To have a few but very good fleets you need, obviously, very good speed, a decent offense, and a very good defense. An excellent defense is key to being able to survive the battles and then going immediately to take on the next opponent or fleet. Otherwise you’ll have strings of damaged ships that will eventually die at the hands of superior numbers. Make sure you defense is keyed to your enemies weapons, too.

For instance, in a recent game I was able to hold off ~190 Drengin (!!!) that attacked in 2 massive waves with a dozen and a half ships. This was fairly early, but I still had decent anti-missile defense vs his missiles so I was able to weather staggering numbers of low-grade ships (their freebee Dominator class hulls).

Another idea you can try is to create a lightning rod. What is this? It is a forward base that is nearer to your enemies than the rest of your empire. The AI will generally target it as a ‘threat’ (and it is a threat). I like building a starbase with or without an offense or defense (early in the game offense and defenes on a SB is worth it, later it is pointless). Galactic resources are perfect for this since they are a prize to fight over. What the AI may do is send his ships to this lightning rod base, so your fleets with superior weapons and firepower can hold the line. It is relatively easy to send replacements, and you may not have to worry as much about hordes of fleets staggering into your territory – and diluting your defense by forcing you to react in multiple places. Moreover, with a little strategic analysis your SB will make this your territory, and this will slow your enemies down to 3 parsecs a turn and you'll get to use your Super Isolationist ability to its full effect.

Of course, the AI may not cooperate, and how well this works depends on the setup. But a Lightning Rod forward position may due the trick!

Hydro

I've managed to do this with a fair amount of success, although it's difficult for an isolationist to dominate the galaxy in any manner.

Focus most heavily on defense and speed for shipbuilding, and spend no money on life-support.

Build as many military starbases as you can afford; tailor them to the situation you're in, and defend them as well. If you're going to use a small number of fleets, don't let your starbases ever be vulnerable for any reason. They will boost your speed and your defenses significantly. More importantly, they allow you to focus more on those to attributes while spending less money on offensive weapons. If you are technologically ahead, you should be able to make up for the defense-heavy configurations easily.

Don't be afraid to make large fleets of well-equipped fighters. They'll help make the military starbases worthwhile, and they reflect your isolationist strategy in that smaller ships are "shorter range."

Defend all of your planets and keep a fleet in orbit around one with the Spin Control System and the Omega Defense System as often as possible to ward off potential foes.

You don't need to try to protect all your starbases! just as long as your in a position to intercept any inbounds.



hehehe give up the isolationist thing! your the hub of the universe, the geografy of this truth is indesputable.

You may want to make peace with Terrans while you take out Yor. Since your position is central, you need to focus on 1 front and placate others for the time being OR incite others to go to war with someone else instead of you. After taking out Yor, revenge against those who forced you to placate and broke your Isolationism.
If you are unwilling to deviate a little, your role-playing would come to an abrupt end from fighting a two front war with Terrans and Yor.

Heh, even "Advance Specie"s has its dark days. Great for AAR twists right?

Ha! YES!!!!

Thanks for the advice guys!

Took the offensive straight into their territory trashed my through Yor space and into Terran space building a forward point right in their back yard. With the Terran attacks taken care of my forces were free to sweep across the Yor's western boundaries and relieve my van guard.

Yes but It is not the same thing as the direct protection of a fleet parked on a starbase. It is indirect protection which is a very different thing.

I'm not sure what your point is?

No, i won't defend all my starbases - i might put a few very crappy cheap ships just as enemy movement point wasters, so my main fleet has time to catch up and nail them next turn.

Also I usually keep just 2 or 3 fleets in key positions around my boarders to intercept any incoming.