Newbie co-op vs. AI... Help!

[Syllogism]

We (I'm the other player) aren't looking for a magical trick to destory the AI instantly, just a few hints so that we actually can have a game that is a challange ( note that, to me, a challanging game is one in which victory and loss are uncertain for much of he game.).
As it stands, we're geting ripped apart by medium ( not too fun to lose by turn 40) or are shreading low bonus AI without breakign a sweat.

a slightly more detiled description of our basic stratigy woudl be:

1. expand heavily (both towards for unified boarders and away to ensure as much territory as possible)
2. continue to expand and build up insustry/research until we contact the ai
3. defend chokepoints
4. once we'rre strong enough, start whittlig down the ai with our (hopefulloy) superior fleets.

Basic fare for a game of ths type, really.

Defensively we're using misile/pd ships as the core of the fleet (especially me since my beams are nearly useless pre talisman) and using them to hold chokepoints. The problem is that they build larger, more technologically advanced flets ( that while slightly less well optimized are generally more then up to the task of obliteratign us)

Should we be working with a different stratigy? like rushing t fighters for defense or mines?
should we just rush he ai ( somehow)?

[Colonel]

well i could always be wrong and this could be hard coded but couldnt you just modify the diffcult level so medium was in between what it is now and easy level, just a thought

[Will]

Well, if you manage to get past turn 40, try this.

Build a bunch (7 or 8 should be good) of small attack/raid fleets. The fleets should be around 7-10 ships strong when you're about equal to the AI in tech. Be sure to train them, make them as fast as possible, and use trial-and-error to find what balance of firepower/protection you are most comfortable with. Also experiment with different setups of formations and weapon layouts through the fleet (eg, if you normally have 2 PDCs per ship for Battle Cruiser and above, for your raiding design, cut it to one and insert a modified Version that has only one normal weapon, and is loaded with PDC enough to compensate for the others; may or may not work for you, but try it). Include a supply ship to extend range, minesweeper to get rid of any mines that may be thrown up, etc.

Once you have these fleets ready, raid your nearest AI rival's territory, in multiple places. The AI (much like a human) has some trouble handling attacks from many places at once. Your goal in these raids is not to capture AI territory, or even to significantly damage anything. You want to go after small fleets and lone ships, once in a while going after a small planet with little to no defenses. The point of this is to decrease happiness in the systems, which will cut back on AI resource production. So, while your fleets are disrupting, you're hopefully holding the AI at bay in your buffer systems, and your own territory is safe, so you can build the *real* attack fleet. After ten turns of the disrupting fleets doing their work, most likely around 15-25 of the original 50-80 ships will be left, and you should have a nice 50 ship fleet ready to do the real conquering against a weakened enemy.

This should work out, but I haven't actually played in a while, so... YMMV.

[Renegade 13]

Originally posted by Colonel:
well i could always be wrong and this could be hard coded but couldnt you just modify the diffcult level so medium was in between what it is now and easy level, just a thought

Unless I'm severely mistaken, this is hardcoded.

As for the original question, well I'm not qualified to answer, seeing as how I still have difficulty against the AI's on medium bonus sometimes (although I don't have an ally). That is what makes the game so much fun, you're never sure if the AI's going to come at you and beat the **** out of you.

[primitive]

First of all: Wellcome to the forum, both of you.

Here are some random bits. All is just my humble opinion and not set in stone:
* Don't listen to the mouse. WP's are useless early
* It should be possible to pull your setup off without mines, but if you do want to use them: Research mines (I) first.
* Forget about missiles.
* Fighters are very effective against some of the AI's, but not all of them. If you use them, use large stacks only.
* Don't build (and pay maintanance on) useless ships. LC's are IMHO the first usefull beam ship(sorry Rex ). Only usefull weapon for smaller ships are Boarding parties.
* Early important Research: Mines, PDC (III), Boarding parties, Ships up to LC, PDC (IV or V), Armor (III), Training. CS and ECM can be retrofitted and should come as soon as posible after you have the tech to build "real" ships.
* Get your ships and fleets trained to the max ASAP.
* Don't waste early research on useless stuff like Propulsion (II or III are OK if it helps you get those colonizers produced faster), Shields, Research II and Minerals II.
* Don't panic, don't fight loosing battles if you don't have to: Fall back instead, watch your happiness (build troops if you have to).
* Choose the time and place for the major battles yourself. Its better to fight with your full trained ships midsystem, than with half your untrained ships at WP.
* If you do fall back, it will usually create an oportunity to slip some raiders behind enemy lines. Sneak them in and bLast away, some of the better offensive AI's will crumble quite easily when their planets dissapear.
* The AI's are stupid, and do follow set patterns. Think out of the box and you should do OK

[JLS]

MINE FIELDS - PLENTY 100 MINED FIELDS.
MINES OVER PLANETS - IN AND AROUND WARP POINTS.
Increase your mine warhead tech as time goes on

Guard key warp points against AI fleet and sweepers. Pick off any lone sweepers.

Warp Points with 100 assorted SATS.

Have 30 Ship Fleets with a few CV's.

Trade with your Buddy (Colonizer type and Transports with each others citizens, if deferent types)

Above all - you will gain experience in no time

[ August 01, 2004, 00:02: Message edited by: JLS ]

[clark]

You may want to play in a large quadrant, mid life- bigger galaxies give you a little more room to expand, and get your feet underneath you.

First off, research Consstruction- this will lead to fighters and mines. Research Physics (both construction and physics should be the first things you research) Research Mines after construction.

When you have mines, build one to three turns worth of mines on your planets if you feel the enemy is getting close (usually you can build about 10 mines per turn without a SY).

You and your friend should take different home world types (one gas, one rock) and different breather types. Trade colony techs and race types as soon as possible (this will allow you to maximize your space and planets.

Research Physics II as soon as possible- this leads to the Phased poloron beam, which will be useful through most of the game. research to level 5.

Usually, the LC spaceship hull is what you need to research up to (I have found that I rarely research beyond that). Steal the AI ships that are bigger and deconstruct those ships to get higher level tech.

I have found that Ship training and fleet training is only moderately useful (almost useless if you are Religious). It just takes too much time. Worry about training when you have your borders secure.

Focus on developing armor, shields, pdc first before stellar manipulations. Focus on combat sensors and ECM (ECM for religious only!) when priorities allow (you can often steal this tech if you put the same research into intel II).

Emergency build colonizers for the first ten turns- build a space yard as soon as possible on a small/tiny planet. Have it build colonizers at a normal rate- this way you can still expand at a good clip while your home planet is recovering.

If you can make agreements with the AI- just try for the non-interfence (the first level treaty). This way you can still have combat, but the AI is likely to enter your warp holes if yo have a ship sitting on a WP.

You can cripple an AI planet that you cannot destroy by leaving a ship in orbit- basically, blockade the planet. This will cause unhappiness and prevent resources from being transfered to the AI.