Strategy Question.

[tigersfan]

Quick strategy question for you guys. In my current game, I have a group of three stars that only have one way in, and one way out, this one way in and one way out system is next to my home planet. The group of three stars aren't all that fantastic (only 1 or 2 resources on each). So, my question is, how should I handle them? Do I just go through them and clear them of ships/warpgates? Should I completely ignore them? I'm figuring that I probably don't want to destroy the AI bases, as it seems a waste of AI progress. But, if I go and just destroy the warp gates and leave the bases, will the warp gates be rebuilt?

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Josh

[HellishFiend]

Opinions vary, but my strategy would be to neuter the choke point planet (Neutering is taking out all the guard posts), as well as take out the warp gate on it. Taking out the warp gate will prevent raids from coming through that planet, and taking out the guard posts will slow down the accumulation of ships for use as a Cross Planet Attack. A CPA will probably still happen from there eventually though, so you should prepare for that as the game progresses.

Optionally, you could just neuter that planet but leave the warp gate, and use it as your single point of entry for raids, but only if youre playing on a map that you can easily stay on top of the amount of warp gates you have along your border.

[tigersfan]

Thanks for the response, but I don't think I was clear. The choke point borders my home planet, so I will be establishing a base there. My question is, do I neuter the three stars beyond it? Or do I just ignore them largely?

Also, are warp gates and guard posts rebuildable by the AI?

[Spikey00]

If you have the Zenith trader enabled in your game, the AI has a 1% chance of purchasing a warp gate it on every visit, but they don't rebuild guard posts.

[HellishFiend]

Thanks for the response, but I don't think I was clear. The choke point borders my home planet, so I will be establishing a base there. My question is, do I neuter the three stars beyond it? Or do I just ignore them largely?

Also, are warp gates and guard posts rebuildable by the AI?

You were clear. Sorry I misread your post. Anyway, that does change things a bit. If I were you, I'd go ahead and either eat the AIP cost of completely taking all 3 of those planets (especially if you'll be getting economic command stations), or neuter and gatekill them all (except for one, if you want to use it as a chokepoint defense).

I'd really lean towards taking all of those planets, though. A late game CPA from there could be devastating since it is so close to your home planet, and your main fleet will no doubt be elsewhere.

[RooksBailey]

Opinions vary, but my strategy would be to neuter the choke point planet (Neutering is taking out all the guard posts), as well as take out the warp gate on it. Taking out the warp gate will prevent raids from coming through that planet, and taking out the guard posts will slow down the accumulation of ships for use as a Cross Planet Attack. A CPA will probably still happen from there eventually though, so you should prepare for that as the game progresses.

Optionally, you could just neuter that planet but leave the warp gate, and use it as your single point of entry for raids, but if youre playing on a map that you can easily stay on top of the amount of warp gates you have along your border.

Thanks for posting that.  I wasn't quite clear on the warp gate/ guard post mechanic anyway. 

[HellishFiend]

You're welcome! 

[tigersfan]

Thanks for the responses. I found out after some better scouting that one of the planets is VERY well defended (it's the "Turtle" AI). So, I have some work cut out for me, but I will be taking your advice.

Josh

[Diazo]

Going back and re-reading the opening post, it really boils down to a play style choice.

It sounds like you have already ruled out the "don't capture the choke point" option, even though it's adjacent to your home planet.

In that case, it depends on how concerned you are with AIP. In my personal play style, I'd capture both the other two planets even though they aren't valuable in terms of resources because I'm less concerned then average with AIP progress. This would be to simplify my defense so I could totally ignore that wormhole into my home system later in the game.

The other option is to take and fortify the choke point system and leave the other two systems alone. This would probably be the 'standard' option to keep AIP down. It does sound like you are leaning towards this option, just make sure you have a tachyon somewhere along the route. 10 eye bots slipping through and wreaking havoc in your home system is not something you want happen to you. (Can you tell it happened to me?) 

D.

[TheMachineIsSentient]

I am playing on an x map, and this problem will happen to you every game for obvious reasons. I have chosen to create some mega-defensive choke, and I have missiles at the ready if all else fails.

[Lancefighter]

. 10 eye bots slipping through and wreaking havoc in your home system is not something you want happen to you. (Can you tell it happened to me?) 

D.

I once noticed 500 ships on one of my systems..... except, the AI hadnt invented cloaked ships yet. Or so i thought.

Turns out, somehow, 500 space planes were traveling around my space without impedance. Thankfully, logistics stations still work on cloaked ships, so I was able to catch them with a scout starship i had on hand and eliminate them.. that wouldve been one nasty surprise to find on my more lightly defended inner planets.

Then again, I also at one point had a counter-wave hit my homeworld (zpg on it, of course), and destroy my entire cryogenic cluster before i could do anything to stop them.

[Fox Soul]

The 3x wave only affects the planet the golem is on. So it would never affect ANY planet the golem is not on, in any circumstances. Also, waves != cpas, so it doesn't affect those.

This quote was from another topic, I just like to point out that wave multipliers do not get added to cross planet attacks. According to X.
This might help you decide on your defenses and economy.