How to deal with high AIP, no Data centers in sight!

[supamanu]

Hey guys, need some help out here, my future is not looking bright 

Here's my situation:

I own 5 planets. AIP is at 112. I've already had 1 CPA of c. 400 ships - not a nice experience.

Current threat indicator is at 461.

I've explored 12 planets and not one Data center in sight to try and get my AIP down.

I'm getting real scared. Two of my neighboring planets are building up 400+ reinforcements. The AI is just bustin' to pound on me.

It's getting tough to explore further as even with transports the longest hop I've been able to do is 5 planets.

Not sure what my next move is if I don't want to get the AI any more angry than he already is.

Any advice?

[Sunshine!]

They removed a bunch of data centers from seeds a while back to make it harder for players to ride the AIP floor.  Also, 112 AIP is actually pretty low - once it gets up to about 300, then you should start to worry a little as to whether you're getting near the end (depending on difficulty)

Start neutering nearby planets by taking out the guard posts to keep them from building up reinforcements as fast, since they get ships at each guardpost every time a reinforcement cycle goes through.  If you're having a hard time with that, consider dropping a mk1 EMP on the planet - it'll release most of the ships to attack you, which will put you on home turf (assuming you've fortified/set up an ambush) - and then neuter the planet.

For defenses, put your turrets in a blob around your command station on the planet most likely to be attacked, with a forcefield or two (two is definitely recommended if you can spare the extra one) over your command station (military recommended, though logistics works as well).  That way, when the AI does attack you, they will have to run into your turret blob, and they'll do it more piecemeal than if you fortified a wormhole because they'll end up leaving their slower units (like frigates) behind, which gives your fighters an opportunity to get their bombers without being in too much danger.

How many planets is your galaxy?  Have you unlocked mk2 scouts?  What about your other unlocks?

[supamanu]

Yes I've unlocked MkII scouts and am using them.

I've also removed pretty much all guard post on my neighbours. But I guess pretty much isn't every single one of them So I'll try that.

As far as other unlocks, mostly Mk II on light ships, but mark II and III on Raiders   as well as MkII FF.

So.... if I remove ALL GP but leave the Cmd station, this planet will get almost no reinforcements?

Also, I just built my first warhead factory and reading the description it seems to say that all warheads when used will bring AIP up a notch (or more, depending on warhead). So warheads are never "free" in terms of AIP, correct?

It's a 70 planet galaxy.

[x4000]

Yep, warheads always cause AIP, see the notes on the individual warheads to see how much.  For some it's as much as 50 for one warhead.  Others, it's 1 or 2.  Actually, I think the mark III nuke is something like 4000.

See the wiki for some notes on AIP levels, you're really not in a bad position at 100 AIP.  By the time the game is over, I generally have 500-700 AIP.  You want to expand carefully, not just taking everything in sight, but you shouldn't be afraid to have the AIP go up some.  There are those players who play a super-low-AIP strategy of only having 100 or 200 AIP by the time the game ends, but not everyone can or would even want to do that.  On the other end of the spectrum, I have seen completionist players win by taking the entire galaxy over a span of 60+ game hours with 4000+ total AIP.  That, too, isn't for everybody!

To me, it looks like you're right on schedule for a "normal" game progression, if there is such a thing.

[Suzera]

Don't use warheads.

112 isn't that high, but still don't waste your AIP on warheads for convenience or else you may end up snowballing into having to use more warheads in desperation to compete until you lose.

[Red Spot]

Alway be carefull of your AIP, like others have mentioned. However, I even go as far as saying that if you can do without nuking datacenters and keep your AIP low enough to prevent mark3-waves, you'll be fine. Than just before taking the first homeplanet you nuke the 6 or so datacenters(and/or the 4 co-processors) you generally do get seeded and you can nuke the first homerplanet without going over into the mark3-waves.

When you hit the mark3-waves can be calculated using the following, with the note that above difficulty 8 you have to add 1 to the AIs level:

Mark IV = 1200 - ( Difficulty * 10 )
Mark III = 800 - ( Difficulty * 10 )
Mark II = 300 - ( Difficulty * 10 )

(eg: On difficulty 8, at 720 AIP you will start seeing mark3-waves. Above difficulty 8 you have already been seeing mark4 ships when you reach the 720AIP mark. Big jump there

[supamanu]

Thanks everyone.

It's really hard to focus on expansion/progression when your threat indicator is ticking in the 400 range... it feels so ominous 

...kinda like (but not really) the ammo counter of the turrets in Aliens Director's Cut. Oh how a simple number can send a cold chill through your bones 

[Sunshine!]

Depending on how many games you've played before this (i.e. if you're just starting out and this is one of your first games), I'd say play it safer, but if you've got a couple game attempts under your belt, save and start playing it a little more risky, see how far you can push things.  You'll get to realizing that 400 threat really isn't that much if you can learn how to funnel or engage it properly.

As for the warheads, 2 AIP for EMP mk1 is not much to pay if it's a good way to gain strategic advantage by clearing out something that would end up being a major tactical problem.  This would be another thing to experiment with if you're willing to do some savescumming.  When it comes to usefulness for warheads, I use EMPs the most, I don't tend to use higher mark lightning warheads because they don't have enough AOE, don't use Armored Warheads at all because too much AIP, and nukes aren't so useful now that the AI is less stationary and doesn't have so many things that require supply (used to be good for clearing turrets/fortresses on AI homeworlds).

Another thing to keep in mind is that Military and Logistics command stations are extremely useful - I used to prefer Logistics, but Military are excellent now that they have translocating shots.  Military Mk3 stations are definitely worthwhile, 12 shots every 2 seconds at 43,000 range can disperse a moderate sized enemy attack force pretty quickly, and the 2x muniboost for everything on planet is amazing.  Decent amount of resources as well at 64/64.  Logistics won't be as useful - I'm usually unlocking mk3 military stations very early, and then a bit later once I've secured some more territory I'll start unlocking the econ command stations.

[supamanu]

Well I feel like I'm kinda at a crossroads in my campaign


8 hrs into the campaign
8 planets conquered
10,000 Knowledge to spend
AIP of c. 150 (I managed to find and destroy a data center)

Most AI planets around now have Mark III + tech 

I spend a lot of time cleaning up Tachyon Guards with my raiders to open routes for my scouts (and as you can see I still have a lot of cleaning up to do to keep my scouts alive on some of these)

I only neutered Uzvold (circled in blue) because, despite being very close to home turf (Iposnei), it mostly drains Mark I reinforcements and I guess that's a good thing... except that I'm nervous about leaving only stationary defences at home, so having that planet alive forces me to leave some of my fleet home (probably too many, I'm too conservative).

Having captured an Adv Factory, I produce kick ass MkV missile frigates, but low cap of course.

So my real dilemma is whether to start investing in capital ships vs. smaller stuff. I've already unlocked most Mk II light ships. My stationary defenses are mostly at Mk I, and so are my Starships (except for Raiders - Mk III).

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

ps: What niche does the Riot Starship fill? Could I use it as replacement for e.g. fighter swarms?
pps: Can't figure out how to properly use parasites/leech... I need them close so that they can fire/reclaim, but being so fragile they rarely get the chance to finish the job. Is that normal?

[Ozymandiaz]

I'd capture Uzvold at any rate, better mobility inside your own territory, and frees up defences for the borders.

Personally I tend towards more fleet ships rather then starships, since I feel they give me more then starships does, but getting the flagship at least is a good idea to boost all your other ships.