[Wardad]

only 50K of research???
by the time battleships come out, you should have 200K.

also... experienced players target research on key technologies.

many... go for: light cruisers (large mount), DUC 3 to DUC 5, and point defense cannon, in the early game.

then... it's a race for better combat bonuses: training facilities, ECM, Combat sensors, and the top two armors (stealth and scattering).

don't forget... mine layers / mine sweepers

about midgame... choose a second gun (PPB or APB), shields, shield depleters, troops, battleship hulls etc...

While your doing all this don't ignore infrastructure... urban pacification center 3, Mineral miner level 2, Research level 2, and computers. (and peace keeping troops)

Consider using the Advanced Storage Tecniques racial trait.
20% more facilities per planet = 20% more research and production.

AI builds a mix of research/production/intel/bonus facilities on every planet.
You are smarter than that, build to suit the planet values.
This works out nicely when adding the one-per-planet bonus facilities from the computer research tree. The Resource ConVersion facility is also handy here.
Finally... Don't be reluctant to balance your facility output by scraping and rebuilding.

[ March 27, 2004, 13:48: Message edited by: Wardad ]