Galaxy 13 Element of Surprise

[JessIAm]

Howdy All,

I've been trying this one out for quite some time.

I've had the most success by creating 3 Bombers imediately, then attacking the base in the lower left. I'll loose one bomber, but take out the base. While the bombing run is occuring, the Assasin from that base makes it to mine and does a little damage but not much. I manage to get a force together to attack the other base, but the time always runs out before the attack kills the base.

Any suggestions? Has anyone defeated this Galaxy?

Thanks!

Jess

[Program Fatebringer]

You are correct about the need to take out the Redogs early. It is important to protect your base from the Oracle and also sit on the planets/asteroids nearby. Here is my strategy for this one:

Buy 2 bombers an 2 Ints, send all 6 ships to attack red base at the beginning
Use the $10 left to buy Int
Use Int hold something but release and play defense if are attacked
Defend at the base, it's ok if you take some damage
Once Red is dead, use ships to control planets and don't let Oracle take too many
Make sure you defend well, because your base would be at 50% now

Is there any way you can soften the blow from the Assassin early on?

[OUFOOTBALLROCKS]

OK so you take three bombers and defeat bottom left red dog, move them up to the last opponent maybe drop one off at the planet earning ten, until you can replace it with an interceptor. But you start with 2 scavengers and if in the very beginning of the game you move them to the planets earning 5 and 1 and then move them back before they assassin hits you, you should have enough to buy and interceptor, the interceptor and 2 scavengers will kill the assassin. While your bombers move up (i had 3 not 2), make sure your move two interceptors over to the planet upper left earning 10. Guard your base for a while with 1 scavenger and all the interceptors you can buy to kill the cruisers they send it seems like alot but if you get the planet upper left earning 10 and the planet earning 5 to your left the cruisers will stop coming. when the time is right move the interceptors you have lower left earning 10 and lower earning 5, coordinate all at once and attack, you can do it with 2 bombers but 3 is better. I have done it with 2 bombers but it will take about 20 to 23 interceptors, my opponent had 14 or 15 , good, luck hope this helps, If not we can try an alternate way let me know.

[estevo]

I just played this one today. I found this surprisingly easy, esp. compared to some earlier galaxies. Also, the title is a dead giveaway.

I built two Assasins and two Interceptors at the beginning. I sent those (but not the Scavengers, as that would slow down the party) to the base southwest. I picked a route north of the planet, and I did a stop in the square south-west of the planet to damage the enemy Assassin. I placed my Scavengers southwest of my base to finish it off. If you don't finish the enemy base before they build a Destroyer, move the attacking party north until it goes away. This also helps your ships recover a bit.

When I killed the enemy base I sent each of my interceptors to a nearby planet, and the Assassins back to the base to help defend from the two incoming orange Cruisers. Also, I recalled my Scavengers to base and I built Interceptors with all the available money. Their mission was not to kill the enemy ships but to resist until the Assassins came back, spreading the damage and thus making it less likely that the base was damaged. I lucked out and got no base damage or lost ships, but I don't think it would have mattered much otherwise; I eventually won with a wide margin, so I could have afforded some losses there.

As soon as the two first enemy cruisers were dead, I sent one Scavenger and one Interceptor to conquer the planet northwest of my base. I built one more Assassin and moved the ships closer to the enemy base to kill enemy cruisers before they arrived at their destination. From there I built Interceptors and Bombers, (in that order, although the reverse order would have probably been better, as the slower Bombers would have arrived earlier) to attack the enemy base ASAP. The rationale for building Interceptors to kill the enemy base is the same as for defending your own. Since they are more in number, it makes it less likely that the defense will hit your bombers. While the attacking army was being put in place, I used my faster ships to kill everything that got out of the enemy base and to take over the enemy planets, leaving an Interceptor in each. I recalled all my ships, including garrisoning Interceptors, for the final attack, which I won easily.

[OUFOOTBALLROCKS]

Great job estevo good info and welcome to the boards. Just curious what score did you wind up with, as far as starbase armour left?

[estevo]

Sorry, I didn't note my score down. I don't suppose there's any way I could look that up? I imagine the game might record it for ranking purposes?

[Edit: I had read something about a ranking, but it seems it's just a forum thread?]

[OUFOOTBALLROCKS]

Oh that's ok no big deal, you had great info and hints, so I'm sure you did very well. If you do get around to playing 13 again you could always post it under the high scores section, great job estevo and again welcome to the boards.

[estevo]

Sorry, I just noticed that you can see your best result for all galaxies by navigating through the titles with the back and forward buttons. I had 99 time left when I finished Element of Surprise.

[OUFOOTBALLROCKS]

Wow estevo, that is a great score keep up the great work.

[JessIAm]

I CONQUERED IT!

Howdy All,

I conquered it, and here's how I started it:
I created two bombers and a cruiser, and used them to attack the Redog base. Once it was destroyed, I moved the remaining bombers up to one of the planets. I kept the scavengers at my base to repell the first cruiser from the Oracle base. When I was able to, I moved ships up to the Oracle base to stop the attacks closer to their base. I created a couple of transports and sent them between the chemical asteroid and the spaceport. As I had money, I bought a cruiser and as many bombers as I could. I finished tiwh 5 base points (I know other people have finished with more, but I finished).

Huzzah!

JessIAm