Single, Double, and Triple (!) Cluster Map Coordinates

[HULK]

So I recently tried some solo play against a surrounding cluster of Bots. See IHG thread against a single cluster and double cluster. Figured I’d document it here with updated coordinates (to account for rounding errors in Range) and also show a Triple Cluster Map.

If you are doing solo play, the settings I was using are the defaults with these changes:
Win by 66%, # players (see notes below), Disabled Dark Start (so you can select the center position), Custom Galaxy (use coordinates below), Twin Ring, 9 Starting Stars (or just 1 if you want a tougher challenge), and Turn-based 8 Ticks, 3 Ticks/Production.

Not sure how these would work in multi-player as the players on the edge are the only ones not surrounded … but maybe with Trade Scan Enabled (?)

Single Cluster
7 players - player in the middle surrounded by 6 others.
[ [0,0],[-11.99,0],[11.99,0],[-5.995,10.39],[5.995,10.39],[-5.995,-10.39],[5.995,-10.39] ]

Double Cluster
19 players (19 isn’t an option, so you have to go with 24)
Player in the middle surrounded by 6 others and each of those are then surrounded by 6
[ [0,0],[-11.99,0],[11.99,0],[-5.995,10.39],[5.995,10.39],[-5.995,-10.39],[5.995,-10.39],
[-23.98,0],[23.98,0],[0,20.78],[0,-20.78],
[-17.985,10.39],[17.985,10.39],[-17.985,-10.39],[17.985,-10.39],
[-11.99,20.78],[11.99,20.78],[-11.99,-20.78],[11.99,-20.78] ]

TRIPLE Cluster - D’OH!
37 players (not an option to create, so created with 32 and Photoshopped 5 more in)
Player in the middle surrounded by 6 others and each of those are then surrounded by 6 players who are subsequently also surrounded by 6 others!
[ [0,0],[-11.99,0],[11.99,0],[-5.995,10.39],[5.995,10.39],[-5.995,-10.39],[5.995,-10.39],
[-23.98,0],[23.98,0],[0,20.78],[0,-20.78],
[-17.985,10.39],[17.985,10.39],[-17.985,-10.39],[17.985,-10.39],
[-11.99,20.78],[11.99,20.78],[-11.99,-20.78],[11.99,-20.78],
[5.995,31.17],[-5.995,31.17],[-5.995,-31.17],[5.995,-31.17],
[17.985,31.17],[-17.985,31.17],[-17.985,-31.17],[17.985,-31.17],
[23.98,20.78],[-23.98,20.78],[-23.98,-20.78],[23.98,-20.78],
[29.975,10.39],[-29.975,10.39],[-29.975,-10.39],[29.975,-10.39],
[35.97,0],[-35.97,0] ]

[HULK]

For grins, I generated a couple of 32-user “triple cluster” maps … and Green Square came up in the center … so I guess it was meant to be! I used the coordinates listed above, but had to drop 5 players to get down to 32.

This was quite challenging in the mid-game since once one takes the lead, you are always surrounded by hostile AI’s … and there are too many to pay 'em all off, so it’s a bit of a balancing act trying to be friendly with some, fending off others, and focusing your ships to conquer a couple at a time before moving on to the next ones. While I basically stayed full-time on Weapons, it’s beneficial to trade tech with the friendly AI’s … but then they share with your enemies - Damn Robots have no honor!

Starting Position - 1 Jolly Green Giant versus 31 Robots!

After 5 cycles - took out my neighbor’s core and starting to expand … and take the lead - D’OH!

15 Cycles and 10-6 Weapons advantage - Trying to stay peaceful with nearby Robots while focusing ships against just a few opponents

20 Cycles and 14-10 Weapons advantage - Balancing act against so many opponents but looking promising - time to take out those Green impostors to the East

28 Cycles and 28-16 Weapons advantage - definitely going to win now and time to “backstab” my buddy Pink Square. At this point, there are soooo many moves to make!

Won in 32 Cycles after slogfest at the end

If not obvious, the end-game became a bit of a drag (often is on large maps anyway) because of the bazillion of moves - I had 419 carriers at the end!

The NP Bots will be happy to hear that the Jolly Green Giant hasn’t fired up another one of these games … but if (!) I do another “beat up on the bots,” I’m thinking instead of Medium (24 Stars - 9 Starting), maybe Small (16-6) or even Tiny (8-3) - probably be more challenging against the AI’s also.

[HULK]

Couple more misc. tidbits FWIW.

At a critical part in the mid-game, I had just conquered a core … but two “fresh” Bots were bearing down on me with a bazillion ships. So I abandoned the core (never done that before!) so those Bots went all-in to capture that juicy star … and ended up fighting each other. After exhausting themselves over a couple of cycles, I came in and took 'em both out!

I was Friendly +1 with a Bot and he attacked me … damn back-stabbing AI!

By the end of the game, there were 50+ events per turn … and the “flashing red total events number” tops out at 500.