Hive PvE Server Ended, with the Hive winning (of course)
Since the server was Hive-centric and for PvE, there was very little opposition for anyone who tried out the Hive race. Quick expansion and domination led the Hive to victory in a quick 40 days. Alas, there is no legacy reward in PvE (where the Hive had some boosts), so there are no medals given out to players on completion. However, there is the PvP server next...
The Tarantula Server has begun!
So this is our very first PvP server that incorporates all four races on an equal level: -The good old classic Sol Imperial Worlds, with well-rounded ships and skills, and always the best in initiative, and great for new players trying out the game. -The battle-hardened Genari United Empire, with their powerful marines, and heavy-armored ships. -The technologically advanced Ma'Alaketh Confederation, enjoying their extreme long range particle beams and efficient force field tech. -The organic Perseus Hive, using their swarm to their advantage, overwhelming the opposition, as well as having amazing regenerative properties.
MVP Player of the Month: T
Congratulations to T, who is the MVP player of the month, and gets to choose a unique custom ship for his use on this and all future servers. His decision: A Ma'Alaketh Ethereal type II, in red!
The Hive Advances, Bug Fixes, MVP Player
The Hive Continues its Advance
A Behemoth in the Hive Nest Most players are enjoying the radically different Hive race that debut on this server; The Hive is especially strong when players work together and 'swarm' a sector. They now control 25% of the map, and they did have the smallest starting territory. There's already a Behemoth in action... Since this is Hive PvE, the Hive has some starting buffs that would not normally be on future servers.
The 'Move Bug' Eliminated
An annoying bug that plagued many players (especially those who had lagging internet connections) was the 'Move Bug'. It happens when a player would desynch (client) from the server, at the same time they were giving move commands coinciding with the transit phase. It would make their ship freeze in place, and the only thing they could do was to warp out. Fixed now.
MVP Player of the Month
Congrats to Jerbear, who won the MVP Player of the Month for February. He chose the unique ship of Leningrad with a special evasion skill, colored in a dark blue state. He will be the only player to have access to the ship. Jerbear has been playing since December 14th, 2018, and has participated in 8 servers so far. His favorite race is Sol Imperial Worlds.
The Perseus Hive is now open for Play!
Come Join and Play the Hive!
The Hive race debuts today, and players are recommended to join others in trying out the Hive, and taking over the galaxy together in team-based play.Though players still have the option of playing Sol, Genari, or Ma'Alaketh, this server is focused on the introduction of the Hive and a chance for all players to see how this race plays compared to the other three.
The Hive is by far the most difficult race to start with, and the most unique; though lacking in shields, their 'ships' have a very high regeneration rate, and can heal their allies. They are also unique in their crew-feeding proboscis, which can disable an enemy ship outright. Although their lower tier ships are relatively weak, they can have up to 4 more AI ships, and 2 chrysalis support units, which can create a fleet of up to 7 ships.
The Hive Organism Growth Chart
A Hive Entity launching a high damage plasma 'missile'
Higher Tier Hive (Entities)
The Hive Queen - The most powerful 'ship' in the game.
4 Race Skirmish!
One week remaining till the Hive race launches!
Simulation Mode Updated with all Four Races
In the meantime, the Simulation mode opens access to all four races, in which one can play with friends in a free for all, or solo challenge in multiple configurations. If you wanted to get a taste of Hive ships and how they play, you can do so through the skirmish mode.
Any combination of ships/combat you can think of is possible in skirmish now.
What would happen if a Ma'Alaketh Archon heavy cruiser met a Greater Hive Entity in a Sol Sector defended by Sol battlestations?
Character/Race Selection Screen Updated
With all four races being available for players to choose from in the upcoming server, the server selection screen has been remodeled and updated. You will not be able to choose Hive just yet, not until Friday the 17th.
Miscellaneous bug fixes/Additions
-Players can no longer do the 'scanner power drop cheat' where they can boost their power a little bit by dropping scanners under the base of 4 to juice up an extra few power points. -New Ma'Alaketh players now have a much larger selection of avatars to choose from, both in standard and premium mode. -Some additional behind the scenes work for Hive in preparation for its launch next week.
Custom Player Ships
Happy New Years to all turn-based strategy fans! Its only a few weeks away from the upcoming debut of the Hive race to all players.
Starting this year, once a month, a player is selected as an MVP, and is given the option to make their own custom, 'unique' ship.
-The MVP player will be chosen by activity, community-friendliness, and honorable nature to new players.
-The player then selects a ship of any race/variant.
-The player can change the ship skill of that ship.
-The player chooses a unique color (can use the RGB table to be specific)
-That ship will be available only to that player in all future servers (still requires XP to acquire, but no credits to unlock).
Congrats to our first MVP player AmishJoe, who has been playing SWIE since the Orion I server, and has been respected by all players since then.
He has chosen the Genari Predator Frigate, in a deep set green (RGB 0-102-0), with the damage boost ship ability. Only he will have access to this ship anytime he plays as the Genari United Empire.
Behind the Scenes Updates since Rigel I
There has been several behind the scenes updates since the Rigel I server began:
-All class IV Sol, Genari and Ma'Alaketh ships (frigates) have been given quicker cooldown times upon destruction, from 27 hours to 21 hours. This allows frigate players back into their ships faster and under 24 hours.
-Hive Class V and VI ships now have a type III variant option available, adding more ships to the Hive nest.
-The Ma'Alaketh and Hive shipyards now have unique background/atmospheric sound effects.
-Ma'Alaketh System Specialist officer no longer has the initiative skill, it has been replaced with Dark Matter Astrophysics. This means that every Ma'Alaketh officer now has the option of learning DMA.
-Officer icons in Hive and Ma'Alaketh ships now updated with new graphics.
-New Ma'Alaketh avatars coming soon.
New Server: Rigel I
Welcome to the new Rigel server!
Competition begins with the fully playable races of Sol Imperial Worlds, Genari United Empire, and Ma'Alaketh Confederation.
Some new updates:
Dyson Sphere
The Ma'Alaketh Homeworld now has a Dyson Sphere. It is heavily shielded and has a massive defense particle beam, but is vulnerable once its shields are down. If an opposing race wants to defeat the Ma'Alaketh, they must destroy the Maal Homeworld Sphere.
Essentially a Dyson Sphere built around the dwarf star supporting the Ma'Alaketh homeworld Do'Oran, it is nearly 16,000km in circumference, and has become the center of innovation and technology for the Ma'Ali people. After planet Do'Oran became an unsustainable world because of excessive abuse of its natural resources and atmosphere, the Ma'Ali found other worlds that would become their new homes. However, during that profound technological singularity, a new grand project was initiated. Harnessing the power of their dying star, they built a new world around it, and within two centuries completed this technological marvel. It has seen many improvements and changes since; from its interior becoming not only the center for technology, but for trade, finance, and even agri/aqua culture. It sustains the Ma'Ali race, and is the new seat of the High Advisors' council. As the threat of the Sol & Genari aggression became more of a potential threat, this relatively fragile sphere was implemented with a powerful force field that can absorb 144 terajoules of energy at any time. It also has a singular defensive particle beam that could theoretically destroy a warship with one blast alone. Because of the tremendous power this sphere sustains, in theory if it was destroyed, it would produce a small nova-like wave that would destroy anything within 4000 kilometers around it.
Genari & Sol Type II ships now are available as starter ships.
Increasing the selection of starter ships, Type II (usually more defensive variants) are now unlocked and usable as a starter ship for new players. The Ma'Alaketh Wraith type I has also been unlocked as a starter ship.
Sol now has Marines!
Albeit in a limited fashion, Sol Imperial Worlds marines are now available on the Swordfish Type II Marine Destroyer, as well as the new Oslo V Marine Frigate. The Chief Medical officer has been upgraded with the Elite Marines skill.
The Oslo has been proven to be a very capable warship, though not considered a front-line frigate like its Gorshkov and Liverpool counterparts. It has had a dynamic role in the war however, recently converted to a tender/warship hybrid, and now modified to carry marine pods. Admiral Michiel Donitz, the mastermind of the Sol Imperial Special Marines push to be more engaged in the war effort saw the Oslo as a good test ship for a marine frigate. Though not as effective against Genari, the new war on the Ma'Alaketh front was where these marines would be needed. Trained to board and kill crew members on Ma'Alaketh corvettes and frigates, they have been proven very effective in disabling Ma'Alaketh ships. Admiral Donitz hopes that the Admiralty will see this as a green light to move forward in retrofitting other Sol warships with marines.
The Hive Beta Testing
Two veteran volunteers will continue to test the hive, and many of its skills/features as well as its proboscis will be in the works. The server after Rigel will be opening up the Hive to the public.
Genari Victory: Mercury Server
Mercury Server has now ended, after 80 days of combat.
This was the very first time three races (Sol, Genari, Ma'Alaketh) were in competition at once; along with Hive beta testers joining in the war.
The dynamics of a 3-race war was quite interesting in this server -- initially the Hive had an early advance, then Sol and Ma'Alaketh started dominating Genari territory. It looked like Genari was going to be the first losing race... but then Ma'Alaketh managed to get to the Sol homeworld of Earth, and break the Sol morale. The very powerful Sovereign super-capital ships of Ma'Alaketh are true station-destroyers, but not numerous enough. Through a war of attrition, the Genari made a successful comeback, and eventually broke into the core sphere of the Ma'Alaketh Confederation.
Then something unique happened -- the strongest Sol players and their dreadnoughts joined up with Genari and together managed to take the Ma'Alaketh homeworld down together. It was a total first -- seeing Sol and Genari work together against a common enemy.
Reminder: All players who have had a significant number of kills, sector captures, or captain rank receive legacy awards and credits usable for future servers & ship unlocks.
There will be a server downtime of 36 hours, in preparation of the Rigel Server, which starts on Tuesday, November 19th.
Images from the final battle at Ma'Alaketh's Do'Oran Homeworld:
Sol and Genari capital ships attacking a Ma'Al station, with several Ma'Al heavy cruisers in the background.
For the first time, a Genari Leviathan and Sol Colossus working together.
A Sol Colossus firing on a Ma'Al station.
A Sol Yamato Battleship firing on a Ma'Alaketh Archon Heavy Cruiser with a Colossus in the background.
A Elbe Light Repair Tender near the massive Colossus' engines.
A badly damaged Cosmos Shadow Cruiser flanked by a Colossus.
A secondary Genari fleet of Light Cruisers distracting Ma'Alaketh ships from the main battle.
Player Top 10. (Ma'Alaketh = Green) (Sol = Blue) (Genari = Red) (Hive = Orange)
Ma'Alaketh Legacy Awards
Ma'Alaketh Legacy Medals & Awards Implemented
An example of the medal selections in their medal case.
Now that the Ma'Alaketh race is fully playable, players can get legacy medals and rewards that add to their usable credits for upcoming servers. Here are the four types of legacy medals that can be achieved:
Legendary Captain
Given to players who have achieved a high captains' ranking by the end of the server. Bronze (200 credit reward): Achieved Virtuous Advisor Rank Silver (400 credit reward): Achieved Luminous Advisor Rank Gold (600 credit reward): Achieved Grand Advisor Rank Platinum (1000 credit reward): Achieved Prelate Rank - the highest level of Leadership
Maal Strategist
Based on the number of regions/sectors the player has captured. Those who really participate in the advance of the Ma'Alaketh zone of control get rewarded well. Distinguished (200 credit reward): 80-119 Regions Captured. Renowned (400 credit reward): 120-159 Regions Captured. Heroic (600 credit reward): 160-199 Regions Captured. Legendary (1000 credit reward): Over 200 Regions Captured.
Maal Tactician
Destroying enough of other live players' ships gives you the tactician legacy award. Distinguished (200 credit reward): 100-199 enemy ship kills. Renowned (400 credit reward): 200-349 enemy ship kills. Heroic (600 credit reward): 350-499 enemy ship kills. Legendary (1000 credit reward): 500+ enemy ship kills.
Ma'Alaketh Sovereignty
Win the server as a member of the Ma'Alaketh Faction. (500 credit reward)
In theory, a player can achieve up to 3500 credits ($35) on a server.
The New Dreadnoughts
New Dreadnoughts for Sol and Genari to counter the Ma'Alaketh Sovereign.
As the war escalates, a new version of the Genari Leviathan is being developed. It is also rumored that the Sirius shipyard is conceptualizing a new Colossus as a counter to the Ma'Alaketh awakening...
Colossus Type II Dreadnought
After the sudden and unexpected incursion of the once-passive Ma'Alaketh, the Sol Imperium's dreadnought was no longer the most powerful warship on the battlefield. The new enemy had become a real threat, and their long range particle beams laid waste to even the most battle-hardened Sol capital ships. After 15 years in production, the Colossus needed an upgrade. Special Operations, led by Admiral Kurosawa proposed a modified Colossus that harbored the same weapons as the Nagara, and a force field upgrade carried over from the Yamato Battleship. So a joint operation at the Sirius shipyard produced the first type II variant of this dreadnought that could attempt to match the beam range and force field strength of comparable Ma'Alaketh ships. Two weapon hardpoints were lost, as well as some superstructure overall, but its defensive shields were now the best the Sol Imperium had in its arsenal. Although the ship was successful in countering a Sovereign class Battleship, it still may not fare well enough against Ma'Alaketh's ultimate weapon: the Grand Sovereign Dreadnought.
Leviathan Type II Dreadnought
Nearly two decades into the Leviathan's first foray against the Sol Imperium, this lumbering monster of a ship found its best use against Sol battlestations, destroying them with close range weaponry and armor that could take the punishment and survive. But with the Ma'Alaketh awakening, the Genari Empire found itself against even more advanced technology than their mortal enemy, the Sol Imperium. Matriarch Zeranghi's frustration with the lack of technological breakthroughs forced her to compromise with what she was given; and if the most powerful ship in the Genari fleet was going to remain a close combat brawler, make it even more of one. Removing all forward laser hardpoints and replacing them with fission warheads, the dreadnought now had even more firepower. It also has nearly 20% more armor to take on the punishment it would expect before getting close to its target. All this however forced a downgrade of the powerplant making it even less maneuverable; but at least the fission warheads' power requirements were significantly lower than the lasers they replaced. Though dreadnoughts like the Colossus or the Grand Sovereign are technically stronger, if this ship manages to get close enough, the firepower can decimate through their shields with a massive warhead barrage.
