Important Questions???????

1. Starbases add production, trade income, defense/attack/speed of all friendly ships (need more constructors for this and update the star base). So if you have 5 or so planets in that section (yes, its the square) all those planets will have +x% production with only a few constructors. Most important - starbases are commulative - so many starbases in a sector can give you over 1000% production bonus

2. Depends on your influence. Dont underestimate the power of influence - i got 25+ class planet coz of good influence

Ok on #1 but on the map I am playing, there are no resources in the same sector as any of my 50 planets. So I guess you should build starbases not necessarily on the resources.

Also build SBs along your trade routes with trade modules built into it. Increases your trade income.

1) First, snag the resources...even if you don't upgrade right away...snag them...at least to keep them out of the AI's hands, and by late game you'll be needing them.

Second, send ships to defend them...since they tend to be some distance away from your planets they should be defended. If you are largely at peace, use 1 or 2 of your last generation ship. If you're at war and the resource is upgraded to vital levels 2-3 of your best ship if near the front.

THEN add starbases to sectors with the most and best planets. Concentrate on the Mining Factories and the Econ bonuses. I find it best if all of your trade routes originate in a single sector, that way, only the starbases in that sector need trade route upgrades.

2) Use the multi colored box in the upper right of the map to determine how much influence from the different powers are present in the sector. If two values are close they are probably passing each other back and forth, accounting for the switching you noticed. You want to avoid having sectors with your planets be inside someone elses influence in any strategy. If going for a cultural edge you want to get other peoples planets inside your color sector (by building stuff that will raise the influence in that sector) so they convert to you.

bb413 - The resources give benefits civilisation wide, when you have a base on them. So they are definately worth getting.

The other upgrades are sector based - so getting production bonuses and such are worthwhile if you have a enough planets/population in that sector.

1. You can build a starbase anywhere. If you build a starbase on a resource then whatever bonus that particular resource gives is empire-wide (but only the resource bonuses...not the military/social/trade - those are only sector-wide). It's generally good to grab as many resources as you can early...then as you can, start building 'local' starbases in sectors with your systems. You can also have more than one starbase in a sector for even bigger production/trade bonuses. I often build 2 fully loaded (with defense, production, and trade if trade routes pass the SB, modules) starbases in sectors with multiple systems. Having good planets in a resource sector isn't a necessity, but it sure is nice!

2. A lot of factors affect sector ownership for sectors that don't have a inhabited system or starbase in them. Ownership tends to change around a lot early. I wouldn't worry about it much.

3. Not even sure what you're talking about. Systems/planets have rankings for your system and the whole galaxy (so maybe you're looking at the wrong ranking). I also think more goes into your overall economic rating than just your planet economy stats. It probably also counts stuff like your current treasury, debt, and more. This is another thing I wouldn't worry about too much as it's kinda nebulous. I personally worry more about technology ranking and military ranking - as both seem to heavily determine your overall power and more importantly, influence how much the AI majors try to push you around.