Early game, AI frustrating and brutal. Later game, a pussycat

from GalCiv2 Forums
One of the things I've found , is that playing the game on Normal is too easy. but playing the game on Challenging, is too brutal. But the brutality is such that I can't even get an early foothold--I'm already beaten by the first year. I don't know what to do to get a perfectly satisfying game. Suggestions?
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Makes sure your economy is in tip-top shape. The most important aspect in dealing with your civilization is your economy. I tend to have a very large tax rate, offset by morale structures on all planets. Farms are necessary on all planets 11 or better.

Second, the AI values your military strength and uses that on whether or not to attack you, especially in the beginning of the game with your relations can not yet become "Hostile." Build defenders on all planets not building important ships, colony ships, constructors, freighters, etc. the AI tend to value small weak ships a little too much. Keep your military rating towards the top.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah my actual game is like that.

At challenging level, huge map, 9 civ, 4 civilization have gone before I was able to be near the greatest power (drengin empire, korx)

But that's how I like it hehe.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah its almost always like that for me. The beginning the AI is a bugabear to get a leg up on but after I do it heads to the shredder.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
My strategy isn't perfect, but it works okay most of the time:
1. Building things is cheaper than buying things.
2. Basic factories cost less than colony ships. It's something like 1000bc to 450bc
3. In order to get ahead, you must purchase items.

1. Purchase a bunch of factories on my homeworld.
2. Build colony ships quickly (Three turns)
3. Colonize planets, good ones first, lesser later if the other races have not colonized them.
4. Use the money I saved from not buying colony ships to support the new colonies until they can support themselves.

As I stated, this strategy does have flaws. I tend to keep military spending way down, and social and research spending way up. Result: I have no military.
Problem: Other races look at me and think, "Hey, there is a land flowing with milk and honey and there is no one defending it! Let's jack 'em!" Result: I'm often at war.

War isn't always a bad thing, though. I often switch from social spending to military spending. I build up navy quickly, and the opposition just lost some of their worlds, hopefully the good ones.
Also, since I usually have a lacking navy, I have learned that well positioned and defended military starbases are invaluable.


I think that's all I have to say for now.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Remember that your Diplomacy rating (racial abilities + political party enhancements + diplo techs) also affects your relations with the AI factions. The number of trade routes between you and another faction also factors in. If you don't want to buld a lot of warships early on, having a good Diplomacy rating will help keep the others off your back while you tech up. Plus, it helps you get more for less when you tech trade.

Does anyone know whether the frequency of trading techs (I'm not talking about gifts, just normal trades) with another faction influences your relations with that faction?