Hahah. Getting the world is its own reward. A whole new world is better than money or a single piece of new tech. I dunno, when I'm at war, yeah, my coffers slowly deplete, but, I usually have near 15000+ BC in my coffers when combat starts (around turn 52 IIRC), which I use as a buffer... It's expensive to manufacture and research, so I trade tech for BC from the AIs to fund my poor economy. Once I grab a few worlds, it's clear sailing from there, as I can make my bank world. No matter what I lose money each turn for 90% of my game, but I try to keep it under 180 BC per turn. It climbs to 300 BC per turn when cranking out ships. This is all prior 1.1, so I expect it to be easier now.

When I started playing, I played on cake-walk to understand the game better. Then normal, then tough, then suicidal. Each time my tactics improved as I developed a playstyle that could defeat the AI. I don't think I could beat the AI on suicidal without tech trading, or by creating balanced worlds.

Good idea. If it's a horrible planet, just sell it for tech or bc.

When you go to war, you have to change your economical sliders to adjust your society to a war footing that can support the war. Look carefully at what the AI has built on the planet, and make changes to the infrastructure to fit your style of play. Many times the AI has built the planet up totally unrelated to the bonuses that are available on that planet. I have not taken a planet from the ai yet, that I have not had to make changes to the planet.

Don't blame the game and call it broken for your inability to manage conquest and your economy. I and many others have conquered hundreds of worlds without running into your problem. The problem isn't the game - its your lack of ability. And I hate it when someone claims a game is bugged because they screw up.

Oh, yeah, if military conquest were broken, then explain why so many high scorer in the Metaverse have alot of military conquests? Can you explain that?

Sounds like the world you took over had a manufacturing capital on it with a load of factories. That caused a huge increase in your spending.

You didnt get any tech from taking over the planet because you already had all their techs. You never get cash from taking over planets - strengthening your position and weakening your enemies is reward enough, the free tech is just icing (unless you are playing against the Dreadlords!!)

I was making between 100 and 200 BC per week before the attack. I had nearly 3000 BC banked and was building my fleet to keep up with the competition. I might add, that my ships have a qualitative advantage over the my foes. I seldom lose battles. But that doesn't matter when he's replacing his 6 losses with 12 more.

sliders for war

100% spending

100% military
0% social
0% research

highest taxation level you can go while keeping 51%+ approval

The planet you captured the new buildings on it you acquired would be the drain on your economy, if they were upgrading or producing stuff. Either bulldoze un-needed structures and build economic - morale boosting structures instead or as someone else said sell the planet.

You gained no extra tech as you already were ahed on tech so had nothing new to gaain.

100 military doesnt mean you were ahead (goes over 100) check the military graph screen for a more accurate idea of where you are in relation to everyone else strength wise.