Help! I can't seem to play a military-focused game on Intelligent!

from Stardock Forums
Most of my games up until this point have been culture-based victories in a small-to-large size galaxy.

I first expand my empire as far as I can by maximizing spending and employing an 80%/0%/20% spending ratio. (My research and social spending get increased at some point, so I'm operating at something like 50%/20%/30%.) I rarely purchase anything except wonders (Galactic Stock Exchange), trade goods (Diplomatic Translators), or constructors (to claim resources). I build freighters and exchange trade with close neighbors. I focus on building starbases to increase trade, planetary production, and culture. I build a token army of starfighters to keep the Drengin at bay. And once I'm secure, I start in heavily on social structures.

I NEVER start out as the #1 race, and it takes many many many turns before I'm controling the galaxy.

This is all well and good...But...I'd like to try to play a military game against Intelligent opponents. With my current mindset, this doesn't work! I can't seem to out-tech them, out-produce them, or out-gun them.

What do I need to do to be victorious against 5 intelligent AI races?

- Nobody
2,390 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
A tactic that seems to work is to rush-buy trade goods and then lease them for cash to as many AI's as possible (including minor races) on long-term lease programs. If you do it correctly, you will be able to keep your spending on 100% through most of the early game. Oh, and if one AI is hurting for cash, get as much tech as possible from it instead.

Also, the AI is relatively poor tactically. By engaging in short and focused wars, you will be able to stay ahead by hitting it where it hurts (see my starbase tactics thread).
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Trade-good trading doesn't help me as much, though. It still means that I have to suck up to the AI in order to get ahead.

How exactly does the AI get ahead of me in the first place?

- Nobody
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
The AI is as far as I can tell highly optimised for early game expansion (colony rush, resource rush) and also gets a lot of bonuses to various stats depending on diff level. Try using propaganda to maximise your population growth, concentrate your population on high-PQ planets and if necessary destroy enemy col-ships in the early game to get ahead in the colony rush.

The AI races also trade among each other (or get tech via demands) and if you don't participate in this you are likely to be left behind in the tech race. If this becomes an issue pick a victim (whoever is close by and sucks at military - typically Torians) and smash their fleet. When they beg for mercy demand all their tech.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Depends on PQ distribution. Set your taxes so that your best planets only just hit 100% morale, then see what it is going to cost you in propaganda to bring other planets up to 100% morale.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I figured out my problem - I was playing as a 1.00 player in a 1.03 world.

I wasn't focusing on social structures for my base industry. I was using Starbases.

- Nobody