[Gandalph]

Joachim - The flaws I saw in your game plan, and you could have beat me much sooner, were primarily related to your ship strategies. There were several times, when on an offensive, that your ships merely hovered over my planet and I was able to get reinforcements there before you did damage. I recall one fleet battle we had where I was out manned 2 to 1 yet came away from the battle relatively unscathed because of the difference in strategies. It does require more management, but is an intregal part of the game and can decide the winner or loser of a battle. There is no set "ultimate" strategy, it is a dynamic that changes with any given situation, and you must be able to change it as well. The strategy you use on warp point defense will be different then the strategy you use in open space combat, or planetary assault.
You played quite well, despite your newbie status to KOTH, and I, again, Congratulate you on your victory.

PS - I had the number of colonies only because I spent the research necessary to get all 3 colony techs. I had to do this because you had the greater share of the galaxy and it was my only hope of sustaining capable warships. It did cost me dearly in both resources and research. I also thought I would snooker you with my intelligence, but you had that blocked nicely.