Early Strategies for Admiral+ Difficulties

[Orkonkel]

So I recently found that my games at lower difficulties were a bit too easy, so my latest bunch has been at admiral difficulty. The thing is, AI base production is so high that I've only been able to turtle for the early game and not done much other than get a tech/industry advantage once mid game comes around.

Since I enjoy early game skirmishes for resources/planets, I'm hoping to get some advice how for starts that allow relatively early wars at admiral/grand admiral settings. What's your starting moves on these difficulties?

 

[Mikhail_Mengsk]

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-state-of-the-meta.1139734/

 

[Orkonkel]

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-state-of-the-meta.1139734/

That thread seemed to deal with multiplayer in particular, and I wasn't sure if the points applied to single player as well (esp. considering the starting bonuses of AI empires on higher difficulties).

 

[Mikhail_Mengsk]

Yes, it seems to be completely viable and, given that the AI can't really fight back, it should mean an easy snowballing.