New Player Perspective - WOW

I purchased this game yesterday and played for about 8 hours (these games are addicting). I read the tutorials etc and I have to say, this game is completely different than any other strat game I've played before.

Warning to all other new players: If you're a fan of Civ or Masters of Orion, this game is not like it at all, or play the same way!

When I first started in there I had no idea you select a factory/bank/farm for each tile rather than select building in a queue (like CIV or MOO). Too me a while to figure it out. I'm still getting beat on beginner. This is definitly a new feeling after doing so well in other games of this type. What this shows me that this game is alot more complex and requires more strategy. I welcome the challenge.

I also would like to say many of your posts on here has cleared up ALOT of things that didn't make since, or made me look at the game mechanics a different way. Especially since this is the first time a games "core" design's are useless! (I didnt bother experimenting with ship design/upgrade my first game and it really set me back).

One question I have. Whats the basic strategy for starbases? Do you just use them to boost certain planet stats? Where do you place them and how many time do you upgrade them before you stop?

Anyway great forums here.


DOH!: I was gonna try to start a new game now, but I downloaded the latest patch version and I left my keycode at home! Doh.
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Reply #1 Top
Whats the basic strategy for starbases? Do you just use them to boost certain planet stats? Where do you place them and how many time do you upgrade them before you stop?


Eco bases - try to place, so as to get as many of yr planets in there sphere as possible. Early on put the first ones around the planet/s yr trade routes r coming from.

Influence bases - try to place so as too get as many enemy planets in the sphere as possible.

Military starbases - I personally think they r best used in defense (at choke points), but other people seem to love them in attack for overwhealming advantage.

Resource starbases - crucial, grab as many as u can, use yr fleets to guard them.

U r better using fleets to defend starbases rather then there own defenses later in the game. All starbase bonus's stack, u can have 4 starbase's per sector, think carefully about this.

Finally think carefully when u research factory techs especially early on. A trade off exists between planetary development and starbase development.

  Enjoy GC2.  
Reply #2 Top
Good advice and for resource bases I place this priority on them. Oh I play gigantic/conquest so other will have a different priority.

Economic - You can't conquer the Universe if your broke.
Military - on the higher levels it means the difference between win/lost for each battle
Morale - Happy population generate more population who all pay taxes
Research
Influence
Reply #3 Top
I think I place more priority on the Research resources. Superior technology helps in every facet of the game.
Reply #4 Top
Military - on the higher levels it means the difference between win/lost for each battle


I guess I'm still shakey on the placement of the military starbases. Where do you put them. I'm not sure where chokeholds would be. On trade routes? The few games I played, the enemy just went right around them. Does this mean I need more sensors? Or do I make a military starbase at a staging point and just keep all my ships there before deployement to wherever?

Reply #5 Top
Well I installed the Sunday and Start playing, up to now i have been beat 2 times alreadey i am a huge fan of Civilization brand and Im good at the game the Dread Lords II share some similarities but i Have not figure out yet how to handle the Influence process, and I have not have a decent War yet I dont know wich Techs to research to survive yet and im just learning the game today in the morning i put my first Starbase Im learning but the game is very challengin and i like it.

Sorry for that ugly English Im from Panama and I speak spanish.

but Overall a great Game I love it.
Reply #6 Top
They're generally best used early to midgame near your own worlds. Their power is their ability to amplify your own ships' attack. They can also be used to speed up your ships slightly and slow down those of the enemy.
Reply #7 Top
They're generally best used early to midgame near your own worlds. Their power is their ability to amplify your own ships' attack. They can also be used to speed up your ships slightly and slow down those of the enemy.



Aaah that makes more sense.
Reply #8 Top
Yea, great game. Lots of interesting stuff goes on. I've been enjoying it for several months now which is a record for me as far as computer games go. One of the many great things about this game, there's like a bizillion ways to play it.

In my case, I generally don't build economic or military starbases because they don't offer a huge benefit and can cost a lot of turns. For Metaverse games, you need to conquest the whole board as fast as possible to get high scores.

The resource mining starbases are essential. It's important to get as many of those as possible. Adding the mining modules to them is also important. One you get all the industrial techs, there are 7 mining modules. Keep an eye out for ones that "open up". Aliens at war like to hit those giving you an opportunity to grab them.

I use influence starbases quite a bit at a certain stage. "Flipping" planets your way through cultural conquest is a fun part of the game. You just build one next to an alien planet and add the 11 influence modules you get through the yellow cultural conquest techs. Once the influence ratio is greater than 4.0 (number in parenthesis next to influence level), the skull and crossbones appear above the planet and it goes up for a crap shoot on whether it will flip your way that turn or not. Really cool. Careful though, aliens will become hostile when they see you're trying to rally an influence attack on them. There's only a certain amount of influence you can exert and get away with.

Have fun! I'm sure you will

Reply #9 Top
I use 'em all for defence, planet being subverted by another races influence, show them the light with influence starbase.

Need to fund a costly war, why not tax freighter going through your space with the eco' starbase.

falling behind in research, resource starbase.

You get the idea
Reply #10 Top
Don't forget that a very important ability of all starbases is to increase your range.