Mmm....giganticlicious...

from GalCiv2 Forums
So I started up a gigantic map, everything abundant, loose clusters, and very fast research. Slaped all the races on there save one (the korx), as I had made a custom race (The Hologram Matrix...figured I'd put the default custom race logo to good use...>_>). I ctrl+n'd the galaxy a bit until I was moderately satisfied (I wanted to be near the terrans so I could crush them first, and I also wanted a good number of stars around me and also at least a few planet bonus tiles). Satisfied with the basics, I began playing, and within a few turns my jaw droped...for not far from my homeworld (New Earth), a 26 pq planet lay ripe for the settling, with a research resource rigtht next to it. The planet itself has a 300% manufacturing and a few 100% farm tiles (practically screams 'make me a cash planet'). My homeworld also has a 300% to research and a 100% manufacturing. Quite a few nice class planets around me as well, so my empire has expanded quite nicely with its quality and production still intact.

The AI, in its infinite wisdom, has forced me via United Planets to donate 1000 bc for some celebration. It tried it the first year, though I had only met the terrans so I could get by with saying 100 bc (which gave a moreale bonus of 5%). Though this time, I was a bit angry as I couldn't control how they voted, but the ensuing 50% morale bonus made me much much happier and I instantly jacked up my taxation to some 75%, because I could.

I'm not expecting a whole lot from the AI, as I put them on sub-normal, but I figure I'll have 9 races to fight and hopefully desroy, each one being roughly bigger than the last. It should give me a good chance to get an even firmer grasp on the game and learn alot about combat.

And yeah, the eyes of the universe galactic achievement is pretty damn godly on this uber huge map...

I love how time just flies by when playing this game...>_>
6,263 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sub normal with a 26? You Jessie!
It's true, the game spams +20 planets on gigantic, to the point that the micro management is irritating. It's also true those bloody Terrans are irritating. It matters not, all shall fall to the Drath.

All your planet are belong to us.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I find normal just about right for ownage. But for some fight back I recommend trying tough, it certainly made a noticable difference for me.

They actually invaded several of my worlds and really fought back to the point when I thought I might lose. But luckily I didn't.

-J
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i like the smaller sizes like normal and less and putting 3-6 enemys on normal.
This makes so you dont waste 30min of your life trying to micro each planet per turn and the fighting happens in under 100 turns.
Just watch out for Arceans they love to influence victory on a map that small
(%#!$ Arceans, i will defeat you)
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mix it up, play a bunch of idiot races who you will extort, and have one intelligent. Preferably Drengin, they work best in such a situation. I recently found that my threshold for ownage is somewhere between 1.1 first beta and 1.1 second beta. It takes a looooooooong time for me to win now, and by year four it's a struggle for survival.

Thank God for +50% defence bonus.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I find starting with too many bonus tiles to be equivilent to easy mode - the AI just can't keep up and the game is no fun. My favourite setting is versus tough/intelligent taking the first galaxy generated, it's amazing what good games a less than optimal starting setup can generate, especially if some of the AI players get uber planets.