Okay, I've taken four passes at this and get creamed every time. I am new to the All-X strategy so I may be doing something wrong that has nothing to do with the Masochistic level.
Just a quick take on the All-X strategy: I have the research slider set to zero and vary the cultural and military sliders as needed. I build nothing but Factories (and their upgrades) and Trade Centers (ditto). I set the focus of every planet to research and populate each planet with only factory structures, throwing in a few trade structures (Stock Exchange, etc.) to generate income.
This is how it is done, yes?
I play the Torians (old habit) and usually focus on econ and military construction abilities, and play as Federalists. Huge galaxy. Dread Lords, not Avatar.
The problem is research. It is practically flatline and within 75 turns mine is still scraping the zero mark while theirs are soaring many brackets above me. It doesn't take long until my measly stinger missile military machine is seen as weak by races packing Phasors and they start extorting technology and cash from me or just flat out declare war.
This past game I tried racheting up research abilities and playing as Technologists and have done worse than ever. Are these benefits wasted on a player with no research structures or are they manifest in whatever reserach I can scrape together via the focus button?
I have tried trading technologies to catch up with very limited success. I simply don't have enough cash/tech to trade to make myself competitive with weapons, hulls, engines, logistics and miniaturization.
Two games ago I managed to fight the Korx to a stalemate of attrition; I could fend them off but nothing more. When the Iconians piled on, I packed it in. You know when it's a lost cause.
So, how is this done? What am I doing wrong?