MJ32547

Having the same issue. Have the mini-dumps (about 5) and a save game if needed/wanted. Just need to know where to send it.

It is a little bit of a start-up cost to get the trade posts. I only got to play the final this morning for about a half hour before work (dial-up connection at the moment, which meant 16 hours to download) but it was working pretty good. I had four planets, and 2 asteroids. All with trade posts. My trade was actually already outstripping my colony's revenue.

For more of a sandbox type game choose one of the Random games (I can't remember the exact title as I am at work). Remember that you can colonize any planetoid. (Asteroids, Terran, Lava, or Ice) Build up each planets pop cap. The first button in the planetary build screen. Make sure to build your flagship, as has been said here, along with several frigates (combat type). Make that one fleet and us it to clear out the militia nests. If TEC (I would recommend it until you get ahold of the d

I normally build up a force of 6 or 7 frigates plus my free flagship. Then go off and secure one or two planetoids. Build up their economies, make sure I have 2 civic stations, research trade outposts, and then place them as the first structure in the gravity well of any new planetoid I capture.