I couldnt find a thread discussing this, so how are we all finding the new universe? I must say Im quite enjoying just being solo for a while under my assumed name, and building up again. I dont have much iRL time these days so Im finding just being able to log on for a minute or two a few times a day to build quite satisfying for the effort Im putting in, and hopefully laying an effective base from which to launch off from when I get more time. The slower resource rate is hampering me a bit though, as is some of the pisspoor luck Ive had with colonizations, 4 planets running under 100 fields from the current colony ships Ive sent off so far!

I am noticing a few things which I submit for your attention:
1. Still a large player gap. The number 1 has a massive points bonus over even the number 10, although a very small gap in extreme, its a very large difference for this stage of the game on this slower server. Ive no doubt that alot of people will point out large donations as the claim to power, but it takes no small amount of skill to use those rubies effectively and to get such a large boost.
2. Some very large alliances powering up. SoA is looking like a very powerful and effective early game AZG, Ive had some good convos with some of their members on the lower tiers, and theyre smart and dedicated if inexperienced, but theyve got some very high points members too. Ill be interested to see how they do to see if ZE can support a such a large alliance as a major power for long.
3. Some very very foolish newbie mistakes going round. Ive been attacked several times in the last couple of days for very small amounts of resources from a player 20 systems over. Its taking him 3-5 hours/attack, and Ive worked out hes spending an average of 5-6 times the amount of deuterium as hes getting from attacking me. As its a start up colony, its also not proving very effective at keeping my points down since what Im building there is so cheap. Theres also no safety probing, or any attempt at governing the fleet. As soon as he launches he goes offline, and its only a matter of days before Ill be ready to start building a fleet to meet him in ninja. What are we thinking about the calibre of the newer players? It might just be that Im simply not used to fighting lower ranked players in extreme anymore and really only have dealings with players 3-4 months experienced, but it seems like some players are just so close, but so very far away from skills and practices that could make them very effective players.
4. The lower resource generation rate, increased travel time and lowered colony limit. How is this affecting other miners? Im finding I really cannot afford to build a large enough defence to be more than a token deterrent to small time raiders who havent hit BS yet without hindering my mine upgrades, and really cannot afford poor colonization results as I try to spread. How is the increased travel time affecting fleeters? Im finding it takes too long to shuttle resources around between g's to be feasible on my current schedule, and the limit on colonies means I cant even afford to temporarily leave a colonized planet set up because I need the slots. What are the money slots these days? Im no sure if there are money slots anymore in terms of low temp + high fields, so Im just going for double digits that I like, but it would be great to know if theres a more scientific method than simply saying 'Nah, I already have a slot 10, lets go for...12.'

Anyhoo, discuss!

I will answer a few of your questions.

RogueSpearofTRA wrote:The lower resource generation rate, increased travel time and lowered colony limit. How is this affecting other miners?

It's hard as hell to do anything. I was doing some testing in x-treme, and my lvl 13 mines is doing much better than the lvl 20 mines here.. And the time change is just cruel. My probes here take almost a minute to go 1 system away, while in xtreme it takes less than that to travel to a different galaxy.

RogueSpearofTRA wrote:3. Some very very foolish newbie mistakes going round. Ive been attacked several times in the last couple of days for very small amounts of resources from a player 20 systems over.

I've been attacking the guys in my system with 1 and 2 small cargos. Profit is profit, and whatever you can get your hands on WILL help, in one way or another. But that 20 systems over just isn't really what I'd call profit...

RogueSpearofTRA wrote:The slower resource rate is hampering me a bit though, as is some of the pisspoor luck Ive had with colonizations, 4 planets running under 100 fields from the current colony ships Ive sent off so far!

Lol, I colonized a mighty 1 extra planet. I'd rather take my luck with two right now, then do like you and colonize 4 with 100- that would be murder in the future... The one I've got is 200+ so right now I'm fine with it, specially since I don't have nearly enouce resources to build high enough buildings to matter about space. Though storage may make me wanna kick myself later, I'm good right now.

RogueSpearofTRA wrote:2. Some very large alliances powering up. SoA is looking like a very powerful and effective early game AZG, Ive had some good convos with some of their members on the lower tiers, and theyre smart and dedicated if inexperienced, but theyve got some very high points members too. Ill be interested to see how they do to see if ZE can support a such a large alliance as a major power for long.

I joined a small alliance, built my buildings, and I'm just sitting back to watch the show right now. If there is gonna be Hell, I might as well have front row seats, and be well away from all of the action if I can help it.

Good luck in standard, everyone.

dang stargate starting trouble, them attacking my members is pissing me and SOA off. i cant wait for the show. and if you did not know im leader of the SOATC in standard.

Ive three planets up at the moment, but I am finding it difficult to expand very much. Im trying to plan for the long game, in extreme I didnt and it ended up costing me big time after a while, I had to abandon 400k points worth of planets to make some space >< Its the small storage Im worried about, Im at lvl 4 metal storage and still cant store more than about 360k metal. Takes some getting used to!
The 20 systems guy hit twice more last night, he sent 8 LC, 8 LF, 8 BS, 3 Bombers and 3 BC. He got 1.9k metal, 11k crystal (Id emptied the metal when I saw the attack coming before I went to bed) and 1.2k deut. He lost the LF and 1 of the LC. What profit is that? And then he hit again, with lesser results. I dont know what hes trying to do, but hes sending in massive overkill and just costing himself.

@Schnitter you lead SOATC? Interesting. Talked to some of your members, they seem to have the basics of upgrading their mines down, but dont know alot about raiding & fleeting. Might want to float some pointers in their direction

400,000 metal from metal mine 20 in xtreme
90,000 metal from metal mine 20 in standard

What a change... It's weird how every other speed got devided by 2, when mines got devided by four.

Divided by 4.4 repetitive actually, which is quite interesting. Mine production could probably do with a x2 speed I think, but that being said, it does work the way it is. Its quite quickly shaping up to be a universe where an impenetrable defence is impossible without a fleet, which is impossible without mines, which are bloody stupid without defence. It could end up being very balanced, but I think it will turn out to have some very strong players in the top 20 to start, then down to the 50s and finally 100s who know what theyre doing and can play the new game. It looks like apart from forgetting to fleet save, mistakes in this U will be punished alot harder than extreme.

Yeah, eventually it'll probably balance out. Though I think it'll be ALOT harder for new players to get up there.

Well that was always going to be the case, given all the experienced current and returning extreme players. I heard a rumour at one point that even Mintaka was returning, though I sincerely doubt it. Im beginning to think about joining an alliance, any suggestions or people who want me send me a pm on here for me to consider

@RogueSpearofTRA. who is the player that attacks you?

Not one I expect to do well or last long