Initial AI start(the first 20-30 turns or so)

from GalCiv2 Forums
So I'm playing through my first game. I see the alien races influence borders, but not mine. Am I missing something? Also, it seems they can build ships faster than I can. Get out to planets and colonize before I even have my first colony ship built(beyond the first). So my impression is the AIs start out with more planets and/or more ships and/or more production? So does the AI start ahead of you?

As a side note, I am playing with a customized race that does not have any increases in production. I realize this could be a factor, but not the entire picture.
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The trick is to buy your first 4-6 colony ships, so you get one each turn. Once your hit about 600c stop buying them and start your usual strategy, but with a goof 6 planets already captured,
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What color is your race's, er, color? (I played where my race color was a very dark grey/black and that didn't show up on the map very well in terms of influence.)
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The Ai doesn't start out with any more planets or ships then you do, nor does it "cheat". It just undderstands the ingame mechanics, and knows how to manipulate it (as you soon will) so as to get a big opening push. While stratagies vary (and will likely change more once 1.1 arrives) about how to start and what to build first, once you have a couple games under you belt (and understand the tax/spend/buy parts better) you'll find yourself out building them (at least on everything up to Normal setting, I'm not too good a t levels above that!).
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
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Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sorry for the double post, forum goof.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I agree completely with Nirvana_CN. I am convinced that to do well in Galciv 2, you need to buy as many colony ships as you possibly can early on. Don't spend it on buildings or anything else. Instead, buy those colony ships. The AI may be following that strategy which gives them the illusion that they have incredible production. With a good start, you can endure setbacks later, but if it is mid to late game and you only have half the colonies the AI has, you are going to have a very hard time winning.

Keep this in mind: planets all grow in population at roughly the same rate each turn unless your approval is either really good or really poor. If you have 1 planet, and an AI has 5, then each turn, the AI is gaining 5 times the population you are gaining. That means basically 5 times the increase in cash flow, and five times the increase in manufacturing and research capability. This is over-simplified, but DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER of having lots of colonies. Also, whatever you do, never stop expanding. Always look for additional planets to take, resources to capture with starbases, etc.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Of course in 1.1 with the new population rates will change everything -- apparently the colonyrush will change dramatically.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Don't forget about creating colony ship with 2 or more engines, especially if you start out with Miniaturization or Ion Drive.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
In reply to stanley:

Personally I agree, but you should not, I say, NOT overdo it. On each planet, you will be building improvements as you settle it. And each of these improvements cost money per turn for building it. I have many times easily ended up with over 400BC of social expenses and was not able to maximize my production like this.

So either one should, decrease Social Production in the domestic tab. Don't build anything until the population is high, or take a few less planets but specialize on getting them wel developed. The AI in general doesnt develop it's planets alot nor does it specialize them for a specific purpose. The only trouble the AI with lots of planets could really give to a well developed empire is cultural influence. So it's really a matter of strategy
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top


Ah ha! That's an excellent idea.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
On the lower settings you can buy the colony ships or not (you certainly need to buy some factories). If you choose not to buy them you must be building them in 4-5 turns on at least one planet, (This is not hard to do BTW.).

It is also absolutely necessary to design a faster colony ship. You can design a speed 3 colony ship before your first turn so there is no reason not to do it. That 1 extra movement point will do wonders for you.

One thing I do fairly well in this game is grab planets. Up to tough difficulty (haven't tried anything higher), I always get the most and best planets. I hope that this success continues in 1.1 but we shall soon see.

On the smaller maps you can expand about as much as planet availability allows but on the big maps you must stop at some point and concentrate on building your economy. This is pretty much a universal truth. If you are still having money problems (deficit spending) 2 years into the game you are probably toast.

As someone said above there are several strategies that work well up to the bright AI settings and I am sure some are at least as good as mine.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Once you learn what you're doing, it's easy to out colonize the computer. Then the game becomes too easy.