Some newbie questions.

from GalCiv3 Forums

So, I'm an old Gal Civ player that bought the game on sale recently. I've been getting back into it, but years of playing shooters has dulled my tactical mindset. There are just a few aspects of the game that seem to be eluding me.

 

So, here are my questions (for reference I usually play on a mid-to-larger sized map, I usually disable tech brokering, and I set my difficulty/the AI to gifted - speeds/rates are usually set to normal - I also usually am on a custom race with predominantly benefits to ships combat ability).

 

Economics/Upkeep: I seem to not be able to climb out of a serious credit debt that gets significant mid-game. I'm basically forced to sell techs to minor races for income-per-turn to keep afloat. Once the military build-up begins I can't seem to come close to supporting the ships I need. I notice some of the leading AI will field massive fleets when I check how many ships they have, and to keep a comparable military I'm non-stop churning out ships and going deeper into debt. I try to create specialized money-planets but they don't seem to offset the debt significantly, nor does trade.

 

Research: Around mid-game, just after medium sized ships start to become commonplace, my research seems to nosedive and I don't get why. I usually have 1-2 specialized research planets with just enough production percentage to build their improvements, the rest research. Yet techs jump from the 6-14 turn range to the 20-50  (or higher) turn range.

 

I feel like there's clearly some aspects of the game I don't yet "get". Can anyone help explain to me what I'm missing?

10,375 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

do you have economic starbases

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, I usually try and build them up to boost the respective focus of each planet (money modules around money planets, research around research, etc)

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Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top


Economics/Upkeep: I seem to not be able to climb out of a serious credit debt that gets significant mid-game. I'm basically forced to sell techs to minor races for income-per-turn to keep afloat. Once the military build-up begins I can't seem to come close to supporting the ships I need. I notice some of the leading AI will field massive fleets when I check how many ships they have, and to keep a comparable military I'm non-stop churning out ships and going deeper into debt. I try to create specialized money-planets but they don't seem to offset the debt significantly, nor does trade.
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Are you using economic starbases and the political government bonuses? And then, have you touched the planetary wheel? It should be easy to get enough income that way if you specialize properly. Also, don't bother trying keeping up with AI fleets, quality over quantity is the way to go. 


Research: Around mid-game, just after medium sized ships start to become commonplace, my research seems to nosedive and I don't get why. I usually have 1-2 specialized research planets with just enough production percentage to build their improvements, the rest research. Yet techs jump from the 6-14 turn range to the 20-50  (or higher) turn range.
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You need more research planets. Almost every planet you can afford to have doing research should be doing it. Also, food is a thing here. You don't want just a pure research improvement planet, get some food improvements and grow some population when you can. (just don't go too nuts with it at the start, growth is kinda slow)

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sjaminei, reply 3



Are you using economic starbases and the political government bonuses? And then, have you touched the planetary wheel? It should be easy to get enough income that way if you specialize properly. Also, don't bother trying keeping up with AI fleets, quality over quantity is the way to go. 
End of sjaminei's quote

 

I am using starbases, though I'm not 100% sure what you mean by the political government bonuses (are those just bonuses from tech research?)

 

Quoting sjaminei, reply 3

You need more research planets. Almost every planet you can afford to have doing research should be doing it. Also, food is a thing here. You don't want just a pure research improvement planet, get some food improvements and grow some population when you can. (just don't go too nuts with it at the start, growth is kinda slow)
End of sjaminei's quote

 

So, how many research & money planets to production planets? On a smaller map is one likely to ever expand production off their capital then?

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I am using starbases, though I'm not 100% sure what you mean by the political government bonuses (are those just bonuses from tech research?)
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The top part of the bottom tech tree. You get 10% first tier, then 20% and 30% next in the second tech age. These are raw production modifiers, so they boost everything. And about economic starbases, one economic ring boosts raw production by 10%, so try getting 4 starbases up around your most important planets asap. The modules themselves aren't that important, just get the rings up. You can get even more rings with the increased range tech from sensor support, but that is kinda late game. 


So, how many research & money planets to production planets? On a smaller map is one likely to ever expand production off their capital then?
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Production planets should have some money improvements on them, so you can switch into more money if needed. (I prefer smallish planets for this usually) But the "main" planet should be full on production focus only, that's where you'll build the big ships. There is no fixed ratio. It all depends on planet quality etc. Once you get a really good money planet going racking in 500+ per turn, you should be fine, and you could even switch to more production on the smaller planets. 

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Are you using the planetary production wheel to squeeze every bit of money out of planets specializing in doing so? At the very least, not wasting time on research on planets without any would help tremendously, as you could still balance your production/income slider 50%-50% for far better gains than when still including science. I'm pretty sure you already know this, but I thought I might check.

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I use a 1/3rd of colonies for each grouping.  1/3rd wealth planets, 1/3rd research and 1/3rd for production.  Wealth planets should be just that.  And don't forget to increase population.  This version places much more importance on planetary population.

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

So this is kind of the strategy I've followed over my last few play-through's that has helped get my economy off the ground. You also want to micro-manage your budget where you initially slam all your funds into research for as long as you can endure.  I tend to rush buy research factories right from the word go and pound through the governance specialty for the economic bonuses.  I also pound up the economy techs to get wealth population.  Then I tried to surround my core planet with at least 2 to 3 decked out economy bases.  The other critical thing is to get some trade routes off the ground when you are able because they will bring in cash.