quote:
Originally posted by Resident Alien:
Is anybody interested in a general game strategy thread?
Here's some of my humble strategies to start with:
1. I always pick Natural Merchant attribute. The best one to have in my opinion. No need to build Space Ports, saves a facility spot in each system, resources are imediately available from new colonies. Systems cannot be cut off by loss of Space Port.
2. On first turn scrap 2 x mineral miner facilities on each homeworld. Build mineral, radioactive and organic storage to replace them, ratio would be something like 3:1:1. Bank as much of each resource as possible in the early years. Keep building storage, scrap facilities if you need more space.
3. Decide policy themes for research. If military focus decide what size ship and weapons you want to focus on for your early, middle and late game basic attack ships. Then work your way towards them through the tech tree.
4. The smaller the map and the higher the number of AI's there are, the more focus on military techs you need. In a small map, high number of races, you wil be running into them early on. On a large map with few races then you can focus more on resource gathering and economical techs (eg. robo factory, computer complexes etc.)
5. Build 3 x Escort size ships, no weapons and with supply storage, and send out to explore as soon as possible. I turn on the Explorer minister and set each ship to minister control.
6. Build lots of colonies is obvious. More colonies => more resources => more ships => victory.
Pick up the Special worlds to get the research bonuses.
7. First contact. Offer a trade alliance to gauge mood and personality. A strong refusal probably means trouble sooner or later. I always try to build a trading relationships in early game. Of course if you have a battle fleet available, and they look weak.........
8. In strategic combat I have found that direct fire ships have the advantage over missile ships. There's no stand off missile duels, it's all close in combat and shooting every turn wins. Get to Proj Weapons V as soon as possible if you don't intend to resolve with tactical combat. Phased Poloron beams are nasty, phased shields are quite a way up the shield tech line. Grav Hellbore looks meaty, especially with Heavy/Massive mounts.
9. I defend planets with Weapons Platforms and ships. No satellites or bases. Use sats for recon or remote mining, bases for construction yards.
10. Stealth armour is nice to get. Gives defense bonus and low level cloak.