Colonize

[Wardad]

Time is one of the most important resources of the game.
I always consider build time and travel time when choosing from my colony designs. I also consider my shipyards build time to be valuable.
I end up building very simple colony ships until later in the game when I might build a few specialty ones that are faster, longer ranged, or stealth.
In the early game I want to crank out colcony ships fast. Typically I can build a colony ship with 4 engines in 2 shipyard turns.
I will even build them without engines if it saves shipyard time. BUT... beware, an engine retrofit does not add fuel. A supply storage retrofit does have fuel. So do this at or near a planet with a resupply base.