Morale

[justjake73]

I realize it's been covered many times before, but I want to discuss it again. I have not played GC in months because I find this impossible to overcome. Sure sure, you can build improvements and space station stuff, but it doesn't STICK. They get happy, have babies, then become pissed again. It would be SO MUCH easier if improvements helped a fixed number, like in SMAC and Civ. What do you guys do for morale?

[LDiCesare]

In the early game, keep it at 100% by reducing revenue each turn.
Then put entertainment networks and PQ improvements in the queue everywhere.
Later in the game, I never worry much anout it. I check overall I have 60+% and am done. For new planets, I can remove population with transports or colony ships to send them elsewhere (preferably on alien worlds), and rush build the various improvements.
I also tend to go after +morale wonders and pick the °morale party.
Also, maintain good relationship with the other races: They won't destabilize me as much, so it keeps morale higher.
But the real key is to lower taxes. I very often use 0% tax or not far from that, all income being from trade.