So i've read some of these strategies such as ALL econ, All Mining, and All Research. Are these the only viable strategies that will win a Maso+ game? Can it be won with normal sliders(not 1-99-0), decent colony rush, and proper skills in diplomacy, research, and warfare? Or are these "advanced" strategies just bent on maximizing an early win or a high MV score? Because micromanagement to that degree seems less fun to me. If I must always do the same thing in a game and then after the game is won, decide on a diplomatic or tech victory, it just seems very poor. Help?
Brian
You needn't use Focus Strategies(like all this, all that, flip) to win a Masochistic game. If you don't like, it, you don't have to use it. After all, it is just a game. And games are supposed to be for fun. If you don't find focus strategies fun, don't use them.
The thing is, focusing gets a little more out of each production planet than a mixed-up approach due to focus points. As Wyndstar said in the Altarian Rebellion AAR, you can use All Research and Tech Trading/Whoring to gain a big technological advantage, and then 'Flip' to an All Industry empire and begin shooting out ultra-tech ships to crush your opponents militarily.
With All Industry and All Research, you can only have a few of your planets focused on production. The rest need to be All Economy so that you don't go severely broke, and a short Trade Array would be useful too if there aren't so many planets.
Since I like micromanagement, I'll be using Focus Strategies in my future games. I believe micromanagement gets that little bit extra out of everything, be it planets, ships, etc.
