Becoming and Maintaing your status as a superpower?

Is it possible and how do you do it?

For me one of the most rewarding aspects of the game is the ability to manage a large empire and become the reigning super power on maps (especially Gigantic maps). The game is always as fun for me in terms of being able to rule the universe as it is in the challenge of winning. With that in mind I'm curious as to whether or not anyone else has a habit of doing this, and how they maintain dominance in space when they allow the game to drag on and the A.I is able to catch up in technology.
7,190 views 6 replies
Reply #1 Top
You can set the victory conditions to military only, then just leave at least one major race planet available. Although you might need to build influence starbaes near that planet and gift them to that race so that they don't convert to you.

But this game is all about winning the war, not winning the peace. It is normally dull for me as soon as I know that I can't loose, normally about 60% of the way through or less. It does not matter if they catch you in tech, indeed I normally win being 2nd or 3rd in technoloy, what matter is industrial might and the economy to handle it.

If you can produce 10 battleships on the average turn, and another race can produce 1 or 2, it won't matter who has the best tech, there is no way they can ever pose a credable threat.
Reply #2 Top
I think once it gets toward the end of the game, the remaining AIs go into some sort of permanent crisis mode where they don't research much (if at all) and don't build much on their planets; they just keep building warship after warship, bankrupting themselves to the point where their population won't grow, either.
Reply #3 Top
Makes sense I suppose, what else could you do if you had a few planets left and the Korath or someone totally dominated the galaxy and you looked headed for a extinction.

I think I might, give say a PQ14 build. 8 plant defense structures for 200% defense. 2 Farms and 4 Fertility Centers. In the hope we can breed enough soldiers fast enough to resist invasion.
Reply #4 Top
That part of the game is boring to me. I prefer the challenge of not being the most powerful and fighting my way to the top. The closer I come to losing, the more fun it is when I win.

When I get to the point where no one can touch me, I just want to win the game quickly so I can move on to something more interesting.
Reply #5 Top
Hi!
If you can produce 10 battleships on the average turn, and another race can produce 1 or 2, it won't matter who has the best tech, there is no way they can ever pose a credable threat.
End of quote

Last words of many many AIs in my games.

In my DA games I rely heavily on defenses, so in early an mid game ONE of my ships usually destroys several FLEETS of AIs' ships, before I need to retreat it for repairs. In this game quality can beat quantity.

BR, Iztok
Reply #6 Top
First of all I tend to put quite some focus on Technology + buy quite a few techs to keep up or stay ahead in the tech race.
Secondly, once the game is settling a bit, it's time to stir up some wars while building influence starbases in order to flip planets of the warring AI's. I find the snowball effect of influence to be working quite efficiently compared to the usual invasion tactics.