Try focusing on building better ships much much later in the game rather then sooner.
i.e. I can build a 4 attack heavy fighter at the start of year 1(2227 in DA) but if I wait and focus my civilization on research and get the better techs (Psionic beams, Expert Miniturization, Medium Hulls and someother choice tech which I can't remember right now for instance) I can build an attack 98 frigate by early year 2(2228 in DA). As you can see, there is a tremendous diference. In fact, I can have upto 6 times the individual crippling AI's military might with just one or two of the better ships(depending on the conditions).

Just remember, you must have a manufacturing capacity to make these ships within a reasonable period of time. They are much much better but also considerably more expensive. A Psionic Beam armed heavy frigate can cost as much as 1 TC(Trillion Credits or 1000 BC) to manufacture.


Also, you should try focusing your spending to a specific area where you need it. Trying to coast at 33%, 33% and 34% at the spending bars for each production category is never(maybe sometimes but very occasionally) wise. As all of your production sources of each category are producing a third of what they can at the spending rates mentioned above.
i.e. When you build a Basic Lab it says it will produce 6 RPs/week. But it will only produce 6 RPs/week if your research spending is at full(100%), at 33% it will produce 2-3RPs/week, so it is imperative that you efficiently distribute 100% full spending in each area as needed(or coast if nessesary).

And starting the campaign as your first galaxy isn't always the best idea. Try playing a sandbox game(metaverse or normal) to get you better acquianted with the basics. I would suggest beginning at normal or higher.

In the campaign, the storyline is set. The AI will attack you or make peace, etc when it is suppposed to as in the story. (I didn't play the campaign so don't take my word for it).

All the suggestions and tips mentioned above are for the sandbox mode. If you were seeking help for the campaign only then, my bad. Also, all the advice given above was given assuming you are new to the game.

-Fire

Dear Fire:

Hello, from Canada!!!!! I hope this finds you and yours well.

Yes, you are EXTREMELY right in assuming that I'm new to this game. It was in the Sandbox Mode that I got blown out of the water!!! Metaverse, you say? What's that like--any easier for rookies like me? I think I'll try that when I go into the game again.

Your opinion please. Do you think I was wrong in buying this game or is it easier than it looks?

Your reassurances will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely yours always,

Indy.

Oh it is easier then it looks. And you were definitly right in buying the game. Believe me, once you get better acquianted with the game, doubt will vanish.

Blown out of the water, you say?
Then get right back in! Thats how I learned.

The metaverse is an option that allows you to create a character(see my profile) and use that character to play a completely fair game and submit it to the metaverse. In the metaverse you can compare your scores to other players' submissions. Its kind of like an indirect "multiplayer" system.

Dear Iztok:

Greetings from Canada!! I hope this finds you and yours well.

No, I don't think you're being harsh at all. I guess the excitement got to me, that's all. I feel you're being honest.

I do have two questions: 1)Would it be a good idea if I researched EVERYTHING just to cover my basis? 2)I've also got the original GalCiv I here. Would it be a good idea to play that for a while, per your instructions, just to get my feet wet? 3) Excuse me for being dim, but what's a hadron collider?

Live long and prosper, take care and thank you kindly!!!!

Sincerely yours always,

Indy.

Dear Iztok:

Greetings from Canada!! I hope this finds you and yours well.

No, I don't think you're being harsh at all. I guess the excitement got to me, that's all. I feel you're being honest.

I do have two questions: 1)Would it be a good idea if I researched EVERYTHING just to cover my basis? 2)I've also got the original GalCiv I here. Would it be a good idea to play that for a while, per your instructions, just to get my feet wet? 3) Excuse me for being dim, but what's a hadron collider?

Live long and prosper, take care and thank you kindly!!!!

Sincerely yours always,

Indy.

Dear Iztok:

Good afternoon from Canada!!! I hope this finds you and yours well.

As an explanation for why I've got the same thing in there twice, well, I got a little antsy with the way Gus (my computer)was moving his butt.

Secondly, two questions here: 1)Is it possible to adjust the number of habitable planets and asteroid fields whilst playing the game? 2)Secondly, what do you make of the Snathi? They're the civilization who have the leader who looks like an eyeless gopher. 3)What is the best way to start relationships, for lack of a better word, with these people, especially the Drengin Empire?

Live long and prosper, take care and thank you kindly!!!!

Sincerely yours always,

Indy.

Oh, good news, I'm making progress. I've got 5091 bcs in the bank.

"2)Secondly, what do you make of the Snathi? They're the civilization who have the leader who looks like an eyeless gopher."

Iztok said eXploit, eXterminate. Totally correct. To elaborate, here's what you do:

Demand money from them. Keep demanding until they won't give any more. Then conquer their nice Class 15 homeworld. This shouldn't be hard since they have a tendency of only building a single Defender for their military. You need some decent weapons(Stinger 4, Laser 5, or the top-level Railgun) on at least a small hull to destroy their defender and you need to research Planetary Invasion and then build and load Transports to attack and hopefully conquer their planet. To attack a planet, first destroy all ships orbiting it, then click on a nearby Transport of yours, and then right-click on the target planet.

"3)What is the best way to start relationships, for lack of a better word, with these people, especially the Drengin Empire?"

Establish trade routes, pay them(or else give them gifts), build a stronger military, have a better diplomacy ability, have treaties with them, don't have a war with them for a long time, make them fight someone else. Those are all the diplomacy tricks I know.



Is your economy truly in the green or did you forget to set the sliders off of default(66% Spending)? Treasury isn't progress. Just starting a new game and setting Spending to 0% immediately will give you over 5091 bc in a few turns, but you wouldn't have made any progress.