Are tech-upgrade money sinks?

from GalCiv2 Forums
A question for the experts.

I been struggling playing as the Drengins in DA.
Here are some of my racial stats:

Weapons +10
Morale +25
Social Production +30
Military Prod +30
Hit Points +10
Soldiering +40
Courage +25
Creativity +25
Logistics +7

Super Dominator

War Party
Weapons +10
Defense +10
Soldiering +15

Racial Tech
Hyperdrive
Gal Warfare
Xeno Engineering
Stellar Cartography

Tiny map. Single AI (vs Terrans).

So here I am playing but the moment I start upgrading to Research Centers, my research takes a nosedive. Furthermore I think my Military and Social production is reduced as well but I am not versed with the game to narrow down WHY this is the case. This occured even when I played an challenging or even a sub-average AI.

I do know that the moment I hit the first few upgrades, the pace slows and I struggle to get anything productive done. To the point where the AI starts overtaking me in research and even production.

Perhaps I was too overly ambitious with the racial stats. Could any regular DA players suggest where I might have gone wrong? Thanks in advance. Or perhaps Drengins don't do research but steal tech by invading their opponnents? First few tries playing a militaristic race.
7,011 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Auto-upgrades can be expensive, expecially if you weren't building anything on your planets before (unused manufacturing capacity is refunded, which can give you a false sense of economic security). I'd imagine what's happening is that you're shifting your spending to get the upgrades done, and combined with the natural swing caused by firing up manufacturing to begin with, it's putting a very large strain on your economy.

The mere act of upgrading research buildings shouldn't have any negative effect on your research speed--buildings being upgraded continue at full function until the new version is complete.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hi!
I been struggling playing as the Drengins in DA.
Here are some of my racial stats
...

I've noticed your race doesn't have any econ bonuses. From my experience is getting enough money in DA significantly more complicated as in DL, so taking 30% bonus for any race is simply a must. You're also playing in a duel, so you'll not be able to get money from trade. That's a double hit to your economy and probably the source of the problem you mentioned:

the moment I start upgrading to Research Centers, my research takes a nosedive

I'd say you simply ran out of money - your treasury went below -500BC. When this happens all production stops, until you're out of that financial hole. My piece of advice: forget any beter factories or other structures until you've researched and build Trade Centers.

BR, Iztok
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Also make sure to space out your upgrades. Don't upgrade your research centers until you have finished the industrial\econ building upgrades, and vice versa.

I usually get the trade buildings maxed out (sometimes going straight through the techs if i have a solid research base) and trade for some other techs so i do not fall too far behind. May not work in a duel though.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks Iztok and LoneWolf0912. I will take your suggestions and balance it around the matches that I play.

Yeah I didn't take the 30% bonus thinking it might not be that important. But like Iztok mentioned, being in a duel-match I noticed the lack of funds when I can't trade with other civs. There was another thread in the 'Gameplay' forum on trade vs no-trade economies, but thats another topic I guess.

And yes my civ was very poor. I rarely went over 5K, mostly hovering around the sub 1K mark as I struggled to meet ends meet, like buying that last min colony ship or constructor to beat the AI. Or frantically trying to fend off the AI with very poorly decked-out ships. For the Drengin to loose the arms race against the Terrans is a disgrace IMHO

Do all the expert play with the colony auto-builder turned 'Off'? And micro-manage the upgrades? Just curious thats all.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yea finance is the true enemy in galciv. other races are just there to take advantage of the devestation finances reak across your doomed civilisation.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
On the smaller maps with few colonies to manage, I turn off the auto-builder and micro-manage, but on the larger maps with dozens and dozens of colonies, auto-builder is almost a must.

Before you can start building up your military, research, or upgrades, you first need to build up your economy, regardless of race or political inclination. If played right, militaristic absolutely rocks. Nothing beats grinding your opponents beneath your heel of your boot as you laugh evilly to their begging of mercy...
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
My two cents: economy, economy, economy. I was playing as a militaristic empire with all the associated bonuses (except I took an econ bonus, too) and as the War Party. I died. I reloaded, kept everything the same except used the Federalist party, giving me an overall 50% econ bonus. I won. Lesson learned: econ is THE most important stat, particularly in the early game. The tiny little bonuses the War Party gives to your military power aren't very significant, if you stop and think, especially if you've already put points into those areas. The bonus to your econ is much more significant. Heck, even a diplomacy bonus can make a bigger difference in the early game, since it can keep people off your back for awhile.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for all the replies.

Yes economy is king in the early fragile moments. I think I narrowed down WHY my previous games were failing.

1. i was too ambitious in my land grabbing. over-extended plus i was researching into those environment techs that took way too long to discover. making those hasty payments to buyout colony ships or constructors.

2. my morale was low. around the low 60%s and that put a strain on pop growth.

3. and because of insta-payments, low pop-growth = low empire funds to play with.

in later games i also realized that the initial colonies squares were eating up like 13-14bc each turn, which is a huge strain when i start multiplying the colonies i jump-started. thus i must learn to not be greedy. thanks all for the enlightening and educating me on how to improve.