Senior question

[brianeyci]

PBW Newbie here, but I'm having reasonable success in most games.

Elowan said:
Given the main planet facility slot sizes: 12/18/24/30, how many research facilities will you devote to each size - assuming resources above 50% (or what ever your cut-off is)?

All or nothing. If resources are below 70%, I build research facilities. I like tech, tech is important, and there's enough 120% planets out there (depending on the map).

For low resource planets having your breathable atmosphere - on an 'all research' planet - do you still build a RD and SY?

Depends. Depends on where the planet is, and if there are other planets available to build ships.

Do you ever build a research only planet 'out system'? That is other than your home system(s)?

No.

<edit> clarification, I do build many many research planets, the circumstances dictate what I build. If the planet is less than 70% on a really good galaxy, I'll probably build research centers on it. I just don't build research systems, looking too far ahead most smaller games end before you get system wide boosts</edit>

Do you always build a resupply depot (RD) and space yard (SY) before your research facilities?

No. If the planet is far back, and I don't intend to build ships from it, I go research centers right away.

Do you attempt to colonize a non-breathable planet for the resource storage slots before colonizing a breathable so as to not 'waste' resources?

Sometimes. Sometimes not. Depends on how many resources I am wasting a turn. I usually send my excess off to allies.

These questions may or may not have been answered before but I've searched with no clear answers. I have stuff dating awhile back as well. Might have missed it - but if I have - put it down as a 'senior moment'.

It all depends on the situation. All or nothing is probably the best PBW way, but where to put your resupply depots and space yards is a matter for debate. I followed the SE:IV strategy guide idea of an "outpost" system. I have one system in the front, underdeveloped and usually producing a lot of units. Behind the outpost system I have my main shipyards. This gives you a buffer to emergency build ships when the first enemy attack inevitably comes. The "outpost" system may be just an outpost planet, it is pretty effective at destroying early game fleets unless they get troops.

Brian