Homeworlds
 

I think it's grossly unfair that homeworlds are not of uniform size. I just started a game when my homeworld was Tiny! With a smaller population, your shipyard is slower, and of course you start with many fewer free facilities. I don't mind as much when I'm playing single-player and the AI starts with an advantage over me, but when the same thing happens in a PBEM game it's pretty upsetting. Since you can set the number and value of homeworlds already, it is too much to ask to be able to set their size as well?

Re: Homeworlds
 

I suspect that you'll get much larger homeworlds, and a much larger starting population, if you choose 'Gas' as your native planet type.

Fer instance -- I started a game with max-power settings (large mid-life universe, high (i.e. all) tech at start, 10 planets per player, 5k race points each), and my Gas Giant-dwelling race *started* with over 60 million colonists, while most of the others started with roughly 30 million or so. One AI did start with a similar pop, but methinks he was a gas-giant dweller as well.

Combine this with environmental tolerance/population growth bonuses as well...

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-- The thing that goes bump in the night

Re: Homeworlds
 

I agree, it occured to me once. I think the extra space gained in gas giants is occupied by Research centers mostly, and of course some population...
Gives a hell of a boost to my favorite empire with 30-35% bonus in research...

;-)


[This message has been edited by Paladin (edited 28 August 2000).]

Re: Homeworlds
 

While playing the demo, I have been selecting to show all player scores to help watch for any inconsistances. I started a game Last with 1 planet per empire and I designed a race for rock planets. Now I have not encountered all the races yet, (so I don't know all their planet types) but everyone started with the same pop. Maybe this is only an issue if you select more than 1 starting planet.