i've started a game for 20 turns need help

[Suicide Junkie]

Since you have physics lev 2, I suggest you research and use Phased polaron beams.
You'll be able to ignore the shields of the enemy when you meet them.

Since you don't have any enemies right now, I suggest you research construction, then fighters. Instead of spending points maintaining ships, you can spend points to build an unlimited number of fighters & other units.

Build anything that's maintenance-free.

[Marty Ward]

Since you have Point Defense 2, Shields 3 and Physics 2 you are well on your way to building ships that can Last the entire game and not be outclassed. If I were you I would research Phased Polaron Beams to level 5, PD to level 5 and shields to level 5. Destroyers equiped with these items can hold off Cruisers and BC in tactical combat. With a destroyer or two full of PD 5 you can make yourself immune to almost any missile or fighter attack.
After you get to those levels take your pick. Stellar Harnassing is great. Bigger ships, engines, repair, sensors and combat support will all be needed and cost a fair amount of research. If you are the paranoid type research industry to get mines. If you are real paranoid, research warheads too.
The biggest thing to remember is COLONIZE everything. And build lots of research facilities. You really don't need a big fleet unless you wish to go conquering or the enemy finds you.

[This message has been edited by Marty Ward (edited 20 April 2001).]

[Aussie Gamer]

Gentlemen...

I think that we are in agreement.

COLONISE
COLONISE
COLONISE

Don't worry about meeting them until you get yourself settled into about 20 good worlds if you can.

[Suicide Junkie]

Yeah, colonize every dirtball you come across.

Once you have PD5, PPBs, go for planet utilization, and convert those crappy planets into Optimal, 255% resources, breathable worlds .

Get stellar manip and crush asteroids into planets. Colonize them .

Then build some Dyson spheres and colonize them .

[This message has been edited by suicide_junkie (edited 20 April 2001).]

[Nitram Draw]

Yes, the map should flash "COLONIZE" at the beginning of every turn, just in case you forget how important it is

[dogscoff]

Personally, with that all that good ship building stuff already done I'd branch out into something diffrent.

Construction is good - build some maintenance free units rather than ships, but I would be building up a plantary assault force - troops and landing ships to steal the AI's planets. If you spend some time and resources on this you should be able to take entire systems from an AI just a few turns after finding their space.

I would also considr Intel - gt yourself up to level 2 or 3 and build up a big intel output. Most AIs don't develop much intel until later and you can steal ships / planets from them quickly and safely with a good intel base bhind you.

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