Need some Advice on playing Tall in Stellaris.

[Mr.Hmm]

First i would like to say that I dont have any expansions (But i am getting paid very soon so i will buy them).
I only played Wide and never played Tall, I would like to ask for some advice/help in regards of playing Tall in Stellaris.

By saying Tall I mean... hold 2-5 systems(I always play on the largest size map) and stick with these.
I never played Tall in Stellaris so i have no idea on how to start about doing it and.. the only mods i used was UI mods cause the UI was too small.
I am fine with using mods but i have no idea what kind of mods I should use so some advice would be helpful.

So essentially what i am looking for is advice/suggestions on playing Tall with 2-5 systems(I am fine with more but i feel like more than 5 is... too much for some reason).

The only experience i have with playing Tall is Crusader Kings 2 and 3.

[Kane526]

When you say systems, do you mean planets? Or actually no more than a few claimed systems? Because trying to play tall without DLC with just a handful of systems and what might be like 3 planets at most just won't work out. All the best thing for playing tall like Arcologies, Ring Worlds, Habitats, Branch Offices, Specialized Vassals, Sovereign Guardianship, Virtuality Ascension, all of these options will not be available without their DLCs. Tall is simply really really weak without DLC.

[Kane526]

For when you do eventually get DLCs, Shattered Ring Origin with Sovereign Guardianship and playing as a Machine Empire that goes Virtual Ascension is such a strong combination that it could be considered even better than Wide. You could realistically just stay in your starting system and thrive tremendously, although minerals may be an issue, so I suggest trying to at least get a good mining world/habitat or a Black Hole where you can eventually make a Matter Decompressor. A good place for an early Arc Furnace would also be a high priority.

[Mr.Hmm]

Originally posted by Kane526:

For when you do eventually get DLCs, Shattered Ring Origin with Sovereign Guardianship and playing as a Machine Empire that goes Virtual Ascension is such a strong combination that it could be considered even better than Wide. You could realistically just stay in your starting system and thrive tremendously, although minerals may be an issue, so I suggest trying to at least get a good mining world/habitat or a Black Hole where you can eventually make a Matter Decompressor. A good place for an early Arc Furnace would also be a high priority.

Got it thanks.
I am definitely going to get the DLC just gotta wait to get paid first :D

[Vuyek]

wait for a half off christmas sale? new year's sale? 50% off (or more).

[Segovax]

Yeah, all the DLC except the latest always go on sale for 50% off at some point, I'd wait a week and see what happens.

They used to do 75% which is how I got most of my CK2 DLC. Wish they would go back to that but I guess everyone just sat and waited for them.

[Sabaithal]

- Wide empires thrive on production of regular resources. Tall empires thrive on production of advanced resources. Meaning rush research first, unity second, but you want both to overcome wide empires quickly.
- Leaders can be very important (especially with Galactic Paragons), giving large stacking research bonuses in particular. Also for admirals the Trickser trait is a must have through much of the early game, since you will be fighting fleets much large than your own. Losing a battle won't mean much when most of your ships remain afterwards, while the enemy lost half of theirs. I would even go so far as to invest into the venerable trait, depending on your game settings.
- To add to the above technocracy really helps.
- Starbases on chokepoints are vital. Especially against the AI, who will eventually just stop trying to fight you if your starbases are powerful enough, even if your fleet is nonexistent (which is my only explanation...). Early game they are your main defense, with your fleets existing to turn the tide in your favor if the enemy does attack them.
- No more than 3 planets. Arguably that already may be too much, but you want some leeway with building things.
- You need the Utopia DLC at least. Unless you plan to minmax till your brain falls out, you need megastructures. Not just the endgame ones either, having dyson swarms and arc smelters will massively boost your economy as a tall empire pretty early on.
- To add to the previous the shattered ring origin is ideal for tall empires. Just remember you can colonize the other segments early on, you just need to research four specific techs to clear the blockers inhibiting their habitability.
- Remember that you don't become godlike powerful until near endgame years. So don't be aggressive, if necessary placate your neighbors until that time then expand through the galaxy in a sea of filthy xenos blood!
- Keep your territory small. <Empire Size> aside, your neighbors will see large territory with low population as easy pickings (and it will be much harder to defend due to the distance).

[Kalemenos]

Excellent suggestions. But wow, three planets is pretty intense. That's tall, but skinny and tall like a giant redwood!

I find playing wide a real click-a-thon, and it gets tedious. Lately I'm quite happy playing exclusively tall, and I'm LOVING megacorp. It has its own kind of vassal, that feeds TONS of resources into your tiny empire. With those resources you can outbuild your enemy's fleets, and everything else. You need the megacorp DLC. Getting vassals and taxing them for resources and tech - I think that might work well even without DLC's.

For "tall" I will make it about one sector big (home-base + 4 systems out). Occasionally I'll grab a very valuable system that's not connected, because it has unusual types or amounts of resources, an abandoned megastructure, or a useful Enclave (Overlord DLC). In that space, also, you can build ringworlds and habitats.

[Sabaithal]

If you have more than 3 worlds its not really "tall" anymore due to how strained your empire size would be.

We're talking endgame developed planets, not newly colonized ones, and one of them is usually an Ecumenopolis.

[Mennan]

Don't play the game sitting down, you'll be at least 50% taller.

[mss73055]

Try tall as Ring World with Sovereign Guardianship.
And Galactic Curators for some quick unity, reseach and digging outside your turf.
If you play machine (what gives you 50% habitability on the ruined sections) do Virtuality.

It's alright to own a sector, for megastructures and furnaces.
Grab the special star systems as you find them. Because Galactic Curators star systems with funny research bonuses are special, too.