[DocShane]

I agree with most of the Posts here. There are a lot of good suggestions. They emphasize the most important element of any plan against humans: be versatile.

I have really frustrated some enemies by radically altering my strategies mid-game. You will wipe out an attacking fleet only to be confronted by another fleet 10 turns later, fine-tuned to your strategy. What a surprise when he finds out his PDF are completely useless against your missiles that have magically morphed into "super-duper mounted" WMGs! Anticipate what your enemy will do and give him the opposite. Even if it fails, it will damage his pride and confidence.

Don't forget that there is no "secret" weapon that unbalances the entire game. Only players who don't know how to counteract those weapons.

Remember that space stations can be altered almost instantaneously. Have Versions that contain all PDF, or all direct fire weapons, or the occasional long-range WMG. Retrofits on PBW games take only 1 turn.

Cargo facilities can turn moons into battlestations. Large weapon platforms can be designed into a variety of useful configurations. Don't stick to one pattern.

Warp points are the choke points of civilization. Guard these with mines and satellites or fighters to clean up the fodder.

Scatter single mines around that empty space between the planets. Send those unescorted crippled ships leaving your system to get repaired a final "bon-voyage!"

The power of the cloak is also powerful in the midgame. Great the invading fleet with equal numbers of ships that mysteriously appear from nowhere.

When the enemy opens a new warp across half the galaxy into your system, don't blow up your star. Let him enjoy the pleasure of killing off your planets one by one. While all this is transpiring, warp to his system and destroy his commerce with your cloaked star destroyer.

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The Good Doc

"Henceforth I spread confident wings to space
I fear no barrier of crystal or glass;
I cleave the heavens and soar to the infinite.
And while I rise from my own globe to others
And penetrate even further through the eternal field,
That which others saw from afar, I leave far behind me."

-Giordano Bruno
"On the Infinite Universe and Worlds," 1584