Hey guys - I'm just a humble space traveller that wants to settle down in a couple systems. My focus lies on research and I do not have the slightest interest in combat. In the long run, I often manage to win the game by diplomacy or science, but being invaded really sucks and often makes me lose important systems in the beginning. Do you have ideas how I can best avoid or end invasions with as little military action as possible?

Thanks a lot!

Choosing research or diplomatic style doesn't mean that you don't have to invest into fleet. It's quite contrary - you should at least research first three military technology and build 6-8 ships to guard your external systems (use well known trick - kinetic on long range and you're good to go). Some defensive budildings on systems wouldn't hurt, too. And while researching other branches, from time to time go for nex military techs, especially those which increase your command points, armor boost and kinetics.



Besides, look from the other sides. If you see that one of your opponents is going to win diplomatic/research/economic vicotry in few turns, what would you do? Of course you would invade him and turn his empire into dust, so don;t be shocked that AI is doing the same

As much as the games pretend to have non-violent ways to win, at the end of the day ES and EL are wargames (like most 4x games). Military means and gameplay are prioritized over the rest, as such it becomes very difficult to win without having a decent fleet to deter and defend.



That being said, pacifist does not mean not manipulative. As a pacifist, you can convince other empires to go to war with each other, get busy, and be distracted from you. Works every time.

It is relatively easy to maintain a big deterrent fleet on choke points in your empire in Endless Space, provided your research is going well, you can be far enough ahead that you only need a couple of fleets stationed on wormholes to block any potential invaders.