Island Type Ratio + Defense Islands

Ok, I seem to have found the best ratio with the current Materials vs Production behind the scenes calculations (see my other thread at here).

I'm currently using 6 mining to 2 production, and that keeps a decent flow of materials in verses production usage.

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

In addition, what do the defense islands actually do? Beef up your front line islands? Also, is there any way to increase the islands defenses overall?

All I can tell you I made out from observation only - I do not have any deeper knowledge about the mechanics of the game than everyone else.

Each island can has a certain level of defense capabilities. You can check that level by clicking on the island in zoomed out map mode. A single non-defense island shows the defense level "WEAK". A defense island in contrast is producing more and a tougher kind of infrastructure than non-defense islands. A completely developed defense island has a defense level "STRONG". An island that was just transformed to an defense island does not yet offer a "STRONG" defense though - it has to build up that defense over a certain time. But a defense island always radiates some of it's defense capabilities to it's immediate neighbors. A defense island can therefore change an adjacent island's defense level by one step. A formerly "WEAK" island will be improved to "GOOD", a "GOOD" island will be improved to "STRONG" and a "STRONG" island to "VERY STRONG". The defense level itself dictates the defense equipment of an island. "VERY STRONG" islands have Mantas with Manta Armor MkII, Plasma Cannons or even guided Missiles. The same goes for Walrus and defense turrets. "WEAK" islands have vehicles and defense turrets with practically no armor, simple lasers and machine guns at maximum.

Ok, that's makes sense....so how do think the islands get the advanced equipment?

Put two defense islands next to each other and give them a little time. Soon both islands will have a "VERY STRONG" defense with lots of heavy Mantas and Walrus and turrets. I never tried to put three defense islands next to each other. Maybe that improves the defense level even more...

Of course that applies to the computer Islands too. Plasma cannon carrying mantas were a very unpleasant surprise then I ran smack into them for the first time.

Of course this affects what islands you want to attack as well, Attacking a newly made defence island is better than one which has been sitting there for a while. And you don't want the AI to have 2 defence islands sitting beside one another for a while if at all possible.

These are the things we will be thinking about in the full game...

Oh and I just won my first game... :P

Oh and I just won my first game... :P

Congrats! What were your starting conditions? I'm only a day or so into playing, after quite a long learning curve! I'm used to a yellow interface I think! I've been starting with 3/4 ratio to me with enemy strength all the way to the left.....and I'm still struggling! Just getting my strategy right I think!

Put two defense islands next to each other and give them a little time. Soon both islands will have a "VERY STRONG" defense with lots of heavy Mantas and Walrus and turrets. I never tried to put three defense islands next to each other. Maybe that improves the defense level even more...

It goes up to "Deadly" if there are three .. ..

G

Just standard. I Rushed to attack an enemy ismald that was a mining Island and ehtn the Icon changed to a hammer and spanner which means the computer was changing its type, which I knew would be turning into a defense Island. So I wanted to take it before it turned into a defnese and the defense was boosted. Then I went and took the neutral Island.

Then The enemy carrier attacked one of my Islands and I went to defend it. I moved to the enemy carrier but unloaded all my guys a little away from it so that the enemy carrier would not shoot them off while they were launching. Then when we got in combat I set my units to kill his. Turing the fight he took out my main gun but he got completely wrecked and ran. I let him go mainly as, even though I had lost a couple of units he had lost all of his which would all need to be replaced, and he would need to turn through a lot of fuel to repair himself. So he was out of it for a while.

Then I killed his sole mining Island and then took my time with the rest as I knew he was pretty much sunk at that. I finally fought him on the last Island and the enemy carrier still killed half my units. Damn defence guns. Must remember to shoot them off in future...