Alright- Mid Game Action Report

Looking for expert advice

from GalCiv2 Forums
Okay, figured I'd try to learn by presenting where I am, what I've done, and what I'm thinking of doing. Then people can tell me before I get clobbered what should come next.

Small map, everything Standard, Scattered stars, Terrans, Arceans, Drengin, Yor, and Thalians (me). For my 3 skill points with the Thalians I picked up Planet Quality and government is Federalists. Game difficulty is set as Easy.

Map's divided like a 5-point star. Moving from the center top and working clockwise, it's Arceans, Yor, Thalians, Drengin, Terrans.

Arceans got a bad start- one system in their zone of control. Yor have three, Terrans have six, Drengin have five, I have five. I set the flagship to auto-explore and auto-survey. Home planet gets a Factory, two more queued, 3 advanced trade centers, 3 basic labs, entertainment center, a couple farms, and two empty blocks. I send the colony ship north towards the Yor border, where the closest star is located. I research Xeno Research, queue another colony ship, and then just start to expand.

Fast forward. Three of my systems are duds. I've got a couple decent worlds- a 14, a 12, a 7, and a 5, plus the homeworld. The 14's at the Yor border, the 12's near dead-center of the map, the 7 and the 5 I reached into Drengin territory and secured. I've got morale, research, and economy resources, the morale one grabbed from Yor territory. Taking a tip from the forums I've got every planet guarded by a Tiny fighter equipped with a Particle Cannon. I called the design the Deterrent. I've started researching beam weapons and shields, and I've got Trade so I'm slowly building a web of routes. Early espionage has handicapped my economy, but it's paying off- by the time I've got Advanced Trade researched I've got Advanced espionage on all four of my neighbors. The Yor have apparently decided against playing, as they've colonized only two planets- both in their starting system. Another system with two decent planets has been grabbed jointly- the Terrans have one planet, the Arceans have another. Terrans are leading in population and influence, I'm leading in military strength. Everyone's paying me money to be their friend.

Fast Forward again. The Terrans are going for an influence win. The Arceans are getting squeezed tight between the blue on both sides, the Yor apparently are asleep, and the Drengin are building for war. The Terrans got another planet- in my territory. Random event made it habitable, the rest of the AIs wanted the Terrans to have it. Realizing the potential hazards of influence, I've started littering my borders with Influence stations- two right where I meet the Terran border. My borders are all bulging outward, which I take to be a good sign. The Terrans have taken over the military edge, and the Drengin are trying to play catch up. I've got trade routes to nearly every planet on the map. The Terrans have set up an influence station near their planet in my territory- their new world's right next to two of mine as well as two Influence stations.

It looks like the Terrans are using population technologies to boost their influence? One thing for sure- they're not keeping up with me on influence technologies. But I notice they're a step ahead on beam weaponry. I've neglected it to fortify my influence. I pick up Xeno Farming and Plasma, then carry plasma up til I reach Phasors. I've got the influence line up to Cultural Conquest, and all my stations are maxed out on weaponry, influence, economy, and trade- every planet has an economic starbase helping out. I've got my defenses up to Barriers- but it looks like the Terrans have stopped researching Beam weapons after hitting Plasma, and are now working up the Missile tree. Not sure what they're researching but they're just short of Harpoon.

Taking a cue from my last game I've avoided giving anyone military technology. I'll hand out the basics in trade (Basic Logistics, Stellar Cartography) and Alliances, but that's it. Any tech I want I research or I offer money for. Everyone's at Friendly. To counter the Terran population advantage (well above anyone else, with me in second) I've started researching the Terraforming and Farming trees- nothing big, just enough to start boosting my population a bit. Nearly every planet's got some artifacts with an Embassy, so I think I'm safe there.

I seem to be ahead of anyone in hull development, as they're sticking with fighters. I'm not sure what the Terrans are doing defensewise- the only ships I've seen have none, and there's no defenses listed in the diplomacy screen- but that might mean they're working on the shields too. I'm debating whether to start working up the point defense tree or stick with the shields and just take the hit to defense, gamble on getting the first shots in.

Right now I've got a small fleet around every planet, little ships I designed for that purpose. They're called Mayflies- no defense, no engines, just paired Laser IVs. They've given me a large cushion in the military strength area- but I think it's time to build something more offensive. I'm considering an upgrade to my trader fleet- specifically, sensors. It'd give me better intel on everyone, being able to see more of their systems at once.

Earth's relatively close. I have a trade ship parked next to it, and there's no guards in orbit. I have the engine tech that I could get there in two turns- range isn't an issue. It's questionable what the Terrans would do if I hamstrung them. I'm thinking it might work out better for me if I didn't force them to surrender. They'd probably surrender to the Arceans and that'd put me back where I started. If I could carve out a big piece of their empire and then offer peace, that might remove the threat. And I could go after the Drengin...

Course, this all assumes I could successfully stage a war.

Suggestions?
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I would try to get the Drengin involved in a war with the Terrans.

Also, don't upgrade your freighters, tech up to Sensors IV and build Eyes of the Universe instead. It's a GREAT way to turn your traderoutes into a recon network.

I have personally found fast high power ships to be better than slow and balanced attack/defensive ships. Just stay a step ahead on logistics so you're always outnumbering the enemy.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The game continues.

It looks like the Terrans were aware of their planetary issues- they've been moving ships in to defend. No defense at all, and nothing but beam weapons. I contemplated what to do while I upgraded my Influence bases some more. I decided that if I couldn't decide whether to attack the Terrans, I'd just employ someone who'd be happy to do it- so I bribed the Drengin and they went to war. I have yet to see any actual fighting, but it should distract the Terrans.

The Yor have done nothing- while I was working on Barriers and Phasors, they're researching Stinger III. The Terrans are working on Planetary Defense, while the Arceans are starting to work on morale. I noticed the Yor had become Close- to I offered an alliance. I figure that gives me better odds of getting their planets when they surrender. The Terran planet in my area of control switched over, and I got a look at what was available in the Terran build tree. They've maxed out Diplomacy, getting up to Total Majesty. I wonder how much that affected tech trading.

The Terrans are rated as having a Strong military; the Arceans and Drengin are both Strongest. Given that I'm second only to the Drengin militarily I think I might join this war. The only issue is the build-up. I'll need to shift to war building. The Drengin have a huge head start just because I haven't worked on building any new ships. I should be able to match them if need be. And it will end up that way, that's obvious. It appears everyone's working on missiles as a secondary armament at least- that means point defense will have to show up in my game plan.

I might start working to befriend the Arceans. Get another alliance going maybe. The Terrans' influence has flattened out, and I'm well ahead. However, I don't think I want to put them second. If I go after the Drengin first the Terrans could easily rebound and take the show. Better to deal with the Drengin afterwards. The more I think about it I'll have to watch the Arceans. I may make them a second target. Take the majority of the Terran worlds, then the Arcean ones- especially if the Terrans surrender to the Arceans. That'd subsume the Yor completely- which means I'd get their worlds in short order. Then it's me versus the Drengin.

Opinions?
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I sometimes get beaten to Eyes of the Universe, so i think the sensors on trade ships has a lot of merit. I might try that in a future game. I like action reports, u always learn something new no matter how good a player u r, hope u finish writing it up to the end, stormcaller.

From reading your report I suspect the best and easy way to win would be a influence victory, without fighting a war. Keep your military to a high level so the other races leave u alone and go for broke in influence. If u do go to war and are successful, highly likely you could end up with an influence victory also, from the additional planets u capture. So why bother? The terrans r dangerous with that high diplomacy level they have so in a war i would take them out 1st. I go for very fast attack fleets with no defenses and as many weapons as i can bolt on. Always works for me
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Final report.

The Drengin weren't doing much- but I didn't really care. I'd decided that I'd get involved. It was time to go to war. I began developing the planetary invasion line while I designed and built new ships. Heavy fighters, a simple yet powerful frame that provided ample space for my needs- the Butterfly. With my Mayflies guarding the planets, I set up the Butterflies (Beam 6, Speed 4) into 4-ship squadrons. Then, when there were three squadrons ready, I crossed the border and flew straight for Earth. The second fleet split off, heading towards the planets at the Arcean border, while the third headed for Mars to clear the orbit. The Butterflies lived up to their heritage- battle after battle I destroyed my foes. Earth had a Fleet Manager, so things went quickly.

Meanwhile, back in my own systems, I'd completed the Advanced Troop Carrier. My colony ship, the Scorpion, served as the basis for a new vessel- the Emperor Scorpion. Capable of carrying 4000 troops at high speed, it would give me the chance to conquer the land where I'd already mastered the sky. The Terrans were not idle however- their small outpost between the Arceans and Yor served as a staging point as they attemped to return the favor. They did not anticipate that the war machine ground on- fleets of Butterflies, paint still fresh, joined with the Mayflies to crush them. Several troop transports were destroyed along with their escorts.

Finally two Emperor Scorpions arrived in the sky above Earth; the battle was swift and merciless. I had a 5:3 advantage, and I had 8 billion shock troopers to their ten billion citizens. The Terran Federation was like a human being- cut off the head and the body dies. With the loss of the capital the Terran Federation's influence disappeared like paper before a fire. More conquests claimed more planets- soon they were down to three at the very edge of the galaxy.

As if on cue, the Arceans asked for help against the Drengin, and the Terrans surrendered to the Drengin. It was easy to convince the Arceans to ally with my empire- my Butterflies were more powerful than anything in the sky. I could have relaxed and ignored the war, but the Drengin refused to accept my offers of friendship. They would not declare peace with my allies. And if there can not be peace, then there can only be war.

With the Yor and Arceans buffering me from the formerly-Terran corner, and Terran space swathed in the colors of the Thalans, I turned my attention to the Drengin homeworld. The troops I had sent across the stars had exhausted my population, but not my industrial might. New fleets of Butterflies supplemented the old, and I declared war on the Drengin by annihilating four troop carriers headed for the Arcean homeworld.

As I closed in on Drengin space, I reorganized my fleets. Five heavy fighters versus the two or three the Drengin fielded at a time. Shipping lanes were easy targets, following the trails back to the Drengin worlds. I destroyed the air cover over two, taking them out of the battle. The third, the homeworld, was heavily protected. Eight ships, ranging in power from Damage 4 to Damage 8. I gathered my fleets and send for more Emperor Scorpions, using the Terran worlds to provide me with more fighters. When the Emperor Scorpions arrived, I first gained the second planet, securing it with five thousand men to their two thousand. Next, Drengi itself.

Two fleets of Butterflies swept silently into orbit, each one facing a fleet of four ships- four ships that were easily destroyed. An unnoticed spin center on the ground explained the ease with which it was conquered- was I the only one without this? A vote, requiring all states to share four technologies with the rest was likely to blame. Regardless, I sent in my troops. 5:3 ratio, and it was 4500 troops versus 10,000. I opted for a Core Detonation. The battle was fierce, but ultimately I won.

There were a mere four Drengin worlds left, and my population was exhausted. They had no ships, and I had fleets in orbit above each. Their economy had been destroyed, their homeworld conquered. I had become the supreme military power in the galaxy, along with the supreme cultural power. And so it was a question- press on with the war and claim an allied victory, or rest, find peace, and replace my legions of warriors with consumer icons?

I chose peace, and the Drengin acceded. I also discovered an ongoing war between the Arceans and Yor, with the Yor (surpisingly) winning. I negotiated a truce, and peace was restored to the galaxy. A peace that was to last for all eternity, as my merchants once more moved through the silence of space, bringing our wares, our music, and our culture to everyone. Three small areas of color- purple, red, and yellow, were all that stood out against an unending field of pink. The Thalans had conquered the galaxy.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Excellent report! Crank up the difficulty now, the game is MUCH more interesting when all the AIs are smarter.