I'm doing better but would appreciate some advice . . .

from Stardock Forums
Ok, did better last game. I was the last ones standing against the Yor tidal wave sweeping the galaxy. My high point was subverting my neighbors the Drengin, splitting their empire, and taking one of their worlds :)

I do research all right, morale is fine too. But getting an economy running - making money - seems to be difficult. I certainly don't have the cash the AIs seem to have. So I'm curious - do people rush to trade routes? What beginning build ques do people use? I like to build a mfg center first to speed up production, then morale building if I need it, then a something that gives me money - usually a banking center. And how does the AI manage to build constructors sooo fast. They seem to take me forever to build, such that I never am able to use them.

Any hints on getting started and making money? Thanks.

Grifman
201 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I do. I make trading a very high priority and make sure to send across the galaxy to the largest populated planet in the galaxy.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I find that everything works best if you asign specific duties to planets... I'll have some planets build all the research stuff, I have some planets as manufacturing centers and so on... I have no trouble getting enough money out of those aliens when you have all the trade goods.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Depends on galaxy size and number of empires.

On anything smaller than large, trade can be a very significant fraction of your income. Research trade asap and send trade ships to the most populous planets/longest routes. Keep researching trade advances.

On large+ galaxies I tend to find that I get more benefit focussing on expansion. When I come to the midgame with all useful planets colonised I can either focus on trade or conquest (depending on my neighbours).

Either way it's very very beneficial in the early game to trade technologies for cash from EVERY civilization. Even just trading a few basic technologies for a hundred or so cash from each empire allows you to keep spending at 100% for those extra few turns and gain that extra benefit on expansion / production / research.

Paul.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
How do you guys get all those concessions/trades? I can't get a penny from anyone. Can you give me some examples of early-game trades you've made to give me an idea of "reasonable" trades?

That might be a neat feature request - a diplomacy advisor to tell you "uhh, you're dreaming" on some of your trades.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
jpub

I find that any race will buy any tech you have that they dont have. Is this not happening with you?

Grifman what difficulty are you playing on and what political party?
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Oh, I'm sure they want my techs, I'm just having a hard time figuring out what to ask for. I tend to have them say "uh, no" to whatever I ask. I'd like to see some trades people have done to give me a feel for a level to trade at.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
jpub - see the discussion thread on trading. I aim high and drop till they say yes. it's just hit and miss I say this cos' i dont think the AI negotiates, I think it has a fixed max price it will pay so its just a job of jabbing away at the value box until the amount drops and you 'tune in'

As I said in the thread, I wish it was a proper barter. If I am miss-representing the AI Stardock, sorry and please say what it does, also if I am - manual item?

s
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
jpub,
in the early trades (before my money runs out and I'm still at 100% spending) I trade for cash. If I trade something to one race then I trade it to all races. You should be able to get a few hunderd credits for 3-4 basic techs. At the very start that will keep you at 100% for a few more turns which are crucial for cranking out those extra colony ships or constructors.
Later in the game I trade to knock races intot he red. I look at the money trade (100 for 0 months), see how much cash they have, and then trade whatever I can to get them to pay just under that for x months. The larger x the better. Once an enemy falls into negative debt he stops expanding and just can get ahead.
Later in the game I tend to focus on research and so can often swap techs for planets, trade goods or ships if required.

Paul.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
You guys spend at 100%?!? Doesn't that just kill morale? I've never spent that much - then again, maybe that is my problem.

And to the person that asked, I played as the Federalists and the Populists. Kind of like the Populists best as it is easier to keep morale up.

And I've always traded tech for tech, never money, either . . .

Thanks for the tips, but I'd love to here more strategies.

Grifman
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
It's high taxes that kill morale. High spending actually seems to help it a bit. If you can spend at 100% with no taxes your morale will stay way up there and your people will think you're a god!

And you'll HAVE to be one to keep that up...

But seriously don't forget about trading tech for influence if you're after a cultural victory.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
You can spend all your income as you like which is fine by me. I vary tax so that my my planetary approval rating on the finance screen stays around 50 to 60%. This doesn't seem to cause revolts with my party (Tech party), keeps planet-side morate reasonable - but with a few poor ones to watch and I always upgrade political parties when I can.

This is not to say that keeping approval this low does not affect my overall growth or Tech developement in a way I have not realised.