Now What..After Diplomatic Victory, what should I try for next?

A fun game to play (but very hard) is to try and win a game without fighting anyone, be it offensivly or defensivly. I've only pulled it of once, and had several where I only defended planets (trade routes, diplomacy, and a stout navy are a must, you must make them realize you are worth far more alive then what it would take to conquer you).

If you don't want to win diplomatic victories, then make sure you are always at war. Pay your allies to attack your other allies as well. That way, once one of your allies is worn down you can terminate your alliance, and blitz them (crippleing them in just a couple turns). I played an evil race once and that's how I survived, I just built up alliances, while slowly back stabing my allies (and getting them involved in wars with others to soften them up for me). Eventually, I had taken over five of the 8 races (on tough), and was then able to easily take the rest down one by one the old fasioned way.

Well, err...ummm... First of all, great information. Secondly, I think I wouldn't want to get on your "bad" side; ever!

On a less "tongue in cheek" mode..that is (partly) what I am doing now. I have researched the Diplomacy tech to the max and built up quite a nice navy. I figured out how to (by using the sliders) whip through the techs whenever I needed something. Now, everyone is at war with the others. I am just sitting there researching the tree for superior weapons now, sending out freighters (trade) to the biggies on the block, and pretty much don't know where to go from here. I am just waiting for someone to attack me or declare war. BTW, I am getting pop-ups quite frequently with gift offerings (money) for researching that Dip tech. Wow, I am the rock star on the block. Anyway, would appreciate it (if you can see around the corner) what to expect, so I can change my strategy.

Thanks for your response to my post, too. It's not a good feeling when you post and no one responds. I know .....I'm too sensitive, but then I wouldn't be Helo.

Cheers,

Helo

considering what you can expect is that you won't get into a war unless you start it.... you could try going for an influence victory... requires lots of starbases (center them around AI high PQ planets) and flip the planets... makes for a long game!

On responding to the post; posts don't show up on the "most recent posts" list unless at least one reply is in there, so I advise to bump your own post.... such as replying to your own post with "I'd like to try something else"... on most forums bumping your own post is considered bad, but on this one it's almost a necessity...

Turn off Diplomacy Victory when you start the game.

Personally, I turn off all alternate victory conditions at the start of every game (I wish GC2 would remember this from game to game), but use influence and diplomacy extensively through every game. Often I will have one race attacking another for me, while I am attacking a third, and taking over a fourth with influence.

I rarely get diplomacy victories, either I kill them all, or i'm a research god. Culture wins are pretty much Conquest wins where I forgot to declare war on the last opponent.

yes, whilever diplomatic victory is enabled you can never get a military or influence victory whilever you are allied with someone as the diplomatic victory will kick in first.

I guess the next step is the technological victory, you can still get this one without eventually having to got to war. you could also win a tech victory while allied to someone if this is a large part of your strategy.

btw - if the ai players are offering you gifts of money, you must have a pretty big military in comparison - maybe you could declare war on one of the other civs who are already at war (so they wont be able to focus too much attention on you), and start off on your way to a military victory? sounds like you're in a decent position to do so, and military victories are always fun

Mark