Newbie has questions!

[Elowan]

I think that advanced research should take precedence over everything else with some other things added to the mix. That said, here's my WODT (way of doing things).

Firstly - you have a research point bonus starting out so I load in AdvRes2 as first in the queue followed by ShipCon, Engines, Physics, Chemistry and set the queue on Divide Points and Repeat - that way I don't lose points on a roll-over.

I set my build queue to build one scout at each HW; CS; CS; CS (depending on how many breathable planets are in the system (Check the World icon on upper left > breathable atmosphere > send colony ship. Doing it that way lists the ship, loads it with folks and sends it on its way. I will then build a SpaceYard.

A few points:
1) I have specialized CS (colony ships). One is a long range Version with a supply pod; one is for breathable atmospheres and has a storage pod (which gets an extra supply of colonists) and Last one without an SP for non-breathables.

I do not wait for cheap engines to start sending out CS's.

My first few colonies are almost all devoted to Research with extra M/O/R storage so as not to lose the extra points being generated before I start building stuff.

I stop ShipCon at Light Cruiser until I build up more advanced stuff going to PB asap. And so on.

HTH.