Anyone else feeling a bit of a love hate relation ship with this game? I would say its more love than hate for me though, the great company that stardock is, they put out great updates so knowing the game will only improve helps.

The difficulty and challenge in this game is a bit deceiving. I kind of like the single player mode in that, every time I try a new map and increase the AIs - my strategy needs to change. Subtle changes.

For instance just when I thought I found that little you know trick to owning these games, the AI came in and just obliterated me with a huge fleet right when I was recovering from a pirate wave and 2 attacks from other factions. It was as if the 5th AI was just waiting for the rest of us to duke it out, then strike. I had to surrender.

My strategy is typically to try and manage 2 strong fleets at my "choke" points on the map. Each will share my cap ships - 1 in each..then 2 in each etc.  And basically between the 2 fleets I have them jump to where needed , as needed. I keep turrets and regen bays posted at these points, scuttling them as I slowly and methodically expand. Tech wise I research my economy skills first and foremost - upgrading fleet capacity only when I have to ( hit pop cap ). Secondly I hit weapon/defense techs. I hold out as long as I can before researching new ships.

I am just starting to get into the medium size maps with 5 or 6 AIs

The whole KEY to single player seems to be diplomacy. This I guess is where my love/hate comes in. To some degree, I hate having to use diplomacy in games, yet its good to see it has significant importance in sins. If you do not keep at least 1 AI from attacking you ( cease fire agreements ) your screwed. Unless someone can prove me wrong. The AI will f*** you over hard..... but it will let you believe you are kicking ass - thats when your in trouble.

For instance, in this latest game - I had defended wave after wave of TEAM2 and TEAM3s attacks, taking out a bunch of their capital ships. Meanwhile I was expanding into team 4 and 5s territory - significantly weakinging them. The pirates were coming for me but their fleets were pretty weak.

I wasnt worrying much about TEAM 6 - they only had a few planets. Yet suddenly a HUGE pirate wave hits, then TEAM 6 came with an uber fleet. It was like it just sat there the whole time not getting harrased by anything and imassed a fleet of 4 cap ships and an unbelievable amount of light attack frigs coupled with carriers. Possible I still could of won - but you know the situation - I would rather revert to a save or surrender. It would of taken me a weeks worth of playing to bounce back from that attack if at all possible.

So, to end I love it and I hate it at the same time. It seems keeping a couple of the AI on your side is absolutely required - which makes sense I suppose.