How long did it take you to form the federation?

[Giaddon]

Just trying to get a sense. How many years did it take you to form the Federation?

[x4000]

I think that one relevant component to this question is "and then when did you DECIDE to form the federation?"  Because being able to doesn't mean you pull the trigger immediately -- the AFA starts building up after that point, and so on.

Some stuff has changed in the last few versions that I think affect the timing of how fast I could get one up, but certainly within the first 9 years at the slowest I think would be very attainable (1 hour relative solar time).

[Boo]

Well, my fastest one now is 3002, with the galaxy united by 3007. At some level I feel as if the game becomes a bit too easy if you beeline the federation immediately. With my fastest game I just formed the federation with the two first spacefaring species, and then I just went on to add the races as soon I lifted them up. Worked perfectly with all of them except boarines, who the 7 race strong federation just destroyed in a few months.

It seems as if races need to be spacefaring to form a counter-alliance. That's one of the primary issues I have seen, and three games in a row now there hasn't been other alliance because of this. Maybe races should become spacefaring faster? Even on hard the hours it takes for some races to get into space seems too long. I guess I should just start at a later year for more of a challenge though.

[galdor123]

I have now won 3 games (one on easy, two on normal. One of the normal games had all 8 races alive with no planet changing hands) and I always formed the federation very fast. I'd say maybe around 3003 in my latest game. I don't know the exact dates anymore, but with the first two spacefaring races I got them to set up as many trade routes as possible. They even could form trade routes with non-spacefaring races. I then just sort of added to the federation as soon as I had the credits to do so; some races were very cheap (Peltians...) others moderately expensive (yes, I tried getting other races to get them to join, I did not just ask them directly).
For credits, the AFA missions are great. In between, when there was nothing to do, I just researched with someone - focussing on the research boosting techs first (there is one which speeds research up by 300% - a few prerequisites, but nothing too bad).

[x4000]

All right you two, you've inspired a change that should make things a lot more... interesting... coming up.

[GC13]

All right you two, you've inspired a change that should make things a lot more... interesting... coming up.

Ooooh, oooh, is this related to the 1.005 change you're making about getting bonus influence for helping a hostile alliance member?

[x4000]

All right you two, you've inspired a change that should make things a lot more... interesting... coming up.

Ooooh, oooh, is this related to the 1.005 change you're making about getting bonus influence for helping a hostile alliance member?

No, that's something else -- and it's not bonus influence there, it's just recategorized influence.  There won't be any point to that particular recategorization until after 1.005 -- maybe 1.006, or maybe into next week, we'll see.  That's a different mechanic, and a cool one.

But the one referenced above is an idea that I had prior to 1.0, but discarded for a couple of reasons (wasn't sure it was needed, was worried about the minor complexity it adds).  But now it's clearly needed.  The ingenuity of players who don't play the game exactly like I do is always fun to have to combat right after release.  So long as everyone is reasonably patient and good-natured about that, I mean that genuinely, not sarcastically.

[Ryusacerdos]

It depends on how the Boarians are doing. If they don't get a negative RCI event in the first few months then I can probably get the Federation up with any combination of races (at peace with each other) the moment I get the regent to support Space Unity.

Otherwise its a long slog waiting for trade routes to build up the relations necessary to start it.

[galdor123]

All right you two, you've inspired a change that should make things a lot more... interesting... coming up.

I have no idea what you are talking about, but a change sounds good. It felt slightly strange when I united the solar system with barely any wars within a decade while ignoring 90% of the game mechanics

I will wait for the next patch before starting a new game then, most likely.