No offense, but........

I consider what you are doing.........

EXTREMELY............

STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Like I said, no offense)

You may have the patience for it .......

But I don't.

I play on Gigantic (once TA finishes downloading, Immense) size galaxies.

I like to play those long dragged out games. Abundant everything, and 5-9 Major races . And fast research speed . And 8 Minor Civs thrown in there as well . Ever since I found out how, I've been selling them colony ships, so that they can colonize planets . It's an easy way to make moolah , and it turns those pathetic Minors into Majors . And I must say that it is amazingly fun to have an all out war with one of them . It acctually makes the game more interesting. Try it out the next time you see one (if you don't believe me of course).  

I know what you'll probablly say......

"How do you not lose patience doing all that micromanaging of your planets and ships?!"  

The answer is, "I do" .

It's really tough not to throw your keyboard or mouse at the monitor , or throw your monitor altogether .

But once you start raking in 5 Million BC's per turn , you are elated and relieved that you did not spaz at your monitor.

But to answer your question.......

If you also play on Large+ galaxies, I'd pump out scouts, sending them in all directions.

And as soon as you find a habitable planet, send a colonizer over there immediately. You never know when another race might take it.

The only way, of winning this way (in my opinion) is to research, so you're on the right track. I'd research up to at least the end of the Impulse Drive part of the tech tree. Afterwards researching to the end of the life support branch. I'd also research sensors fully. It helps find planets faster.

Eitherway, I still think you should play with a higher degree of habitabillity. And if you don't already, larger galaxies.

Till next time.........

Watch out for the Rock Brigade!!!

(I'm tellin' no lies to ya mister , they might even try to steal   your sister!   )

I have one thing to say : "to each his own" extant faora ...

and you're totally..... out of topic   

Sounds very challenging. I never actually play with that few planets, but I'll give a small piece of advice anyway. Make sure you have a good number of economic buildings not just labs. While more labs mean more research, you still need money to pay for it. And with more money comes more spending for research even with fewer labs. But you need to decide what route you want to take for your victoey. If you choose to follow the advice of Silverbeacher then go with some more factories and reseach weapons and soldering. If not, go with economic and morale boosting techs, etc.

I think you need to carefully choose which techs you are researching. Of course you probably already knew that. But what I mean is that you need to really think about what you want to do and plan ahead more than you would in a game with a lot of planets. The good part is that the AI is stuck just as you are.

One more thing to consider. I don't know how many you'll have on your map with those settings, but the AI never colonizes PQ1 worlds. These will become PQ16 to PQ19 planets when fully terraformed. Going neutral or haveing an orbital terraformer will help. Keep these planets in mind as the game goes on.

At OP

You could do what i did and build an influence base fleet.

If another Civ only has their main two planets.. one or two influence star bases and 10 turns or so and they no longer exist and you have 4 planets!!!

Rinse and repeat till you have ALL of them and/or can now build a big enough military to win THAT way.

Also If you can, find a tough ally.

Oh and give EVERYONE you find trade   if they dont have it.. it works wonders when you have few planets.

Lastly build 2-3 economy starbases near your planets.. if you have few planets you want them to be awesome.

Regards,

Me

Whismerhill will probably like the Tigger quote and think it's cute.

Along with a few smileys thrown in to emphasize her point.

Hahahahahaha, yeah i think i may have spoke to Mumble once or twice..... I mean he is in my empire and we were on the MVC together.....i think...yup..thats the guy...yeah i spoke to him once or twice.

Seems you missed the point of my statement....i dont need the comment answered at all. I was amused at you is all.....

Seems i may have misjudged you, i don't need glorification. Are you trying to name drop Mumble to me??

Perhaps i have missed some humor or sarcasm in your post...as the case can be in this format...but you enjoy your games.

I'll KEEL YOU!!!

I'LL SMITE YOU WITH MY HAMMER OF DOOM!!!

YOUR LIVES WILL BE GOING DOWN LIKE.....

IN THAT ORDER TOO!!!

AND BY THE WAY YOU FAIL!!!

i play on medium map

Hello

Pooh is better then Barny anyday!!!

EF,  I like your post.

What is the % on Offense vs % on Defense.

On my Mercury Class-Battleship which is 322 s huge = 80% O vs 20% D plus one engine ST and one sens SA and one life US.

On my Mercury Class-Ineterceptors which is 34 s tiny = 100% O plus one engine ST.

What do you think.

Oh no! I have no smiliey, it is like no honey for Pooh

Mmmm Find out we must Mmmm

Hello

EF, I have never done 50/50

On my  BB 70% O / 30% D,  CA 80% O / 20% D,  DD 75% / 25% D  ships, I have one weapon class and one defense class then I make three of each ( Mass Driver BB, etc...) 

  On my FF 100% O / 0% D,    I 100% O / 0% D, (Missile I )

Then I have 3 more classes of ship base on engines ( Venus Class Mass Driver BB which has 3 engines, Saturn Class Beam BB which has two engines, Mercury Class Missile BB which has one engine)

My scouts have six engines no O or D (Xenon Class Survery DD)

I use alot mixed classes to make fleets.

(1 BB, 1 CA, 2 DD, 5 FF, 11 I) Logic is 64 

My BB Zebra X  is one of better ships. I have picture but I haven't leaned how to post yet.

Mmm Hidden it is Mmmm

I like your style Tetley.

I am going to do that one day. Only research the first weapons techs, and max out the def and use tiny hulls to.

Do tell us about how it turns out though.