How do you do that, Dragonlord?

[Gorgo]

I've just been browsing through the statistics of all PBW-games and could not help but noticing, that you are the leading player in nearly every game you're playing where I could see the statistics.

If it's not a secret: How do you do that?

[Dragonlord]

Gorgo,

I am flattered that you would think I am such an experienced player that I always make it to the first ranking. I am actually in second place in 2 games where statistics are turned on, and am first in the Spiralus and Dark Wars game.

My strategy? Well, it's a combination of many factors, luck being one of them.
Starting position is *very* important, in fact in the next game I host I will pre-generate the map and fix the starting position of all players so that everybody has an equal shot at success.

I also tend to research Appled Research II and Minerals II early on, to save me the time of upgrading facilities later. I try to make T&R alliances with everyone, and have a good economy going. I spend racial points on things like political ability (more trade) and ship maintenance. I usually have many ships, which count (too) heavily in score.
In the beginning of a game I set all my starting planets on emergency build to make colonisers in one turn, and build a few space stations. By the time my planets go in slow mode my new colonies have spaceyards and can take up the slack, while my space stations make Mines, which is my primary defense in the early game. I've stopped wasting time on satelites, and often skip Fighters too. I pay a lot of attention to all the numbers and micromanage a lot, e.g. get 100 population minimun on all planets for that small bonus in construction capacity.

At the end of the day, these games are all about juggling the numbers to your advantage, something I like to do.
The second best part is the diplomatic roleplaying you get in multiplayer PBW games.

Hope that helps,

Dragonlord

[Phoenix-D]

"Well, it's a combination of many factors, luck being one of them"

Like how you came down on my being-retrofitted fleet?

"I will pre-generate the map and fix the starting position of all players so that everybody has an equal shot at success."

You'll need to know everyone's planet types and air type first, though.

Phoenix-D

[BeeDee10]

You don't necessarily need to know the planet types of players in order to give them fair starting positions. When you define a planet as a player's starting position in the map editor, the planet automatically changes to the atmosphere and type of the race that starts there.

The _size_ of the planet doesn't change, however. So make sure all planets are the same size. Alternatively, place the starting position markers in empty sectors; the game will automatically create homeworlds of the predefined starting size in that case.

Oh, and one more caveat; ringworlds and sphereworlds that are used as starting points will turn into Huge planets instead, but only if the atmosphere and type doesn't match that of the player. If you want a race to start on a sphereworld then you _do_ need to keep careful track of what planet type they require. But this is a special case that is unlikely to come up often in conventional games.

[Dragonlord]

Beedee, thanks for that info. I still have to figure out *how* to place those markers though, I haven't really explored the map editor yet.

Gorgo, you're better off asking these guys (Beedee and Phoenix) for their strategies, they are much more experienced players than I am.

(and yes, the occasional bit of big luck like with Phoenix's fleet being retrofitted does help in getting into 1st place :-)

[Gorgo]

Thanks, Dragonlord - you've made some really interesting points.

"I am actually in second place in 2 games where statistics are turned on, and am first in the Spiralus and Dark Wars game."

Yeh, and I if someone else is first, it's Shujo. How does Shujo play? Maybe if he reads this, he can contribute some of his strategies.

Thanks for your insights, I've just learnt a great deal.

I'm currently in three games, War and Diplomacey features you (2nd) and Shujo (1st).

In Ender's game, we're at the year 2406 and not a single combat has occured. It is obviously a great risk in this game to attack someone while not knowing if others will turn against you.

How do you people decide if it's time for war? What has to happen that you choose to attack someone?