Multi-star maps: Running circles around

Looking for some advice, I've finally got around to playing a big map long enough to reach the point where ungodly sized fleets are pounding on each other on a regular basis, and I've hit a roadblock. Its a multi-star system, 5 total. My problem is that My opponents (all hard ai) just keep running circles around me avoiding combat. If I ignore any one fleet for too long (three different opponents, although only two are actively engaged with me) then they easily knock down a single planet, sometimes two (all my border worlds are full on tactical defenses, so it takes some time).

Just can't figure out how to break this impass. I've been able to strike into their border worlds and take down a few, but I never get the time to solidify my hold. If I split my big fleets (two, usually running circles with the other two big fleets the AIs have out there) I end up getting some conflict but then I take so many losses I can't exploit the weakness the AI has for that short period of time, we both end up in a build spiral that culminates in the exact same situation. Been like this in the game I'm playing for two hours.

I haven't had this problem on my single-star map as the borders are a bit more defined, whereas the multi-star map has incursions everywhere since you can't efffectively blockade the star itself.

Just for Reference, I'm Vasari against another Vasari and an Advent (fourth is an Advent as well, but he's locked down with Pirates constantly).

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It can be tricky, if you don't have easily defendable choke points. Are any of the AI homeworlds within reach? If you attack it, the AI will almost always recall his full fleet and defend it to the death, which will work to your advantage if you have superiority, especially since the AI won't really wait to combine all his ships and jump in at once.

Otherwise, try leaving a small enough group of ships at the planet that keeps getting attacked (maybe 500 fleet points worth). Make sure its emergency infrastructure is upgraded to max, and keep it fully built up on defenses. While it's busy being attacked, use your other main fleet to knock out and colonize planets as quickly as possible. If you need to get 5-6 siege frigates, it's not a big loss from the rest of the fleet. In the meantime, when your planet is being attacked, constantly be re-building defenses as they are destroyed. The AI doesn't target construction ships very well, only if they get in range of side guns and such, so you can keep them relatively safe and, if you're defending a real planet (not an asteroid) you should have 4 ships, so that's 4 turrets building at once. And even if they get through it, if you knock out all their siege frigates first, it will take them a long time to bombard down a 6000 hp planet with just capitals, so you'd lose that one but the AI would easily lose several or more in that time.

Once you break one AI, the rest should be easy. Of course, you should try targeting the most isolated AI that can flank you. That way, once you're done with it, you never have to worry much about getting attacked from that side.

Just generic advice, but hopefully it helps a little.

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You could also try keeping your fleet (With a Jarrasul or two)next a world that is about to be attacked, have a phase jump inhibitor or two there, then when the enemy is fully engaged, ambushing them.

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Sacrifice ground to gain ground. The AI is pretty slow at beating your planets down. If you hit hard and fast, you can grab a large chunk of land without losing much. A key note is to keep your culture strong! This is going to slow down the AI's creep considerably.

A risky strategy is to abandon your homeworld, and bring colony ships with your fleet. When you defeat an AI, rebuild in his sector of space. It will take them some time before to claim your homeworld,(you'll slow them down if you keep some defenders) but be SURE to build a new capital before your resources run out.

Most of the time, AIs will retreat until you reach their last planet. Take that planet out and you're one down, with only a few more to go.

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