However, I seem to suck against the AI. I'm having trouble winning battles as Advent versus TEC (in this specific case), creating a fleet that appears to me to counter the opposing fleet well, but in practice, is useless.
I am by no means a veteran player in this game, I will say that up front. I am in fact still nursing my game that has been set to 'slow' speed over the last week with a total of 3.75/hrs so far. Having said that, I have been watching the forums for gems to ponder for when I get better in the coming weeks, months, "GASP" YEARS! Anyways... what I now want to impart is this... there is a trend going on in these forums that follows strategy games, especially space strategy games, THE micro/macro categorization.
Stop thinking in terms of macro and micro actions and time efficiency. Just look at the tools you have around you on your screen... the "search" menu-ish selector, etc... now, visualize where those tools are with your eyes closed, (i know this sounds corny) with your eyes closed do you know in your minds eye where they all are... now if you do, play a few games (short ones) practicing on using the tools at your disposal. Oh, one more thing... consciously THINK before you act on what you want to do... you will, like most people, 'pause', but after awhile... you will speed up. Also, KNOW the menus. (err.. like the tech tree, from memory).
To take this further... now, if you have a gaming keyboard, which is not necessary, key binding to your hearts delight until YOU and YOU'RE particular memory is comfortable with you're choice of commands to keys / combos.
Now that you have the menus, commands, tech trees all memorized and you can use them well enough to ace a test on them each time you get to go to the level that you want... effortless non-pause intuitive actions all binded to your particular key bindings.
ok! but that doesn't answer my question does it? Well... it answers part of it, in my opinion. Without you knowing the commands fully, how would you ever be able to efficiently manage micro situations. OR have some wisdom on what you can manage macro efficiently and then switch to micro... basically, you just have to get to the 'blink' intuitive level that some people have naturally, but instead through training.
But now... getting back directly to advice that addresses your post. I would suggest, after becoming fluent with what I mentioned above. You play a game that you are comfortable with, that you want to learn from but will 'truthfully' be a challenge to you. Now, make multiple "saves" of parts in the game that you think are important or going to be important 'nodes' to come back to.
Having created those 'nodes' and after completing the game (PLUS record it for replays) try playing it again at points that were very challenging and try out different tactics and implement different empire or battle strategies. Make new saved 'versions' based on some format that you create that you are comfortable with.
I am NOT claiming this isn't the 1000 or 100,000 stairs way to get to the temple on top of the mountain, because it IS... but from this, you can get some ideas of the process you need to setup for yourself. Also... this is homework, no doubt about it... and if this is not the level of effort you want to exercise then don't... dismiss my advice or opinions completely and wholly!
Also... there are some great resouces starting to appear in the forums that have STATS and such... I would collect those, but keep in mind they MIGHT change (just a guess, I don't know for sure) if any tweaks are done to the balancing of STATS etc in future updates.
