Need Strategic Advice

[WoodMan]

Hey folks!

Dilemma, started penned in on the edge of the galaxy with two other Empires right on my doorstep. There isn't enough room for all three of us and since I'm the one in the middle I'm guessing it is going to be me who gets screwed.

So my plan was to expand quickly, to take the colonizable planets before my neighbours. playing as Shandar there are no potential colonies nearby, all low quality. I'm maxing my High Tech research bonusses so I can get the colnization techs quick but... I have explored several sectors out in all directions and not found *any* colonizable worlds of any type, so colinization tech won't help. I have a two sector limit on new colony distance!

Then I thought of something I've never tried before. Colonizing low quality worlds simply to gain territorial advantage and pen in my neighbours. In the picture below are the two highest quality Volcanic worlds I have found at 23% and 21% quality. Would it hit my economy too bad to colonize them this early in the game? Or is this my chance to escape and move closer to the core where the stars are much denser? Oh, I love this game [:D]

[ehsumrell1]

I see the issue here Martin. But in my opinion as Supreme Ruler of the So'na, here's another
problem.

Concerning both the Riigean and Danuur system planets, such low quality is going to mean that
building a Space Port at either is going to be REALLY SLOW GOING! Thus, defense of these locations
will be VERY costly. Especially the Riigean system planet. IF you even have a sizable battle fleet
at this early stage of the game developed, the time (and fuel, with no major fuel source at the location)
to get there and defend against even Pirate attacks will be lengthy. Doesn't look good to me. You've
got a good one to figure out here bro. [:)]

[WoodMan]

Colonization of Riigean 2 has been approved by the Shandar government! It is an aggressive move for the Shandar, but desperate measures for desperate times, the future of their civilization is at stake!

The pirates are not a true threat. So far they have proved a no show. But, a spaceport is not important for this colony. It is simply required to extend our colonization range by a further 2 sectors!

I might make a AAR out of this, haven't done one for a long time and it is an interesting and difficult starting phase [:)]

[feelotraveller]

Good choice.

As far as I understand the income mechanism you lose more as the population grows. In this case it is like having negative income from a 79% quality planet, leaving aside the 1k colony charge. It might even be worth temporarily scrapping your passenger ships depending on how quickly you can establish a better colony corewards. (If it was later game it might even be worth bombarding your own colony!)

While it's tiny, though, the income loss shoud be accordingly small.

Looking forward to the AAR. The Galactic Library need new stories. [:)]

[Panpiper]

It might even be worth temporarily scrapping your passenger ships depending on how quickly you can establish a better colony corewards.

Would it not perhaps just be better to jack up the tax rates on the initial colony to the point where it never grows beyond that initial -1 maintenance cost?

[feelotraveller]

That's a good idea. [:)]

(Although, as an aside, apart from the stuff in the Galactopedia which undoubtedly has some effect, I fear Passenger ships are about as predictable as freighters in their assignment of when and where they take passengers - that is, often mystifying.)

[endoric_MatrixForum]

i have used low quality planets to push my border against a neighbor therefore pushing my border out and causing his to shrink in order to open up planets that are high quality but in his space.

it is very useful to take low qual planets if you have a limit on how far away you can colonize or to claim space.

I like the idea of the high taxes to keep the pop from growing! good tip.

[WoodMan]

Hopefully, the fact that I'm Shandar can stave off any large negative economic impact from this venture. Not sure if you guys have tried the Shandar, but their economy is very strong. Just look at the date 2759 and with a harsh homeworld I already have an income of +15,916 (thats income, not bonus income). They may not be great fighters, but boy they know how to rake in the cash!