djshell

For example, how big is a Kol? How about an individual bomber? Maybe IronClad has a chart they can share?

One breakthough realization for me early on is that you get your first capital ship *free* (I didn't read the manual). So always build a cap ship factory early and claim your cap ship, with which you can solo many neutral planets (other than neutral terran worlds which will require a dozen or so frigates too).

It sounds like the OP is basically steamrolling all of the AI's he's playing. Once you play hard enough (or numerous enough) AI's, I'd think you'll find more offensive and defensive uses for culture.

[quote]Why not just devote a small force to stopping the pirates? Gives free EXP for your capship(s), and means you don't need to waste a planet/asteroid.[/quote] I'm a pretty new player, but when I tried this strategy with a harder AI opponent (my first "normal" AI match, it worked for the first few pirate waves, but as the pirates increased in strength it required too much of my fleet, and as I captured new planets near the pirate base the pirates would randomize their attacks to alte