Just a few questions from a newb....

[Southiesox]

Just started playing this game and have never played before...so far, i love it. a few questions (and yea, ive read the manuel but it didnt really answer any of these questions...

I play empire (of course)...so here goes...

- - is it me or does it seem really hard to sway neutral worlds to the empire? rebels do it left and right but for me its hard. Aside from sending someone with a high diplomacy, is there something im missing?

- - i have no idea how to quell an uprising. Ive sent regiments, ships and multiple characters but nothing seems to work. any ideas?

- - according to the manuel, you want to start by constructing refineries and contruction buildings (forgot what theyre called)...i feel like im very limited and can barely construct anything. Is there something im missing here? like, on one planet i can do troopers, another i can do ships and another i can do buildings...its just a very slow process...is this by design or am i doing something wrong?

Thanks for any help you want to throw my way. the game is pretty bad ass and in hoping they release and updated, 2016 version...

[Russian Orthodox Revolution]

1) Nope, not hard at all. Just use one diplomatic character and you'll get the planet in no time. Try to do diplomacy on planets that already favor you. When you hit ALT 1 you can see tiny dots and slightly bigger dots. Try to diplomatize the slightly bigger dots first. You'll get them quicker, and each planet you turn will turn sector support in your favor slightly, making each additional planet easier to diplomatize.

2) Easily done for the Imperial player. Most Imperial characters have a very high leadership rating thanks to the Emperor's seat of power effect. Simply remove all but one troop to cause an uprising, then send your personnel down, one at a time. See my videos below to see how it's done.

3) You don't need to build refineries at the start. You get your mines and refineries from all the neutral planets you're going to get. Each mine and refinery pair gives you 50 maintenance points.

Here are a couple videos with tips for the Empire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkETdrVOWTE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuGpzlRsdto

[Sachmo The Trumpet Player]

There can be huge loyalty swings as the Rebellion due to The Empire starting out with a two planet disadvantage. It's always my goal when playing as the Rebels to hit the two Empire planets only theirs by a garrison.

This can flip whole sectors, so watch out.

[Southiesox]

Wow! Thank both of you guys...I will definitely check out the videos.

I tried playing the rebels but I have to admit, I'm empire at heart. I figure being rebels, you might nab planets easier just because their the good guys.

[Southiesox]

ok. i watched the videos. they were helpful (but you navigate super fast!). I am not having the same luck turning planets. it seems to me that the rebels are gaining planets left and right and i struggling to get a few. is this just a setting on the game? something that allows rebels to get planets faster because they are the good guys?

thanks a lot. up the empire!

[bstangeby]

How you do it is up to you but I always play on huge and expert. Beginning of game I send all caracters and fleets to Coruscant. Palpatine and Vader begin recruiting. High diplomacy caracters sent on diplomacy missions in Sesswenna. One high espionage caracter are assigned as general or commander of Coruscant to prevent rebel missions. 3 highest combat rating caracters go to the fleet. They have higher rate of success to destroy those planets with 2 shields. I set up a planet as my construction center in each sector. 3 ship yards, 3 barracks, 3 construction yards and protected by 50++ tie fighters. Of course this is quite mid game to get this up a running. Take what 30 days in beginning just to construct anything with just one construction yard.

[Erwin_Von_Braun]

Pretty much what has already been said here - the only difference is I would send all available diplomatic characters to the same system, should convert it in a snap.
risky strategy, but the AI isn't sharp enough to catch on.

[VonBraun]

My strategy as Empire: Send all characters to Coruscat and begin research in all three techs. Build 14 Star Destroyers on all your controlled planets. Wait until all techs researced then build three to four massive fleets. Go and conquer, once controlled planet assign many characters to Diplomacy and it's yours in no time. Continue doing this tactic until you control the Galaxy.