Intelligence war

[rockman]

I am playing a TDM mod single player game of the original SEIV. I am currently fighting a 3 front war against the Romulans, Sergetti and the Drakol. I have a large number of Intelligence points (200k+) which I am using to steal enemy ships via crew insurection. Only problem is when I steal their ships I go broke cause I can't afford the maintenance (most of my colonies are intellingence or research) I usually lose them in combat to the enemy and get round the maintenence cost that way but what can I do - I need a big fleet to push the enemy back. virually all my planets are used and I can't expand except into enemy systems (for which i need a fleet). I don't want to scrap my intelligece or reseach facilities and buld mineral miners cause I need the intelligence to steal enemy ships. Anyone got any bright Ideas - the game seems to be at a bit of a stalemate at the moment?

[Jmenschenfresser]

I'd scrap some research facilities. You can always gain tech from ships you steal, so you won't fall behind.

Or switch to Puppet Political Parties and steal their planets.

[Slick]

1) You can self-destruct these ships if they have self-destruct devices. If you get more than 1 together, you can "fire on" all except the Last one. Although this seems counter-productive, it is equivelant to you going there and killing the ship thru combat.

2) You can engage in combat until you either get destroyed or run out of supplies. This does additional damage to the enemy. If you run out of supplies, go to an enemy planet or warp point. Being on a planet causes it to be blockaded and denies the enemy production from that planet. Being on a warp point or planet makes it more likely that the enemy will engage you in combat to get the ship destroyed and thus eliminating the maintenance costs.

3) Try to Crew Insurrect an enemy shipyard base. Take your ships there to scrap them.

4) If you CI a colonizer, colonize something with it. That eliminates the maint cost.

[rockman]

Cheers for the ideas mates. I have tried using puppet political parties but my attempts always seem to get blocked by their counter intel. I have used a few ships to blockade etc but I still have to fork out for the maintainence while they are doing that - can't afford it. I have stolen a few colony ships but there are very few planets to clolonize left that are worthwhile and the enemy soon blows them away anyway.
I guess I will have to scrap some research and intel and build mineral. I heard you can build facilities to change the atmosphere of a planet and therefore could build more facilities and therfore more mineral mines. What do you need to do this. i have researched planet imrovement (up to lvl 5?) but all I get is planet value improvevers - does this change atmosphere as well? Am I on the right track re: changing atmosphere to improve my mineral situation?

[Ruatha]

Why don't you use your intelligence points and redirect some of their resources to yourself.
I usually gets alot of resources that way, minerals, organics and radioactives.
Not only do you gain them but you deprive your enemies of resources, it's great!

[rockman]

Great idea - I'll give it a go!

Now, can anyone explain the rules of American Football to me?