So I just finished the seed run with what started out as a combat build with some stealthiness using sensor array. I was able to blast through all those enemies with my energy weapons along with cooling injectors to prevent heat problem. That seems to work out really well throughout the first half of my run. After visiting Zion to get imprinted, I stumbled across the branch that I haven't visited in a long, long time....Warlord!
The moment I found this branch, I got very excited! New lore and more allies! As a legged Cogmind, I knew I couldn't waste too much time (unlike Zion). So I quickly searched for the major NPC and additional lore nearby. I also found out where the hidden stash is located, but I didn't have the code to open the sealed door. Fortunately, I don't need to do that when I got my Cld. Plasma Cannon.
The time of war is coming, yet I still didn't get to reap as much reward as I wanted! However, there's one place I needed to check out. What's that random researcher doing up there, behind the wall?
Curiosity got the best of me. Using my Plasma Cannons, I broke through the southern walls to get there. (I didn't know there's an easier way in) Once I got in, I got to see some of the greatest items in the whole branch, Vortex technology!
After retrieving them, I took a quick look at one of the unexplored rooms. I've found an army of disabled robots, ripe for rewiring! After a while, I started to realize how much time was wasted from doing this, which made me wish for a datajack! But even while the war is raging on, I still kept on going with rewiring the robots, which ended up being a pretty nice army.
Finally, I checked out the battleground condition. Looks like the Main.C's army is winning! The whole place is filled with matter and broken parts because I ended up way too late to join the fight. With the next wave of enemies approaching, it looks like I had to use my latest Vortex technology to break through my way.
Fortunately, I was able to get to the proximity cave safely, but my launcher got destroyed in the process. Only a few allies had survived: 2 hunters and 1 disruptor. Hopefully, things will get better.
With my superior equipment loadout from the Warlord branch, I was able to take out a lot of enemies with ease. At the end of the proxy cave, I found another large army of disabled robots! They were mostly bruisers and a few hunters, but heck, I rewired them all because why not?
So that's what I had upon reaching Research: a few hunters, and a lot of slow melee attackers on treads. What a weird army to lead...
After some exploring in Research, I saw another branch in the horizon: the Armory. Based on my past experience, it wasn't really that hard to go through, so I thought to myself, "Why not?" before I entered.
The best part about Armory is the chance to find a bunch of free allies. And guess what? I found this!
Trying to lead a large army is pretty difficult because you can't be that stealthy, as in avoiding fights. However, you can still hide your whole army into a single room after detecting incoming enemies using a long-range sensor array. Trying to do so to avoid an incoming ARC had saved me a few fights.
Also, make sure you don't let a demolisher see your army! It's better to fight him one-on-one before bringing in the rest of your army. You can let them chill at another location, and then after killing him, you can run back to your allies to clean up the rest of the robots. I minimized a lot of damage on my crew after doing this.
However, despite my best effort, my army slowly shrunk after each battle. Programmers especially made my army strategy harder because they can assimilate and reboot. Because of all of these factors, my army slowly but eventually shrunk to nothing, and I had to fight all these enemies by myself! That's when I finally realized my situation is becoming problematic.
When I saw myself fighting 10+ robots at the same time, I knew I couldn't keep on fighting. Looking at my inventory, I only had a few weapons left, so I think it's time to say farewell to my combat build. Farewell!
I hate to say this, but being a good combat player needs to know when to ditch Plan A and go right to Plan B, which is "fleeing out of this place!" So I had to pause to see which items to keep (max. 4 items and 3 weight mass), and which to throw away. As a stealth build, I definitely needed my sensor array and terrain scanner, so I kept them safe in my pocket. A single propulsion and a storage unit are also ok too, given my current loadout. After that, I picked up a flight propulsion from a dead swarmer and then scrammed! If I couldn't find the exit soon, I knew I would be overwhelmed by all these enemies. But fortunately, I found it pretty quickly.
After reaching the next Research level, I desperately tried to rebuild myself. I tried crushing some neutral robots for their parts, but that didn't work. (I should've kept a weapon!) Soon, I came across a group of grunts who shot down my sensor array, so I had to flee blindly before coming across the next branch area: the Quarantine. I was pretty worried about going there, but I took a dive anyway because I wanted to escape from all those enemies.
Fortunately, it's not a bad experience in that branch, but it's not a good one either! I attracted a lot of attention after opening the door I shouldn't have opened, drawing prototype enemies toward my direction. I was able to get out of the place before getting into more trouble, but still, I didn't have any propulsion with me after ascending to Access.
I felt pretty hopeless in that situation. I came across enemies after enemies: swarmers, hunters, programmers, with no means to fight them all, or flee away from them. I felt like I had no chance of winning as I kept on running and running...and running. But then, after I came across the place with two terminals, something clicked on me:
I forgot that I have Z-hacks! Immediately, I ran toward the terminal and gained access to it. I called down Z-Light allies, and then a Programmer squad at the second terminal. And then after that, things went from worst to fantastic.
Those allies are so powerful, I didn't have to lift a finger! They did a great job at obliterating all those enemies, and guess what? More loots! I started to pick up all that was remaining: Glidesystems, sensor array (from destroyed watcher), hackware, weapons, everything I needed to pick up myself again. That was truly amazing.
After I finished looting, I wandered around a bit...before, lo and behold, the exit is nearby! I saw a stash of powerful launchers and armor in a nearby room before I proceeded the ultimate victory. Hurray!!!
That was an amazing run. It was a huge roller-coaster ride from good, to bad, to horrible, to WOW! If only I remember to Z-hack earlier, things would have been much more smooth. But still, I've been enjoying this run, and I hope I can keep on improving on my combat play.
Also, Zion is, hands-down, the best branch in the world! And Armory, I need to think a little more about you next time.
Cogmind - Beta 2 @@@ ROGUELIKE MODE
Name: DDarkray
---[ ESCAPED! ]---
Performance
-------------
Evolutions (9) 4500
Robots Destroyed (196) 980
Value Destroyed (7666) 7666
Prototype IDs (32) 640
Alien Tech Used (1) 200
Bonus (13847) 13847
TOTAL SCORE: 27833
Cogmind
---------
Core Integrity 1166/1600
Matter 190/300
Energy 166/170
System Corruption 5%
Temperature Cool (92)
Location To Epsilon Eridani
Parts
-------
Power (2)
Light Antimatter Reactor
Zionite Light DM Reactor
Propulsion (7)
Biometal Leg
Improved Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Utility (13)
Advanced Sensor Array
Advanced Signal Interpreter
Advanced Targeting Computer
Advanced Targeting Computer
Advanced Transmission Jammer
Improved Powered Armor
Improved Powered Armor
Advanced Focal Shield
Advanced Hacking Suite
Improved System Shield
Advanced System Shield
Weapon (3)
Fusion Bomb Launcher
Inventory (4)
Light Fission Core
Improved Powered Armor
Fusion Bomb Launcher
Peak State
------------
Power
Light Antimatter Reactor
Zionite Light DM Reactor
Propulsion
Biometal Leg
Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Zionite Glidesys II
Zionite Glidesys II
Utility
Advanced Heat Sink
Zionite Biocell
Spectral Analyzer
Advanced Sensor Array
Advanced Signal Interpreter
Advanced Targeting Computer
Advanced Targeting Computer
Advanced Transmission Jammer
Advanced Reaction Control System
Zionite Weapon Casing
Advanced Focal Shield
Advanced Hacking Suite
Improved System Shield
Weapon
Gamma Rifle
Gamma Rifle
Zionite Laser-H
Inventory
Light Fission Core
Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Lance
[Rating: 168]
Favorites
-----------
Power Improved Ion Engine
Engine Improved Ion Engine
Power Core Light Fission Core
Reactor Vortex Chain Reactor
Propulsion Carbon-fiber Leg
Treads Medium Treads
Wheel Armored Wheel
Leg Carbon-fiber Leg
Hover Unit Improved Antigrav System
Flight Unit Makeshift Flight Unit
Utility Medium Storage Unit
Device Improved Cooling System
Storage Medium Storage Unit
Processor Advanced Signal Interpreter
Hackware System Mapper
Protection Improved Powered Armor
Weapon Advanced Beam Rifle
Energy Gun Advanced Beam Rifle
Energy Cannon Cooled Plasma Cannon
Ballistic Gun Improved Assault Rifle
Ballistic Cannon Linear Accelerator
Launcher Missile Launcher
Stats
-------
Bonus Breakdown 13847
High Alert Combat Kills 794
Follower Combat Kills 3595
Met Imprinter 300
Was Imprinted 300
Met Warlord at Base 500
MAIN.C Attacked Warlord 1000
Met Sigix 2000
Win 3000
Win Speed 3456
Friendly Fire -1098
Classes Destroyed 19
Worker 5
Builder 3
Tunneler 2
Hauler 9
Recycler 4
Mechanic 3
Operator 2
Watcher 5
Swarmer 46
Saboteur 2
Grunt 70
Brawler 4
Duelist 2
Sentry 11
Specialist 3
Hunter 8
Programmer 6
Behemoth 2
Demented 9
Major NPCs Destroyed 0
Best Kill Streak 9
Combat Bots Only 8
Best States 0
Heat Dissipation 85
Coolant Potential 80
Energy Capacity 1170
Matter Capacity 550
Sight Range 24
Robot Scan Range 20
Terrain Scan Range 18
Terrain Scan Density 210
Jamming Range 16
Cloak Strength 4
Additional Mass Support 12
Base Temperature (-) 200
Armor Coverage (%) 42
Resistance: KI 30
Resistance: TH 50
Power Shielding 66
Weapon Shielding 100
Point Defense Rating 240
Reclamation Efficiency 20
Evasion (%) 71
Targeting Accuracy 32
Recoil Reduction 4
Particle Charging 20
Offensive Hacking 20
Defensive Hacking 26
Matter Collected 5420
Salvage Created 7980
Parts Attached 291
Power 20
Propulsion 74
Utility 103
Weapon 94
Parts Lost 69
Power 4
Propulsion 28
Utility 21
Weapon 16
Average Slot Usage (%) 90
Naked Turns 0
Spaces Moved 9912
Fastest Speed (%) 250
Average Speed (%) 102
Slowest Speed (%) 41
Overloaded Moves 0
Propulsion Burnouts 0
Targets Rammed 23
Targets Kicked 1
Targets Crushed 0
Cave-ins Triggered 0
Teleports 1
Heaviest Build 114
Greatest Support 128
Greatest Overweight (x) 37
Average Overweight (x) 0
Largest Inventory 14
Average Capacity 11
Most Carried 14
Average Carried 11
Final Capacity 4
Final Carried 3
Damage Taken 14636
Core 2698
Absorbed by Shields 1303
Average Core Remaining (%) 76
Depth 11 Exit 100
Depth 10 Exit 62
Depth 9 Exit 83
Depth 8 Exit 100
Depth 7 Exit 66
Depth 6 Exit 94
Depth 5 Exit 94
Depth 4 Exit 92
Depth 3 Exit 54
Depth 2 Exit 23
Depth 1 Exit 72
Volleys Fired 472
Largest 3
Hottest 308
Shots Fired 1028
Gun 509
Cannon 437
Launcher 82
Special 0
Kinetic 362
Thermal 518
Explosive 74
Electromagnetic 62
Entropic 12
Secondary Targets 2
Shots Hit Robots 641
Core Hits 401
Critical Hits 11
Critical Kills 3
Critical Parts Destroyed 5
Overload Shots 3
Energy Bleed 0
Heat Surge 0
Short Circuit 0
Meltdown 0
Melee Attacks 0
Impact 0
Slashing 0
Piercing 0
Sneak Attacks 0
Follow-up Attacks 0
Damage Inflicted 29158
Projectiles 15729
Explosions 13408
Melee 0
Ramming 21
Kinetic 5208
Thermal 9677
Explosive 6878
Electromagnetic 877
Impact 0
Slashing 0
Piercing 0
Entropic 6497
Overflow Damage 242
Projectiles 128
Explosions 95
Melee 19
Self-Inflicted Damage 634
Shots 18
Rammed 22
Highest Temperature 402
Average Temperature 93
Received Heat Transfer 1922
Energy Bleed 2
Interference 6
Matter Decay 1
Highest Corruption 15
Average Corruption 3
Corruption Purged 0
Message Errors 7
Matter Fused 10
Heat Flow Error 3
Energy Discharge 3
Data loss (database) 9
Misfires 3
Misdirections 8
Targeting Errors 8
Weapon Failures 2
Depth 5 End 6
Depth 4 End 1
Depth 3 End 6
Depth 2 End 15
Depth 1 End 5
Impact Corruptions 0
Haulers Intercepted 9
Robots Corrupted 1
Parts Fried 3
Impact Corruptions 0
Robots Melted 1
Parts Melted 21
Heat Transferred 14982
Parts Sabotaged 0
Parts Stolen 0
Parts Stripped 0
Parts Self-Destructed 178
Prevented 34
Power Chain Reactions 2
Communications Jammed 0
Times Spotted 343
Peak Tracking Total 13
Tactical Retreats 23
Parts Field Recycled 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Parts Merge Repaired 0
Drone Launches 6
Drone Recoveries 0
Traps Triggered 7
Indirectly 0
Trap Hack Attempts 0
Triggered 0
Disarmed 0
Reprogrammed 0
Reused 6
Traps Extracted 0
Installed 0
Triggered 8
Machines Disabled 31
Machines Sabotaged 0
Data Cores Recovered 0
Used 0
Machines Hacked 51
Terminals 31
Fabricators 5
Repair Stations 2
Recycling Units 5
Scanalyzers 2
Garrison Access 4
Total Hacks 122
Successful 50
Failed 70
Catastrophic 17
Database Lockouts 0
Manual 44
Unauthorized 28
Terminals 78
Fabricators 9
Repair Stations 2
Recycling Units 10
Scanalyzers 8
Garrison Access 9
Terminal Hacks 30
Record 1
Part Schematic 3
Robot Analysis 1
Prototype ID Bank 3
Open Door 3
Emergency Access Points 1
Unreport Threat 2
Locate Traps 5
Hauler Manifests 1
Registered Components 3
Zone Layout 3
Hacking Detections 51
Full Trace Events 2
Feedback Events 0
Feedback Corruption 0
Feedback Hackware Fried 0
Feedback Blocked 0
Trojans Installed 7
Terminals 7
Fabricators 0
Repair Stations 0
Recycling Units 0
Scanalyzers 0
Garrison Access 0
Fabricators Overloaded 0
Fabricator Schematic DLs 0
Garrisons Disabled 1
Garrisons Compromised 0
Fab Network Shutdowns 0
Robot Schematics Acquired 0
Robots Built 0
Total Robot Build Rating 0
Robot Fabrication Matter 0
Robot Fabrication Time 0
Part Schematics Acquired 6
Parts Built 1
Total Part Build Rating 6
Part Fabrication Matter 212
Part Fabrication Time 53
Parts Repaired 0
Part Repair Time 0
Parts Recycled 0
Recycled Matter 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Retrieved Components 1
Parts Scanalyzed 3
Part Schematics Acquired 3
Parts Damaged 0
Robot Analysis Total 1
Robots Rewired 19
Robots Hacked 0
Non-combat 0
Combat 0
Robot Hack Failures 0
Allies Hacked 4
Hacks Repelled 1
Zionite Intel Received 1
Depthwide Sectors/-1 1
Total Allies 66
Largest Group 13
Highest-Rated Group 607
Highest-Rated Ally 114
Total Orders 20
STAY 2
GOTO 10
FOLLOW 5
EXPLORE 3
Terraforming Orders 0
Walls Tunneled 0
Zionite Dispatches 2
Light 1
Hacker 1
Ally Attacks 528
Total Damage 14355
Kills 100
Allies Corrupted 2
Allies Melted 0
Peak Influence 1119
Average Influence 231
Final Influence 54
Maximum Alert Level 4
Low Security (%) 53
Level 1 31
Level 2 9
Level 3 5
Level 4 0
Level 5 0
Triggered High Security 0
Turns 0
Squads Dispatched 25
Investigation 4
Extermination 5
Reinforcement 10
Assault 1
Garrison 5
Intercept 0
Derelict Logs Recovered 6
Scrap Searched 18
Exploration Rate (%) 28
Regions Visited 22
Pre-discovered Areas 6
Garrisons Visited 0
Relays Disabled 0
Generators Disabled 0
Network Hubs Disabled 0
Actions Taken 11874
Turns Passed 14466
Depth 11 57
Depth 10 1121
Depth 9 610
Depth 8 320
Depth 7 4101
Depth 6 2002
Depth 5 850
Depth 4 2167
Depth 3 2155
Depth 2 593
Depth 1 490
Scrapyard 57
Materials 1460
Factory 2423
Research 694
Access 490
Mines 591
Lower Caves 1984
Upper Caves 938
Proximity Caves 1955
Zion 1673
Warlord 991
Armory 1058
Quarantine 152
Prototype IDs
---------------
Heavy Ion Engine
Cooled Ion Engine
Zionite Light DM Reactor
Vortex Chain Reactor
Experimental Myomer Leg
Zionite Glidesys II
Advanced Power Amplifier
Experimental Heat Sink
Zionite Biocell
Gravity Neutralizing Apparatus
Spectral Analyzer
Experimental Signal Interpreter
Precision Energy Filter
Experimental Cloaking Device
Zionite Weapon Casing
Thermal Barrier
Improved Quantum Shroud
System Mapper
Experimental Reclamation Unit
Improved EM Shotgun
Gamma Rifle
Improved Medium Laser
Heavy Particle Gun
Advanced Beam Rifle
Zionite Laser-H
Cooled Plasma Cannon
Vortex Cannon
Mini Assault Cannon
Antimatter Cannon
Tesla Bomb Launcher
Vortex Catalyst Activator
Fabricated
------------
1x Imp. Powered Armor (-3/Armory)
Alien Tech Used
-----------------
Transdimensional Reconstructor
Route
-------
-11/Scrapyard
-10/Materials (discovered 2 exits: *Mat / [*Min])
-10/Mines
-9/Materials
-8/Materials
-7/Factory
-7/Lower Caves
-7/Lower Caves
-7/Zion
-6/Proximity Caves
-6/Factory
-5/Factory
-4/Factory
-4/Upper Caves
-4/Upper Caves
-4/Warlord
-3/Proximity Caves
-3/Research
-3/Armory
-2/Research
-2/Quarantine
-1/Access
To Epsilon Eridani
Challenges
------------
None
Game
------
Seed: SurgeMachineInsulator
Manual?: 1
Play Time: 258 min
Cumulative: 5507 min
Sessions: 11
Easy Mode: 0
Game No.: 118
Easier: 0
Easiest: 1
Win Type: 0
Total: 4
Types: 3/0/1/0/0/0/0
Lore%: 57
Gallery%: 70
Options
---------
ASCII: 1
Keyboard: 0
Movement: Arrows
Fullscreen: 1
Font: 12/Smallcaps
Map View: 83x54
FOV Handling: Fade In
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