Just returned, Couple of question

[towerbooks3192]

Been gone for a very long time. I was wondering if I can survive the game if I automate most part of it(if lets say I let the AI handle some of my fleet and upgrades and defending when at war?). I sort of want to play the game without worrying much about defending my territory but exploring and controlling a bunch of ships in a war.

Lastly, I got inspired by that game that was played for a long time here with most of the galaxy under control, so I was wondering if I choose the largest galaxy, will my laptop which has i7-4700MQ, 16,384MB RAM, and nVidia 765m handle the largest galaxy? I kind of want to play a long term game and I am worried if I have to be stuck on my PC if I want the largest galaxy.

[CyclopsSlayer]

Yes you can survive under pure AI control, put at like 60-70% of your potential I would say.

As to your system, it has similar or superior stats to my PC (i7-3770K, 16GB Ram, nVidia GTX670) so I would expect it to do fine.

[towerbooks3192]

ORIGINAL: CyclopsSlayer

Yes you can survive under pure AI control, put at like 60-70% of your potential I would say.

As to your system, it has similar or superior stats to my PC (i7-3770K, 16GB Ram, nVidia GTX670) so I would expect it to do fine.

Ok, cheers!

Question about pirate empires, Could I become a normal empire once I research colony tech and a planet or how do I become a normal empire? I kind of want to play a more hands on game when I take a break from an automated game.

[Bingeling]

You won't become a normal empire if you start as pirate, but you may get some colonies under control.

If you automate your empire, someone will do well. That empire is guaranteed to be controlled by the AI. My main issue on giant galaxies (in star numbers), is that it does not help save times once the galaxy matures a bit.

[towerbooks3192]

ORIGINAL: Bingeling

You won't become a normal empire if you start as pirate, but you may get some colonies under control.

If you automate your empire, someone will do well. That empire is guaranteed to be controlled by the AI. My main issue on giant galaxies (in star numbers), is that it does not help save times once the galaxy matures a bit.

Wait, so despite researching colonization, pirates stay pirates forever and don't have total control over the empires or have a chance to be an empire later on?

As for the largest galaxy, you mean save times take a long time many hours in to the game? I wish they would optimise stuff for the wrap-up expansion though.

[elanaagain]

Yes, living a pirates life is an eternal wandering quest. So no settling down as a landlubber / dirtsider. Normal empires are not for us, matey, Aarrggg!

[towerbooks3192]

ORIGINAL: elanaagain

Yes, living a pirates life is an eternal wandering quest. So no settling down as a landlubber / dirtsider. Normal empires are not for us, matey, Aarrggg!

I thought you could convert to an empire later on. I kind of wanted to start as a pirate then convert to an empire. I should recheck what are the changes to shadows since release. I have been gone in quite awhile and I only remember that you could build bases in a colony to control it but it is limited compared to standard empires.

[Avarice0107]

Never played a pirate but when the next expansion comes out I'm finally gonna take a crack at it. I don't think I can post links do to low post count but a review from Spacesector.com had this:

"At one point in the game you may decide to build pirate facilities, which are secret hidden bases, to expand your wealth and research capabilities, and research will start to progress faster, like when playing with normal empires. Eventually, you can even decide to transform your pirate nation into a pseudo normal empire (a mix between the two play-styles), after building an ultimate pirate facility on a planet. Then, after that point, technology progression will increase even more, your wealth will be much bigger and you’ll finally be able to build colony ships to colonize your own worlds and build more construction ships like regular empires do (you start with only one Construction ship). However, you’re still a pirate faction, only one with some “normal” empire abilities (diplomacy-wise you’re still restricted to pirate gameplay, and you can continue raiding as you once did)."

Take that as you will.

[towerbooks3192]

ORIGINAL: Avarice0107

Never played a pirate but when the next expansion comes out I'm finally gonna take a crack at it. I don't think I can post links do to low post count but a review from Spacesector.com had this:

"At one point in the game you may decide to build pirate facilities, which are secret hidden bases, to expand your wealth and research capabilities, and research will start to progress faster, like when playing with normal empires. Eventually, you can even decide to transform your pirate nation into a pseudo normal empire (a mix between the two play-styles), after building an ultimate pirate facility on a planet. Then, after that point, technology progression will increase even more, your wealth will be much bigger and you’ll finally be able to build colony ships to colonize your own worlds and build more construction ships like regular empires do (you start with only one Construction ship). However, you’re still a pirate faction, only one with some “normal” empire abilities (diplomacy-wise you’re still restricted to pirate gameplay, and you can continue raiding as you once did)."

Take that as you will.

Ok, I really though pirates could be a normal empire later since they have the chance to research colony tech but I don't know wha t is the use of colony techs when pirates are not allowed to become normal empires later on.

[Canute0]

They can be more or less normal empires with some restrictions.
But that isn't the goal of a pirate empire