Newbie in trouble

from Stardock Forums
G'day. I just bought this game the other day and have been playing in none stop and have got my arse kicked many a time. The problem I keep on facing is the economy, now the other day I was controling in successfully by dropping the taxes then rising the taxes every 2 or so months. Then in hit this economy boost thing where my income revenue skyrockets to like 300 bc per month. Thats when my problems begin. When my economy boost ends, two or so months later I am heavily in debt (I'm about -4000 BC in the last game) and was unable to re-build my military. Six months later, a race that I thought were my friends declared war on me, and I lost the game.

I'm really in need in advice on how to control my budget correctly and as well build up my military correctly. I would much appreciate this, thanks

Cord Elam
288 views 6 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Don't fiddle the tax rates all the time because that finishs up annoying your population.

Build freighters and establish trade routes. Build trade enhancing starbase modules to maximise trade route values.

Don't build everything on every world. On a lousy world build all the free improvements: soil enrichment, habitat improvement, bank and economic exchange (if needed cultural resistance and/or influence improvements) and then pretty well leave them to generate a few BC, a bit of research and some constructors. Max out the rich worlds. :)
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Not certain what economy boost you are talking about.

What kind of victory are you usually aiming for? For instance, I tend to play for cultural wins so focus on diplomacy and build few/any warships.

You know there is a slider that controls goverment spending, yes? It is right below the tax slider. You can have a mothly deficit, but be careful not to drain your treasury.

I'm still a newb, but have finished two medium galaxies and have yet to go negative. I'm close in my current game because of the need for a slightly different tactic early.

Are you leasing lots of ships? Don't do that unless you absolutely have to.

What is your tax rate set at? You need to check your tax and spend rates when you colonize a new planet or make other changes to your economy, like building a new trade good that raises morale.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
The economy boost is some sort of event or somethin like that... I ususally take off victory conditions so I can just keep on playin (Now I've learnt my lesson)

To be honest, I don't know really how to 'lease' stuff like that, I'm kinda new the this genre of gaming ( I know, I know, I'm pathetic!)

Tax rate is usually 45-50%, Spending 10-30%

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
A tax rate of 45-50% seems very high and spending of 10-30% low. I suspect the high tax rates are annoying the population so much that is increasing very slowly (I reckon your planets would be much less populous than the AI planets, you could have a peek to see if this is so).

It is all interrelated. Leaving the tax rate so high means smaller populations to pay for fleets and improvements so you then must lower the spending and on it goes.

A more moderate tax rate is better over the log run. Build the free improvements (soil enrichment, habitat and bank) on your planets first because not only they free but your population grows while you are building those things so you get more taxpayers. :)
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Do you rushbuy stuff? Don't. If you pay Mitrosoft too much, you'll have a dead weight. Build banks, entertainment networks, and keep the taxes low enough to get a good morale. Good morale means population growth means more tax income.
You should also trade with the ai, with freighters and by selling them techs, ships or trade goods.