Hi from the new guy

[grinch2020]

Hi all.  Just started playing the game not too long ago and I am really enjoying it.  I finished the last tutorial and its one of the best that I have seen for showing you some of the finer points of the game.  The sheer amount of strategic choices you have in this game is great.

So I just started my first "Real" game and I'm already running into something that is a bit tough for me to get around.  There is only one Warp gate in front of me and its a Mark IV with Core ships, a Super Fortress(I think that's what it's called) and another fortress on the route to the only other warp gate in this system.  If you haven't guess I'm playing on a small number of planets map.  As you can guess, its tough to get my scouts through there, even if I send pretty much everything that I have to escort it.  Since this is close to the beginning of the game I also do not have a lot of knowledge so research isn't much of an option either.

Again, really enjoying the game and I look forward to picking up the expansion when it is released.  You are doing a great job x4000.

[x4000]

Thanks for your support, and glad you're enjoying the game and tutorials!  You might try updating to the latest prerelease here (ZF), the bombers are a bit more sturdy in that version and will be easier to send against the Forts.  Although, if you are playing 2.0, Raid Starships are more powerful against forts, so you could also go that way.

One thing I would suggest is playing on maps that are at least 30-40 planets.  It's not like you have to take all of the planets or anything, but those and up are where you really the most out of the game grand-strategy-wise in particular.  Roadblocks like the one you've run into are easier to work around, etc, too.  In general, I feel like the really small maps, 10-20 planets, are sort of a different (but still fun) game that in some ways is harder (harder to get lots of ships at once, harder to unlock as many techs, harder to get around high level planets) and in others easier (easier scouting and grand strategy, reaching the AI home planets in general).

Hope that helps!  I'm sure others here will have other tips, too.  But if you're just starting out a new game, I'd suggest a 40 planet map as the "sweet spot" for a shorter game.  Personally I always play 80, but those are more middle-length games rather than shorter.  Happy holidays!

[Spikey00]

If you're ever in need of a coop, check our IRC (http://arcengames.com/irc/aiwar_irc.php) or head on over to the meeting grounds here on the forums, grinch.

Always glad to have another member to add to the community.  (:

[grinch2020]

Thanks for the replies.  I think I will try a 40 planet map.  I think with it being so small, it's easy to get into a situation like the one that I am in. 

[HellishFiend]

Thanks for the replies.  I think I will try a 40 planet map.  I think with it being so small, it's easy to get into a situation like the one that I am in. 

I agree, you should start a new game! I doubt I'll ever play a 20 or fewer planet map, because when it gets that small, it just takes too much of the grand strategy out of it.

[I-KP]

I quite like playing 10-20 planet maps.  There isn't enough knowledge to go around and the hard battles are often right on your doorstep.  It can be a very tough nut to crack.

[raptor331]

Starting off with a MK IV planet adjacent to your home planet is actually a good thing. Be sure not to destroy the warp gate and command station. Unlock the leech starship, or if you have parasites, just use them, and send them into FRD mode. You'll be getting some powerful ships that way.