very early game strategy

from Stardock Forums
i just started a game medium/common/genius
normally i get military to 100% to pop out colony ships but then im always behind in tech and battle ships
so this time i leave social at 20%, tech and mil 40%
my techs grow quite fast, my colony ships still pop out fast enough and coz of my good starting position i get all planets in range (5)
the yor also have their 5 planets but very soon they have 10x my military, WAY more tech und they build capitals/trade goods faster then i can imagine
they do that without having much trade
the AI doesnt cheat - so how could the yor do that ?!
or: how can i do that too? :-)
2,841 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
The AI does cheat at Crippling and Maso difficulty. They get extra bonuses.

The Yor may be getting techs by trading for them. I tend to let my tech fall behind, and then research a few really big items that no-one else has and trade them around to everyone.

They may also be going a long way into debt to buy trade goods.

Or maybe they were lucky and found really high PQ planets?


I usually fall well behind at least one of the AIs. It's not something you have to worry about. Just try to keep them from attacking you, and catch up later (by taking worlds from weak races or whatever).
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
what about that buy trade goods thing
is it best to buy them with long leases or all at once and then stay a few month in deep red without production? even the low leases really hurt in early game and cripple my economy for half of the game on smaller maps
but without diplos its very hard to catch up in tech ...
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
without diplos its very hard to catch up in tech ...
End of quote


When playing at the level of crippling or below you can trade techs for cash and bankrupt the AI. When playing crippling it is much harder because the AI doesn't pay much for the techs.

It is important to get Diplo so whether you build it, buy it or trade for it you should make it a priority to get it.

If you are new to the game you should know that if you trade/buy a trade good you get the bonus added to your stats but you do not see that tradegood in your list.

I like moderatly long leases when selling techs. I sell/trade a tech to everyone at the same time. This prevents the AI from selling / trading it.

I do not sell diplo type techs unless more than 1 AI has it. It is important to keep your diplo bonus as high as possible.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I prefer not to buy trade goods, and to take high Diplomacy picks at the start so I can trade for Diplo Trans, etc.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree Matthew, when playing MASO I do not sell techs but trade them.

My strategy allows me to stay ahead in techs and get 95% of all trade goods and wonders. I think I am able to do this because I play small or tiny maps.

I usually only miss out on the Tri-Strontium Steel trade good. The AI seems to love building it. I have a 50/50 chance of missing the Eyes of the Universe Wonder as well.

By the time I have all of these TG and wonders I may be slightly behind in ship tech. But that is because I don't need/have ships until close to the end. By that time I have all the ship tech I need.