Agressive early game vs AI with Glavius mod on higher difficulties

[TheGrouch91]

Hello there,

So I've posted a thread here recently where I get stomped pretty badly by a neighbouring AI during the early midgame (2275). Turns out that with my usual playstyle a 50k fleet is a bit too much at this part of the game.

But then there are those threads where people claim they just bumrush the AI on grand admiral early on by stacking all kinds of military bonusses and focussing on fleet production only.

So I thought I'd try a more aggressive playstyle and focus on my fleet more than research. However at no time in the game was ever able to be stronger than my neighbours. Only now in the year 2245 I could at least match the strength of them. And I even turned down the difficulty down to admiral.

So it seems to me that the dynamic of the game is very much like Civilization's where the AI is incredibly OP and scary early game. You basically need time to outsmart the AI enough so that their inherent bonusses get outscaled by you just simply playing better.

What's you guy's experience with that? Have you been able to bully an AI early on?

 

[Graypaws11]

The one game I've tried going a purifier so far in 2.2, I went Devouring Swarm on commodore and GAI (have only played pacifist in the other runs, didn't wan't to dive into GA first time). Galaxy size was small (200 stars) with .25x habitable worlds. Absolutely obliterated the galaxy -- it was all under my control (no FEs or Marauders) by 2320. Haven't gone back and tried again yet, but the vibe I got from it was you really need to find a neighbor ASAP to steal their planets for additional production. If you get an anomaly that gives you a free ship (like the gas giant cruiser), great! You don't need or want any kind of science, instead focus on alloys. Apparently if you resettle all to-be-purged pops to one planet, they get purged one at a time while giving you all their resources (or so I've heard -- Haven't tested). You obviously want to focus techs that boost your military, preferably without needing to spend extra resources to do so (Corvette hull points, buildspeed, etc).
Playing wide in 2.2 gets OP very quickly, especially if you don't need research. GL

 

[Rithral]

You are running GAI mode and wondering why the AI is harder at grand Admiral?

 

[TheGrouch91]

You are running GAI mode and wondering why the AI is harder at grand Admiral?

Have you even read my post?

 

[Amyntas]

If this is true, honestly i'm excited. I would LOVE to be stomped by the AI in this game.

I haven't started a new game since before 2.2.4 due to the lag, but since people are saying that's a lot better...perhaps now is the time.

I know that's not what you intended by making this post, but if you're getting hammered that can only be good! I usually roll over the AI early, mid and late game.