Opening tactics...

[Ceyan]

I was just wondering if anyone wouldn't mind sharing any opinions on how to best start out a game (say the first 10-20 years or so). I recently got the game in the mail, and I've been playing it nearly non-stop, but I can't find a good way to start a game.

My biggest problem in any game (Strategy, 4X, etc...) is that I prefer to build up in terms of economy/research before I focus on military. While this isn't detrimental against the AI it still leaves me a bit behind the times when war eventually breaks out. However, the real reason I'm asking is because eventually I want to move on to playing Online, but unless I get lucky leaving out the military until a good chunk of the game has passed by will probably get me killed.

I checked the Newbie/FAQ threads in the classic forum, but I didn't see to much in terms of anything aside from ship combat tactics. I mainly want to know what to focus on military wise (in terms of the use of mines and satellites for defense), and what to focus on when I build up my economy (a specific resource, making sure I've got a large ship production capability, etc...) and research.

Anyways, I'm sure it will come to me with experience (or I might find references elsewhere in the forums) if the stuff I'm asking for common knowledge or the basics I just haven't gotten too yet, otherewise I wouldn't mind any help on the stuff I'm not likely to learn until I get my butt handed to me several times in multiplayer games.

[Fyron]

Expand like mad. Colonize every world you can get to, as soon as possible. Don't worry if it is a tiny non-breatheable; it is still valuable. This is the major key to victory in SE4 (as in many strategy games).

[Stone Mill]

Welcome Ceyan.

Actually, you are in luck... I was just putting something like this together. Should have it posted soon. Perhaps tomorrow...

[Suicide Junkie]

A good way to balance your development and your military is to have piles of Spaceyards.
You can then keep pumping out colony ships while you build your military.

With your homeworld, design and build 3 to 5 Bases with Spaceyards.
For other spaceyard planets, build a few orbital yards as well. Just keep an eye on your maintenance costs.

If maintenance gets too high, start mothballing the warships you create on the spot. These reserves will cost you nothing to maintain, and can be reactivated on one turn's notice for 25% of the build price, I believe.

[mac5732]

In addition to SJ and Fyron's advice, research mines as soon as possible, they are good for initial defense while you expand, build some colony ships and then build a space base or 2, this way you can build colony ships and yet build some military ships as well, Some players like to build killer sats in beginning to go with the mines, also you want to research point defense within you lst 15 turns or so as they are good against missle attacks, so if you build mines, weapon platforms and maybe some killer sats in beginning, this should keep you in there for awhhile, but against human player you'll have to adjust to researching ships at least to BC's along with propulsion. good luck

just some ideas mac

[QuarianRex]

And for the love of god make sure that you have some defense on each planet. I can't count the number of times that I have lost colonies when an enemy ship manages to penetrate, or circumvent, my warp-point defense and glass a few worlds. Conversely, the presence of a couple weapon platfoms or some defense sats (less useful) has saved my arse from just such a fate time and time again.