Weebshanama wrote:
Got to be builder- assuming that it includes science. Can't neglect the pursuit of knowledge!

Scientists fall into the builder category since your main goal is to build through the tree.

I think Diplomacy is definitely a key aspect in most of my games, though generally not as a cause of victory but a means to achieve victory through tech or a nicely timed backstab. Unfortunately I do feel that the trading and diplomacy are still in need of a lot of work.

Adapting to situations is necessary to win, but everyone has a comfort zone they revert to. I've noticed it's usually one of these categories.

Jack of all trades with an emphasis on empire building.

Usually I play like this: Expand-Research-Annihilate

But I'm willing to adapt my strategy if necessery.

I start out peaceful, but once you got the tech you just have to go knock on a few door. Darn you MOO and MOO2 for teaching me this habit.

I consider myself a mixture of the Builder and Diplomat types. I like playing scientifically inclined races but I very rarely actively go to war in 4X games. I prefer to talk things through and trade technologies that will help my allies fight our enemies for me. My main priorities in any 4X game are exploring the tech tree and keeping my population happy.

trading hoarding and diplomacy but have a industrial base to change gears quickly and have some basic fleets with extreme weaponry.

No research junky option?!?



Victory through knowledge!





Really though, a 'builder' strategy differs enough from a 'research' strategy that the two probably shouldn't be lumped together.





A builder will most likely focus on all infrastructure and resource utilisation across all their systems, making sure that each individual system/city/planet is efficiently used to make their empire/race/civilisation strong through efficiency.



A researcher can really favour any number of sub-strategies all branching off from their focus on having the most advanced technologies available to them and as such having more flexibility in options and being able to choose to keep things running just as efficiently as a builder, but without the extensive planning and consideration but rather through a much smaller number of more advanced structures and unlocked empire wide passive bonuses.



But ultimately a research focused strategy can be used for warmongering, trading focus, diplomacy focus or exploration focuses.... it's not really 'part' of another strategy but rather a highly flexible standalone tactic that then allows those that wield it to react and play as the situation or their mood wishes.





In Endless Space at least (and other 4x games as well, though each game differs), you aren't required to adopt a builder playstyle in order to be a 'research junky' other than in the very early turns.



Once you start covering the 2nd or 3rd tier researches, you're able to compensate through simply constantly pushing further up the tech trees and unlocking more output versions of exploits and more advanced structures that push out better bonuses for planet types that can do the work of 3 or 4 'low tech' structures unless you start off in a bad location for colony prospects don't really have to concern yourself too much about the whole micro-managing builder lifestyle if you don't want to.



And once you're at that point (which in my games so far is generally turn 20-30) you can pretty much go on a war rampage against builder focused who have greater numbers, or turtle up with advanced defensive fleets against the war mongers who spread out quickly to find everyone and wipe them out... it's really more when you find another empire that has taken the same research focused approach as you that I suspect it will get rather interesting and the different 'sub-styles' begin to really shine.

I like building and expanding, but a little bit of combat to lighten up the mood is good too

I'd classify myself as a scientist / technocrat type of gamer.

I like to build, build and build some more. Usually I just turtle in a corner, at least until I get too provoked then the military takes over the government and general mobilization occurs

Hardcore Builder here.. I'll take that hardhat.

Hardhats required

They can pop so many fleets and so fast, it's really good to see it in action. More CP is rally good. But you have to be aware that any stop in your expansion is that death is close (cravers tend to eat up the planets fast)

Any particular reason why?

Usually I like peacufull way of playing a 4X. But cravers are so fun to play

I im tententen

I like to build up to the point where I cannot get any bigger and then crush anyone in my path!

Building, building, building, building!



So many wonderful improvements!