Production question

from Stardock Forums
Newbie post here.

Playing even on normal, in the early game the computer normaly is able to out produce and out research me by a good margin. My only way to stay even or ahead is the multiple starbase social/military production method (which feels more like an exploit).

So does the computer get a production bonus, or is it just better managment? Even though I'm playing an industrialist civ, I can't keep up.
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Check your spending sliders, if your government expenditure is at max(100%), you can knock out projects/ships/improvements and discover techs very fast. With military production at 100% and a few industrialist racial picks to help you can knock out a colony ship every other turn.

Hope this helps :)
Exar
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
So does the computer get a production bonus, or is it just better managment? Even though I'm playing an industrialist civ, I can't keep up.
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They do start with some extra cash, and I think they buy lots of stuff. I have found, if you can stay alive, and out of fights, trade techs for cash to minors and swap with majors, you eventually catch up.

It is hard to be on par "out of the gate" but you can get back in the race :)

I was stunned the other day, when on challenging, and the Carinoids had diplomatic translators by like the 4th or 5th turn. They died later thanks to Mr Terror Star (I did that just because they ticked me off earlier :) )
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Well there is this problem with cash :P

Once I get a few starbases upgraded I'm fine, but it seems I need to spend a few turns praying no one delcares war on me.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Well there is this problem with cash
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How high do you set your tax rate when you first start? I usually crank mine to at least 50% and watch morale closely. There are periods of stagnation at times but all in all production can be cranked out quite well. Are you adjusting your sliders on the economic screen at all? It does take time to catch up with the AI.

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Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

How high do you set your tax rate when you first start? I usually crank mine to at least 50% and watch morale closely. There are periods of stagnation at times but all in all production can be cranked out quite well. Are you adjusting your sliders on the economic screen at all? It does take time to catch up with them.
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Of course I play with the sliders. I do tend to keep taxes low and perhaps I should up those a bit. I might be evil but I'm not evil enough to tax unfairly unlike real life ;)

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
You shouldn't feel bad about dropping behind the AI in the beginning you can catch up later.

Depending on your starting picks (if you have + diplomacy) you can start the AI's of to war against each other. This will help keep your relations with them good and they will direct their trade towards you instead to each other.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

You shouldn't feel bad about dropping behind the AI in the beginning you can catch up later.

Depending on your starting picks (if you have + diplomacy) you can start the AI's of to war against each other. This will help keep your relations with them good and they will direct their trade towards you instead to each other.
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Yea thats what I have been doing. War is good, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something in management I was missing.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Of course I play with the sliders. I do tend to keep taxes low and perhaps I should up those a bit. I might be evil but I'm not evil enough to tax unfairly unlike real life
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In the beginning, crank them high! Then back off when you start getting some trade BC's in. Don't worry about the ethics part (doesn't effect it anyway, the random events do).

And Aaaberg said it well: Don't worry about it you will catch up. And, it is fun to watch the AI fight it out and deplete themselves for you :)
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Don't worry about the ethics part (doesn't effect it anyway, the random events do).
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Hehe its to bad the game doesn't take things like sneak attacks, or asking for attacks on good aliens as an 'evil' act.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Hehe its to bad the game doesn't take things like sneak attacks, or asking for attacks on good aliens as an 'evil' act.
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Heck, it doesn't even count the six terror stars I used :D