How to stay out of WAR!?

What kind of victory condition are you trying for? Culture? Tech? Trade? Alliance? There are different set of strategies for each one.

As for setting the AIs on neutrals, I'd be surprised if that works. Neutral can be best defined as, "Gee, what do I think of you, right now?" It really does not mean that the AI won't bother you. You could try setting the AIs on "pure good" and they'll behave in general.

Be aware that you can tailor the game to shoot for a specific victory condition(s). I can't recall offhand, but I believe that you can set the game to achieve a SPECIFIC type of victory condition. It is on the screen where you define your galaxy.

I hope the above helps.

I'm afraid there's no trick; the bottom line is unfortunately just like life in the real world: if you don't want people to attack you, you'd better be stronger than they are. Keep the military might status chart up and make sure you're on or near the top of it.

To be a little more specific:

I usually find that if I play as a "good" guy then the other good races won't attack me just for spite (as they will if if you're playing "evil"). They might still attack you if you're really weak, but they're less inclined to do so.

I never build any combat ships before battle axes (and sometimes battle hammers). I research some of the comm and industrial techs and then start down the military chain so I can build defensive forces before I get too far behind.

Frequently, an evil AI or two will declare war on me because they think they're more powerful than I am. I don't let this bother me; they bring their little corvettes and battle cruisers in and smash them against my battle axes and hammers (see the other thread on how well that works!) and eventually I'll get stronger and they'll get tired and peace will prevail. Once you get strong enough (stay at the top of that graph!) the AIs won't bother you unless you're really provoking them (or an alliance or random event starts a war).

There's always the starfighter gambit.... rush toward phasers and crank the starfighters out.

BerryB, any victory condition I could stay out of war with is ok with me.

I just don't want to be attacked in the beginning of the game.

I'll try setting the A.I. to pure good. Thank you.

Feargus, battle hammers are what I shot for fist to start making becuse thay are the best defence/offance ship before battleships in Ver 1.03A But I always get attacked before I can make them.

I'll try battle axe's first Thank you.

forceinfinity, if battle axe's fail starfighters are next! Thank you.

P.S. I want to stay out of war on a "tiny map" against all races,on intelligent level. Thank You.

Another tip is to check the military prowess of the AIs using the diplomacy screen and bribe the two strongest powers to war. Once their military crafts are depleted, they wouldn't be so keen on you.

Wars come the quickest on tiny so its not that easy to avoid them.

RayChua, Your no#1 way to go!

I will try bribing the two strongest into war.Thank you.:)

P.S. tiny maps are tough! LOL

Tiny maps and no war? Possible, but hard at first. There are not enough planets to go around and even gaining a one system advantage could be a game decider. Trade routes become exceedingly more difficult to maintain without constantly trying to reestablish them because the guy you are trading with is being shot up in his own ongoing wars on a regular basis by ships prowling a small engagement area on a small map.

The starfighter/corvette gambit would probably be the best early way to go. That would bring some low maintanence costs for some small attack numbers, but greater attack numbers than early defenders and batteaxes can provide. Early deterence to build up some tech and a decent defense without being shaken down or shot up. The problem is that deterence by force is hard to do early on a small map. The economy just cannot support it.

In the end, you are asking for something that the map is not geared for. Smaller maps are made for killing. Even if you don't take the violent route out, you still need what amounts to an impressive amount of military spending for the economy you have. Or paying tributes that will break you in the end. And if you do get a tough military, then the smarter money making strategy besides attack! might be to shake down the other guys for bribes instead.

Gerakken, It seems you have felt my pain.

I may be forced to play on a larger map.

I hope not. :notsure:

Thank you.

MM77,

Tiny maps are tougher for me as well as I tend to be more a builder. For Tiny, I find that I have to go straight for the jugular else be steamrolled. It is basically a race to see who gets the minors first

You still can have loads of fun in Tiny, probably just need some adjustment to your strat.

Have fun.

Thanks RayChua,

The problem with the tiny maps is that while I can knock out many of the AI's star defenses, I'm powerless to conquer them because I dont have the population to support an invasion :-/

forceinfinity, Thats what I keep running into.

I have tried all of the above advice and failed so far except RayChua's rush for minor races,thats next. :notsure:

I wonder if RayChua or anybody could win on "tiny map/rare planets/all five races/inteligent."

I gest I'll be forced to play a larger size map!

Thanks forceinfinity,

RayChua, you are my hero,you won on a "tiny map" and a tuffer level with all five races? at a score of 536!

Thats more impresive than having highest score!

Way to go!

Thanks for the compliments, MM77. I'm sure you would also be beater the higher levels once you get the hang of it.

As for early invasions, the minors are basically pushovers and you could usually crush them with 1 transport per system. The AIs usually have lots of pop but the random number generator really works in your favour as the defender usually gets between 2-3 on their defense but the attacker can range from 4 to 10+.

Easy solution: You want peace? Build a huge military to keep everyone else in check! Doesn't sound logical? Well.....

~SDC~

Vridian,What planet are you from?

RayChua, I would be honred if you would go through the steps you took when you played "tiny map"

I've noticed that in general tiny maps are easier for the military-minded, and harder for the builders. I'm a builder at heart, but the ony way I get anywhere on a tiny map is to put on my marching boots and stomp on a few heads from the get-go.

When that's what I play, I usually bee-line for starfighters, then start pumping them out as fast as I can, taking out as many freighters, trade routes, constructors, and even starbases as i can. The idea is to keep the AIs from developing while you do. My first game I played like that, all first-contact situations devolved into declarations of war.

I know, not really addressing the question, but on a tiny map, I've got no advice that is applicable.

Popup Tarqet, Perhaps your approch may work for me.

I try to stay out of fights till I can build battle hammers and even then I try not to step on anyones toe's.

I may need to play more aggressive early as you have stated.

I'll give it a try. Thank you very much for your view.

Some other suggestions from me:

1) If you find a +1 weapon or warship early, don't be scared to suppress one major.
2) Rush trade goods either to get techs/funds or for bribery
3) Basic principle of trading long term commitments for short term benefits
4) Forget about seizing resources as constructors and SBs are expensive (maybe economics or military).
5) Get the military powers to fight asap
6) Trade for Turbo Phasers and go for military rush, going from weakest (minors)to strongest race

Thank you RayChua, I am going to play 5-10 games useing stratigy from Popup Target and yours.

P.S. I'll post my results soon.
Thanks again gang.