Economize or Conquer?

from Sins Forums

Wow, what can i say, just got the game and im loving it!

 

But i am stuck in a dilema at the start of every game, which is wether i should a) Upgrade my planets and Tech up first or b) build fleets ASAP and go out and conquer and expand my empire?

One map that forced me into a "credit crunch" was the map "Fertile Crescent", im finding it real tough maintaing a balance.

For the first time in a game so far, my economy is actually in negative figures! and the Credits trickle very very slowly, forcing me to a virtual standstill.

The only way i am staying afloat is by desperately selling of surplus Metal, which i actually need.

By the time i 1) build a fleet or 2) build up my economy or 3) a mixture of the two the Enemy usually has 2 capital ships and huge fleet and they always get to the 3 Fertile planets first.

 

So any of you more experienced guys have any suggestions on how to build up my economy at the start?

 

Honestly just try playing this map, its the toughest i have played so far (on my 5th game now).

18,665 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

Actually i think i hit the nail on the head, is it because some Maps the RESOURCE GATHER RATE is LOWER ??

For example, in this map (Fertile Crescent) the gather rate for Minerals and Metal is 0.13 which means it takes forever to collect.

 

is there any way of Speeding up the game (i dont just mean the refineries) but i mean actually making the game x3 or x5 times faster?? B)

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

In the game options tab thing in the screen just before you start your game you can adjust game speed and other things. I'm to lazy to open up Sins and look them up sooo I don't quite know if there is an option to increase resource gathering speed or not, but if there is it is in that little options tab thing.

My strategy in Sins is to expand decently quickly early on in the game, but you don't want to expand too fast or your single fleet won't be able to get across your empire fast enough to defend your planets that are 4 jumps away. ALWAYS when you first colonize a planet upgrade the planets development research twice (you do this in the area that has the Explore Planet option, and Increase Tactical/Logistic Structure area). If you don't do this then that planet will drain money from your total income. So if too many of your planets are underdeveloped then you could easily go into negative income and that is a BAD thing as you have already experienced.

Try not to upgrade fleet logistics too fast since each new level of logistics has a higher percentage upkeep cost that goes into effect immediatly after that research is done. Upgrade to a new logistics level when you need more ships, in other words, when you run out of fleet points.

From what I have read and I actually do. Many people will sell meta when they get over 1000 since you don't need insane amounts of metal for research and you only really need it if you are building a big fleet really fast.

So to answer your question on whether to tech up or fleet up. I do a combo, Planet upgrades (exept for tactical and logistic since only border planets really need tactical) and fleet expansion with moderation.

I'm not going to tell you how to play your game of Sins (besides the whole fleet logistics and planet developement stuff since that is a killer for anyone), so build whatever starting Cap ship you want and really do the things you want to do. (Remember! First Capital ship is free!) Just giving examples about how way I play the game.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Last approach i just tried, i tech my planets first going up to  1/2/3 civil research while i'm expanding. Got my scouting going while this is happening, and once my first fleet is out and about clearing up some areas for me to colonize i'll consider getting my first fleet point tech and getting a second fleet going for defense while i'm using my first for diplomacy missions.

Pro tip: The comps will ask you to attack enemies, even if you don't know where their bases are. If you get to this stage you could be in trouble as it means your not going to be able to get allies going, meaning you could be under attack a whole heap more than you like. This is what the scouting is for. The scouting also helps you find choke points for defense (scout ships have auto cast search which will keep them scouting planets indefinitely)

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Edit: Modify that as you please. I was using advent when i played this game tho and as i understand, their capital ships are better when it comes to supporting fleets. You will probably need to change this for TEC of Vasari.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks guys, i finally got the hang of it!

Although having said that i still cant win on "Fertile Crescent" Map because you start with very undeveloped planet, cutthroat pirates and a equally challenging adversary on the other side of the solar system, the challenge is compounded by the fact that resources are scare until you get to the 'fertile crescent' which you will have to fight tooth and nail to secure and hold! 

I used the tips above in another map, and after a short while i had the situation under control ;)

but if you want a real challenge, have a bash at Fertile Crescent and you will see what i have been banging on about!! :D

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

IIRC, Fertile Crescent starts you with no home world, so all your income rates are slashed until you upgrade that.

 

:fox:

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

OOOOOO no homeworld. That would really suck for getting money no wonder you didn't have any money. GEEZ! I don't play much of the scenario maps, I mainly play random solar systems. I need to start playing those scenario maps!

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

AH, so there is a distinction between starting with a "planet" and a "homeworld" !

lol i had to learn that the hard way!

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Just played as well with no homeworld through the whole game. Uh annexing the neutral metal and crystal extractors near the pirate base helped alot.

Vasari scouts can do this as a T0 ability, meaning its like 200 credits and some metal to get them out and scouting (sold all my crystals at start after upgrading my planets civilian structurs to t2 xD).

 

Just another way to play the map i guess. Was fun and thanks for bringing it to my attention.

 

Quviron