i have some questions

Ok, I'll first start to admit that I'm new to this game 4-5 th game now.

I have played other games like civ etc before so I ignored the campaign and started with a gigantic ma, 9 opponents and abundant planets etc on normal difficulty... it was pretty easy to win since only one of my planets got attacked before I got a tech victory.. I didn't even do much researcht.. I just traded ( I guess it went well throught the humans diplomacy bonus) and so I had a high research rating and just did the victory path research while trading the rest.

The next game I did to notched of difficulty higher.. but actually went nearly the same

after this I haven't been able to win anymore.. I disabled tech trading because I thought this was the reason for mosst of my victories and went to a huge map instead to get action a bit faster. Also the difficulty setting went to masochistic.

So last 3 games I've been doing all research by myself, I'm doing reasonably fast colonyrush (it's to fast for my economy to handle really so IMHO fast enough, though I'll admit there are probably LOADS of things I could do better all in all), I have nothing to trade with really so most civs tend to stay neutral (a problem IMHO). my main problem is that while I get a few basic researches and planets my opponents mostly get a bit more planets (I can't really get more due to econ reasons anyway though, and while I'm just getting my first defenders my nearest opponent gets hostile and starts sending 12-19 offence (usually beampowered) fighters..

I'm outclassed in all ways...
(but I'm a stubborn bastard so I WANT to win on these settings..)

So now for my questions...

-Do others play on this settings too (disable tech-trading and masochistic with 9 opponents on a large map)
-how do you win.. what are your main tricks.

PS. mostly I'd know HOW the hell I get the same power fighters as the enemy.. all guide's I've read say the same.. you can't rush to fast or your econ will die .. (I agree) I research the same techs they mention mostly... (some engines, first weapons, improvements etc etc) but I while I'm still researching my laser V (so I still have max 1 offence lasers on small hulls (= max 2 with only 1-2 miniturazation (if I even have that at this time)) they send 19 offence power fighters to me... HOW TO COUNTER THIS???
2,819 views 3 replies
Reply #1 Top
I play on tough, medium maps with 3 AIs. At tough all the AIs should get intelligent, which is the last difficulty level before they start getting econ&production bonuses. I turn off tech trading, all the optional victory conditions and most stuff to common (anomalies and asteroids are abundant).

My main trick is over-colonising (as much as I can) without actually developing these news colonies until after I get some cash flow. Oh, I also use diplomacy and spin control center to stay out of wars.
Reply #2 Top
Hi!
Also the difficulty setting went to masochistic

That's not the proper settings for your second game. At maso AI has HUGE bonuses (100% added to economy, research and production, ~30% to miniaturization...). Until you know the game mechanics really well, you better avoid anything above crippling.

To play against "full brain" AI without bonuses, try game at Though. At Crippling it already gets 25% bonuses. At Normal it gets only 75% of economy, with some of its "brain functions" disabled.

If you really want to win the game on Maso, search forums for proper posts ("Conquering Suicidal" in Game Talk is one).

BR, Iztok

Reply #3 Top
There was also a thread not too long ago about beating Masochistic. It one of the harder jumps to make, Crippling to Masochistic, that is. The thread is somewhere in the strategies section. Also instead of disabling the tech trading you might try disabling the tech victory condition.

For myself on Masochistic I need the tech trading. I can keep up with the military or the tech I can't keep up with both. Not until I have a 2 to 1 advantage on the number of planets over the AIs.