Hi guys!

I’m playing on hard right now, and wining each time. But I always have to struggle in a certain amount in the mid game to settle. Once I settle I usually take down “honestly” my initial opponents, and then against a develop IA, well, they are so stupid that will actually give me the gold to retrofit the fleets I need to invade them so… piece of cake.



But I want to go to the next level of difficulty, and I am a bit worried about that middle game phase. Any tips?

And what do you think about this build?



Affinity Cravens (want to expand fast and take de lead)



Good stuff:



Builders 3/3 (gets things going, moving, to exploit the PL system, and in very late game lets you therefrom for the final strike)

Militarist 2/3

Scientist 2/3

Optimistic 1/3 (and even then this construction has approval-money problems)

Businessman 1/3

Deadly Weapons 1/3

Rebellion 1/3 (Once the enemy has force me to battle, I'm taking a few worlds before the cease of fire)

Fast travel (need to expand, fast)

Dust Archeology

Arid Epigenetics



Bad stuff:

Dust impared2/2,Slowppy Sawbones 2/2, ♥♥♥♥ hero abilities

Unlucky colonies (yeah… but is necessary)

Offense First 2/3 (I can handle this)

Feeble warriors 2/2 (I have my fleet.. and is a decent one)

Black Thumbs 1/3 ( this is a bit controversial, but the original idea, was that any percentage is a big deal in late game, but not at the beginning, so is no actually a big drawback as it would look like in the first place, for the early game of course. Then it has to be balanced by world improvements)



Well, I have the idea that a good fleet needs a good economy and decent empire size, with a reasonable develops in science. I don’t go to war if I don’t have to. There are also a few things for the first turns.

Noticed that buisnimen1-optimistic1 wasn’t enough.

Is this any good? What would you change?