Hey @ all reading this ^^
I wanted to share some of my thoughts about the game mechanics right now. I will call my post
'Quantity over Quality!?'
I ain't got any problems with mineral extraction, mining, population growth or speed of R&D development. I realized the biggest 'problem' where I can't find a clever solution so far is the ship and module building mechanic, so I want to share my thoughts..
After getting started, establishing my first colonies and trade routes, exploring surrounding systems, develop a little statonary defence and researching first weapons the time comes the first enemies showing up. Let's call this game state 'settled down in unkown space'. At this point I may have 1 or max 2 shipyards. Now is the time to establish a defence fleet, if not - sooner or later the enemy would destroy my expensive stations.
Establishing a Capital ship with 2 supporters takes time(turns).. Because it also takes time to install new weapons and sub systems. And here I started to get in trouble. I need to look very sharp at my reccources at this early game state. And I need also at least some mining ships and freighters.. So the shipyard is quite busy.
And here my thinking starts. Is it worth to research for the tier 2 weapons? I need recources, R&D time, and changing weapons needs a realy segnificant amount of over all recources. Sure, a well equipped vessel is worth the work, but if 1 well equipped get atacked by a fleet of 4 capitals, it doesen't got a chance. Also one good equipped ship can't be at 2 places at same time.
I am in my test stage level 2 right now. First try was easy mode.. I builded patiently those well equipped ships, and in 'mid game' (start atacking minor enemies) due to that I blocked all my, lets say 6, shipyards like all the time, with repairing, upgrading, reloading troops and new fleet establishing. And there came this question in my mind.
Why I dont just focus on quantity over quality? Due to I safe a lots of time in research and harvesting if I would focus on only tier 1 weapons, and also saving so much shipyard time, I could establish like 6 fleets at same time, with good life quality due to I must not change any modules..
So now I am at test stage 2. I have harder difficult level now. And did not took a beginning bonus. This time I will safe those reccources, focus on other development. And I will establish more quantity but bad equipped fleets.
The Carrier ship type is a good example.. If I builded those in first test phase, I developed the 3rd Tier fighter bombers, and all of theyre bonuses. But if I build a vessel and change all the fighters and weapons, it takes much more time and clicks rather to just build 12-18 'unequipped' ones / tier 1, in same time with much lesser effort on credits minerals and pre research.
Maybe the whole building mechanic, and the time management/ time (clicks) investing, results in a significant advatage over raw quantity. But to be honest, at this stage of testing right now, I would be suprised.
These are my thoughts so far. I will let you know to wich result I may come.. Also your thoughts on that problem would interest me a lot.
Best regards
Choleric o7