I've played a few games now of multiplayer. Usually 2v2. Basically 2 guys know the map already and know where all the resources are to pounce on. Then before you can even get out the gate because all your planets have fleets guarding them you have to take out they have captured 3 planets and 2 asteroids. On top of that they know where the metal and crystal are concentrated and go right for them.
Sounds like they just used a good
Strategy on you.
So the rest of the game they just spam light frigates at you and since you took some time to spend on research and such you are beat by attrition. What's strategic about that?
Long Ranged Frigate's easily counter-act Light Frigate Spam (Only with the support from Gauss/Beam Structures), and as a bonus, are typically Cheaper Metal-wise. Unless you're playing as Advent, where Crystal is more important than Metal, you can just as easily counter-spam until they wise up and start building Carriers to defeat your Long Ranged Frigates.
A few Military Structures aren't that expensive, even if you started off exceptionally slow. Just scuttle your Capital Ship Yard, after your first Capital Ship is built in the beginning of the game.
On top of that at any given time there are maybe 4 or 5 hosted games to choose from. Not much selection there.
Thats a problem that can be fixed by making friends, and playing with them. These forums are by far the best place to make friends who play SoaSE.
So just like Starcraft the mighty zerging and spamming of light frigates begins. If you don't keep up you will loose.
Light Frigates are LRM, and Capital Ship XP candy. Yum, yum, yum.