Incompetence Runs Wild in the Dhayut Kingdom
A quick audit of the Dhayut Navy revealed huge incompetence. The kind of incompetence that, knowing the Dhayut Kingdom, would lead to mass executions. (Really it’s down to me not really knowing all the twists of the game, but I’m blaming the Dhayut).
As mentioned way far back, the ship design screens in Distant Worlds if fairly in-depth, as an example here’s the latest Dhayut Destroyer design:
The Defender has been part of the Dhayut military since the early days of the empire, as engines, weapons, etc. improving as technology advanced, the design was updated. V1 had no shields, total firepower of 30, and cruise speed of 23. Now we’re up to v8, shields, total firepower 356 and cruising speed of 44. When there’s an upgrade I select all the destroyers and click on them to retrofit to the newest version at the nearest space port. The problem is that the destroyers are all in AI controlled fleets, they get the retrofit order and go to the nearest spaceport to upgrade, if there isn’t a docking bay available straight away they decide the order is complete and go back to AI control , rather than waiting for one to open up. So the Dhayut are at the point where about 70% of the destroyers are old, obsolete versions, some as old as version 2. AI control was turned off and all the destroyers set to retrofit, this time they all wait their turn and the Dhayut Kingdom’s total military strength went from around 34k to a smidgeon over 50k. Cost a small fortune, but money well spent.
The Dhayut science-types made a breakthrough on scanner technology, a scanner that allows them to scan enemy ships and get an idea of the components. Using that they should be able to avoid surprises like the Quameno fleet. A new scout ship was made with the new scanner and sent to park beside the Iskabar fleets; turned out they’re decent but not frightening although their colonies are heavily defended. Dhayut espionage teams are on their colonies trying to trigger revolutions, so Iskabar’s days are hopefully numbered.
Elsewhere the Sluken wiped out an entire civilization, somebody the Dhayut dont know. That’s why they’re "diabolic" and we're only "satisfactory".
The next move throws a spanner in Dhayut planning; the Furmus (who are still at war with the Quameno) declare war on the Ackdarians of Iskabar. Do the Dhayut take this as a chance to also join in against Iskabar? Or do they make diplomatic advances to Iskabar and Quameno and see what they’ll give up if we join them in their wars with Furmus, then hit Furmus like the fist of the gods? Decisions, decisions.