Um, because we didn't lose our minds when we lost our first game. Also, because most of us play with the pirates off (though they were weak before diplomacy). Just calm down, ask for some advice, and you'll get better. If you just blow the game off after one defeat, then yes, all you will get is a two for your money. If you actually try to figure the game out, realize it is not your average RTS, and learn to play it differently, it is easily the 8 or 9 rated game the reviews say it is.

There are also mods that address this kind of thing. But turning Pirates off is a good start,

Also talk to some of the modders in the forum, they can show you the ropes on tweaking

the game to get the Pirates where you want. And later if you want to get them closer to normal

or even more (haha, crazy idea now i know, but maybe something for later )

Then once you know how to tweak the settings yourself, then you can bring them back up to

something which will give you a little more of a challenge, but yes, i do understand starting out

getting your head handed to you, it happened to me for a couple of weeks before i tweaked it

so i wasn't dying every game.   

Just maybe one in three or four. 

Also you can ask for a modder (me perhaps this weekend i will have time) and they can perhaps

put something together to weaken or slow down the Pirates so it gives you a little breathing room.

What version of Sins are you running? Diplomacy or Entrenchment or the Original and the version

number if you have it. Its in the bottom right on the menu screen when you start up the game.

p.s   Take a look at this, i forgot i already did this once! 

put the inner folders in the c:/users/appdata/local/ironclad games/sins of a solar empire/mods-diplomacy v1011 folder

(this is for windows 7, if you have xp or vista i think the line is:

c:/users/application data/local/ironclad games/sins of a solar empire/mods-diplomacy v1011 folder

(in the application data folder instead of the appdata folder)

https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/378900

Try the weak pirates first and see if it is too easy, if not enjoy, if it is, then bump up to moderate or to

strong, whichever you like, let me know if it helps, i would hate to loose a sins gamer just because the

pirates are a pain in diplomacy. 

Take care,

-Teal

Oh, there are times the AI doesn't bother lying down, even on Easy.  I'm playing my first game after a couple-year layoff, so I'm trying to re-learn.

I remember I used to be able to kick the pirates in the teeth with sufficient prep, so when I ran into them on the third planet away from home I started gearing up.  I ended up running the whole tech tree and all but the top notch of Fleet Logistics--I kept trying earlier and getting my head handed to me--before I could get out with even a third of my force, and I lost six level 6-8 capital ships.

That was when the AI showed up at my seemingly well-defended world bordering the pirates, but he brought 11 capital ships and dozens of supporters.  Game pretty quickly over.

Imagine my lack of surprise when my suspicion that pirates had been beefed up severely was confirmed here.

I've been playing for about three hours over the last two days. I worked out how to turn off pirates, add my name etc but I can't understand what the tutorial is telling me to do. Colonize an astroid? Great but how?

My disc came yesterday. It's called Sins of a Solar Empire. Games for Windows. I have no add ons or versions that I know of.

What's proving frustrating is the pdf manual on my disc is just the front cover. I double checked and even downloaded a different pdf reader but still it's just the front cover.

So I have no instructions to read and am lost. It's the same on EVE, I gave up after the trial because the menu doesn't have any real help.

I'll take any advice that's offered and be glad of it.   I started (I think) a friendly small game with no pirates. I can't confirm this as I have no idea how to do that.   I know, what an idiot, right?   Sorry but I'm doing what I can by pressing buttons in the dark.

and 1.0 is incredibly, incredibly buggy and unoptomized. how the hell did you managed to get such an old relic?

Amazon. I think it was £4.75.    What should I buy/download? 

Ooh really? I tried but the only SSE I could find was called Trinity and when I entered my key number it said, not valid. Must be another way to register. I sent an email via website but got another error message. Maybe I'm the only one left here and you're a helpful AI?

nope. Amazon doesnt sell Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion.

You really should buy from https://www.sinsofasolarempire.com/store .

well. you could also buy here: but you wont get the discount: http://store.steampowered.com/app/204880/?snr=1_7_suggest__13

I think the only thing that'll take GBP direct would be PayPal.  I don't even think Steam does that.

simplest question to answer in the world. have money pay them off. outcome... NO PIRATES. then when they send half their fleet some where else (or some of it) take the base ergo no pirates and another fort. (with good perks). just to add to bad you cant add at least one frigate constructor to be able to build pirate ships. i like having a few they look kool ^^ or just turn them off. but use the first idea if you want them on.