quote:
Originally posted by Taqwus:
Well, how important is it to you to capture an opponent's planet intact? In an espionage-free game, it might be quite useful since it's the only way to take an intact colony from an unwilling (if you consider surrender, rather than fighting to the death, as a willful choice) foe? If planets are scarce (say, Ancient galaxy) this may matter even more.
If you want to expand rapidly conquering planets is the best way (except making them surrender as you said): You get planets with facilities and the population, who may even allow you to colonize different atmospheres. And it is much more effective than intel operations IMO because with intel operation the planet might just riot and get independent but not joining your empire. And in my experience the failure rate of "puppet political parties" is quite high too. So I use this only for planets, where I suspect lot of units on it, or when my attack with troops has failed or I have no troops available.