizard space...
Turn 22
EMPIRE starbase found in Lizard space, right at my border, with a freshly built Super Star Destroyer in orbit. Time to inform all other players about the three-way alliance, and also to start looking for friends for the inevitable attack of the brotherhood.
Lizard makes first show of force with a T-Rex closing in. Two turns later, that T-Rex meets its destiny in the receiving end of a Dark Wing's tubes.
Turn 23
Crystal web mine activity on my southern border increases. Found a note to myself from several turns ago suggesting to invest in better beams. Go through ships. All are equipped with Disruptors or worse. Ship limit kicks in. Awesome.
Turn 25
Even more increased web activity, not just near the border but over it. Luckily, an Ion Storm appears out of nowhere headed straight in my area. Time to fill tanks with fuel, stay put and lay as many mines as possible.
Turn 28
Crystal has started their offense and captured first planet. CRYSTAL owned GORBIE approaching from deep Crystal space. All right, so that Empire base in Lizard space wasn't the only one far from home. It seems the brotherhood was able to set up the bases and get some good builds just in time before the ship limit. Well played.
That Ion Storm should keep the Lizard out for a while, and Crystal offense should be staggered by my minefields hidden by the storm. This gives me a few turns to try to do whatever possible for survival.
Turn 31
Little by little the Crystal offense progresses. I try to tow snatch a Diamond Flame but Ion Storm protection works both ways and the plan goes to waste.
Turn 32
Second Crystal Gorbie closing in from the south. Ion storm has almost completely passed.
Turn 36
Ion storm goes class 4 just when it's on the outskirts of my core area. Crystal attack fleet is dragged and visible: two Gorbies, two Diamond Flames and one Emerald currently within three turn distance of my homeworld.
Turn 38
Crystal fleet is not advancing for some reason. Maybe they have met some difficulties in other fronts and now consider what to do? First Crystal SSD seen near the warzone - let's hope that one is needed elsewhere...
Turn 40
...as if. Crystal fleet reaches one of my starbases, two turns distance from my homeworld, but doesn't attack. Two Gorbies, two Diamond Flames, one SSD and one Emerald parked in orbit. Next turn the starbase will be theirs.
Lizard player writes accusations in the forum of Bird Man owned starbase in Borg territory, trying to reason their team game approach with "because you are doing the same thing". My closest presence is more than 700 LY away from that planet.
Is this a case of Dark Sense gone wrong or just some pointless propaganda effort I do not know. I certainly hope the brotherhood hasn't based all their collective game decisions on "intel" like this.
Turn 42
Lizard Crystal Thunder and T-Rex approaching from the north. Crystal fleet still staying put at the captured starbase in south. Start to execute "Bond Offenses, Othrym Bait his Ships" Trap.
Turn 44
Lizard brings more ships from the north, that fleet now consists of two Crystal Thunders, one SSD and one T-Rex. Plus some cloakers no doubt.
Crystal captures another starbase, this one with direct Gorbie attack. One turn away from my homeworld.
Othrym deploys "BOOBS" Trap.
Turn 45
Open the turn with mixed expectations. Worst case scenario is that my homeworld is now in Crystal hands, and the surrounding planets Lizardized.
Delighted to see my homeworld in tact and only one other planet conquered by hissers. One Diamond Flame left in Crystal hands, in the warp well of the previously captured planet. The same warp well is full of Privateer owned ships: two Gorbies, Diamond Flame and some Resolutes. "BOOBS" Trap is a complete success.
Turn 46
I get my first builds since 23 turns ago; since the ship limit hit. Time to post another picture.
I see several players decreasing their military score, others increasing in even greater numbers.
Big Lizard strike looms just around the corner. Can I withstand it or not - future turns will tell.
A smile comes to my face after noticing that one of my aggressors has folded. othrym may apologise to bondservant if he wants. I never will.
Rest assured, all the diplomacy I've done so far has been not to make deals with "the leaders", but to fight those who choose to fight me. I will not be made the Emperor, that I know, but at least I will go down fighting the brotherhood who ruined the game from the beginning.
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Show Media Item - The Taurus War (Championship Match)
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and supreme commander! 
