Well, I managed to force the Romii (the first race I encountered) to surrender. Now I have a little better tech situation (including Ice Colonization
) so the game will probably settle into a more normal pattern. I think that the earlier first contact made it a lot easier for me than if it had come after 100 turns or so, since the technology gap wasn't too bad. Although, even missile dancing was tough when I had escorts and frigates with CSM Is and he had destroyers and light cruisers with CSM IIIs. Fortunately for me, I was always able to bring more forces to a single point than he was. I still have a long way to go to conquer the quadrant, so who knows what will happen next.
I definitely think that I will start the next game I play the same way. It makes things really interesting up front.
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Ursoids of the galaxy, unite!