Resource, or Small Planet?

Take the resource, buy the planet.

You'll be able to buy the planet for less than 1000bc, generally. If they JUST colonized it, you can get it for under 400 usually.

However, they'll never sell you a mining starbase, not ever. Even if you offer to surrender to them, for one lousy starbase, they refuse. Horray for AI.

Well this partly depends on the quantity of planets in the galaxy. Assuming their isn't an overabundance of planets in the galaxy I'd go for the planet.

The reason being is that the space station on the resource will be destroyed in the next war even if you don't destroy it yourself. A planet is alot harder to conquer than it is to grab a resource off of someone.

A planet you can buy, but only if that race is losing a war already. And if you buy off another empire your probably on your way to winning anyway.


BTW, they should probably it harder to buy planets off of the AI. Buying out opponents who you are not even at war seems to make the game alot easier than it should be. At least have the AI use this tactic as well if you're going to make it so easy to accomplish a buyout.

Numerous variables can influence a decision in that case;

1- Who is the worst threat to your territory and what is their number of planets or other assets.
2- Last resource available and what kind exactly. If you'd need the research growth, grab it first. If, if...
3- The total remaining planets and their quality. 14+ are more valuable than most resources is a fair rule of thumb - IF, you put it to good use and IF, nobody can or doesn't seem like they'd get there first.
4- Minors DO make it an habit at those, fast.
5- Serious defensive capacities for such a starbase may (just may) spare you enough time to exploit the high outputs of resources for a number of turns which in itself gives a turnaround cost twice as much as the initial constructor expenses and upgrades.
and...
6- Influence, Military edges, Morale boosts - kinda essential to win particular types of victory.
X- Everything gets under someone's control, eventually... might as well be you rather than your worst'ening opponents.

- Zyxpsilon.

All the variables aside, take the resource.

A class 4-5 planet will not help your empire that much.
A fully loaded resource will help the entire empire.

Interesting discussion, thanks to all.

The resource definitely.

Sentient species taste better...

An economic or morale resource always, a military or research resource 50/50 dependent on resource/planet scarcity. I never bother with influence resources.

IMO resources are huge. I would take the resource over almost any planet in most cases.

Naturally, there are exceptions if habitable planets are rare or you badly need more presence in the sector

That's a great question. It would totally depend on the game and which neighbor was going to take what. Zyxpsilon has many valid points (as always).

I would gladly pass up any planet below PQ 10 for a resource of any kind. Only if planets were fairly rare might I reconsider; a resource multiplies across all your planets, but if there are only a couple planets then that bonus may not be very much. However, I tend to play Gigantic games with Rare/Abundant planets to habitable planets respectively, and I still would consider the value of a resource vast in this case.

I agree with Millertime, I would take the resource over almost any planet. Remember you're not only getting th bonus yourself, you're taking it away from an opponent. The only consideration i might have is how far awat it is from my other planets and territory. That is, how hard will it be to keep sending consturctors to and how hard ill it be to defend with a fleet?

Another thing to keep in mind, if the planet is near your territory you may get it to flip, a resource starbase will not flip ever.

Depends on the game state. Many factors to consider, as posted. In DA, there are other factors.

1. First consideration should always be your economy: can you sustain the planet until it becomes profitable? If not, grab the resource - no upkeep, immediate returns.

2. Second consideration is your current influence rating in that sector. If you have strong influence already (such as your home system), then there's no rush colonizing the planet. By all means let your enemies take them - it's that much more effective to convert a planet with little to no effort on your part than have to buy or build one.

I would rather grab a resource three sectors away on enemy influenced space than grab a planet in the same sector or a planet in my home system.

3. Third consideration is your choice of planets and environments. Lots of small planets points you to a terraforming strategy - get lots of small planets and terraform the heck out of them. Lots of decent to large PQ planets in influence range with the same environment points to prioritizing that environment - not enough tech to pursue terraforming at the same time.

The Small Planet Empire + terraforming + Neutral alignment strategy is very effective.