Trahern on TradeWars Text
From TradeWars Museum
What does it take to earn the domination of a TradeWars game? Should you attack everything that moves or should you stick to one enemy until they are destroyed? Should you not attack anything until you are attacked? Should you build yourselves up militarily and colonize planets? Many serious players will answer these questions differently and I have my own opinion.
Over the years, I learned from many TradeWars players and I see a common flaw in the majority of them. This problem usually causes premature warfare and they have little chance of dominating the game. What I believe to be the best corporate policy is a gradual change from Trading to Colonizing and (most important) stay hidden as long as possible. I believe that (after acquiring a substantially equipped ship) to spend approximately 85% of your online time and/or turns Colonizing is the best plan of attack.
Okay, half of you cats are laughing but hang a sec... Most TradeWars games online today are personally edited by the SysOps. 20,000 sectors is getting popular and they usually keep Terra stocked of Colonists. With the exception of limited turns and only 5000 sector Tourneys, you must Colonize! I learned that one from a cat named Cowboy. He and his crew showed me that it works out better to let other players build the planets. You build yourself up and cap their planets. :)
When asked, almost all TradeWars players will agree that colonizing is critical but very few of them spend anywhere near 85% of their online time colonizing. Why is that? It gets old fast and we start to feel the need to disintegrate some lower life form. That drive becomes so strong that few of us have the ability to control it. That is where the Chief comes in.
Each Corporation has one leader. Many Corps just vote on everything and do what the majority wants to do. I believe there should be a plan that is specifically followed by all and enforced by the Chief, even if it gets boring to the players. There is a simple question you must answer to yourself and to the Chief of your Corporation: Do you want to dominate the game or not? If your answer is yes, then you need to control that emotional need for destruction and work conservatively. Colonize, build trading ports to suit your planets' needs and save credits! Soon, figs will mysteriously appear in unbelievable numbers. Chances are, you will soon be a member of the Corporation that dominates the game. Alignment and experience will take care of itself.
It will be different in a Tourney. One of the teams which comes to mind has all players make credits and transfer them to one player. That player buys figs and attacks other Corp. members that are parked in FedSpace. Does that sound impossible? :) Unfortunately it is not impossible. Following that plan for the first week or 10 days in the game places them far ahead of all other players and makes it easier for them to find and capture all existing planets. They easily won the game.
If you don't believe me, ask most any of the cats that played in the last U.S. Open Tourney. :) I feel the need to practice such tactics before I use them in a Tourney but they were clearly proven by one Corporation.
