Spys, research, and some basic strategy questions....

Do you check the graph on the Timeline tab of the Civilization Manager? You should be able to see there just how much of a tech boost the Drengin might have been getting through conquest. If you have been the research leader for a while, they could still be substantially behind you b/c all they find to steal are things you've had for ages.

Re spies and tech stealing, you have to get to a high enough espionage level (one shy of Advance, IIRC), and then it is still just a chance per turn.

And, no, there's no way of telling who placed a spy on one of your worlds. I'd still kind of like an espionage tech that gave you at least a chance of identifying the civ behind the spy.

What sort of victory are you going for JoHud? That will go a long way to determining what strategy to use.

You need to get your espionage level with the civ you want to steal tech from to "high" or "advanced". Then you will have a reasonable chance of stealing techs. Also, concentrating spies on one civ will increase your chances.

You can't tell what civ has placed a spy on your planet. I think that is something that should be changed in future updates.

edit: Strange, I couldnt see GW's post until I made my reply, even though his was made hours ago. These forum gremlins are getting more pernicious!

Sentient species taste better...

I think this only increases the rate at which you reach the next espionage level? I'm pretty sure I've gotten stolen tech through Advanced level espionage *after* I pulled out my spies.

Hi!

That's what I've been complaining over a year ago: With good weapons you can get everything (Drengin's motto). If you want a peacefull way to victory, you need to turn off agressive AIs Drengin and Korath, or you'll mostly end in the same situation you're currently.

Unfortunately the GalCiv isn't SimCiv. Agression here is quite well revarded, and most AIs are "aware" of that. So the preferred approach to this game should be driven by the former yougoslavia motto: "Build like there will be 100 years of peace, prepare as there will be a war tomorrow."

BR, Iztok

Be like the Swiss-armed neutrality. I've even traded weapons techs or ships to my allies in some games to keep the Drengin from conquering them (that can backfire, so be careful). Placing some of your own ships to protect an ally can stop the Drengin or Korath from going nuts, as long as you don't leave your own borders unguarded.

If you go all-out on diplomacy you can buy peace outright, but that's usually only a temporary solution and it does give the aggressor more resources...

Here's hoping for some productive cross-breeding for GC3

Seriously, though, I have a question for Iztok and other "hardcore" players around here: Would you think less of GC3 if it abandoned the conquest-centered approach of GC1 and GC2 for a more open structure that assumed several different sets of victory criteria should be compared as equally as possible?

Nooooooo, I won't think less of it. I promise, I respect it for who it is as a game...


...but you still have to leave in the morning before anyone sees you, and I can't promise I'll call you

Do you mean in terms of scoring, of for simply achieving victory?

Sentient species taste better...

I'm talking mostly about scoring, but also a little bit about computer players choosing goals that suit their "character" (so only a minority would be driven to conquest).

Yes, I most definitely agree then.

Sentient species taste better...

Actually I would perfer all victory types to be scored the same. I don't think the different victory types should have different score multipliers, the 2x for conquest will drive many Metaversers to go that route even if they wanted to be a peaceful race. I understand that a conquest victory takes a lot more than a tech victory. But to just be given twice the score isnt fair.

The way i see it, a conquest vicory already has inherently higher scores. You will be building a larger military and will have more planets (higher poulation and better economy) compared to a tech victory, and most likely would have done a lot of researching in either case, just up different branches. So by itself a conquest victory will give you a better score; just because you did more work in the game.

I just wish the other races would raise a bit of fuss if I'm about to tech out of the game. They definitely whine and complain like nobody's business when I'm subjugating all their worlds and enslaving their children and pets.

A couple of strategies you may want to consider.

* work on your diplomacy and influence and get the other races to attack the Drengin hoards. This may not necessarily mean a victory for them, but it should thin the hoards before they reach you. If you notice the Drengin becoming weak to the point where you can sweap in and win the day, it may be to your advantage.

* One tactic that I like to use is go and sell some less useful techs to the aggressive race (in this case the Drengin) for as much money as you can get. Keep on doing this until their resources are tapped out. Then any move that you make will be harder for them to (financially) counter.

* Form aliances with the other races and then attack the Drengins as a unified force. You stand a better chance that way.

* Nothing says playing neutral means you have to be without Miliary might. Build a strong enough "Defense Force" and you can still power on towards whatever other type of victory you are looking for.