Hi everybody,
I started my first game on a gigantic map with a custom race (populists + diplomatic bonus). All planets are colonized. These are the stats:
Arcean: 85 planets, 372 attack ships, 453 billion people
Drengin: 23 planets, 178 attack ships, 131 billion people
Torian: 50 planets, 257 attack ships, 370 billion people
Iconian: 44 planets, 182 attack ships, 304 billion people
Me: 78 planets, 117 attack ships, 568 billion people.
Above stats and more I got from spying on them. My spies have infiltrated their society and they tell in great detail what I want to know.
I am 1st in population, Economy, Technology, Influence and Production. I am playing at normal difficulty and it's a peacefull universe, nobody is at war.
My questions:
The Arceans have a huge fleet compared to mine which I find a bit intimidating. They also build these things like crazy. Are they preparing for war? Should I be concerned?
I am puzzled about how to design my attacking ships. Should I use lasers, missiles, railguns? Can anyone provide me with an example what to put on an early design attacking ship? (small & medium hull, I have recently researched stinger IV, railgun mk 4, plasma, ECMIII, Shield II, titanium armor III) .
What should be my strategy? Should I focus on 1) research, 2) military, 3) influence or a mix of the three?
I don't want to go to war (yet) but if I fall behind in military too much and the Arceans keeping building more ships then I am very vulnerable for attack.
What should I build on my planets. I am really confused. Should I build research academies, influencial buildings, more banks or focus on planetary defence and starbases?
Because of the number of planets and the number of possibilities I find it extremely difficult to focus. Can someone give me some advise?