New to game....need SERIOUS help

from Sins Forums

Hello all,

I just bought the game and I like it so far, but I can't seem to do anything right...:)

What I mean is I am playing in the small 1v1 map, vs AI, and he comes in with this HUGE fleet...something like 3 cap ships and and TON of various frigates. Me? I am lucky to have one cap ship with a few frigates because I can't seem to make any credits, metal or crystals. I have tried staying with the initial planet, I have tried expanding to two or three other systems with no luck. I just don't know what I am doing wrong. Can anyone give me any advice or point me somewhere that has suggestion? Thanks in advance.

-Gizmet

strategy
8,675 views 14 replies
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
That one line is actually two links.

HuntingX's build orders &
Overall strategy guide

Apparently I need to lern2proof...
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Sounds like you might not be upgrading your civilian infrastructure on planets you colonize. An easy mistake to make at first.

When you colonize a planet, make sure you go into the planet development menu and upgrade your civilian infrastructure. You newly colonized planets will actually cost you money until you do.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
Probably the biggest thing a lot of new players don't notice is that when you colonize a planet, it actually drains money from your income and you need to upgrade its Infrastructure (first upgrade option) before it starts generating money through population taxes. A good rule of thumb that works for me is that you should expand when you can afford this upgrade as soon as the planet is colonized.

Always go after the asteroid next to your homeworld first, it's cheap to upgrade to get rid of the credit drain, and if you get lucky and get 2 ore and 2 crystal mines, it will greatly speed up your resource income.

If you play TEC, which I highly recommend as you're starting out, you can get trade ports with only 2 civic labs and those are a great help making credits for you.

I would also advise to not rush research in the beginning, only research what's really important (Volcanic/Ice colonization if you have either of those near, trade ports, broadcast centers, ship hulls). Leave the weapon upgrades for a little later, in the beginning the number of ships matters a bit more than a slight damage increase.

This is all pretty general, but if you post with examples of what you're doing when you play, you can get better tailored suggestions :)
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Thanks for all the advice...I will read those posts, try playing again, then post with any specific help I need...Thanks a ton guys.

-Gizmet
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
"Probably the biggest thing a lot of new players don't notice is that when you colonize a planet, it actually drains money from your income and you need to upgrade its Infrastructure (first upgrade option) before it starts generating money through population taxes. A good rule of thumb that works for me is that you should expand when you can afford this upgrade as soon as the planet is colonized."

Oh, I just thought of this as I hit the post reply button...:) Maybe I am blind or something, but is there any way to tell how much of a drain it will be on my resources BEFORE I colonize? Or is that just something I need to figure out by trial and error?

-Gizmet
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
"Probably the biggest thing a lot of new players don't notice is that when you colonize a planet, it actually drains money from your income and you need to upgrade its Infrastructure (first upgrade option) before it starts generating money through population taxes. A good rule of thumb that works for me is that you should expand when you can afford this upgrade as soon as the planet is colonized."Oh, I just thought of this as I hit the post reply button... Maybe I am blind or something, but is there any way to tell how much of a drain it will be on my resources BEFORE I colonize? Or is that just something I need to figure out by trial and error?-Gizmet
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Highlight your planet and it will say tax income and it will be red until you upgrade it enough to actually make you money.
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Highlight your planet and it will say tax income and it will be red until you upgrade it enough to actually make you money.
End of quote


The question was if he can tell how much it'll drain BEFORE he colonizes.

I haven't played in a while, but I'm quite certain you can't. You just need to memorize it. It's something like 2.0 credits a second.

After you've colonized, a better method of finding out what planets may be draining your eco is be to hover over your credit income number on the top GUI bar. It'll give you a break down of all your planet's contributions, if any are bleeding cash, and how much they're generating from trade.
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's always -2.0 at start, and then you have various stages of progression to eliminate it. Asteroids only need the 1 upgrade to get rid of the whole thing, and planets need 2 or 3, depending on the type. I think Volcanics need 2, Ice/Terran/Desert need 3. This is from memory, but hopefully accurate.
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
2 eliminates it for all planets. The negative income is removed immediately after the 2nd pop upgrade.

However, if you just upgrade once, planets will eventually grow out to be zero. IMO, it's better to just upgrade twice though.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
Okay, I looked it up in the files to post more detailed info:

Asteroids: -2.0 cr/sec, 1 upgrade to negate
Dead Asteroids: -1.75 cr/sec, 1 upgrade to negate
Desert: -2.0 cr/sec, 2 upgrades to negate (-2 > -.5 > 0)
Ice: -3.0 cr/sec, 2 upgrades to negate (-3 > -1.25 > 0)
Terran: -2.0 cr/sec, 2 upgrades to negate (-2 > -.5 > 0)
Volcanic: -3.0 cr/sec, 2 upgrades to negate (-3 > -1.25 > 0)

So you were right Jinx ;)
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
Oh, I just thought of this as I hit the post reply button... Maybe I am blind or something, but is there any way to tell how much of a drain it will be on my resources BEFORE I colonize? Or is that just something I need to figure out by trial and error?
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It's a little different depending on planet type and a few other factors, but it generally comes out to between 2.5 and 3.5 credits per second lost. IIRC, it's higher for volcanic and ice planets than for Terran, Desert, and asteroids.
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
try establishing two or three far-flung outposts. even if your capital is destroyed, you can start again from these.
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
civilian upgrades and research are incredibly important early ingame. You should start on a medium to large map with multiple AI's and unlocked teams. If AIs are giving you trouble, research more on the military side and make tactical defenses were you think they're needed most. Trial - and - error is how I figured stuff out. If you're having trouble ask around on the forums, which you did, which is good.

P.S. I've been playing the same method for two monthes now and I'm stoompig multiple hard AI's ;)