Initial Colonizing

[casualGOD]

Does anyone else save the game on the first turn, explore around to find the juicy planets, then restart and voila you know where to go?

I know its a cheese-strat, but why not right? The comp knows where to go....

[Harry Seldon]

Sometimes the good planets aren't all around the yellow stars and that's all the AI knows up front. I'm not above cheese moves at times but I usually lock in at the start of the game and play until my wife turns the PC off or I fall asleep on the keyboard. No time to reload.

[bonscott]

No, never done that. There is built in cheese anyway. CTR-N. If I don't like my starting position, just do that and it resets the galaxy. I usually stick out a start though because what fun is it to have a great start every game?

[casualGOD]

colonizing

Its a pain in the ass when you find a planet with a natural 26 that was very close to you but you scouted the wrong way and lost it to some race 2 or 3 sectors away.

I cant handle that, time to restart and make that planet blue!

[vee4473]

If that makes the game more fun for you, then enjoy it.
However, I usually prefer to let the chips fall where they may.


(usually)

[Vanguard]

Build more scouts. That's what they are there for. Scouting.

You want to know where the resources are anyway.

[Hydro]

Yes, scouts are key.

At each new planet I build a scout first (until I have about 5), which then make b-lines for planets. Later they survey the galaxy. Their final mission is to park at likely hotspots to see what is going on - fore warned is fore armed.

[Harry Seldon]

I usually play small boards so I can usually get by with the single scout I start with. Besides, drones are cheaper to build and deploy.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Re: colonizing

Originally posted by casualGOD
Its a pain in the ass when you find a planet with a natural 26 that was very close to you but you scouted the wrong way and lost it to some race 2 or 3 sectors away.

I cant handle that, time to restart and make that planet blue!

I don't bother, but initially set spending to 100%, taxes to 45%, Military to 100%, forget social, forget research, and crank out scouts. After I've got 4-6 depending on what looks interesting, I go to 50% mil, 50% reseach, and research Propulsion -> Cold Fusion -> Impulse to get a speed advantage.

Then, if you don't mind offending the neighbors , you can fast track to transports, and let the other guys do the colonizing for you - if they're close, they often send undermanned colony ships and don't have any military presence for several turns.

Another way is just to customize the humans for +1 or +2 initial speed.

[vee4473]

Re: colonizing

Originally posted by casualGOD
Its a pain in the ass when you find a planet with a natural 26 that was very close to you but you scouted the wrong way and lost it to some race 2 or 3 sectors away.

I cant handle that, time to restart and make that planet blue!

I know what you mean, but I like to play the game and consider such a loss as bad luck.

I mean in a game that simulates exploring space I (usually) like to keep it as is and chalk missed planets up to the "uncertainty of exploring space" and go from there...

It adds to the whole atmosphere and strategy of the game.

But, I agree, seeing all the stars on the map and having to decide which way to go is frustrating, especially when you realize you went the wrong way.

But, at the same time, it makes the game interesting.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Harry Seldon
Sometimes the good planets aren't all around the yellow stars and that's all the AI knows up front.

I thought only up to pq 14 planets orbitted nonyellow stars?

[Harry Seldon]

I found good quality planets around nonyellows.

[tetley]

Since we're on this subject, I just started a Medium, Crippling game that is SO good it's not even fair. But it's perfectly legit. After playing around for a bit, it turns out it's even better than I first thought.

Is there any way I can post this starting position save game? Here's what we're talking: Earth is PQ19. 4 squares away is a PQ26, in a star system where ALL FIVE of the planets are habitable: 26, 17, 16, 15, 15. I won't even give away the rest, since it would be a spoiler.

[tetley]

I think I figured it out. Anyone who wants a good Medium, Crippling starting position check this out.

http://apolyton.net/upload/files/tetley/startkickbutt.zip

[Harry Seldon]

You hype it up so well I may have to take a look this weekend. I hope my 450 can handle your medium map