Trade Wars: How to Lose

Outside of getting blown up as you leave Fed Space, Twarping when you don’t have a beacon fighter, crashing into danger when you could have glanced at your Scanner; so called “Veterans” have an encyclopedia of losing strategies. This is not, by any means an exclusive list.

I Begin with the Attitude you know more than everyone else. Arrogantly express “opinions” and annoy the hell out of other players.

II Play “Good” by killing every Tom Dick and Ferrangi and spend every credit you earn buying an ISS as soon as you get a Fed Com. Sacrifice planet building to buy the ISS.

III After weeks of working to buy this ISS, finally able to get max holds, and a transwarp drive, create planets, but don’t bother to Ferry Colonists. IV Decide to go Evil when colonists dry up, meaning that you:
a) have to sell the ISS at a loss
b) have to waste a lot of time and turns reducing Good alignment
c) wind up weaker than the kid who just logged in.

V Begrudge other players as if it is their fault you don’t have planets, colonists, a prayer in hell, and demand they stop everything to help you in a scheme.

VI Waste turns daily by;
a) disarming mines in non-crucial Sectors
b) parking a ColT where it is easily seen and destroyed
c) having to single step travel because

i) you’ve put out so many Toll begging fighters they’ve become a nuisance and are destroyed as a matter of course.
ii) you’ve already been damaged or podded by players who have used your beacon fighters as mine repositories.

d) fighting machine characters VII Refuse to recognise your mistakes, continue to make the same ones, while threatening other players, insulting them to make more enemies.

VIII If anyone takes pity on you and does go along with your scheme, make sure it costs them far more than they’ve planned. This will make them hate you and do what they can to destroy you.

IX Fight other players when you can’t defeat them. Attack ships parked at the Space Port when you don’t have the firepower or shields, so the other player kills you.

X Doing any and every thing except play your own game. One or more of these strategies will insure you lose.?