Author Archives: talespin

About talespin

I'm an east coast Canadian, a novice writer, an artist-at-heart, and a teacher. All titles that don't make me much money.

Seeing Purple and Red

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OPINION

Curbing the Influence of Minefields

Planets is less a galactic combat simulator and more a space opera; it is an adventure story, flavoured with science fiction and tempered by the rules of a war game. Each sector is a mental filmstrip beaming images of Tie Fighters and X-Wings, Raiders and Vipers, and pointy-eared spies and Qapla’-shouting warriors! These exciting moments are why we toil and “turn,” but, alas, when the game we love becomes mired in purple and red circles, we lose the very soul of what makes Planets fun. Purple and red means webs and minefields, and an overabundance of these leads to long slogs and painfully-slow endings.

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Quilted or Two-ply?

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PLANETS LOGISTICS – POINT A TO B

My brother-in-law is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces. When a disaster (natural or otherwise) occurs in the world, Canada sends aid; and so, my brother-in-law is often among the first on the ground. He specializes in fuel calculations, equipment distribution, and the surveying of travel routes. It is likely that he choses which type of toilet paper is required for each situation, but in the end, it is all logistics and one of the most crucial positions in the military.

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A Guide to Knowing Mostly Everything

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Gathering military intelligence in the game of Planets

When it comes to the most important aspects of Planets strategy, most players talk about diplomacy, tactics, and economy. These skills are certainly of great importance, but in this article, I would like to suggest there is a more important talent which underlies them all: gathering information.

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Here’s Johnny! – Shining the Light on Enemy Homeworlds

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Be proactive

There is something terrifying about having a warship show up at your door on Turn 7. If you did not see it coming, your empire is in grave danger. At the very least, you will be crippled for a long time and have to beg for help from other players. This early-game maneuver is known as “The Headshot”, and – if it wasn’t obvious – the goal is to remove your head.

This tactic can be prevented by a variety of actions, but perhaps the strongest defense – or at least it is the boldest – is to axe down your neighbour’s door before they come calling. To do that, you need to know the location of your enemy’s homeworld. Here’s how:

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Planets Con 2020: To Be, Or Not To Be

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In the Age of COVID-19, there’s only three months left for Planets Con 2020. Let’s git ‘er done!

I have survived the COVID-19 pandemic in a region of Canada called “The Maritimes”. My province has seen less than two hundred cases, but it has nonetheless been an unnerving time. Our children started school in early September and most of us have braced for the potential second wave of the virus. And so, my thoughts, naturally, have turned (pun intended) to Planets Con 2020. (You were thinking that too, eh?) In these uncertain times, how will our beloved con look? Pre-recorded videos? Hosted broadcast a la brilliance de Griffin? Zoom video chats? Heck, I’d go for a beer and text chat!

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Planets Mag Revived: And They Have A Plan

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We have a unified vision — well, mostly unified.

(I’m the handsome one. -T) (That makes me…the smart one? -G)

The Cylons have taken over the Planets Magazine. Thanks to their revolutionary Resurrection Ship technology, the venerable magazine has been brought back from the dead, and now… No, seriously: We may be back, but we’re not Cylons.
(Although…would we really know? -G) (Speak for yourself. -T)

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