chaintm - I will have to try your camping method. So far I have been beaten twice by the AI on small 1v1 maps. I would imagine that small maps play much different than larger ones.
Aye, pretty much, I start my one planet then use a scout to find another that has no other links, usually there is one and build that up (Usually ends up being astroid area) and with those two I build and build and build. I progress in the ecom side of research to get production flowing well then start building my military up. Usually when I finally fill my first quota of ships and one captial ship. I then am fighting the A.I. and or pirates. Oh and btw, PIRATES are your best friend
, if you always save enough cash they can be a huge thorn in your enemy, I rarly have them attack me anymore in games.
edit: oh i should add as far as size of galaxy yes and no, the issue is now you can do allot of diplomacy but you never know which AI is going to backstab you! So far I have kept to this starting game and have always ended up on a good seat in the game
While not as high tech usually as other races that went all military etc, after awhile my ecom is so massive I can buy off other AI or the pirates with ease, which allows me then to focus my next efforts more into millitary lines. Not sure if this would work well with RL oppenents , but with the resources I pull, I would not doubt an ally would love to be fead constant resources and become my military might of space for our alliance , never know
