My gameplay style is basically. pick up a few good planets close to home base and then maximize the planets and starbases.
Try to get a bit more that a few good planets. Any world, save those heavily damaged by invasions, can be useful by placing a few markets on them.
on the planets this is what i usually run. 3 factories, 1 farm, 1 entertainment complex 3 research and 3 money makers.
You might be too rigid in you planet setups. Try specializing some of your worlds. Powerplants work better when you have more factories to affect. Farms, and morale buildings work well with a large number of markets.
with that strategy, the ai(sub-normal) usually out classes me with logistics and ships(it's kinda sinking feeling when u see 4 20 to 36 hp doomlasered frigates coming at ya, especially when u know it's the end.) i seem not to be able to put up enough military ships(of course i researched all my planet researches and by the time they get there i have zero point armor with phaser VII and total miniturization. i usually don't stand a chance
It can be difficult to figure out how to keep up in the arms race with the AI if you are new to the game. The thing you might not of realized is that the AIs are often researching these techs. I'm guessing you ussually only consider researching these techs after you've researched most of the non combat techs, like planet colonization, factories, governments techs, and other stuff?
Now here's the big problem. I'm not a rusher. it makes my head hurt, and in my humble oppinion either u totally smash through and win quik like or u die.
That can be a problem. If you don't have the fortitude to manage this stuff, like deciding what to develop on your worlds upon colonizing them, you could decide to fill up all the slots with markets, and get back to them later. You will atleast be making more money, enough to hopefully maintain a few specialized worlds.
But i rather not do that. hence the reason this newb is appealing to the vets here. I glanced at the galciv II wikki, and all i saw in there was rush this and rush that.
The only rushing I need to do is the colony rush. I find that I can win the game by taking my time from there. I also ussually research techs quicker than everyone else, so that helps too.
