Dominating my system... what to do now?

from Sins Forums
I am playing 8 normal AI opponents in a 3 star battle.  I have crushed the two Vasari in my own system.  I have 4 opponents wavering from friendly to hostile in one star system - three Advent and one TEC.  And the other star system hosts the remaining Vasari force.

What do I do now?  The TEC and Vasari are sending fleets that I'm pushing back.  But I'm reluctant to send an offensive fleet to either star system for fear of losing planets in my own.  I have two Novaliths so any foothold they may get would quickly be erased.  There are even unclaimed worlds in the system with the one Vasari opponent.  Do I go after that and set up basecamp?

I figure that the system with the four opponents will be okay on its own for a while.  I mean, they are keeping themselves busy with each other.  I suppose I can build up the defenses on my planets nearest the star to defend any incoming invasion fleets.  And then I'll go after the Vasari in their own star system.  Sound like a plan?

This is my first game at this scale and difficulty level so any pointers, criticism, or kudos are appreciated. 
strategy
7,269 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Oh, and another thing, should I go after the pirate base that is in my system at some point? Especially since I own all of the planetary resources except for one (which an ally nicked while I wasn't paying attention after an enemy's raid, lucky dog)?
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I've thought about it and I think I'm going to bulk up my fleet and take down the pirates. Their base is the only colonizable system that is only one jump from the star. I'll setup their base as a staging area for ship building.

After I take them out I'll assemble a strike force to go hunt down the Vasari in their own system. The rest of my ships I will split among the worlds closest to the star and build up planetary defenses. Hopefully attacks will only come one or two at a time and I'll be able to hold my own. We'll see...
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
i did a 3 star map with teams on hard and no one attacked my empire in my starting system. you might wanna keep a small force there but its probably not nessasary.

i have started to keep the pirates around as i like to use them throughout the game for xp, distractions, additions to my forces etc...
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
I would definitely take out those pirates, especially if they're connected with the star and could be used by an enemy fleet to get into your system. Pirates also make for great experience for Capital Ships, so taking them out before an offensive could give some of your ships a little boost.

Spamming defensive turrets, a few repair platforms and a couple hangers at each planet that is connected to your star will probably be enough to ward off most offensives an enemy may launch. The AI doesn't act like people and avoid defensive turrets, they come right into them, so group them up facing the area that they will enter the gravity well (facing the star) and they are liable to plow right into them, and since they don't target the Repair Platforms first, this kind of array will stay alive a long time. If they chose one planet in particular to keep attacking, putting a couple capital ships (if you can spare it) or a nice group of carriers might be a good idea to sure up the defenses.

Since it's a single player game and you have all the time in the world, if you haven't already, you might want to invest in resource and weapon/armor upgrades before further investing in your fleet upgrades (the upkeep will murder you, after all).
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
I took out the pirates and fortified my planets closest to the star. The two AIs that I'm not at peace with, when they would attack, would go after the former pirate system. So I put up a small fleet to bolster the defenses and that worked out.

Then I took the bulk of my fleet down to the star system with the lone Vasari. Lo and behold, the TEC and the Advent (the two factions I don't have peace with) have begun to set up shop. I took two planets, setup Novaliths in each, and proceeded to steamroll over everyone in that system. The last Vasari opponent falls.

By this point I've maxed out all techs - civilian, military, fleet - and have not yet once lost a capital ship (I had a Kol escape with 6% hull earlier - whew!). I'm jumped the majority of my fleet to the third system. It is very oddly setup with only two phase lanes from the star (and one leads to the pirate base).

I took the one phase lane to the TEC and am having a massive three-way battle between them and the Advent. It was late so I had to save and quit. But I'm micromanaging that battle as best as I can, moving heavily damaged ships out if I can. Meanwhile they've put up a counterattack on my pirate base but my defenses and small fleet are holding their own.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
I just want to say, this topic is an excellent overall description of the sheer size of this game, and pretty much defines how sweet this game is.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
I completely agree on the sweetness of the game.

Well, to sum up the endgame, I had to retreat from the three-way battle and regroup. I charged again while my home system fleet made the jump to reinforce. I didn't want the TEC to chase me to I met them head on again. I left some badly damaged ships behind with the star. Once I jumped back I micromanaged as best as I could and turned ships around as soon as they started to take any fire. Once my home system fleet started their jump I retreated once again to the star. My fleet arrived just as the TEC started jumping in. They took a few licks and turned tail. That's when I knew the game was mine.

I took my combined forces and took that system. I crushed them. Then I pushed the TEC back system by system and finished them off with Novaliths. My two Advent allies were doing a pretty good job wearing down the third Advent opponent. A few fleet battles and a few Novalith shots later the Advent enemy fell. Victory was min...

Wait a minute! Victory wasn't mine :(

I was left with two Advent allies but the game wasn't over. I figured that maybe I could only win if everyone was happy with everyone else. And it was clear that the two Advent did not like each other. One was very weakened by the conflict and only had two worlds left. I bit the bullet and took out them out.

Taste that? That's victory right there :)
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Take out the pirate base first, since it's just a nuisance that'll make you bleed cash. Attack into the Vasari system with your main fleet, leaving a smaller fleet in your main system to assist your static defenses when the TEC/Advent come in; while attacking the Vasari, pay off the pirates to attack the TEC/Advent opponents, thus making them less likely to harass you while you finish off the Vasari. Once you've taken over their system, move your entire fleet into TEC/Advent space, and pick a side to attack first, while paying the pirates to attack the other side. Then circle around and wipe them out.