Preferred degree of scattering?

from Stardock Forums
What do you choose for the degree of scattering for your galaxies? Do you choose differently for different galaxy sizes?

I tend to choose "Scattered". My reasoning is this: in a scattered abundant galaxy, nearly every sector has at least one habitable planet. This means range really isn't a consideration. Thus, with speed bonuses, I'm basically guaranteed a bigger portion of the galaxy, and I don't have to worry about hitting a range roadblock and needing to rush for gravity techs before I can continue.

Of course, this means the AI's expansion is also basically unbounded by range even in the early game...but since they're generally a bit slower at the landgrab, I can usually beat them to the punch.

-EtherMage


~SDC~
2,627 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Personally, I like tight clusters for maps large or bigger...

If I manage to get 3 stars in one system, then my starbase's enchancement modules affect a lot of colonies :d

Of course, it's only my 5th game or so, so I could be horribly messing myself up...

~SDC~
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
How so, Triqq? Awful vague there.

~SDC~
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Tight clusters makes control-N more powerful, if you do that. I generally don't pick speed though.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Well I rather have to find or fight my way through the next star system than know its right next to me.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I like loose clusters, but not for any specific strategic reason.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I like scattered for small games and tight clusters for large and bigger.

~SDC~
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
I vary, but am currently in vogue with Tight Clusters. This setting makes speed and range far more important than either of the other two. (On scattered, it is relatively easy to get around range restrictions with SB's when and if they occur.)

Scattered makes it easier to expand, since "island-hopping" is almost always possible. Loose Clusters decreases this somewhat, but only to the extent of requiring a constructor or two more for range-extending SB's.

I also now tend more towards Rare Habitability on Medium sized maps or larger, to decrease the sizes of Empires at the end.

~SDC~
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I like loose clusters just because I can take over my little corner and then usually have a nice buffer zone between me and the other major powers. In tight its just too hard to expand fast and on scattered you are right up next to the comp and often in the begging on higher dificulties you planets will flip on you due to the AI's culture advantage.


~SDC~
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Less habitable planets is actually easier for me, I've found...I really don't know why. Maybe because with a few good worlds, I can micromanage better...

Recently, I've just noticed building everything is not good (Yeah, only recently :p ) so I've yet to set up my own favoured build list... Heck, I haven't even used multiple build lists before...

~SDC~
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I like scattered because this makes lack of range less relevant. Abundant reinforces that I think because you are less likely to have a dead end and get range locked. Abudant on huge and gigantic is way too many planets for me so I cut back to the medium settings or rare. On gigantic I find eyes of the universe very helpful and on gigantic stellar cartography can be very helpful.

Rick

~SDC~
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I guess I should stop using scattered on maso, since the ai culture bonus makes it very hard to resist on the borders in the early colonization phase. Getting a buffer so that I'd have some space to shield me from the ai would probably make tight clusters easier.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
I tested this, and in fact tight cluster makes it easier to withstand cultural conquest. Makes maso easier.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm still playing on normal :) ...but like to start large and uncommen,
of course i'm not winning alot,but having fun,i just like to role-play
a little bit,and realize we don't know of any good stars now,so why play
a game where i do...but must say reading the posts about higher level
games and players makes for a better game everytime for me :)
and thanks for allowing newbi voices to be heard...Aloha :D

~SDC~
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm still playing on normal :) ...but like to start large and uncommen,
of course i'm not winning alot,but having fun,i just like to role-play
a little bit,and realize we don't know of any good stars now,so why play
a game where i do...but must say reading the posts about higher level
games and players makes for a better game everytime for me :)
and thanks for allowing newbi voices to be heard...Aloha :D

~SDC~
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
Good to hear from you again, B Garrett.

Do join in our discussions and let's learn from one another.