How many resources justify capturing a world?

[Harry]

Do you all have a "floor" of resources that justifies capturing a world that?  Say, a minimum of 5 total resources or some such?  I have a string of worlds with between 2 and 4 resources in my path, and I'm debating whether any of them are worth conquering.  I do have constant trouble with low resources, so I certainly could use the extra income.

The concern, of course, is that pesky AI Progress meter.  I'm on a 70-world map, I've taken 8 planets so far, and (thanks to data centers) my Progress is 120 -- but I've still got lots to take before I get to the AI, including a half-dozen worlds with Adv Research or Fabricators or Adv Factories.  I don't see many more data centers -- just two big clusters of 4 x Data Center next to each AI homeworld.  I assume I should be budgeting for no more than 20-25 conquered worlds?

[x4000]

Well, I think that the answer will vary by person, but my personal threshold in single-player is that I try to have at least 4ish resources overall on it.  Preferably more, but if I am using higher-mark command stations, or if there is a positional advantage to the planet (if it provides buffer to some more important planet, that's something I often build up as part of my core set of planets even if the resources are not too wonderful in and of themselves). And then of course capturables would also rate consideration, but assuming no capturables on a planet, that's kind of my criteria.

Another good reason to take an otherwise-worthless planet?  If it is fairly unprotected and next to an enemy planet that you want supply to (and a beachhead on).  Granted, that would also cause the AI on your actual target planet to go on alert, but that can be worth it.  Alternatively, it works well a couple of hops away from your target, if you just need a forward base production facility to really go after the target -- without alerting the AI -- and without having to raid over such long distances as you otherwise might.  That's a tactic I use against the enemy homeworlds a lot.

So -- some tangential answers, but that's pretty much how I rate planets as far as when I decide to take them.

[Harry]

Thanks!  I know you're busy with the gold release, so I feel a bit guilty slowing you down with my strategy questions.  Other players, feel free to chime in!

I'm on a 70-planet map, 7/7 AI.  What I *want* to do is to take almost every planet on a line between me and the two AI homeworlds; that's 14 planets.  Add to that 5 worlds "off the path" that contain capturables.  That amounts to 19 worlds, on top of the 8 I've already conquered, for a total of 27.  Maybe 28 if I took a 4-resource world bordering my Adv Factory for security and resources, maybe even 30 if I took the two worlds bordering the final AI homeworlds (though currently I plan just to neuter them so as to avoid alerting the AI). 

So is 27-28 planets a bit much for a 70-planet map?  That would be 19-20 planets more than I have now, for a minimum increase of 190-200 AI Progress, more if I destroy warp gates.  My AI Progress is 120 right now, so that would bring me to 320 or so, plus more for some warp gates and Special Forces posts.  (I see only 10 Data Centers left on the map, 8 of which are clustered in worlds by the two homeworlds that I won't reach til the end.) 

Up to now I haven't minded fending off warp-gate raids around the map, but maybe it will get worse if I continue to let warp gates live in my systems? 

[Lancefighter]

not really... the warp gates will reinforce themselves, meaning you will need to put up turrets near them.

But other than that - Around 300 or so (330 i think? or maybe even 230. lol i havent a clue.. check the wiki..) the AI gets mk2 units in its raids..

Thats not exactly something to be trifled with unless your ready

[x4000]

Not a worry -- I wouldn't answer if I didn't have time.  Which, really, I don't have time, but on occasion it is helpful to have a momentary diversion from the concentration of the rest of the release.

[eRe4s3r]

Its better to not do this, and instead "hop" at least 3 hops (2 if you are scared ,p) and build an outpost, an outpost you can build with fully fledged defenses and don't have to worry about attacks.

Actually, the thing thats easiest to defend is a outpost. Build a shipyard there, 4 engineers and simply respond to raids and attacks on demand. Thats how i would do it.

Of course you need your pocket of worlds and it should be a pocket with hardened defenses (ie, warpgates focusing on only 1 planet, preferable your homeworld with a superfortress on it (from the trader))

[Harry]

Hmm, thanks for the further suggestions.  I have done a little "hopping," and I sure miss having a line of friendly worlds connected to one another.  But I guess I should get used to it!

So how high do you guys let your AI Progress meter get?

[x4000]

I tend to let mine get up into the 500-600 range before taking on the first AI home planet.  Then the game generally ends with it in the 600-800 range for me.

[maritime]

If you "hop" are you supplying the planet? Can you get research from it? is there a way to hop 2 planets away from something you own and give it supply without owning what is in the way? I think I am missing something with colony ships...

[x4000]

If you "hop" are you supplying the planet? Can you get research from it? is there a way to hop 2 planets away from something you own and give it supply without owning what is in the way? I think I am missing something with colony ships...

Nope, nope, and nope.  You can only get research from supply, and supply is only to planets adjacent to those you control.  But, colony ships work wherever, even outside of supply, so you can skip over some planets and capture a planet further out, which is what "hopping" refers to.  Then you can get research from that (and adjacent) planets, you'll have supply to that and adjacent planets, etc.

[eRe4s3r]

Which is why the best tactic is get your pocket of worlds, defend it, and then hop to a system with many connections, capture that, research raid there and adjacent systems ... and give it up again. Remember the AI doesn't attack a world thats neutral though if you have human outposts on it.. i am actually not sure what'll happen when you scrap your own command station. The only worlds you want to keep are ones with .. adv factories and these core constructors (now these, these are absolute the most vital thing in the game, i have one for core z-bombers for example, with 2 fortresses and 3 shields + many turrets defending it -

Less worlds you have means less AI Threat too, which is why some players can end their games with 6-10 worlds and progress 200-300

[Harry]

Remember the AI doesn't attack a world thats neutral though if you have human outposts on it.. i am actually not sure what'll happen when you scrap your own command station.

So if you hop, conquer the system, science-raid there and in adjoining systems, and then abandon the command station but leave behind a space dock and some turrets, will the dock/turrets be attacked?

Also: how do people have enough resources (and energy) with only 6-10 systems?  Isn't one incentive to take and hold systems that you get higher metal/crystal income?

[x4000]

Remember the AI doesn't attack a world thats neutral though if you have human outposts on it.. i am actually not sure what'll happen when you scrap your own command station.

So if you hop, conquer the system, science-raid there and in adjoining systems, and then abandon the command station but leave behind a space dock and some turrets, will the dock/turrets be attacked?

Not by waves -- and if you don't have supply, that space dock and the turrets are both useless (literally).  Occasional bands of special forces will come by and will clean them off.

Also: how do people have enough resources (and energy) with only 6-10 systems?  Isn't one incentive to take and hold systems that you get higher metal/crystal income?

They play a super efficient game.  I don't feel that path is recommended unless you're specifically really interested in that sort of thing, for the reasons you mention.

[eRe4s3r]

The idea is never to loose any large amount of ships ^^ If you see you could loose ships, Retreat, Repair, Repeat the 3 R's Against wormhole defenses = flagships 4x damage means everything is gone in 1 salvo, and what isn't is gone in the 2nd one.

Besides, you can play with a positive handicap for yourself if you find yourself resource starved - it isn't a huge advantage because energy generators scale costs but at least usual construction prices do not. So you are still required to capture worlds, just not for the resources primarily, more for energy reactor space (and seriously, you will need a LOT of energy and planets )

10 planets means you can reach 1.5 million energy, which is barely enough to reactivate a golem or the z-reserves - which is all you'll need to win.

[Harry]

Well, I just "went for it" and hopped FOUR planets away to establish a new colony at a planet with an Advanced Factory.  Five dreadnoughts, a lot of Mk III ships.  Once they cleared a path through the intervening 3 systems (by killing all the guard posts there and thinning the turret defenses), I sent through a transport full of colony ships and support ships.  Worked like a charm.  Now I'm science-raiding around my new colony, and I just realized there's a fabricator next door.  All is good! 

That's three planets I'd thought of conquering, and now I'm glad I didn't. I'm up to 10 planets now, though, and I have at least 4-5 more to take (Adv Research and Fabricators).  AI Progress 140 or so.