Newbie Question

[Atrocities]

Dark Star, what I like to do is get the as many colonies as possible within the shortest amount of time. I target any planet that will yeild 2 or more slots for construction. I then save 1 slot in every NON compatible atomsphere world for an atomsphere converter later. That way, once I get the production up and running, population grows, and when the time comes, I convert the atomsphers, and then scrap the converters, and my population is already in place, and I rocket from 6th place to 1st.

As an Ancient Race, I can see all the map. I pick the 39 most strategic locations on the map before I start a game. Generally they are 3-4 warp points apart so that any planet in any system is within range 50 of colonizing by my seed colonies. I build up the facilities and population on my seed colonies, then blitz attack/ expand about turn 120 when I have all the critical ship tech. The limit on seed colonies is about 40-45, after that the AI complain about your planting too many planets and go to war, losing trade treaties. This is not the Mega Evil Empire limit, that comes later.

If you are not an Ancient race, I do not know what to suggest. BE ONE.

[Happy_Dau]

I Usually build my 'Core Empire' (approx. 9 systems)first and defend all chokepoint w/ mines, sats or bases, allowing no other players to enter my space. Not easy sometimes.
When fortified I either research the other colony techs (or conquer them) and colonize all remaining planets in my Core Empire (I usually use Gas Giants but the many moons w/ spaceyards sounds good too ), or I build Stealth colony ships and build up some colonies 'behind enemy lines'. This makes it really fun to crush the enemy from 2 sides. Latter is really easy w/ Devnull Mod.
While tearing the enemy apart the 'Colony Empire' slowly merges w/ the 'Core Empire'.

Might not be very effective and take up alot of ressources but it challenges some more (oops empire C just killed my colonies...). I also role-play alot, that's the most important reason.

After all, it might not be the best tactic versus AI but it rocks versus humans (well, at least one time ).