Wormholes are killing me!!!

Galactic backdoors make defending impossible

from Sins Forums
I'm playing a 5-star map with 10 Hard AIs.  I started out in a solar system with four other opponents so I knew my starting location was not ideal.  I made friendly with my neighbors and set out to conquer opponents in other solar systems (perhaps my first [maybe biggest] blunder of the game).  I guess it's the role-player in me but I always want to make peace with my fellow humans (I play human).

The solar system I'm in has four wormholes in it and they all are attached to wormholes in other systems.  This is proving to be a hindrance to my offensive aspirations.  I've taken out the Advent to my "north" and the TEC to my "east" (they broke our peace and stabbed me in the back while I was off fighting Vasari in another system).  I have three fleets but can't expand beyond the wormholes.  As soons as I do three "other system" AIs show up with their very large fleets and I have to double back to keep a world from falling.  When I do any forward progress is wiped out by another "same system" AI.

If I go on the offensive and jump through a wormhole and then on to another world I get too strained fighting the "same system" AI along with the combined fleets of the "other system" AIs.  I'm taking massive losses and lost 4 capital ships within minutes after a particularly bad, two-front battle.  The damn AI pinched me (I was impressed)!

I know that I should have concentrated on wiping out the opponents in my own system before moving outward.  I knew it then but didn't do it.  I am paying the price now.  But even if I had these wormholes offer far too many "backdoors" to my empire.  I'm Novalith-ing everything left in my system and hoping to switch back to the offensive gear soon.

Anybody else have such problems with wormholes before?
20,200 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
I've had AI's stream through wormholes behind my lines, even those that were in another system. Teams were locked, but they never shot each other, they just simply ganged up by rushing me with fleets of 40+ siege craft. It was actually pretty lame.

I then turned Wormholes down to just one per system.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Anchor the key planets that are open to the wormholes with a ton of defense platforms supported by 3-4 overlapping regeneration bays. Have a couple hangars in there for good measure to do further damage.

With vasari I also max out the phase missile skill so the platforms do more damage.

That seems to dissuade / destroy most incursions into my 'back lines'.

Sounds like you have your hands full though...
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Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
The two wormholes that are given me the most trouble both have three phase lanes. Each time an attack comes it normally involves two AI (the same two Vasari) or even three fleets (TEC jumps in for fun sometimes).

I do have those planets spammed with repair platforms, hangar bays, and canons. And they will hold off an attack for a while. But the attack won't break off until a fleet shows up to shoo them off.

I operate with a three-fleet system as part of my late-game strategy. I may deviate from that plan and break up my fleets into smaller defensive fleets. Then I'll scrap together what I can into an offensive beast and go on the prowl. I'll try that tonight.

I'm also considering breaking the peace with my last ally. He is a "same system" AI but right now virtually all of the other AIs have missions *against* him. My thinking is to make an enemy out of an ally but maybe pick up some friends along the way. Maybe...
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
In my system i have wormholes but i'm the one attacking the empires that travel on it.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Why just 3 fleets? I've got my fleets and supply maxed out and I'm running 5 fleets. I could easily split that to six and still have really good offense. I use single fleets for defending worm wholes / suns and depending on what I'm going after, either a single or double fleet.

I specialize my fleets also, and each fleet has about 10 repair bots. For instance one fleet is 2 TEC carrier capital ships + the long range missle capital ship (they're all 3 level 10 in my current game, mmmm) grouped with 10 light carriers as well as 30 or so flak and missle boats. Then my tank capital ships are grouped with 20 repair bots and 30+ heavy/light close range damage craft. These two fleets together haven't had any trouble at all with the biggest fleets/fortifications I've encountered.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
The funny thing about this game, to me at least, is that as soon as I think I'm getting the hang of something I have to go back and rethink, rework, and regroup.

I need to figure out the optimal fleet size to leave at the worlds around the wormholes to effectively defend them. I can bounce them between planets as needed. Stationing them inside my repair grid is a must so I'm thinking LRM and flak mostly. I've also kicked the idea around of stationing an Akkan at the most important planets to "cast" Armistice in case things go terribly wrong to buy me time for reinforcements. Then I think I need strike force fleet to add some extra punch.

I'll take the bulk of what's left and start my offensive engine back up. I may even try a Kosov raiding fleet to get the AI distracted for a while. I'll try anything to let up the pressure.

I was unable to play last night (stayed up late helping the daughter study multiplying binomials for an algebra quiz) but hope to tonight. I'm not going to let this game the better of me!