[Wardad]

Originally posted by Zoompet:
Hmmm, this is getting a little far a field.

I guess what I was driving is which is better an early, middle or late game attack. Why, do people think they need a certain tech item, an economy of X size, a fleet of Y size, etc.

This is in particular reference to human players.

Mines do stall an early game war. An early war will delay your expansion. But maybe you shouldn't advance too far in a PBW game. You don't want your race or colonies captured.
An early war can also give some advantages. Like a captured race that breathes a different atmosphere. Likewise taking another colonizing tech by ship capture or surrender will be a big advantage. If your happeness type is bloodthirsty: a phony, drawn out, but victorious war can make your population jubilant and bonus your production.