Strategy for AI with uninhabitable planets

from GalCiv2 Forums
We are told that basically having too many colonies can cause you to go broke and that it is not a good idea to colonize unhabitable planets. (I would think that such advice would apply more to the early and middle part of the game, and that having more colonies in the end game when you have more options for building profitable colonies would be an advantage in the end game, but that is another strategy question for later.) Anyway, in my current game, I am at war with an alien who has a swarm of colonies, but on inhabitable planets that have been partially reduced...toxic, barren, heavy gravity. These colonies are very non-productive, some with 0%, a few with 50% production. In one part of the galaxy he had 7 colonies only one of which was normal, which I've captured. Now, I don't want to take over the other 6 colonies on bad planets because they might run me broke, and yet I don't want to leave them in his hands because as he develops tech they might give him bases and production to bite my butt later on. In other games you had the option of destroying a city you didn't watn so nobody else could use it...but in DA there doesn't seem to be an option to destroy a planet. How are the winning game players dealing with this kind of problem? Thanks for replies.
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There is a destroy colony option - go to the planet manager screen (or something like that, I don't have it open in front of me, the button is below your improvement build list on the planet screen).

Of course, there are other alternatives. When you invade the planets, you may steal the tech necessary to use them! Even if you don't, you only need the 50% level to use those planets, so they might be worth holding onto for future use. If you hadn't known before, the the 50% penalty only applies to manufacturing - so they will make great research planets (once you buy labs that is). Same thing for econ planets - buy a farm, and start building econ buildings at whatever painfully slow rate the planet can manage.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Wow, that is great information. Explains how the alien I am at war with became the most powerful in the galqaxy and puts a whole new light on the game I have going. Thanks.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Keep in mind also that some civs already have some of those techs researched to make them productive due to their super ability. I've played games that the Iconians researched their way to get 100% on Aquatic planets very quickly (Tech Trade on = fun).
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Just invade them!!

The free techs you get will usually be worth the effort. If you're going broke you can lower research/tech spending, because you are winning the war right?

More planets eventually equals more money. If they're really so bad you could abandon them, or decommision expensive buildings.

The only time to stop pummelling them is if your population is taking too much of a hit. Otherwise, if you're winning, I say just keep going...
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Grab everything you can, as fast as possible... but maintain the bare asset with minimal improvements (slowly updating any later on).

I find that once "Extreme colonization" becomes widely known, soon after the race begins for an extra-set of bonus planets which in fact can be VERY useful as sort of territorial spy-like outposts - if you already own some rather than the strongest of opponents.

It may even be a good idea to park a few defensive ships in these orbits just in case some invasion mood creeps its way into the minds of thy neighbors. You wouldn't regret having those handy to loadup a couple of key-transports within range & ready for action once the conquest rounds begin.

They sure are in idle mode for a loooooong period. Don't get fooled by the statusquo either. Better me than anyone else is a motto in such cases.

Besides, nobody is really unaware of your presence - no matter where your planets are.

I may be wrong though! ;)

- Zyxpsilon.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks one and all for your replies.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Even planets you have no colonization techs for are still useful. It doesn't take much in the way of an economy bonus for them to be profitable once they reach 6.00 billion people. Once you buy a basic farm outright on them, you can let those "useless" planets sit there increasing your population, paying you a decent amount of taxes, and getting you re-elected.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes, that's what I'm finding...I've colonized several and by being careful about keeping them with a positve cash flow they are adding to my overall strength.