Playing vs humans

[Baal]

I've never played against humans but, here's things I would do.

-Research what is more important. (i.e: guns instead of engines)

-It's best to keep building ships, even if they are infereior, safety in numbers. Don't wait for a certain tech to start building. Build ships and then create designs for new ships and start building them.

-Mine warp points in early game, and then mine transit paths for ships inside the systems in the late game. Player know that WPs will be mined but will be surprised when they hit a field in the middle of a system.

-Try to capture some AI races of your own before the other humans get to them.

[LeTharg]

I've played a bit in PBEM games and have a few thoughts on the differences. First, humans negotiate better and are more willing to do win/win deals. So trade for technology, trade populations, trade comm addresses. Trade for fleet passage or colonization rights. It is the ability to conduct complex diplomacy that most characterizes PBEM games for me.

If you are little, remember none of the large empires wants some other large empire to take you over, so take advantage and get help. Make allies.

On the other hand, if you are powerful expand forcibly and aggressively.

And all the ordinary rules of tactics apply: establish a secure base, guard the choke points, attack with overwhelming force.

And a good starting position helps a lot too.

That said, I haven't won a one of these things yet.

[JenMax]

Another thing to consider. If you are small, and cannot expand, consider quality. Build the very best repair facilities you can - dedicated repair base(s) with three repair pods. (Yards are limited to ONE per ship/base - not repair pods.) Now your small fleet is constantly retrofitted to your best designs. Coupled with interior lines, you much safer against any but an all out massive enemy offense.

[Marty Ward]

The most important thing I've found when playing against humans is to forget everything you did against the AI, they probably did it too and know how to beat it.
I've only played hotseat so maybe some of this is irrelevent.
The game is about economics. Build your economic base and protect it.
Ally with the AI any time you can. Try to get them to fight the other humans.
Try to be the first player, it seems the order of the player determines who fires first in some combats.
If you are a better defensive player than offensive try to get the game started with a high number units and low number of ships allowed, this favors the defense.
Get yourself familiar with all the techs you don't normally play. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of them. The beauty of this game is every thing has a counter but only if you know what everything can do.
Research SM fast. Suicide star destroyer ships can even out a game VERY fast.
Finally, HAVE A BLAST! I'm like you, I've only won a minute fraction of the games I've played against humans but this game has given me the most fun of any game I have ever played in my life.

[javaslinger]

Ok, the end is near. My first game vs humans is almost over. It was a PBEM game and very fun. Can't wait to start the next.

However, I need some serious advice. I got my butt KICKED. I was way behind in everthing and was really never able to expand much as most of the territory and computer players were taken/eliminated by the other human players early on.

My research and mining and intellegence sucks. I'm centuries behind in research.

When my people are eventually eliminated or attacked they won't even notice as they stare at the wondorous new ships of a technology beyond their wildest dreams... Not good.

Anyway, what are some plans and advice for playing vs humans rather than the AI

Ken