Helicon is not really an "intercept" drive and certainly not an end game drive. It is super slow, but somewhat efficient - it is pretty easy to get early on, and that is its only real advantage. I use it in the early game to engage enemy fleets - but this drive will not allow you to force an engagement, because it is so slow. The enemy can just fly off if they don't like the odds.
So what do you evolve to after the Helicon? Could you share what you find are the drive and power plant setup options for a good midgame intercept ships? Thanks
I see that I have much to learn. In my first game right now and in 2039 still using missile ships to defeat 100-200 combat power enemy fleets and let my habs get destroyed by 10k fleets.
I probably researched completely wrong and focused too much on the nation building (have china, india, japan and usa fully). To me the laser tech only cam in mid 2030s or so. Not sure what I should focus research on. Or maybe I am getting too little research? I have 8k now in 2039 and 250mc and 900 administration
Yeah your first game is mostly going to be learning how to get the most out of your councilors and win the space race to mars. After that you want to get a better feel for choosing the right research objectives and managing the countries that you control.
It sounds like you eventually got to where you needed to go with regard to research and countries, so just try to get there faster when you start your next campaign (skip development tech that isn't clearly great, such as the CP boosts and councilor stuff, and focus on the tech needed for your colonization/fleet building). If you intend to finish this one, focus on building up a few defensive fleets, then going on the offensive when you get the drives to do so.
Is that strategy to switch China to democracy still a thing? For me it's not that intuitive to make the change. I tried to get that spike in research by ceding the bulk of China to the ROC, it left me with a Beijing China and about the same research numbers. Nothing like you showed. Thanks
Yes it has been nerfed. Still okay to bring Democracy to China - they've nerfed all research, and so this is still pretty good relative to other strategies. You really need to bring Beijing into the fold - takes a bit longer, but worth it. Taking China is a good idea regardless of whether or not you intend to democratize, but Europe is a viable alternative.
Thanks. I stuck with the change and eventually when I improved the cohesion and inequity I did get a much higher science number than before the change. I don't know if I was cheating but as soon as China ceded the territory to the ROC I then declared war on the ROC as China. And when I occupied Beijing that reverted to ROC. That brought everything together pretty quickly.
This is very helpful. I haven't tried that drive. I will give it a shot. I hope they fix the aliens being so passive if you build a strong earth. Love to see more TI content
Casey, is there a drive after the Helicon that is an upgrade to the intercept ability? Or is the Helicon good enough to get me to the endgame? Thanks
Helicon is not really an "intercept" drive and certainly not an end game drive. It is super slow, but somewhat efficient - it is pretty easy to get early on, and that is its only real advantage. I use it in the early game to engage enemy fleets - but this drive will not allow you to force an engagement, because it is so slow. The enemy can just fly off if they don't like the odds.
So what do you evolve to after the Helicon? Could you share what you find are the drive and power plant setup options for a good midgame intercept ships? Thanks
I see that I have much to learn. In my first game right now and in 2039 still using missile ships to defeat 100-200 combat power enemy fleets and let my habs get destroyed by 10k fleets.
I probably researched completely wrong and focused too much on the nation building (have china, india, japan and usa fully). To me the laser tech only cam in mid 2030s or so. Not sure what I should focus research on. Or maybe I am getting too little research? I have 8k now in 2039 and 250mc and 900 administration
Yeah your first game is mostly going to be learning how to get the most out of your councilors and win the space race to mars. After that you want to get a better feel for choosing the right research objectives and managing the countries that you control.
It sounds like you eventually got to where you needed to go with regard to research and countries, so just try to get there faster when you start your next campaign (skip development tech that isn't clearly great, such as the CP boosts and councilor stuff, and focus on the tech needed for your colonization/fleet building). If you intend to finish this one, focus on building up a few defensive fleets, then going on the offensive when you get the drives to do so.
good luck commander.
Is that strategy to switch China to democracy still a thing? For me it's not that intuitive to make the change. I tried to get that spike in research by ceding the bulk of China to the ROC, it left me with a Beijing China and about the same research numbers. Nothing like you showed. Thanks
Yes it has been nerfed. Still okay to bring Democracy to China - they've nerfed all research, and so this is still pretty good relative to other strategies. You really need to bring Beijing into the fold - takes a bit longer, but worth it. Taking China is a good idea regardless of whether or not you intend to democratize, but Europe is a viable alternative.
Thanks. I stuck with the change and eventually when I improved the cohesion and inequity I did get a much higher science number than before the change. I don't know if I was cheating but as soon as China ceded the territory to the ROC I then declared war on the ROC as China. And when I occupied Beijing that reverted to ROC. That brought everything together pretty quickly.
That’s not cheating. Just a faster way of doing it. Good luck commander.
This is very helpful. I haven't tried that drive. I will give it a shot. I hope they fix the aliens being so passive if you build a strong earth. Love to see more TI content
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