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so i just started playing online as opposed to playing the AI and i am getting absolutely raped. whether i play as advent (which i usually do) or tec, it doesnt matter as i am usually dead within the first 30 minutes of playing. i need advice seeing that is completely different playing online
The basics still apply: Progenitor first as Advent, scout voraciously, and spend your money prudently.
Beyond that, here are some mistakes I notice of newbies often:
1) Run your capital ships away early! Players are much better about focus firing a capital ship than an AI is, so it will die sooner than you're used to. Chances are if you haven't already started retreating a capital before you hear "our capital ship has sustained critical damage" it's already too late to save it (especially against Vasari). Remember that retreating doesn't necessarily mean leaving the gravity well, just getting away out of the enemy's line of fire. If you can do that without having to phase jump, power to you, if you can't, just get the hell outta there!
2) Static defenses are overrated. The AI likes to run head-first into turrets, starbases, and all those other lovely (and immobile) defenders. A player will go around them. Make sure when you place defenses like these that they are guarding something, otherwise they may never get a single shot off.
3) Beware unconventional units like scouts and flaks. In large quantities, these can give you a lot of trouble with conventional units like carriers and LRF. Diversify your army, pay attention to what your opponent is building, and build accordingly.
4) Don't rush into trade ports, especially if your empire is small. Trade is great... when a game goes on for a few hours. A smart player won't let you survive that long, even if a more passive AI will. Remember that capturing new planets is always a better investment, and trade ports require a fairly large empire to be effective. I make sure I can build a chain of at least 4 before I commit to them.
Keep in mind though that MP is almost an entirely different game.
SP is all about Econ (because the AI cheats at econ). MP is all about Fleet, and rush, rush to superior numbers, and units.
That's one my biggest gripes about the balance of Multiplayer. Economic upgrades are just too trivial or insignificant! You'll get yourself overrun by superior military, before any of the economic research pays off. Even building Civil labs at the start is an invitation for a crushing death rush. (Except if there is a large distance between yourself & your enemies). And this also applies to most of the armor, health, shield upgrades too. It takes up to 80 ships for the measly 5% upgrade to pay for itself. You are better off just buying 1 more ship with the money!
Altho, I do admit that Entrenchment has finally made some of the defensive structures worthwhile. A person can lean more to economic strategy, with the right defensive strategy. And even potentially win, without having a #1 ranking in the fleet category throughout the whole game.
The final thing I want to mention is "feeding". Many noobs don't realize the reason they got beat, is because their opponent had been fed. It only takes a couple 'extra' ships (a small feed) in the early game to overwhelm an opponent. As a noob, you probably won't be trusted with feed, and therefore sit a significant disadvantage to a experienced cooperative team.
Rant completed. (BTW, this is a copy of an earlier Rant).
Here are couple links to good and current conversations on this subject.
Oh yeah, and replays are great! Especially if you can get into a game with experienced players, like JJ.
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