EXODE Federal Database Challenge: Keeper raudell Results

Preliminaries

I had been intending to also write/post Captain slabakbg's results later today to finish the contest -- but I've just been made aware of an additional grabber and two keeper contest entries by Captain hooiyewlim. I will, therefore, try to post the rest of the results in just two more posts (so people will, unfortunately, have to wait until Saturday for the final results and their prizes).

Note: As you'll observe below and throughout, per the pre-written rubrics, I am attempting to give every advantage to the grabber wherever possible (particularly where capabilities are unclear or under-specified). Despite this, there is still at least one unbeatable keeper strategy that I am aware of. If there are any unbeatable grabber selections/tactics (Akhen Cannon?), they will be squelched in a similar fashion.

Matches against keeper raudell's "Study in Subterfuge"

Captain raudell decided to take a two-front approach to his defense: a combination of overwhelming force and subterfuge. He used a fully-packed Drachian Mantis and has many of the items from previously successful defenses. His subterfuge element is using a second hidden base and stealth attacking the grabber (both reminiscent of Captain blockmonster's less successful Stealth Multibase).

balticbadger

Captain balticbadger's grabber has the unique strategy of trying to sucker the keeper into accepting a visit from a friendly civilian party -- including a Programmed Transactor suicide bomber. However, despite the Propaganda Specialist, the Nuclear Family and desperate pleas that woman and children will die if the Amarasia isn't allowed to land, the Secret Agent has run a number of Trojan Horses of her own and warns the Amarasia off.

Despite the fact that the Orbital Shield is only beginning to power up, the Amarasia has no weapons to take it down. The Syndicate Hacker, however, expects to make quick work of it, as that is what typically happens during pirate raids upon planets (defenders just can't keep up with the Criminal's and Syndicate's programmer armies -- especially considering programming god Sh4rken). And, indeed, the Shield quickly drops.

The grabber's Propaganda Specialist has been constantly babbling "Sorry! Sorry! We have no choice. We really have to land." Just after the shield falls, the Secret Agent tells the Amarasia in no uncertain terms where they will land (a continent away from the keeper base). When the Amarasia ignores that command, the Secret Agent declares that they are now considered hostile forces and will be destroyed if they are seen anywhere near the keeper's base.

The Amarasia ignores that message as well and flies over raudell's base inspecting the defenses. A Protective Wall, a Defensive Bunker, two AA/AT Automatic Turrets, a Vanguard, at least one patrolling KB-119 Kilbot and the knowledge that the landed Mantis has far more personnel and cargo space than the Amarasia quickly convinces balticbadger's crew that this is a lost cause. The Amarasia orders more fuel from the interstellar market and moves on to greener pastures.

Score: Raudell 100%; Balticbadger 0%

blockmonster

Captain blockmonstermonster opted for a flexible but fairly standard assault strategy with a fully packed Drachian Mantis. Because of the fact that the Orbital Shield is only beginning to power up, the Mantis's weapons quickly breach it. It is then ascertained that raudell has Protective Walls, a Defensive Bunker, two AA/AT Automatic Turrets, a Vanguard, at least one patrolling KB-119 Kilbot. Seeing the landed Drachian Mantis, blockmonster's crew assume that they are evenly matched in personnel and cargo.

Given at least one Vanguard and Kilbot, the grabber lands at a sufficient distance not to be interrupted while he assembles his prefabs. An AA/AT Automatic turret is rapidly assembled, quickly followed by a pair of Velvet Storms. Two Vanguards are next, followed a number of scouting and transport vehicles.

The grabber moves in to test the defenses. His crew has the advantage of both a Secret Agent and a Mysterious AI to overcome the defending Secret Agent so the Velvet Storms' Electronic Counter-Measures should be pretty effective. On the other hand, two Velvet Storms and two Vanguards aren't exactly the best match-up against two AA/AT turrets, a Defensive Bunker, a Vanguard and a prepared defense. On the third hand, blockmonster's crew includes four KB-119 Kilbot's versus probably only the one defending Kilbot that they have seen.

Unfortunately for Captain raudell, Captain blockmonster has given very specific orders dealing with exactly this type of a siege situation including "The little buddies are constantly on patrol for their secret lair, hopefully we can find whatever hidden/mobile bases they are using to extract data from the core." It's actually blockmonster's Tom Friendly Eyes XY-6 that spots the hidden lair, but the result is the same.

The first sign of trouble for Captain raudell's crew is when both Vanguards head straight towards the hidden Echo base with the Storms circling overhead and the Kilbots already attacking. Four Kilbots are far more than a match for the Cornered Rebel Agent and the Syndicate Trooper so the Sniper wisely withholds his fire. Before raudell's crew can react, it's already over. Blockmonster's crew holds Echo base with four Kilbot's (with hardly a scratch), two Vanguards and two Velvet Storms.

Score: Raudell 0%; Blockmonster 100%

digital-wisdom

Captain digital-wisdom's grabber has the strategy of keeping the defender moving wherever possible. He also has a fully packed Drachian Mantis. Because of the fact that the Orbital Shield is only beginning to power up, the Mantis's weapons quickly breach it. It is then ascertained that raudell has Protective Walls, a Defensive Bunker, two AA/AT Automatic Turrets, a Vanguard, at least one patrolling KB-119 Kilbot. Seeing the landed Drachian Mantis, digital-wisdom's crew assume that they are evenly matched in personnel and cargo.

Being cautious, digital-wisdom uses two Exploration Dropships to land 3 Velvet Storms in two different locations on the opposite side of the planet from blockmonster's base. Once the Velvet Storms are assembled, they are used to cover a second landing site reasonably close to raudell's base but at a sufficient distance not to be interrupted while the rest of the prefabs are assembled. In the second wave are 3 Vanguards, 3 Kilbots, an AA/AT turret, 600 energy and all personnel except for Admiral Valro and Tyron who remain upon the orbiting Mantis.

As digital-wisdom stupidly left his Mysterious AI at home, only his Special Agent can help the Velvet Storm's ECM capabilities. Fortunately, raudell's crew only has the same. The three Storms stand off at maximum distance, drop chaff and use missiles to destroy the two AA/AT Automatic Turret and the Defensive Bunker's Neutron Gun while three Vanguards, three Kilbots and half a dozen personnel (including red-shirted Clone Troopers) observe from just out of range.

Three Vanguards and three Kilbots have no trouble taking down a single Vanguard and a Defensive Bunker. The Velvet Storms stand by overhead but are pretty much out of missiles. Before the Bunker is completely destroyed, Captain raudell's crew raises the white flag and submits to being taken prisoner.

Digital-wisdom's crew is exceptionally unhappy and irate (apparently the most common emotion in this contest) to find that the Federal Database is not in the compound. When Alana is distracted, the Kumicho grabs the Space Surgeon, forcibly implants a Syndicate Chip and is able to acquire Echo base's details without having to resort to too much painful persuasion.

The grabber's crew then moves on to Echo base and easily overwhelms it. The Syndicate Sniper recognizes overwhelming odds and wisely does not draw fire down upon himself.

Score: Raudell 0%; Digital-wisdom 100%

slabakbg

Captain slabakbg's strategy is pretty straight-forward relying upon synergies to advance a Stealthy and/or Hacker-y approach as appropriate. Unfortunately, his build has the often fatal flaw of having no Velvet Storms and absolutely no long-range transportation.

Because of the fact that the Orbital Shield is only beginning to power up, the Quantum Supreme's weapons quickly breach it. It is then ascertained that raudell has Protective Walls, a Defensive Bunker, two AA/AT Automatic Turrets, a Vanguard, at least one patrolling KB-119 Kilbot. Seeing the landed Drachian Mantis, slabakbg's crew assumes that they are also overmatched in personnel and additional cargo.

All-in-all, this looks like a terrible match-up so slabakbg's crew orders fuel from the Interstellar marketplace and moves on to greener pastures.

Score: Raudell 100%; Slabakbg 0%

hooiyewlim

Captain hooiyewlim's strategy is straight-forward all-out attack scenario. Like the two most successful grabbers, he too is using a fully-upgraded Drachian Mantis. Unfortunately, his crew was so eager to ensure that they were the first group to attempt to grab the Federal Database from Captain raudell that they left the station with no cargo whatsoever.

Because of the fact that the Orbital Shield is only beginning to power up, the Mantis's weapons quickly breach it. It is then ascertained that raudell has Protective Walls, a Defensive Bunker, two AA/AT Automatic Turrets, a Vanguard, at least one patrolling KB-119 Kilbot. With no missiles, Velvet Storms, Vanguards or Kilbots, hooiyewlim's crew sees no way in which they could successfully win an engagement.

Given no other rational choice, hooiyewlim's crew orders fuel from the Interstellar marketplace and moves on to greener pastures.

Score: Raudell 100%; Hooiyewlim 0%

Recap

Captain raudell's "Study in Subterfuge" lands solidly in the middle of the pack with three wins and two losses. Like blockmonster's first Stealth Multibase keeper, Captain raudell's crew only lost to blockmonster's Robot Army because of the unfortunate strategy of a hidden base that blockmonster was specifically looking for.

On the offensive side, Captain blockmonster's win edges him ever-closer to an insurmountable lead. Another win or a balticbadger loss will lead to him being declared the winner of the Grabber competition. On the other hand, given Captain hooiyewlim's devastating lack of cargo, it is, unfortunately, obvious that he stands no chance against the previously analyzed keepers and the resuls have been updated accordingly. The only close match is, as expected, the one against Captain proto26 but Protection Walls, a Defensive Bunker, an AA/AT Automated Turret, a Security Drone and the possibility of a Kilbot or three convince Captain hooiyewlim's crew to seek greener pastures.

The addition of two new keepers (and a grabber) give Captain slabakbg's crew(s) renewed hope to escape the ignominy of a last place performance. Stay tuned for the final two posts to see how that works out for him (and to see the final rankings and prizes).

	balticbadger	blockmonster	digital-wisdom	slabakbg	hooiyewlim	KEEPER TOTAL
apshamilton	100/0	100/0	0/100	100/0	100/0	80%
balticbadger	100/0	-50/40	-50/50	100/0	100/0	40%
blockmonster 1	100/0	0/100	50/50	100/0	100/0	70%
blockmonster 2	100/0	100/0	0/100	100/0	100/0	80%
digital-wisdom	100/0	100/0	0/100	100/0	100/0	80%
proto26	0/100	0/100	0/100	100/0	100/0	40%
raudell	100/0	0/100	0/100	100/0	100/0	60%
slabakbg						0%
hooiyewlim 1						0%
hooiyewlim 2						0%
GRABBER TOTAL	10%	34%	60 %	0%	0%