Strategy

Finally got little time to get into my first entrenchment game in Sins of a Solar Empire After getting initial setup (capping few plants and asteroids, establishing a few capital ship fleets). I got into some of the new tech items:

Mines

At first was “ehh” on this until I setup two minefields and the enemy ran into it with a small attack force. It was devastating to them and a blast to see (yes pun intended) two of the five ships get destroyed. I love em now .. really is a great defensive item. Also.. the scout ships have new ability to look for minefields so I will add a scout to my attack force profile.

Starbase

How it works. First you unlock the ability to build a frigate first that turns into a base. So to test this out I sent two capital ships into enemy system. They had three capital ships levels 2 to 4 with a handful of smaller ships. While my capital ships engaged their fleet I deiced to send in the base frigate and build one in their system.
I had to pull out my capital ships (they were taking beating) however right as they jumped out the base completed construction. I then started to order upgrades to the base; upgrade weapons and armor a fighter hanger and few others. The base started to take a beating, still it put out some damage and gave my cap ships a minute to heal in my system nearby.
The base held its own until my two capital ships returned. In the end I had a starbase (with no shields and very little hull left) both my capital ships and the enemy lost all three cap ships with the remaining force retreating.
After all the upgrades this base is deadly. Even just being in the system it weakens any enemy ships entering the system. And after a few more upgrades the thing packs the ability to; build frigates heal nearby ships, and hold eight (or more) fighter / bomber squadrons.
Just awesome!

Upgrades
I took one defense upgrade to the hanger platform that adds flack cannons to them. This turned the fighter hanger into a light defensive turret. Add mines and defensive turrets you have some great defensive options now. Very Nice.

This is a small map and both sides have formed up systems and the lines seem to be drawn. So I expect more fun to be had. So far the $10 was well spent.

Picked up the micro ex-expansion last night. I started new game; however after playing a new four player game I did not noticed no new stuff. Saved game and looked at the main menu and /facepalm there is a “Start Entrenchment” button on the main menu. So I did up a quick small entrenchment game. However it was getting late.
Still.. I immediately noticed the new tech trees. So I’m excited to get the small game going to play with the new features.

Also the Impulse download system was very nice. It’s like STEAM minus the crappy STEAM DRM. (rant) STEAM is DRM and I really don’t like it. I used STEAM to get a free demo for Empire Total War. To play a free demo STEAM has to launch and log in? WTF STEAM. Only reason to put up with its BS is Half Life 2 (end rant)

Impulse was way better. Did game update, purchased Entrenchment and could play Sins with out CD or Impulse needing to launch. Stardock has is right ... and STEAM your doing it wrong!

Only $9 for download and it reads good. Stuff like...
• Build & Customize Massive Starbases
• Fortify your Empire with new Defenses
• Ensnare your Enemy with Mine Fields
• Take on the Challenging new AI
• Rain Destruction with Assault Cruisers
• Lose Yourself in Striking new Visuals

I have a medsize game right now. However, I'd start a new one with this new expansion. I may need to head over and grab a copy.

Download site




video ..

I have a cache of games I like to keep. Games with “replayability” (like Civ4, Rome Total War, Battlefield 2, Team Fortress 2, Sins of a Solar Empire).

I will install and uninstall these games many times (I can easily say I have installed and reinstalled Civ 4 about six to eight times on two difference PCs). The DRM of SPORE does not work with this.

So yes .. Bad DRM = NO SPORE for me.

Besides bad DRM SPORE looks interesting. However, painless to skip for now as I am deep into Warhammer.

If you like a slower pace RTS (and / or turn bases games like Civ) then try out:

Sins of a Solar Empire

Very very well done game. RTS without that "click fest" zerg feeling. This is one of those"oh Sh$^% what time is it" up playing all night games.

Epically with patch 1.3 this is worth checking out. There is a demo, media, description on the clicky above. I even added it to my top 21 game list.