How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

When in the development of your infrastructure?

How far up the tree at first - all the way?

Do you leave room on your planets for an Intel Facility or do you just put them on 'useless' planets? How many facilities/planet do you install typically?

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

Information requested is classified.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Oh just kidding, I try to get shields, or armor, or energy weapons or racial techs first. You really need something good to defend your ships, that is a more likely early threat. But I try to get intelligence soon after. Some who starts earlier may have an advantage, but level 1 intelligence projects aren't so vicious. Lost movement, lost supplies on ships that are in orbit around a resupply base are actually funny when it happens.

I really feel that Applied Intelligence 1 should be a starting tech. Just so you can start building facilities on planets at the beginning like research facilities.

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sounds like a plan - thanks! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

[ August 10, 2002, 17:04: Message edited by: Elowan ]

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sounds like a plan - thanks! How many facilities/planet? Or is it only so many/system? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

[ August 10, 2002, 17:13: Message edited by: Elowan ]

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Someone else has begun to quote SunTzu, I feel compelled to make make a feeble attempt myself:

To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength;to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight;to hear the noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear.

Discover for yourself what works, and treasure that information, it is a more valuable weapon than Wave Motion Gun III http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thank you, oh wise one! But Last time I checked - I wasn't a grasshopper. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

I would tell you but then I would have to have you terminated.
Other than that, Against the AI, I wait till they strike first. By the time they start to do damage I can build up sufficent counter intell.

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

I start to research/build them almost immediately. Intelligence is a very potent weapon against the AI. Right now, I am 235 turns into a game and generating and generating 672,000 intelligence points. The next closest player is about 110,000 points. Using Puppet Political parties, I am taking over a planet from the AI every turn or so.

Granted, this is against all AI players, and probably wouldn't work agaist a human player if you set the game to "view all players scores."

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

It depends what race I'm roleplaying. A pacifistic race or one that values honor won't research it until they start getting attacked; a more aggressive or xenophobic race will start researching at first contact.

I try to build enough intel centers to produce enough points to do an offensive project in one turn; beyond that, I try to balance my research and intel output.

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

Against the AI it's not a big deal to wait a while for Intel level 1. The AI is usually terrible at building up either research or intel points. Against humans you'd better have at least level 1 so you can defend yourself very soon after first contact. Before is better.

[ August 10, 2002, 20:44: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

I research and build up intel as soon as possible, mostly around turn 20-50 and I use only planets with low value for that. My experience was, that if you are getting hit by intel completely unprepared you are in big trouble. Don't forget the AI bonus, which can increase its intel points by factor 2-5!

Re: How soon do you research Intelligence?
 

My pattern for every game is, Research, then resource extration,then Intell then storage.
For Research & extraction, i use large planets and higher.For intell i use med & higher( really depends on planets resource value).Storage i use below medium. I start Intell around 60-80th turn.Or untill the ai shows up. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif