mdoolitt

The optimization choices in the tech tree often boil down to better vs cheaper vs smaller or improved/easier to make/lower maintenance. What do you choose and why? I imagine factions with poor manufacturing might want ships cheaper to produce, buut... maybe they should want the best ships possible for the manufacturing points? I know "it depends" is the goto answer, but what guidelines do you follow when choosing optimizations? PS is t

[quote who="dansiegel30" reply="3" id="3570975"] It also depends on the tech. Pretty much all races have buildings better than durantium refineries at the age of war, giving much better than the +2 adj bonus from the refinery. In early game without that tech, then yes, refinery is better. But if its not an extremely low pop world or you have the tech (including better food, approval, and terraforming techs to get that pop up), then I would say the refinery has outlived

What is a good rule of thumb for choosing power plants vs. durantium refineries? Solar power gives a +% bonus, but the refinery grants a +2 to base manufacturing. Is the refinery better on low population and/or isolated tiles? This is assuming you have enough durantium to spare of course.

thanks for the info & link

One gives +25% Resistance and another gives +10% Resistance & +10 Planetary Defense. What does Planetary Defense affect? Anyadvice on invasions? I took over the Snathi who had 18 population. I used 20 population to invade & had worked up to Space Marines; but my casualties seemed really low ~2 pop. Felt like overkill. Also, is it possible to move colony capitals? I have some in inconvenient locations.</p

Hi, I picked up the game recently and am really enjoying. I just built two starbases - one with a Manufacturing ring. It is within 3 hex of two of my worlds. The starbase starbase is sitting on a Culture relic with a Xeno Archaeolgy ring. But I don't see any increase to either manufacturing or Influence growth. Is there something else I need to do? PS I already waited a turn for the effect to kick in and still not seeing it. Is it