What is the point of a Federation?

[Dinoman]

So, my feration is made of up of misfits. Two factions of 'Erudite Explorers' and myself, a hive mind. We've fought a number of wars so far and, to put it short and sweet, I'm choking to death.

Between the need for minerals and the need to keep up with AI that seems to pull ships out of thin air, I can't produce nearly enough energy credits to stay afloat. So, I'm trying to propose wars to expand our territories as a whole.

Now, the Avian Erudite Explorers are all for kicking butt as long as they get something out of it, something I'm happy to provide them. The human Erudite Explorers, unsurprisingly, are only up for kicking butt if they are the ONLY ones who get something out of it. If the Avians get a single thing besides humiliating the enemy empire, the humans will not ok the war. I've considered that maybe the two empires don't like each other for some reason, but this is apparently not the case as they refuse to kick each other out of the federation.

So what exactly is the point? Literally every habitable planet in the galaxy is just about taken and the big guys are starting to get way ahead. Also for reasons unbeknownst to me, AI's not even half my size seem to have a lot more tech than I do, so I'm concerned about being left in the dust in that regard and being clobbered by someone simply by superior firepower.

What am I supposed to do in a Federation that refuses to do anything? Go on my own and have the other two hate me?

[galadon3]

At this moment federations are... lets be nice and call it "bare boned" or "unfinished". I actually tested forming a federation exactly ONCE and never again. Might change that when they actually get more options for internal politics but as they are all they seem to be good for is for empires too small to survive on their own to have some kind of protection. (wich is actually pretty flimsy given how bad the AI is at fighting coordinated wars. Best you can do is tell them to flock to your fleet and pray they actually listen)

[phantommail]

Dunno. In my current game i am in big federarion ( 6 members)
AI declares wars one by one and constantly eating stuff. And all members are ok with it )

[LikeTheMyaso]

I think now federations exist only to cooperate AI empire against threat, like player or aggressive neighbour.

[ashbery76]

It's for small empires.

[Mr Compassionate]

In theory it's so that even small empires that are definitely not going to win by themselves don't just quit early because you can still get the collective win.

My personal advice on a GREAT use of federations is to f**k over the AI. You know how the AI keeps making defensive pacts with every other nation? Just make a federation, make both of your neibours join it, now leave the federation and invade. Instead of dealing with the giant circle jerk of 5 defensive pact nations now you only have to deal with 2. Devious s**t. In fact you could probably just add one person to it!

[andrew.gaiennie]

As a pacifist player with only liberation wars I get a lot out of liberating new empires into existence then adding them into the fold. They all have different techs which are used to make the best ships I need atm and because everyone shares the same ethics we all love each other and go to watch for any reason (as long as it's to liberate a future member). 12 members in and my family essentially autowins the wars for me.

If you like playing the meta game it makes it way easier by letting your fed mates and the big fed fleets(which you don't pay upkeep on) do the fighting while you do the planning.

[Dinoman]

Well I decided to leave my federation, and as soon as I did I got multiple proposals for non-aggression and then an association status with a much larger federation made of more powerful empires. I also then proceded to annex the remains of a devouring swarm which put me from not enough energy credits to support my fleet to a surplus of fifty per month.

Definitely seems like going alone is more advantageous. Especially to a hive mind, which makes sense I suppose.

But now I need to figure out how to beat the mega empires, of which there are about 4 or 5 of at this point.

[galadon3]

Gobble up smaller ones, wait for the big ones to go to war against one another and keep looking at the fleet-strength comparison, the moment one of them looses a big space-battle is usually the moment to backstab the looser.

[markdb92]

the problem with feds is that it cause the whole game to become tree huggers as no one can delcare war cause the ai is too scared to. And your fed members will always decline any war most of the time.