Don't know if this is comment or cry for help--but as the subject line states, the AI keeps eating my luch, putting me to bed wet, AND giving me a general trouncing!
I have tried about 4 smaller maps to achieve the "win vs. two hard AI" and always get me.
Two past days I thought I would ease-up, and just play AI normal, but with a 50 planet map and while I thought I was cruising-along fine, in ten minutes I had a team of two allied (newly) enemies strike one place, while the largest and baddest of the other AI enemis strike me from the other side of the system--and of course that's when the pirates decided to strike also!
Just killing me! Aaaarrrggghhhh!
In previous loses I tended to have too weak of fleets. In this one, the post-game charts showed I actually had built significantly larger fleets then the others and I think they were just better fighters and maybe teched-up better.
While I have been trying to study the various strategy guides and unit ability charts, I am obviously missing some grand, overall tact in managing tech tree to balance fleet construction... and couple that with a brilliant (compared to me) AI, it is terribly frustrating!
My life is passing days at a time while I try to mster this! Wife is gonna kill me after the AI does!
The trick to playing harder AIs is recognizing that they can easily get stuck on choke points and beefed up static defenses. They don't avoid these like humans do. Because of this, putting a starbase at a gravity well that bottlenecks to the rest of your empire and then buying the health upgrades for that starbase, you can buy yourself a ton of time to build up huge, teched up fleets of your own. Then, after the AI wastes an armada against your damage-soaking starbase, you can strike back at a time of your choosing.
Thanks for that help Kullvox! I will keep that advice in good place as I try again. Maybe I am going-out too far, but in earlier losses I turtled and they came-in with huge fleets that their expansion enabled them to afford. Soooooo many trade-offs in this, the by-far most intense strategy game I have ever played. So many layers, paths, and variables..... overwelming! And satisfying too. Again, thank-you my friend and God Bless.
More help welcome!
Flagbag
What are you building for fleets?
Don't forget to research into increasing your diplomatic relations with other players, that way they're less inclined to perceive you as a threat and thus less likely to form alliances to attack you or send pirates to your worlds.
To answer your question, I am building fleets that I guess will keep-up a good fight. I have noticed at times that I have too many cap ships, but then again on another front I may only have 1 cap and the AI comes-in with 4 caps against me! AAAaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhh! Sooo frustrating.
All told, I think I am buididing a balanced fleet. To boil-it down, I guess I can make my observations:
Seems I lose all my light frigates sooner than the opposition.
Seems the AI comes in with more cap ships than I have as well as more heavies.
Seems I got to have some plan or tactic, overall for this, but keeps getting SQUASHED!
Long Range Frigates and Bomber with anti-strike craft frigates is a strong fleet build as well.
This is a good idea if the pirates are on and for unlocked teams, but otherwise they're pretty useless. Relations determine who gets bounty on them but the AI won't go half way across the solar system just to attack the enemy they hate the most.
Light frigates are probably best kept to a minimum. Unless your enemy has a lot of carrier cruisers or repair cruisers don't have more than 5, maybe 10 for maxed out fleet supply. Are you playing trinity or Rebellion? Regardless the mention LRF and bombers do very well against capitalship, and once you a mass a lot of bombers (50+ squads) the AI can't really compete with you.
Answer, no. Entrenchment still. Have had Sins for 1+ year, Entrenchment for past month. Want to master it before advancing.
Are light frigates good against these carrier and repair cruisers? Seems they have to close range too much and get wiped-out before doing much.... no? Also-are you recommending 5-10 in each fleet or over all?
And you bring-up a good question that may be already answered elsewhere, but what is a balanced fleet comprised of?
Thanks for all help and replies. God Bless.
If you've got choke worlds that they're attacking you on but don't have Starbases unlocked yet, repair platforms and hangars are cheaper and also helpful. Advent hangers can be upgraded to give their other defenses shields, which massively boosts the durability of all their static defenses (and it even gives a close enough Starbase a shield boost!).
Or if you just have to throw them up quickly while your fleet is defending, a couple of Repair Platforms can help.
Culture can also help if you've got time to get it going, because you seem to be stuck on the defensive so you'll be getting the bonuses. If you can get past that initial big AI assault you'll probably gain some cap ship levels and get time to set up more defenses. At that point it's pretty easy to go on the offense.
What race are you playing as?
When I was playing Entrenchment, I made heavy use of mines near the warp points of my gravity wells. Also, try very hard to not waste time fighting Pirates. Buying off the Pirates will ensure that another player is tied up and not attacking you. The down side is this allows enemy capital ships to gain experience points since pirates are not usually strong enough to defeat a supported capital ship. IMHO, capital ships should always be supported.
Of course, this requires a good economy. I usually play as TEC since they have the best economy building tech tree. Your home planet is your largest source of income; protect it by establishing a buffer zone ASAP and making sure you upgrade Civilian Infrastructure. Also, research Trade Ports as soon as you can to boost your income. Having a lot of credits on hand will a) allow you to pay off the Pirates, b ) build strong defenses, and c) build and research a stronger fleet.
As far as your question about a balanced fleet, I start with a capital ship that has the Colonize ability. I really like the Akken class because it also has the Targeting Uplink ability which boosts it's supporting ships' stats. I also like long-range frigates and carriers with bombers. Once you have have a decent number of bomber squads, take control of them and start chipping away at enemy capital ships. The AI will usually turn tail and run once they lose enough capital ships.
But, other than opinions on specific ships and tactics, there really is no "formula" for fleet make-up. It just depends on what ships are available to you at the time (research), where you are in the game (beginning, mid, end), and your style of play (offensive, defensive). One thing that will help you decide what ships to build is knowing what your enemy is up to; so, try to keep scouts circulating and make sure they have the Probe ability.
Good Luck!
They are designed to go against such frigates yes. They have anti-Heavy weapons and Carrier and Repair Cruisers have heavy armor. You are also correct that their short range is an issue as Long Range Frigates are good against Light Frigates and cause them to melt.
Diplomacy's AI is harder so learn now.
I am starting another game tomight MarcGoodman and employing all your advice as well as the other's here who have game me pointers....! Thank-YOU!
Tridus, I have been mostly playing as TEC... feeling my way thru and mostly have a good feel for the TEC tech tree in Entrenchment.
I get a lot of advice to "built trade ports" fast... and have been doing so. I find that putting-up 2 civ. labs and the cash to research Trade Ports takes aybe 10 min of game-time and in that time I have done zero military research like lasers, etc.
What is the sweet spot against 2 hard AI? It seems they always build powerful fleets right at my border and pounce me before I can really get-up strong defense... Of course if you read and understand exactly what I am talking about then you have been through this! Is there a good answer? What is the best path in the tech tree(s) and how far does one extend territory and build barricaded planets?
Sorry to sound like I expect some magic formula for all situations, but I feel asking this presents such excellent replies about strategy I can't resist!
Thanks and Live Long and Prosper!
You're welcome. It's been a few days; any progress?
I usually tech hard to Star Bases before putting up an economy.
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