This is getting old...

from Stardock Forums
Ok, In my latest game I put up a better fight, but as soon as I got battleships I got my ass kicked. It was all sub-normal, medium galaxy

First, I went to war with the drengins. I was kicking their ass across the galaxy when the altarians decided to try and take advantage. After my 2 ships on that front beat back abotu 5 attacking altarian ships, I shifted some forces over and began an offensive on the altarians. I took 2 of their worlds. Meanwhile, the drengins were still getting beaten having lost about 3 worlds. My forces were spread really thin by now and the altarians had a fresh set of warships heading my way. I made peace with the drengins(big mistake), and focused on the altarians. After taking another 2 of their worlds, things were looking up. Then some event happened where the drengin were getting more research, production and revenue because of the draginol?

Now keep in mind. I kept a huge focus on tech this game. As soon as the draginol event occured, my tech went from almost 300 to 123. I paniced and attacked the drengin, who while they were spending a ton of money on research to surpass me, also rebuilt their fleet to match mine. when I began the war, I had just gotten battleships. The war started with me launching an attack on the drengins. ONE frigate destroyed my attacking force of 2 frigates and 3 corvettes. Finally I destroyed that SOB frigate and sent in my troopships. (another thing that annoys the hell out of me. You destroy a ship and the AI Instantly produces another ship there. DOn't tell me about budget or any of that crap because whenever I try and do that, they want 10,000 BC for a corvette.)

They lost, and the invasion failed. It was pretty much a stalemate until I got the battleship. Since this was the first time I even had a chance to use them, I was ready to kick some ass on the drengin. Nope, destroyed by a frigate almost instantly. My crappy ass battleship only had a hitpoint of 39 whle my frigates were 72. Their attack was 11 I think. What was the point of me researching that for 35 freakingturns. It was the biggest waste of production ever.

Now, obviously this was my fault( except for the purchase things, I think they need to be toned down for the player.) I would just like to know how the AI gets such an advantage on me. Every game his ships have more hitpoints, better attack, etc.I research/build anything that increases ship stats.Even when I was attacking the Altarians, their ships started to put up a fight right before I made peace.

I wasted 2 nights on this game and I'm a little pissed off >:( Don't get me wrong, I love this game and can't stop playing it. I'm just getting sick of fighting uber ships when I'm supposedly the highesdt in tech.

~SDC~
576 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
It generally seems to me that the AI is the war party. This gives them a +50 hp boost to all of their ships. Also see if they have any military resources. Those can up the fighting power of a ship by 60%.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
The altarians had weapons resources. I was also the war party, so if the dregins had this, te effect should have been negated

~SDC~
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Heh, I am not sure why you expect to win by fighting a spread-out war on 2 fronts, my frustrated friend.

Some tactical tips to ease your pain: Never fight 2 wars, even if 2 empires are declared on you without having key systems fortified (so you can focus on one at a time without having one front decimated). Use spacestations to increase your defensive bonuses on defenders (put them as far away from the enemy as you can get them - ie, the "back" corner) - build Battlehammers for your defense - they are easy to get and they are far better than anything before Avatars, IMO. Also, manage your economy with some flexibility.

If your scenario had happened to me, I would have taken one Altarian planet so they saw how big a mistake it was to make war with me, then make them pay to end the war...then take the money they gave you to go into deficit spending (I switched to an all-war economy when the sh*t hit the fan - the other stuff will wait until the crises is over) to focus on the Drengin. Use fortified Battlehammers...by fortified I mean build them from a planet(s) that you have shipyard, etc built on (I could get 12/8/175health ships on my main planet every 4-5 turns fairly early on - the AI can't match this at lower intelligence levels though they try). Coordinate your attacks (using your beefed up initial ship, "Enterprise-wannabe", preferably), don't learn battle tactics from the AI - they are pretty lousy.

Most games we got used to playing are pathetically easy (so they are "fun" for those who don't wanna think). Unlearn what a "fun" game is and apply yourself - if you learn how to think about this game as you would in Chess, you will find that you start to mow down the AI no matter what clever moves they make on you. Take inspiration from those who can beat the game on near-maxed difficulty and figure out other ways you can improve (hopefully soon you can return the favor and give ME tips, hehe).

Happy gaming.

Gord

~SDC~
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Don't ignore diplomacy. Not the type of diplomacy that involves military hardware, the other sort.

~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
thanks for the replys. I'll give round two a shot tommorrow.

Thnaks again

~SDC~
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I understand you wanting to go back to fight the Drengin to keep them from getting too powerful after they got that event...good thinking.

But...next time see if you can get someone else to do your dirty work for you. If you've been pounding into tech you probably have some good stuff to trade. Head on over to whichever 2 of the other AI are also near the Drengin and give them a little something to attack the Drengin with.

That will keep them busy while you finish dealing with the Altarian. Once you're back in position and defended and such you can evaluate if you need to hit the Drengin too. If you do, go to each of the guys who are at war with them and offer to attack the Drengin (you were planning to do that anyway) see what they'll give you for your help rather than offer it for free.

Especially on the easy levels you should be able to clean up this way. I once gave ships to the Arceans to attack the Altarians...then a few turns later offered to help attack the Altarians and in exchange they gave me back my ships...I basically got them involved in the war for free. You won't get away with that on the better difficulties, but on sub normal they're pretty stupid like that.

Another tip. When doing this wait many months before joining in. That way the bulk of the enemy fleet is out ravaging the other AI and you can hit them while they're not looking.