Why should I remain in the United Planets (?)?

from Stardock Forums
Maybe this is just a case of 'the grass is greener on the other side', but I feel that half the time all the decisions just screw me over. I really do not want to share my tech or income with my greedy, evil, bloodthirsty Drengin neighbors when the only abilities keeping me afloat are my tech/econ advantages.

If I leave the UP I don't have to obey any of their directives right? Why shouldn't I leave?
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
If you have such a tech/econ boost, can't you, when you *know* the UP is coming (it warns you the month before, doesn't it? trade some tech/cash with another influent civ for some of their influence in the vote? That way you can turn your economic advantage into a political one, and do some screwing over of your own.

Or am I totally off base here?

Astro
Star Control: Origins
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I used tech-for-influence as a strategy after the first U.P. election showed me as a non-starter as far as influence was concerned and the Drengin got rights to a nice star system :( For each election after that I had 55-70% of the votes so it didn't matter what others voted. Worked like a charm, actually it worked too good but I understand the latest patch has some fixes that makes trade negotiations harder.

Generally speaking I found it to be best to take cash from minors and influence from majors. This quickly shifts the U.P. balance to your side. If a high-influence major doesn't want to trade (or you don't want them getting tech) then you can usually get a few thousand influence from a minor to swing the vote.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Ohhhh, that's what the influence is for? I throw it around like crazy since I rarely have any troubles with the UP. ;)

~SDC~
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Another point is that if you leave the United Planets, no one will trade with you.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Yes. The NUMBER ONE advantage to the UP is being allowed to trade! For some of us, the income from trading is key to victory.

Also, I just totally kicked the Altarians' butt. They pleaded for a peace treaty; I gave it to them, but only after they gave me ALL their influence points. So now I'm controlling 53% of the votes - veto power! Just call me Chirac.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
konfuzed667, The first game I won by cultural domination, half way through the game, I had that, without having to trade for influence points :) It's all about the starbases, baby! (and the military to protect them).