My score was now 2020. Players showing on my printout were: EEKER (1485), KUBLA (-3) and DAJ (661)! W80 and W191, both of which had been mine, now belonged to DAJ and he had a one-ship fleet at each. Further examination of the printout revealed that his fleet at W80 had started at or passed through W170 and then through W136. Also a fleet, presumably DAJ’s had started at or passed through W171, passed through W170 and moved on to W90.

W13 did, indeed, belong to KUBLA. It had zero Industry and two RMP and had belonged to KUBLA since turn six. W60 had no Industry or RMP. W16 only had two RMP but did not belong to me. It took me a while to figure out why not. In addition to my four-ship fleet (F144) there was also a one-ship fleet (F85) belonging to me which I had not sent there and a loose key (F27) belonging to nobody. What must have happened was that when F144 moved, it met somebody's F85 there, also probably just moved in and captured it by the more-than-three-to-one rule. The computer, however, did not, evidently, think this entitled me to ownership of the world or the loose key since, for a brief moment at least, mine was not the only fleet at that world.

W170 had five RMP and the Golden Pyramid, and W171 had one Industry and four RMP. Also W170 had 20 RMs and W171 had 14, meaning that both worlds had belonged to someone before, since RMP do not produce RMs on unowned worlds. W52 and W66 each had only one RMP, while W89 had three, but only two population. W51 had five RMP while W225 and W42 had none.

With my printout were two notes. One from DRM said:

Greetings!

I've heard about you from KUBLA and this turn declared you an ally. Should we come into contact we can leave that world as a trade world for exchange of treasures and/or RMs. Let me know if you feel we can work together.

The other was from KUBLA:

No real news.

Score Info: EEKER & LIE: 1230, 908.

I'm getting rid of a plastic crown. That should help some.

EEKER and I have settled our (?my?) problem. Players met are FREEN, EEKER, DAJ, DRM, PZFST and LIE.

I haven't mapped as many worlds as you have, but have a larger % of those visited under my control. I managed to foul up turn 1 which of course didn't help getting started.

My explore strategy would change slightly in future games.

Have you figured out a rational way of drawing the Star Map. I have quite a few crossover links. With 78+ worlds, I would think it a real maze.

I'll write direct when time is of the essence.

My perception of the situation at that time is well summarized in the letter I wrote to EEKER soon after receiving my printout:

Well it finally happened. I've met another player on my "west " side! He is called DAJ and has 661 points. Also received a note from KUBLA listing DAJ as one of the players he's met (plus you, me, FREEN, LIE and DRM). DAJ moved into two of my worlds (W191 and W80) and I took two worlds (W170 and W171) from somebody, presumably him. The RMs stockpiled on them indicated they'd been occupied for several turns. He moved thru W136 from W170 to W80. W136 might have been his before I took it on turn 8. It has no Ind. or RMP so there would have been no evidence of previous ownership. An unknown fleet also passed thru W170 and W171 to W90.

At W16 I captured a 1-ship fleet by outnumbering it 3-1; it came thru W136 also and did not come thru W170, Wl71 or W80, so it must have come from W64. This fleet might have been DAJ's, but it also might have belonged to KUBLA or even someone unknown to me. I suspect that DAJ's home is in the direction of W90 in a position analogous to KUBLA's near you. So the fleet I captured might belong to a player more in the direction of W64. Incidentally, KUBLA has owned W13 since turn 6 - yet W156 was virgin when I took it on turn 8! I’ll leave KUBLA in peace for now until I get DAJ straightened out.

Now to update the map. Some interesting connections turned up: W13 connects with W176, W156, and W67; W16 to W67, W60 and W136; Wl71 to W136, WI 70, W3 & W131; W170 to W136, W171, and W190; W89 to W52 & W188: W66 to W196 & W6 only; W51 to W99, W6 & W119; W42 to W146, W165, W142 & W182; W225 to W146, W222 & W117.

I plan to move into W117, W182, W142, W135, W119, W188, W131, W3, W190, W64, W176 and W67. My attempt to move into W64 last turn failed because of a badly written order. Picked up some more artifacts. What am I bid for the Arcturian Sepulchre, Vegan Sphinx and Golden Pyramid? Incidentally, I hope you don't mind if I move thru W146 (W225 to W146 to W42 to W142) this turn. I won't stop.

Got a note. with my printout, from DRM. Didn't say much or give his address. Also one from KUBLA. Says LIE's score last turn was 908. KUBLA's getting rid of his plastic artifact. You taking it or FREEN? His score this turn, by the way, was -3. DRM is a berserker. To the list of worlds I'd be interested in buying, you can add W197 and W94. I'd also be willing to buy some fleets/keys or even ships. Say a fleet with three ships for a standard artifact, or the same plus the Silver Sphinx for the Golden Pyramid. I'd trade three standard artifacts for the Slippers of Venus, or one standard and the Golden Pyramid.

Hope to get a note or call answering my last letter soon.

This turn was characterized by a flood of correspondence. First came a letter from FREEN:

Sorry I didn't write earlier, but between classes (I'm a junior in Astronomy) and a part-time job I haven’t had time for the important things in life.

I give you below all the information I have gathered that you may not have yet:

W161: BLACK HOLE - Connections to: 4, 78, 142, 24 (24, 78 mine)
W167: KUBLA - Connections to: 129 (mine), 162 (KUBLA)
W85: KUBLA - (Connected to 93)
W78: FREEN - Connection to: 192, 69, 161, 129

My enclave is very limited (I have since painfully learned the problems of timid, conservative tactics early in the game). I have a very low point total (which is revolting) but without some pretty fancy maneuvering there's little I can do about it now. I'm building with everything I've got, and my fleets are shuttling RMs around as quickly as possible. You pointed out that my understanding was not perfect and while I may disagree now, your point was surely valid only a few turns ago.

Your offer of artifact/point trade I like in deed. I have only one artifact, but it’s Silver (the Moonstone) and I'm willing to trade. I still don't know where to reach you, but that’s not an insurmountable obstacle. Also, W129 of mine is quite plunderable. It has presently one P-ship on it, but I'll remove it (or let you capture it) and you can zap it (its a zero-ind. zero RMP world; one of those only good for Berserker fodder). Needless to say, you can dump any plastic items you may have on me at any time.

My relations with KUBLA are fairly good. Presently he and I are allies (I guess I'm his only ally) and my knowledge of him is about equal to yours of EEKER. He has his problems, but he’s been my only ally too. Presently he's giving me a few things in return for some other stuff (sorry about the vagueness). I won't mention your suggestion of an Anti-Kubla alliance to him (he's got enough troubles). My problem is that my enclave is hemmed in by borders with KUBLA and EEKER. As you've mentioned, EEKER is another Collector. He hasn’t wiped me out so far (I believe) because I'm not worth the trouble: one measly artifact isn't worth it. However, with some of the stuff I'm getting from KUBLA it may become "worth it" quickly. I don’t anticipate me winning; if some of my worlds/fleets start appearing on your printout it’s because I’m thinking of dropping quietly.

I have quite substantial info on KUBLA which I feel I can’t (on principle [intense irony - here I am, a longtime ND player talking about principles]) give you (at least until after I drop). I hope that doesn’t make you too mad.

I may join a new SW game after this one (even if I drop), so that I can start out right. It’ll be interesting to do though: with my current class load I can hardly afford the time to play one game properly, let alone the 3ND, 1BP, 1SW, 1 "The Game" that I'm involved in now.

This was soon followed by a note from EEKER that was written before he received my letter:

Lie and DRM showed up this turn, they have 1106 and 740. FREEN is up to 120 but I'm worried about his attacking me. KUBLA has "-3" that’s right negative!!!

You are free to trade with FREEN; I do not want to sell any worlds. I don't think there is anything else I have to offer.

W164 is KUBLA, and we have come to terms. I cannot help you with attacking his worlds since I must go after FREEN. I will however still give free passage and spotting reports.

If you trade with FREEN, do it soon; he won’t be around long.

I might consider attacking KUBLA rather than FREEN, if my help is worth some artifacts. If I were to attack it would have to be the turn after you do, because I feel the need to let him know I am breaking my treaty with him. Of course I would not tell him you were attacking.

If you’re interested in the deal I’m offering, I must know soon. i have now met five players and my fleet must be ready at all times.

P.S. No new map info, I won’t trade with FREEN.

This note caused me to begin to be suspicious of EEKER. No new map info at all? Afraid FREEN would attack him? Not very plausible. He seemed to be hiding something. Knowing that I had recently overtaken him in the score and continued to pull ahead made it seem reasonable that EEKER would be considering some means of reversing this situation. So I immediately fired off a warning to FREEN:

Thanks for the info. I hope you will not give up on this game so easily. You may not win, but you may learn a lot that will be useful in future games and make useful contacts with players you’ll be meeting again in other games.

Now, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad first: EEKER seems to be about to attack you. I’m enclosing a copy of a letter I just got from him. Read it now, and then finish this letter.

Now for the good news. I’m willing to help you. While I am not (yet) prepared to openly attack him, I will: (a) try to discourage him from attacking you, and (b) if he does, I can send you some ships and fleets with which you can defend yourself (transferring them to you, of course) (c) provide you with valuable info about EEKER. I’m willing to do this because it’s not in my interest to see EEKER grow powerful and gain points at your expense. It is in my interest for him to be weakened and kept busy. If necessary I may be in a position to intercede directly in a few turns. Right now I am involved in a boundary problem with another player I’ve just run into: Daj.

Because of this, and the EEKER-FREEN situation, I will try to avoid trouble with KUBLA. He seems reasonable, so far. I suggest you call on KUBLA for aid against EEKER. You may tell him of my promise of aid. In fact, I will write him and ask him myself to help you out. I suggest you write at least a short note to LIE (through Flying Buffalo - I don't know his address) whom EEKER tells me he has just met. Same goes for DRM. Try to get help from them.

I leave it to you whether it’s better to strike first with the advantage of surprise, or let him bear the onus of striking the first blow.

Enclosed is a map of EEKER's territory, to the best of my knowledge. I suspect he's been holding out on me lately.

As for trading I'll send you too standard artifacts for the Silver Moonstone. It’ll take a couple of turns or more for me to get them to you. I'll probably come via W56, W83, W192 and W78. Or I could come via W51, W112 & W53. Do you have a preference? If you agree, I'll send you two other standard artifacts for permanent possession of W129, or one for temporary possession. I’ll also start gathering some fleets and ships to send you if EEKER does attack.

Let me know how all of this suits you.

To KUBLA I sent the following:

I’ve just had a note from EEKER indicating he plans an attack on FREEN in the near future. While I cannot afford, at present, to openly oppose him, I regard it as against my best interests for EEKER to get strong on the assets of FREEN and become the only Collector in the game. Therefore I have sent FREEN all the info I have on EEKER including a map of his entire system , showing the location of his home world. I have also offered FREEN some trades very favorable to him and plan to send him some fleets and ships on "lend-lease." All of this is secret of course. My help would all be under the counter, so to speak - for awhile at least.

What has all this to do with you? Well, FREEN tells me you are his ally. I’m asking you to give him all the help you can against EEKER, either overt or covert. If you do, I will declare you my ally and send you the same info I sent FREEN and keep it updated.

You indicated you know DAJ. Where did you meet him? What do you know about him? EEKER says he has now met DRM and LIE, but didn’t say where. What can you tell me about them?

I’d like to buy W13 and W176. What would you like in exchange? I have one sword artifact. Could trade some ships, perhaps. What say?

And then I replied to EEKER:

I am not now in position to attack KUBLA. Must finish off DAJ first. However, it would be worth a couple of standard artifacts if you'd attack KUBLA on your own, so I'd know he'd be busy until I finish off DAJ - at which time I could join you, if you needed me. His home world would be yours. Just an offer. Up to you whether it's worth it.

As for FREEN, I'd prefer you to leave him alone, but you know your own problems best. So if you really feel that is your best course I will not oppose you. Let’s just say I'd go along, under protest. Again, I can't help you as I'll be busy with DAJ. Doubt if you'll need any help anyway. If at all possible, however, I hope you'll give me a couple of turns to do a little trading with him. I know, I can get at least one world out of him. May be more. Besides, the artifacts I trade him will be yours once you do take him out. But if you eliminate him before the deal goes through they won't.

Do you mean to say you didn't explore or probe anything last turn? Where did LIE and DRM show up? Come on, I expect full cooperation on this exchange of info or the deal's off!

Soon I received a letter from KUBLA, written before he'd received mine, along with a small map.

I thought EEKER and I had reached an agreement. However, he ambushed a fleet on W200. On turn 6 he said 164 & 200 were mine - he had no claims on it. Clearly he has not allied with me if he can ambush a fly thru. I am engaging in a small action to reclaim that world. Hopefully the action will be contained there. I unloaded a plastic artifact on his 209.

I currently have W164. W13 links to 164 to 152. Links to other EEKER worlds are longer. W64 is DAJ’s. W64 and W195 (mine as I write this0 to W176 (mine also) to W13. How far apart are your W136 to W156? LIE is next to DAJ.

I have a radiant lodestar and a silver sepulchre. I'll bring one to W13 turn 12 or 13.

I replied as follows:

Just got your note/map written the 11th. Thanks for the geographical info.

From my W136 (which you showed in DAJ's area) to my W156, by the shortest route, is three worlds. That is, there are two worlds between them. These are W60 and W16. This "galaxy" is getting to be very complicated and convoluted! I have no less than eight worlds that border EEKER, so I won't try to draw a map like yours just now.

I find the W176-W.5-W116 et. al. connection most curious. I have found that certain patterns repeat themselves in this "galaxy". If the pattern holds, W5 should connect with either three or four worlds, counting Wl76 and W116. Does it? W64 should connect with five other worlds, but you listed on1y four. Is there another? Incidentally, W132 connects with W192 (EEKER’s ), which connects with W112 (EEKER's). As far as I know, EEKER has not moved into W132 yet. W192, W112, and W218 (all EEKER's) each connect to six other worlds and are all real mavericks that connect worlds that are otherwise quite remote. Up to now they had been the only worlds connected to six others that we knew of If W116 holds true to this pattern the worlds it connects are otherwise far apart (except W159 & W62 of course - this has happened before: W218 connects with both W201 & W160 which connect with each other [both EEKER’s], and W112 connects with W40 [EEKER] AND W53 [FREEN] which are connected with each other. W192 connects to both W78 and W161 [FREEN] which are connected together), For instance W112 connects with my W51 and FREEN's W53, which are otherwise seven worlds apart by the shortest route.

Incidentally, from your W13 to your W164 the shortest route thru my system to W209, W93 & W35 is 12 worlds!

I am declaring you an ally this turn. My Fleet that was at W13 will go to W67. If it follows previous patterns, W67 will connect with either W134 or W210 and thus to W195.

I am moving into W64 also. Since it will take a turn or two for DAJ and I to arrive at an agreed border I want to establish the best possib1e bargaining position. (I was planning to go there even before you told me it was his.) If DAJ and I should be unable to agree on how to separate ourselves, and "war" breaks out, how will you stand? For him, for me or neutral?

Of your worlds W13, W176, W195, W5, Wl16 and W164, I'd be most grateful to know which one you have held the longest, shortest, etc. It would help me to decide which side of me you're really on (or on most).

Don't forget to let me know how you stand regarding FREEN vs. EEKER and PZFST vs. DAJ!

When I sent in my turn I sent along this letter for DAJ, since I did not yet know how to contact him directly:

It looks as though we swapped worlds. You took my W80 and W191 and I took two worlds from somebody. I assume from you. If so you know which ones. I also seem to have wound up with somebody else's fleet. I assume it was yours. If so, you can identify it.

Since I had to make my move for turn 10 before I could contact you I have had to move on the assumption your intentions are hostile. That is the problem with overlapping each other's areas instead of merely meeting at a neutral world. It will take a bit of negotiating to straighten this mess out, since two turns will have passed (9 and 10) before we even hear from each other.

I figure you are either a merchant or an empire builder. You've probably already figured out that I'm a pirate. You're only the third player that I've actually met. I've been surprised not to meet someone in your direction much earlier than this.

I guess that’s about it until I see how we're going to get along. I have all kinds of artifacts, so no matter what you are there's something you could use. Maybe we can work out a trade. Be sure to send me your address so we can correspond directly.

I also sent one to DRM, since I didn't have his address either:

My neighbor, EEKER, tells me he has just run into you. But he didn't say where. If you'll tell me where you and EEKER met I'll know where to find you, as I know just about all of EEKER's systems. He and I have been exchanging geographical info since turn 4 or so. I even know where his home planet is.

While he and I are allies I'm beginning to worry about him, as he's also my biggest rival. I have 2,020 points and he has 1485. He's been talking about attacking FREEN (see my last note). They're both collectors. FREEN has only 120 points. I cannot at present afford an outright break with EEKER but I’d hate to see him grow stronger at FREEN's expense. If you can help FREEN, threaten EEKER, or influence him diplomatically I'd appreciate it. Just leave my name out of it. Incidentally, I understand KUBLA is allied with FREEN and I've alerted both he and FREEN to the danger of an attack by EEKER.

I've had a note from HLAKA asking for aid against you in some kind of border dispute. Kind of ridiculous since I don't know where either one of you are! Nor have I any particular reason to favor him over you. I hear you had 740 points this time. What does HLAKA have? What kind of player is he? I understand you're a berserker. I have a sword artifact I could trade you. If I knew where you were.

P.S. Please send your address so our correspondence won't be delayed by having to go through F.B.Inc.

A few days later I received an answer to my last letter to EEKER:

That’s right, I did no exploring at all last turn. Other things came up.

LIE moved to W14 (F7=2)
DRM moved to W31 (F29= 1)

Sorry I forgot to mention where they were.

As I said, I feel I would have to give KUBLA a turn's notice before any attack. So I don't want to try him alone.

I may be ready for FREEN on Turn 12 but no sooner.

And I answered as follows:

Your note of the 14th just received. Thanks for the locations of LIE and DRM.

If DRM came to W31 then W220 must belong to him, which puts him only two worlds from me!

I've found out quite a bit from KUBLA. His W13 connects with W176 (KUBLA's) and W67 (?) and W164 (KUBLA). His W176 connects with W195, W5 and W21 (all KUBLA). His W195 connects W134 and W210 (?). His W5 leads to W116 (KUBLA) which leads to W153 (DAJ) and W159, W62 and W36 (all DRM). W62 leads to W84 (DRM). W116 also leads to W132 (?) which KUBLA plans to explore soon. In case you don't remember, W132 leads to your W192! He also tells me W64 belongs to DAJ. I sent a F with 3 ships there this turn. Also moved to retake W180 and W191 while holding W170 and W171. Also sent 4 ships to W90. W64 connects with W195 (KUBLA) W136 (mine) and W128 and W193 (?).

I now figure DAJ is the player to my west and DRM is to my southwest, analogous to KUBLA and you. Incidentally, KUBLA says he thinks LIE owns W182 and W102, both of which connect to KUBLA's W21.

This turn I could only build 25 ships with my home world, but I unloaded 30 RMs, so I'd be back in full production the next turn. I brought in nine RMs from W194, ten from W113 and six from W56. Five were brought to W113 from W2, where they were met by 38 ships sent out from W44. W187 built a fleet up to eight ships, which moved up to W130, where it could be built up further and then moved even closer to the "frontier." Twenty ships from W2 were sent to retake W80, and 32 ships from W113 were sent to secure the important crossroads of W136. W10 built a fleet up to three ships, which was sent to retake W191. The three-ship fleet at W52 transferred one ship to the loose key there, which proceeded to W170 to secure it (and the Golden Pyramid) at least long enough to plunder it. The two remaining ships at W52 went to explore W188. The two-ship fleet at W89 transferred a ship to the key it had captured and proceeded to W52 to hold it for plundering while the key held W89 for the same purpose.

One-ship fleets were sent out from W170 to explore W190 and W131, while W60 sent one to secure, and be built up by, W171 and one to W10. The four-ship fleet at W16 transferred two to the loose key (a mistake, as we'll see next turn) and moved to explore W3. The key was ordered to W207 to pick up a loose key there, and the captured one-ship fleet remained at W16 to gain control of it. The two ships at W13 were sent to explore W67, and W171 built a fleet up to three ships which was sent to explore/capture W64.

Six ships were sent from W44 to secure W203 and keep DAJ from getting any further than there from W80. Four ships were sent from W219 to explore/capture W90, and five were sent from W219 to W51 to pick up RMs. W66 loaded its sole RM onto a ship which moved to W208, within one move of my home world, and three ships from W66 were sent to explore W119. W6 built a fleet up to four ships, which was sent to protect W103 from any further advance by DAJ from W191.

At W55 there were two loose keys, one of which appeared there a few turns back after it had lost its ships blundering into a black hole, and a fleet with 14 ships. Two ships were transferred to one key and it was sent to explore W135. Four ships were transferred to the other key and sent to W82, which had just produced four RMs. The remaining fleet of eight ships, already carrying two RMs, loaded up four more and transported them to W208, A one-ship fleet at W42 remained there to hold it during plundering. A one-ship fleet at W225 moved to explore W142 and was replaced at W225 by four ships from W222 (to pick up the loose key and two artifacts). Another four-ship fleet from W222 was sent to explore W117.

This turn I plundered W60, W170, W52, W89, W66. W56, and W225 for 50 points each and W56, W11, and W82 for 40 points each.

At this point I was pretty sure I had the lead in points and probably more worlds and ships than any other player. The conflict with DAJ came just as I was ready for a fight anyway. I wanted to see just how combat would work in this game and to add a little excitement. So the next part of this series will probably be sub-titled something like "War and Conquest."

More StarWeb

STARWEB Part II (Campaign #89)


STARWEB Part III: Introduction
STARWEB Part III: Turn 5
STARWEB Part III: Turn 6
STARWEB Part III: Turn 7
STARWEB Part III: Turn 8
STARWEB Part III: Turn 9