What to research first when playing the AI?

[Fenris99]

I bought this game recently and I like it's depth and style. I'm still sorting out all of the details. What are the first few technologies I should research when playing against the AI?

[StarShadow]

There is no real cut and dried answer to that, it depends on your play-style, and to a degree your game settings.

Personally I usually start with 3 planets and rush for mines, computers II, research II (unless I have a good research planet nearby to colonize), then I make a run for temporal spaceyards. Of course all that depends on what AIs start near me and how agressive they are.

[Urendi Maleldil]

Get to light cruiser quickly.

Research all colony techs as soon as you can (The AI usually waits to research those, so it gives you opportunity).

Try to get Phased - Polaron Beams quickly. They're the best direct fire weapon in the game on a tonnage-to-damage ratio.

Don't forget to pick up point defense along the way. Fighters are also the most efficient way to wipe out undefended systems.

[douglas]

Urendi Maleldil said:Try to get Phased - Polaron Beams quickly. They're the best direct fire weapon in the game on a tonnage-to-damage ratio.


No, that would be high level Anti-Proton Beams. They cost a great deal more to research that far, though, and they don't skip non-phased shields. APB XII is the best late-game weapon in stock, but there is a long period where no one has phased shields and the research cost is prohibitively high. During that period PPB is the best weapon, and level 2 is quite cheap to research and plenty powerful enough, but you will eventually want to upgrade.

[capnq]

I tend to go after Propulsion 4 (Contra-Terrene Engines) and Ship Construction 4 (Light Cruiser), plus racial techs & weapons if I have them.

In the early SP game, you can go far with Missile Weapons (Capital Ship Missiles); the AIs will eventually start using Point-Defense Cannons, but until they do, you can dominate them. Even Projectile Weapons (Depleted Uranium Cannons) can be a good investment.