I think this might be my first time doing the weekly seed. There will be spoilers for branches and the late game here, but I'll put them in a spoiler tag.
I started out with a few things I wanted to try: first, having watched some of 8fps's stream, I wanted to give kinetic weapons and particularly high-crit weapons another chance. I previously won a combat run using heavy EM (it's easy to get pretty nice EM weapons since the game sends them to you regularly, especially in the late game). Second I decided I wanted to be imprinted and hopefully meet one of the rumored Heroes. Third, I wanted to play with Plasma Cutters to increase salvage.
Disappointingly, I never did find a Hero.
The early game and early branches:
Early game was straightforward except I ended up going on three wheels for quite a ways, I think till -5 or so when I increased to a 4th propulsion slot. 120 speed with 3 Lrg. Storage Units plus a good sensor array and a launcher for swarmers makes stealth still quite doable without being fragile, or perhaps I got lucky. As always when looking for Zion I ended up finding DM on -7 -- usually a disappointment but he did help by redirecting late game dispatches for me.
I ended up falling into Waste in -6 and harvesting some nice armor with crits (not the plasma cutter), then kiting around and out. Unfortunately it never came in very useful. I think I need to practice this technique more. Then came caves with a nice escorted transport (Imp. Powered Armor) and Zion. Hurrah... Cogmind is the chosen one? Why do I get a sinking feeling when dispatches say things like "With our firepower and your... leadership, we're sure to win"?
Mid game:
I visited Zhirov and Warlord, got some nice Vortex Cannons which I ended up firing only once to test a theory about energy fields hinted at by the lore. My theory was wrong, oh well. :(
I don't think Zhirov did anything for me besides the usual AAs.
Late game (serious spoilers here):
In Research or maybe -4 I found a nice pile of Hyp. Railguns, I ended up using these for a couple floors to take care of programmer dispatches and take their Gamma Rifles to use against ordinary enemies.
I visited Q, planning to go for S7 but got two rather nice melee weapons and a replicator, and decided I might have a chance at taking out M.C without messing up by visiting S7. So I skipped out after it got rather warm. Here I also messed up by trying to be too clever: I thought I would pick up a CRM and scanalyze it so I could avoid it in S7 but it turned out to be quite difficult to scanalyze since I was imprinted and couldn't use botnets, and had no utility or inventory slots to spare for hackware. There is also an odd quirk with scanalyzers where there is only one AA option in the menu even if you have multiple unidentified ones: I guess it always picks the first one in your inventory to scan? I tried quite a few scanalyzers and failed on all but one, which identified the artifact from Zhirov.
I also got lucky somewhere in here, I think in Research, and found 2 Nanoactuators lying on the ground. Don't mind if I do... That's when I started to seriously entertain the possibility of taking out M.C.
In -2 I decided not to go to testing, since overheating was a problem with energy guns and I had what looked like a promising melee build that I didn't want to break. I explored a little more after finding the exit to Access but then took it.
Ending (-1) (major spoilers):
Access had lots of patrols to dodge and I ended up using the teleporter here to get away. Eventually I got to the Command entrance, thanks to Zion intel, and the doors slid open as I approached, chased by programmers, hunters, grunts and who knows what else. Once inside I got lucky finding both the seals quite close to the starting point, took out the death corridor (I was hoping the core stripper would be more effective here since last time I came it one-shotted all four enemies -- I realize this is statistically unlikely), and the rest is history. Funnily enough the melee build turned out to be nearly useless as my allies completely surrounded the boss and took him out. I guess Zion is a very, very good ally to have once you reach this level.
Scoresheet:
Cogmind - Beta 5 @@@ ROGUELIKE MODE
Name: Joshua
---[ HEADING TO FLEET! ]---
Performance
-------------
Evolutions (9) 4500
Robots Destroyed (297) 1485
Value Destroyed (14194) 14194
Prototype IDs (112) 2240
Alien Tech Used (7) 1400
Bonus (37052) 37052
TOTAL SCORE: 60871
Cogmind
---------
Core Integrity 1344/1600
Matter 300/300
Energy 454/470
System Corruption 6%
Temperature Cool (12)
Location To Fleet Rendezvous
Parts
-------
Power (3)
Light Quantum Reactor
Zero-point Reactor
Zero-point Reactor
Propulsion (7)
Zionite Glidesys II
Antigrav Array
Antigrav Array
Antigrav Array
Utility (11)
Experimental Coolant Injector
Large Storage Unit
Large Storage Unit
Advanced Melee Analysis Suite
Improved Armor Integrity Analyzer
Centrium Heavy Armor Plating
Zionite Shade Armor
Heavy Regenerative Plating
AEGIS Remote Shield
Weapon (4)
Sigix Broadsword
Sigix Broadsword
Inventory (16)
Light Quantum Reactor
Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Zionite Glidesys II
Antigrav Array
Experimental Energy Well
Nanoactuators
Nanoactuators
Zionite Weapon Casing
Experimental Powered Armor
Experimental Powered Armor
Vortex Cannon
Vortex Cannon
Advanced Micro-nuke Launcher
Peak State
------------
Power
Light Quantum Reactor
Zero-point Reactor
Zero-point Reactor
Propulsion
Zionite Glidesys II
Antigrav Array
Antigrav Array
Antigrav Array
Utility
Large Storage Unit
Large Storage Unit
Advanced Melee Analysis Suite
Improved Armor Integrity Analyzer
Centrium Heavy Armor Plating
Zionite Shade Armor
Experimental Powered Armor
Heavy Regenerative Plating
AEGIS Remote Shield
Weapon
Sigix Broadsword
Sigix Broadsword
Inventory
Light Quantum Reactor
Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Zionite Glidesys II
Antigrav Array
Experimental Coolant Injector
Experimental Energy Well
Nanoactuators
Nanoactuators
Zionite Weapon Casing
Experimental Powered Armor
Vortex Cannon
Vortex Cannon
Advanced Micro-nuke Launcher
[Rating: 232]
Favorites
-----------
Power Enhanced Nuclear Core
Engine Improved Deuterium Engine
Power Core Enhanced Nuclear Core
Reactor Graviton Reactor
Propulsion Armored Huge Wheel
Treads Light Treads
Wheel Armored Huge Wheel
Leg Aluminum Leg
Hover Unit Improved Antigrav System
Flight Unit Improved Cesium-ion Thruster
Utility Large Storage Unit
Device Long-range Sensor Array
Storage Large Storage Unit
Processor Advanced Signal Interpreter
Hackware Hacking Suite
Protection Layered Heavy Armor Plating
Artifact Stasis Generator
Weapon Storm Laser
Energy Gun Storm Laser
Energy Cannon Improved EM Pulse Cannon
Ballistic Gun Flak Gun
Ballistic Cannon Mini Assault Cannon
Launcher Heavy Missile Launcher
Special Weapon Plasma Cutter
Impact Weapon Core Stripper
Slashing Weapon Sigix Broadsword
Piercing Weapon Spear
Special Melee Weapon Improved Datajack
Stats
-------
Bonus Breakdown 37052
High Alert Combat Kills 3676
Follower Combat Kills 3813
Met Data Miner 300
Met Imprinter 300
Was Imprinted 300
Met Zhirov 300
Met Warlord at Base 500
MAIN.C Attacked Warlord 1000
Used Core Reset Matrix 3000
Met MAIN.C 5000
Destroyed MAIN.C Shell 5000
Destroyed MAIN.C 10000
Win 3000
Win Speed 1643
Friendly Fire -780
Classes Destroyed 18
Worker 19
Builder 7
Hauler 17
Recycler 20
Mechanic 3
Operator 4
Watcher 17
Swarmer 53
Grunt 71
Brawler 3
Duelist 5
Protector 2
Sentry 23
Hunter 15
Programmer 34
Behemoth 2
Compactor 1
Z-Light 1
Major NPCs Destroyed 1
MAIN.C
Best Kill Streak 11
Combat Bots Only 10
Best States 0
Heat Dissipation 103
Coolant Potential 120
Energy Generation 91
Energy Capacity 590
Matter Stores 551
Matter Capacity 600
Sight Range 22
Robot Scan Range 20
Terrain Scan Density 10
Heat Shielding 100
Armor Coverage 1825
Resistance: KI 30
Resistance: TH 50
Resistance: EX 30
Resistance: EM 90
Resistance: I 30
Resistance: S 30
Resistance: P 30
Power Shielding 90
Utility Shielding 33
Weapon Shielding 100
Point Defense Rating 240
Weapon Cycling 15
Melee Speed Boost 50
Phase Shifting 20
Evasion (%) 76
Targeting Accuracy 14
Melee Accuracy 8
Target Analysis 8
Core Analysis 10
Armor Integrity Analysis 50
Recoil Reduction 2
Particle Charging 30
Salvage Targeting 3
Datajack Penetration 55
Offensive Hacking 10
Matter Collected 12698
Salvage Created 17398
Parts Attached 674
Power 30
Propulsion 46
Utility 296
Weapon 302
Parts Lost 71
Power 9
Propulsion 16
Utility 18
Weapon 28
Average Slot Usage (%) 82
Naked Turns 0
Spaces Moved 24425
Fastest Speed (%) 250
Average Speed (%) 110
Slowest Speed (%) 40
Overloaded Moves 0
Propulsion Burnouts 0
Targets Rammed 2
Targets Kicked 0
Targets Crushed 0
Cave-ins Triggered 1
Teleports 1
Heaviest Build 154
Greatest Support 136
Greatest Overweight (x) 36
Average Overweight (x) 1
Largest Inventory 22
Average Capacity 21
Most Carried 22
Average Carried 21
Final Capacity 16
Final Carried 16
Damage Taken 19529
Core 1671
Absorbed by Shields 1849
Average Core Remaining (%) 83
Depth 11 Exit 100
Depth 10 Exit 80
Depth 9 Exit 96
Depth 8 Exit 100
Depth 7 Exit 42
Depth 6 Exit 94
Depth 5 Exit 90
Depth 4 Exit 88
Depth 3 Exit 63
Depth 2 Exit 76
Depth 1 Exit 84
Volleys Fired 636
Largest 4
Hottest 338
Shots Fired 1541
Gun 1298
Cannon 191
Launcher 43
Special 9
Kinetic 682
Thermal 227
Explosive 34
Electromagnetic 591
Entropic 1
Phasic 6
Secondary Targets 9
Max Gunslinging Chain 1
Shots Hit Robots 1057
Core Hits 577
Critical Hits 136
Critical Kills 53
Critical Parts Destroyed 73
Overload Shots 0
Energy Bleed 0
Heat Surge 0
Short Circuit 0
Meltdown 0
Melee Attacks 551
Kinetic 5
Impact 0
Slashing 182
Piercing 362
Sneak Attacks 30
Follow-up Attacks 9
Damage Inflicted 42246
Projectiles 23511
Explosions 7815
Melee 10909
Ramming 11
Kinetic 6960
Thermal 7939
Explosive 6927
Electromagnetic 9577
Impact 0
Slashing 8837
Piercing 1907
Phasic 88
Overflow Damage 150
Projectiles 69
Explosions 25
Melee 56
Self-Inflicted Damage 216
Shots 7
Rammed 2
Highest Temperature 608
Average Temperature 113
Received Heat Transfer 2127
Shutdowns 14
Energy Bleed 11
Interference 13
Matter Decay 4
Short Circuit 3
Highest Corruption 23
Average Corruption 8
Corruption Purged 9
Message Errors 128
Matter Fused 103
Heat Flow Error 62
Energy Discharge 58
Parts Rejected 2
Data loss (database) 73
Misfires 21
Alerts 6
Misdirections 86
Targeting Errors 120
Weapon Failures 20
Depth 8 End 3
Depth 7 End 3
Depth 4 End 7
Depth 3 End 23
Depth 2 End 4
Depth 1 End 6
Impact Corruptions 0
Haulers Intercepted 17
Robots Corrupted 26
Parts Fried 97
Impact Corruptions 0
Robots Melted 0
Parts Melted 36
Heat Transferred 10073
Parts Sabotaged 0
Parts Stolen 0
Parts Stripped 0
Parts Self-Destructed 222
Prevented 23
Power Chain Reactions 6
Communications Jammed 0
Times Spotted 414
Peak Tracking Total 12
Tactical Retreats 26
Parts Field Recycled 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Parts Merge Repaired 0
Drone Launches 0
Drone Recoveries 0
Traps Triggered 14
Indirectly 0
Trap Hack Attempts 0
Triggered 0
Disarmed 0
Reprogrammed 0
Reused 14
Traps Extracted 0
Installed 0
Triggered 19
Machines Disabled 40
Machines Sabotaged 0
Data Cores Recovered 2
Used 2
Machines Hacked 79
Terminals 24
Fabricators 9
Repair Stations 5
Recycling Units 8
Scanalyzers 7
Garrison Access 5
Total Hacks 245
Successful 143
Failed 81
Catastrophic 21
Database Lockouts 0
Manual 214
Unauthorized 63
Terminals 77
Fabricators 13
Repair Stations 11
Recycling Units 18
Scanalyzers 18
Garrison Access 12
Terminal Hacks 164
Record 31
Part Schematic 18
Robot Schematic 7
Robot Analysis 4
Prototype ID Bank 14
Open Door 3
Branch Access Points 2
Terminal Index 3
Locate Traps 6
Hauler Manifests 1
Hacking Detections 54
Full Trace Events 5
Feedback Events 0
Feedback Corruption 0
Feedback Hackware Fried 0
Feedback Blocked 0
Trojans Installed 30
Terminals 21
Fabricators 0
Repair Stations 1
Recycling Units 8
Scanalyzers 0
Garrison Access 0
Fabricators Overloaded 0
Fabricator Schematic DLs 0
Garrisons Disabled 2
Garrisons Compromised 0
Fab Network Shutdowns 0
Robot Schematics Acquired 14
Robots Built 0
Total Robot Build Rating 0
Robot Fabrication Matter 0
Robot Fabrication Time 0
Part Schematics Acquired 73
Parts Built 2
Total Part Build Rating 8
Part Fabrication Matter 336
Part Fabrication Time 168
Parts Repaired 1
Part Repair Time 30
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 4
Robots Rewired 7
Robots Hacked 0
Non-combat 0
Combat 0
Robot Hack Failures 0
Allies Hacked 10
Hacks Repelled 0
Zionite Intel Received 30
Main Access 2
Branch Access 2
Emergency Access 2
Guard Positions 1
Component Stockpiles 1
Prototype Stockpiles 2
Prototype Schematics 5
Unaware Schematics 2
Unaware Analyses 3
Trap Installations 2
Active Terminals 2
Active Garrisons 4
Depthwide Sectors/0 1
Depthwide Sectors/-1 1
Total Allies 90
Largest Group 37
Highest-Rated Group 3201
Highest-Rated Ally 268
Total Orders 21
GOTO 13
FOLLOW 7
DROP 1
Terraforming Orders 0
Walls Tunneled 0
Zionite Dispatches 10
Heavy 3
Light 1
Hacker 1
Experimental 4
Resource Resupply 1
Ally Attacks 510
Total Damage 33349
Kills 128
Allies Corrupted 11
Allies Melted 1
Peak Influence 1480
Average Influence 439
Final Influence 2258
Maximum Alert Level 5
Low Security (%) 42
Level 1 14
Level 2 11
Level 3 18
Level 4 12
Level 5 0
Triggered High Security 0
Turns 0
Squads Dispatched 61
Investigation 12
Extermination 19
Reinforcement 15
Assault 13
Garrison 2
Intercept 0
Derelict Logs Recovered 19
Scrap Searched 33
Exploration Rate (%) 40
Regions Visited 33
Pre-discovered Areas 11
Garrisons Visited 0
Relays Disabled 0
Generators Disabled 0
Network Hubs Disabled 0
Actions Taken 28792
Turns Passed 30417
Depth 10 270
Depth 9 316
Depth 8 513
Depth 7 4719
Depth 6 5859
Depth 5 4923
Depth 4 4756
Depth 3 5917
Depth 2 1139
Depth 1 2005
Materials 1099
Factory 5257
Research 3605
Access 1153
Waste 304
Lower Caves 4026
Upper Caves 5679
Proximity Caves 4207
Zion 1046
Data Miner 76
Zhirov 311
Warlord 833
Quarantine 1969
Command 852
Prototype IDs
---------------
Zero-point Reactor
Zionite Glidesys II
Experimental Cooling System
Experimental Coolant Injector
Experimental Energy Well
Zionite Weapon Casing
Centrium Heavy Armor Plating
Zionite Shade Armor
Experimental Powered Armor
Heavy Regenerative Plating
AEGIS Remote Shield
Vortex Cannon
Advanced Micro-nuke Launcher
Fabricated
------------
1x Lrn. Sensor Array (-7/Factory)
1x Lrn. Sensor Array (-6/Factory)
Alien Tech Used
-----------------
Integrated Reactor
Stasis Generator
Sigix Broadsword
Core Stripper
Transdimensional Reconstructor
Core Reset Matrix
Subatomic Replicator
Route
-------
-11/Scrapyard
-10/Materials
-9/Materials
-8/Materials
-7/Factory (discovered 4 exits: *Fac x2 / Low x2)
-7/Waste
-7/Factory (discovered 2 exits: *Fac / *Low)
-7/Lower Caves
-7/Lower Caves
-7/Data Miner
-6/Proximity Caves
-6/Factory
-6/Waste
-6/Factory (discovered 3 exits: *Fac / *Low x2)
-6/Lower Caves
-6/Lower Caves (discovered 2 exits: *Fac / *Zio)
-6/Zion (discovered 2 exits: Dee / *Pro)
-5/Proximity Caves
-5/Factory (discovered 3 exits: Fac x2 / *Upp)
-5/Upper Caves
-5/Upper Caves (discovered 2 exits: *Fac / *War)
-5/Warlord
-4/Proximity Caves
-4/Factory (discovered 3 exits: Res / *Upp x2)
-4/Upper Caves
-4/Upper Caves (discovered 2 exits: *Res / *Zhi)
-4/Zhirov
-3/Proximity Caves
-3/Research (discovered 4 exits: *Res / Arm / *Qua x2)
-3/Quarantine
-2/Research
-1/Access
-1/Command
To Fleet Rendezvous
Challenges
------------
None
Game
------
Seed: SurgeCapacitorMatrix
Manual?: 1
Play Time: 533 min
Cumulative: 16855 min
Sessions: 30
Easy Mode: 0
Game No.: 173
Easier: 0
Easiest: 0
Win Type: 2
Total: 25
Types: 19/0/3/3/0/0/0
Lore%: 90
Gallery%: 90
Options
---------
ASCII: 1
Keyboard: 1
Movement: Vi
Kebinds: 0
Fullscreen: 1
Font: 12/Smallcaps
Map View: 83x54
FOV Handling: Fade In
Map Filters: NONE
Filters: NONE
Steam: 0
U=405710321
R=795304828
Ah that's a very interesting idea! I asked because if it seems like a decent concept I may want to implement it (seeing as it's a conclusion reached naturally by someone), but that would make vortex weapons far too OP as soon as you got hold of a Stasis Generator. I mean maybe it could just extend their life, not being a perfect solution, but the latter has a more clearly focused field with a dedicated purpose, in any case.
The local field was mainly a sciency way to kinda explain what's going on to seem a bit more realistic :)
Even with an SG (which I don't think you're guaranteed to get) you're still subject to item destruction and all the usual constraints of energy and heat. It would extend the usefulness of them but I think they would still be carefully guarded for situations where more conventional weapons won't do. Perhaps the SG could also make them generate additional heat as a side effect of the stabilization process, I don't know. :)
Anyway, I have had this theory for quite a while but never managed to have them both equipped at the same time in the same run.
Re: sciency explanations, there is at least one other item with a non-obvious secondary use (the node). Overall I will say I am quite impressed with the writing in this game - you do a good job giving the impression of a bigger world without having to flesh out all the details.