I'm quite new to this game, having only played twice to completion. The first time I couldn't figure out which technology allowed me to traverse wormholes (in fact, I didn't even know they were wormholes), and the second time I massively underestimated the enemy's military capabilities.



Anyway, what I would like to know is, is it best try try and expand quickly and colonize as much as possible (as I would try to do in Sins of a Solar Empire, for example), or would I be better off sticking to only a few colonies to begin with.



Secondly, I am unclear as to what exactly allows for ships to be upgraded. I focussed on researching technology mainly in the "military" tree, but this did not seem to yield any upgrades I could apply to ship designs. Is there more to it than that?

perhaps this could help /#/endless-space/forum/33-strategy-guides/thread/14020-early-game-quick-expand-peacefull-guide-v2-0

Grab the good stuff ASAP. The key to expansion is knowing what the good stuff is for your strategy and your needs. For instance, almost all races/strategies need a forge system or 2 where they plan to make most of their ships. This system should have a large number of industry focused planets like Deserts and Jungles. You will all want a trade center or 2. This should be a potentially high pop system, preferably with Ocean or other science/dust planets with a lot of moons.



You will want to control zones of space between these systems and you will also want to grab all of the rare resource systems you can.



I frequently find it helpful to grab systems next to wormholes where I plan to station fleets for long term defensive positions.



So, much like any 4X, grab eveything, but take the good stuff first. You will also need to manage your research curve to make sure you can build/acquire happiness buildings or expansion disapproval reduction techs (or both).



On a 8 player map, you probably want 20% of the systems.



Good Luck.

You definately want to expand early. Colonizing systems can be easier than taking them for a little while.



That said, as you get on higher difficulties you will need to balance military with expansion. If you can't hold the planets you take, someone will hold them for you.

thanks for the tips

When expanding quickly it is imperative to balance this with a strong economic backbone since your tax income will take a beating, researching happiness improvements like endless supermarkets and collonial rights are also important in order not to get crippled by strikes. If playing a custom race, allways consider taking the Optimistic trait.

When colonising systems go for the happier planets early and leave the acidic rain/high gravity/carnicourus fauna for later, if you over colonise the star systems happines will plumeth like a stone and in worst cae you will have to send a hero there in order to put things right.

When expanding, I find it very usefull to have at least two food/industrie heroes available: one for the system that I draw population from and one for 'kickstarting' the new system (if I start multiple new systems at once, he'll go to the one most in need of help).



I'm not sure if this is an optimal way to do it, but I rather like using heroes!



Later in the game I'm quite capable of letting new systems fend for themselves because by then I'm expanding both to grow and to deny to my enemies.

I can't wait till more political/economic/espionage and defensive options become available so smaller empires can truly survive with less systems.



And any rebellion or civil war system to hack down the larger empire would truly make games of ES into proper campaigns!

One aspect I liked alot in Sword of the Stars was an AI rebellion.

Indeed, bloody sentient AI!

Unlike other games in this one taking over a system isnt a huge undertaking. So missing a planet or not multiply like a bunny isnt quite as bad anymore.