Show Media Item - The Complete Interview - VantucciThe Complete Interview - Vantucci
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Here is the complete interview as seen in the Planets Newsletter - Enjoy!
PN: Tell us a little about yourself.
V: Ironically I hate computers, but I work in the IT world. I am a web developer, Oracle DBA, UNIX system administrator, and wear many other hats. I love table top games including Dominion, D&D, Axis & Allies, but I also love to hike, camp, backpack, kayak, and am an avid gym-goer.
V: Honestly, I couldn't tell you the exact version, but I started playing with the shareware version back in the bulletin board days.
PN: What's your favorite race and why?
V: Pirates, but EE shares my heart as well.
PN: What do you build on first three turns with them (or your general opening strategy)?
V: Privateers are always MBRs unless I find a jackpot planet (minerals or natives) before then; in that case I will build LDSF to take advantage of it. My goal is to find my neighbors asap to weigh the feasibility of an early strike depending on how they built.
V: Up to 8 depending on what is going on and how in depth the games are. Typically as games are winding down I start new ones keeping a nice balance of games.
PN: What types of games do you like playing most?
V: Classic. While some campaign features are fun, some are too unbalanced imo, and when you have bad luck (eg privs starting in a nebula), you have no chance to be able to do much. At least in Classic everyone has a chance.
PN: What's your most memorable game, and what made it so interesting?
PN: Name a memorable friend and/or a memorable foe, and what made them stand out.
PN: Give an example of excellent tactics you've used or seen (w/ details so readers can view it, if possible).
PN: What do you think is the most important skill for a Planets player to succeed?
V: Patience. Patience in taking your time on your turns to be sure you are not missing something, because one little mistake can cost the game. Patience in letting your strategy/tactics play out as planned. With privs specifically, patience is also required due to you needing to wait for the enemy to fall into your traps due to not having any ships to confront anyone until stealing some. Some times you may be tempted to use that gorbie to kill some TRex's when in reality it's much better to use the gorbie to steal the TRex's. :)
PN: Describe the process you use to make a turn.
PN: What is your favorite thing about Panets Nu?
V: It's online so it is easily accessible from anywhere with internet.
PN: Is there anything else you would like to add?
V:It amazes me how such an old game can still be addicting and entertaining.
PN: Tell us a little about yourself.
V: Ironically I hate computers, but I work in the IT world. I am a web developer, Oracle DBA, UNIX system administrator, and wear many other hats. I love table top games including Dominion, D&D, Axis & Allies, but I also love to hike, camp, backpack, kayak, and am an avid gym-goer.
PN: When did you first start playing?
V: Honestly, I couldn't tell you the exact version, but I started playing with the shareware version back in the bulletin board days.
PN: What's your favorite race and why?
V: Pirates, but EE shares my heart as well.
PN: What do you build on first three turns with them (or your general opening strategy)?
V: Privateers are always MBRs unless I find a jackpot planet (minerals or natives) before then; in that case I will build LDSF to take advantage of it. My goal is to find my neighbors asap to weigh the feasibility of an early strike depending on how they built.
PN: How many games do you play at the same time?
V: Up to 8 depending on what is going on and how in depth the games are. Typically as games are winding down I start new ones keeping a nice balance of games.
PN: What types of games do you like playing most?
V: Classic. While some campaign features are fun, some are too unbalanced imo, and when you have bad luck (eg privs starting in a nebula), you have no chance to be able to do much. At least in Classic everyone has a chance.
PN: What's your most memorable game, and what made it so interesting?
V: http://planets.nu/#/sector/76535
I entered the game just wanting to harass and make life difficult because the privs were being taken over quickly. I ended up turning the privs around and winning the game.
PN: Name a memorable friend and/or a memorable foe, and what made them stand out.
V: Side Tracker. We were playing the Feds in a team game (opposing teams). He was very meticulous and made me concentrate on every little detail of every action. I also learned a few things from him and the game in general. It was a lot of back and forth battle wins/losses, but also some areas I would start taking over only to have him come in another area and take it over, so it was very exciting and fun. http://planets.nu/#/sector/61915
PN: Give an example of excellent tactics you've used or seen (w/ details so readers can view it, if possible).
V: Highjacking someone's chunnel with a Federation Gorbie (or other carrier). With the 25% shield gain, you wreak complete havoc on the enemy ships, especially torpers. http://planets.nu/#/sector/70052 Turn 166 if interested in watching a gorbie take out two novas, nebula, and biocide ending up with only 1% damage.
PN: What do you think is the most important skill for a Planets player to succeed?
V: Patience. Patience in taking your time on your turns to be sure you are not missing something, because one little mistake can cost the game. Patience in letting your strategy/tactics play out as planned. With privs specifically, patience is also required due to you needing to wait for the enemy to fall into your traps due to not having any ships to confront anyone until stealing some. Some times you may be tempted to use that gorbie to kill some TRex's when in reality it's much better to use the gorbie to steal the TRex's. :)
PN: Describe the process you use to make a turn.
V:
a. Watch VCRs .
b. Read Reports while viewing where it is all going on. Sometimes giving commands to react to the reports.
c. Cycle through Starbases.
d. Cycle through planets.
e. Cycle through starships. Typically if there are battles, I will set commands for all the ships in the area rather than cycle through them numerically.
This can obviously intermingle at times, but mostly I stick to this process.
PN: What is your favorite thing about Panets Nu?
V: It's online so it is easily accessible from anywhere with internet.
PN: Is there anything else you would like to add?
V:It amazes me how such an old game can still be addicting and entertaining.
Thank you for keeping the planets universe alive!
Thank you to Vantucci!
You can view Vantucci's profile here.