Tips and Tricks to get ahead

[Desert Punk]

This is aimed towards all players of SOTS2.

What tips and tricks have you picked up that works for you when you play? What tricks have you found that allows you to get an advantage over other players or the computer player?

[ThingGoBoom]

Against AI just wait till they attack while focusing on teching up and getting a good economy. Until they actually try different tactics in combat they will always succumb to superior technology. The only problem with this is long game = long turn times.

[Llamedos]

dont bother prototyping a new vessel until you can upgrade everything on it and go into trade early.

and for gods sake dont boost research

[Desert Punk]

Haha don't boost research :) I agree

[Poodlestrike]

Focus on your economy first, everything else descends from that. Need more fleets? Gonna have to pay for them. Want better guns? Research goes faster when you're making more money! Trade's fantastic for that, but you should really try to outsource ~2/3 of your freighters to your civilian economy, while the rest should be Q-Ships owned by you. A naval station in each of your trade systems is a good idea, it cuts down on pirates, and gives you much better denfensive options... actually, naval stations are just all-around great. Stick them in every system you can afford to. Don't make any new classes till you can upgrade EVERYTHING on them, since prototyping is handily the single greatest cost for at least the first hundred turns.

[Rhudda]

Personally, I leave trading until I've developed some more colonies, because trading requires investment first. Which brings me to colonisation: It's probably obvious, but don't settle every planet you come across. Be very picky in the early game, because a single colony with a 100'000 development cost over several turns is a huge drain. Overharvest to speed up development if you absolutely must have that planet now, otherwise aim for those with a climate hazard of less than 300.

[Desert Punk]

Thanks for the info guys. It just seems kind of risky to me to not be building ships right from the start, but I see what you mean

[SFCShadow]

Commander Methos lähetti viestin:

dont bother prototyping a new vessel until you can upgrade everything on it and go into trade early.

and for gods sake dont boost research

Actually turn one you can redesign (prototype) any ship or new design for free. You are stuck with the initial ships, but you CAN have designs you like best from game start. It's often a good idea to re-prototype the first turn for a better experience (espeically if you start with new techs to help you get going).

[Desert Punk]

Hmmm if that's true then that is a huge help. I'll have to test this. Do you mean if you prototype a ship. all the ships currently deployed will take that new form for free immediately?

[Rhudda]

No, they won't. You just avoid the usual cost for prototyping.

[SFCShadow]

Desert Punk lähetti viestin:

Hmmm if that's true then that is a huge help. I'll have to test this. Do you mean if you prototype a ship. all the ships currently deployed will take that new form for free immediately?

... You are stuck with the initial ships, but you CAN have designs you like best from game start...

I thought I answered that before you asked. ;)

[Desert Punk]

I mis-understood

[MadHowa]

I have been working on the Wiki. I left lots of gold nuggets in here- http://sots2.rorschach.net/Liir:_Gameplay

[Desert Punk]

Good on ya Hawa! Talk about a gold mine