Ok...

[Col. Mustard]

This is getting rediculous. I can't freaking beat the game! I've had it for almost a year, and every single time I play I loose miserably. I even crank all the settings to easy, and give myself all the boosts I can. I simply can't win. Just a min ago I lost while the attacking player (AI) had 2.0M while I had not even 300K score. what on earth is going on here?

[Slick]

First please read through the Newbie FAQ:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...5&o=31&fpart=1

Section 17 has a bunch of strategies.

Basically, in the beginning, concentrate on expansion and research of whatever supports your strategy. Expand, expand, expand. Try to get another colony tech as soon as you can. When you meet other empires, try to initiate at least a Trade Alliance while you fortify your borders. Mines are a great initial defense agains the AI. Eventually build fleets to "conduct military operations" in enemy systems to expand/conquer the AI empires. Read the section of the FAQ on the "Mega Evil Empire" because eventually agains the AI, you will become the MEE and the game seemingly will go from great to terrible in a couple of turns. Keep at it!

Slick.

[Arkcon]

Sorry 'bout the poll ... but you left me no choice ... it took me a while, but eventually even I cracked the default AI with no bonus. Suggestions:
1). Minefields orbiting planets.
2). Plan out your research without the game running. Pick a couple of weapons and stick to it.
3). Watch your income every turn, even if it seems boring at first, learn what things cost, so you build responsibly and expand agressively. You need minerals, rad, research planets, intel planets and shipyard planets.
4). Design and build ships with a plan in mind. Don't just build 'cause you can.
5). Turn on all ministers. You should automatically beat the AI if you're all using the same AI, and you overide a stupid decision once and a while. And you;ll learn what you have to do to play the game.

What, specifically, happened in your latest game?

[Ed Kolis]

Regarding Arkcon's tip #3, a rule of thumb: if a ship takes more than 0.4 years to build, you're going to pay more per turn in maintenance than you did just to build it, which is a nasty surprise... 0.8 years for a base since bases pay only half maintenance. Your mileage may vary depending on your racial maintenance aptitude score, of course

[Atrocities]

Do what slick and arkcon said to do. And in the future give us a third option so as not to degrade yourself.

[Colonel]

Col. Mustard said:
This is getting rediculous. I can't freaking beat the game! I've had it for almost a year, and every single time I play I loose miserably. I even crank all the settings to easy, and give myself all the boosts I can. I simply can't win. Just a min ago I lost while the attacking player (AI) had 2.0M while I had not even 300K score. what on earth is going on here?

One thing you should notice is that the objective of this game shouldnt be to win it should be to play and have fun, If you honestly try to beat this game you will never win... The only way to win is by annilating every thing in sight-standard win. I honestly have only finished a total of one game against the AI and that was where I started blowing up every system not occupied by myself-star destroyer.

[Col. Mustard]

Hmm. So your saying the game isn't meant to be won...? I don't get it. then why play if you just end up dieing halfway through? It gets very annoying... (Nothing, I didn't do anything stupid. they just tore me apart with their drednaughts and such. Seing as I only had destroyers, it wasn't much of a challnge for them.)

[douglas]

Sounds like you must be making at least one MAJOR mistake. Hmm. Are you, perhaps, neglecting to build spaceports in new systems? Post a savegame where you are just starting to lose miserably, and I'll see if I can figure out why.

[PvK]

Col. Mustard said:
Hmm. So your saying the game isn't meant to be won...? I don't get it. then why play if you just end up dieing halfway through? It gets very annoying... (Nothing, I didn't do anything stupid. they just tore me apart with their drednaughts and such. Seing as I only had destroyers, it wasn't much of a challnge for them.)

No, he was saying that once he thinks he knows he has won, he stops playing, or starts destroying suns rather than conquering everything, because it takes a long time after the "climax", and without much expected challenge, to consolidate the whole quadrant.

If you keep losing, you haven't learned enough of the tricks that will guarantee a win. My suggestion would be to just employ a couple of good suggestions, since it's more interesting to play a challenging game than a cake walk, and once you learn enough of the tricks, you have to make yourself stop using them, or the AI won't be much challenge.

PvK

[Col. Mustard]

Yeah, I'll post a savegame tomarrow.