Mooncusser

Reply to A chance for someone to look smart (noob question) in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Thanks, PP. I have noticed that the AI tends to share, and I have actually started taking the Speed ability bonus, as well. Not sure if the 5 points on speed is worth it, though, as I usually try to get to Impulse Drive quickly just to get Transports. I am guessing that the AI usually doesn't research the green techs. They are the ones that it most often initiates trade on. I also have started to learn to spread my techs around liberally, once I start to trade them. I usual

Reply to A chance for someone to look smart (noob question) in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I have realized the importance of trade, but I am not that good at using it to my advantage, yet. I obviously get its money-making potential, but haven't learned how to get opponents to start fighting each other. My other problem is managing the switch from rapid expansion to military build-up. I can usually expand quickly, but by the end of that rush, my economy is hurt enough that I need to scale back right when I want to start with Social Improvements and constructing my first wort

Reply to A chance for someone to look smart (noob question) in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Infernal: Your last paragraph highlights what will be my next issue - how to better handle diplomacy. The Altarans are clearly the leader in the game I referenced, and I am clearly the laggard. (OK, the Drengins were the worst laggard, but they surrendered to the Torians - leaving me at the bottom of the heap.) By the time I figured out that I had to do something with the Altarans, I was so diplomatically weak that no-one would listen to me, I was technologically so far behin

Reply to A chance for someone to look smart (noob question) in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I played a bit last night and have rethought my previous post. I still have no idea how the Altarans got a 125 influence rating on that one system, but they were wayyyy ahead of me in terms of development, so maybe it was just various wonders and their acheivements prowess. I started a new galaxy and did much better in terms of managing morale. My population seems to be growing much better now. Also, based on your info on the economic process, I came up with a new exp

Reply to A chance for someone to look smart (noob question) in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

Thanks, that helps. Here is some additional info: 1) the 125 Influence was for the planet/star (With a PQ 14 planet with hardly any improvements!!!). The Altarians had a 2000 Influence for the sector. (I had about 1250 for the sector.) 2) I searched and found a few morale posts. I'm going to have to pay more attention to morale than I have. (I haven't ignored it, but I might have to watch colonization of "iffy" star systems in contested sectors until I can really afford to

A chance for someone to look smart (noob question) in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I've beenn playing GCiv for a couple of weeks now, and have long played Civ/Strategy type games, so I'm familiar with most of the general concepts of the game. My current issues are threefold (specific detail later): 1) What are the factors that increase a planet's Influence base? 2) How do you get population to grow quickly? 3) If you choose to build nothing on a planet (e.g. no military units, just social projects), does this help your budget? Some background: My