Seeking Guidance: AI progress out of control

[TheMachineIsSentient]

I have taken a few planets now, maybe 20% or 30% of the galaxy is under my control. I'm finding it hard to make my way to the enemy core planet because every time I take one of their command stations,the AI progress meter goes up and now it's well over 2000. The enemy is now making Mark 4 ships, and it's all I can do to break even with my Mach 3 and starships. I'm also finding it difficult to keep my ships attacking the right targets.

Maybe I'm not understanding the mechanics of the game, as I thought my objective was to overtake the galaxy and eliminate these command stations, but now it seems like a better tactic would've been to jump across a few of these sectors and maybe set up shop there.

I'm looking for advice on the mechanics of approaching this game ( am I supposed to overrun command stations, where should the AI progress meter be at, should I be hopping farther rather than step-by-step). I'm also looking for advice on how to approach Mark 4 fleets.

[x4000]

Not sure how large your galaxy map is, but 2000 is a crazy high AI Progress.  Generally speaking, you're not supposed to take nearly every AI planet, though -- the point of the game is not doing that, or the game is designed to kill you (some people can escape this, but it is hard).  Rather, the game is more about choosing targets that are actually of value, and being a guerrilla fighter and then killing the enemy home planets (there are two).  As with Chess, the goal is not to kill everything on the board that your opponent has, but just to kill their home planet. 

If you haven't done the intermediate tutorial, which covers various ways to bypass and neutralize planets rather than just steamrolling all the planets, I'd highly recommend it.  There are some topics in the strategy subforum about which planets to take, as well, and a topic in the wiki about mitigating AI Progress, etc.  Hope that helps!

[Spikey00]

Yes, the main idea is to take planets you require, and avoid or neuter ones (destroy warp gates, leave CMD) you don't need direly.  Generally, I can assume the AI progress should be under 1000 for the most part of the game; but I've never completed a game yet.  Of course, with me I love to steamroll the AI.

--

Nappa:  VEGETA!  WHAT DOES THE SCOUTER...

[raptor331]

Alas, many like to "steamroll" their way through a campaign, and many fail. When your on the fringe of destruction, you do whats called guerilla fighting. Thats how the Native Americans were formiddable against the american army, thats how rebelions are often successful. To try to match strength with a foe that has an unlimited amount of it is a very foolish tactic. Thats why you have to act quickly to find the enemy home planet and destroy them, so that you may survive.

[x4000]

I tend to max out at around 800 AIP after the end of a game on average, but many other players prefer to keep it under 400.  It depends on the style of the player.  There are definitely some players out there with 2000/4000+ AIP that are taking everything in the galaxy, but that's a much more difficult and grindy way to play, in my opinion.  One of the big consequences there is that the AI then is always crazy upgraded.

[TheMachineIsSentient]

Thanks All. I guess I have screwed up the game and will have to try again. No Problem. If it isn't hard, it isn't good!

[Lancefighter]

the last (ok, well, the second..) game I finished involved heavy raids on datacenters, a use of the super-processor (it spawned RIGHT next to my homeworld!) and destrying all the co-processors.
It ended around maybe 400, including the second AI core station, but I kept it barely under mk2 raids as much as possible..
Then again, I like playing a fast paced game, so it was set to 1 aip per 15 minutes, AI's were assassin and mad bomber.. so that helped keep their defenses light.

I much rather this way, the whole turtle thing doesnt really work well for me, and special forces guys are hard! >.>

[deMangler]

...Rather, the game is more about choosing targets that are actually of value, and being a guerrilla fighter and then killing the enemy home planets...

In my solo games I seem to spend a lot of time scouting and then pausing the game and gazing at the galaxy map considering which targets to take out in which system next.
I love the whole Ninja Guerilla aspect to the game. I am in a co-op game with a mate as well and the debates about how to take which targets and why are at least half the fun.....
Hmmmm. Ninja Gorillas....

[carlosjuero]

...Rather, the game is more about choosing targets that are actually of value, and being a guerrilla fighter and then killing the enemy home planets...

In my solo games I seem to spend a lot of time scouting and then pausing the game and gazing at the galaxy map considering which targets to take out in which system next.
I love the whole Ninja Guerilla aspect to the game. I am in a co-op game with a mate as well and the debates about how to take which targets and why are at least half the fun.....
Hmmmm. Ninja Gorillas....

Ninja Gorillas... with lasers O.O

[Spikey00]

There will be some awesome strategy in how to give a proper steamroll spank to the AI in an 40-60-80+ galaxy... there has to be!  Perhaps some nice defense/leech/everything spam will do the trick!  Harhar, I must... investigate further.

[Buttons840]

the last (ok, well, the second..) game I finished involved heavy raids on datacenters, a use of the super-processor (it spawned RIGHT next to my homeworld!) and destrying all the co-processors.
It ended around maybe 400, including the second AI core station, but I kept it barely under mk2 raids as much as possible..
Then again, I like playing a fast paced game, so it was set to 1 aip per 15 minutes, AI's were assassin and mad bomber.. so that helped keep their defenses light.

I much rather this way, the whole turtle thing doesnt really work well for me, and special forces guys are hard! >.>

I like to play with AI progress set high as well.  Currently I have it set to 20 per hour (5 every 15 mins).  It's only 50 planets though so I expect the game will be quicker.  I would set the progress rate lower if using a higher number of planets.

[TheMachineIsSentient]

Alright, I think I have it this time. I started at the node on the right, and I captured the one right below it for economic reasons. Instead of capturing the node to the left of that (P0 in the picture), I cleared out the warp gate and the ships in the sector, and then I brought a whole bunch of transports to the party at (P9), which happens to have access to 6000 worth of untapped knowledge, advanced research facility, an ion cannon, and good field position to move north or south. I've also done a better job of scouting and documenting the value of different sectors. I think I might go for two of the golems before I think about going for the home planet.

Any suggestions, or is this about accurate? I'm also using the suggested values for P, if that helps any. P4's are co-processors. Edit: what are the Roman numerals for on the sectors?

[carlosjuero]

The roman numerals indicate the Mark (tech) level of the planet.