Need help surviving pubbie MP games

[Gurkbert]

I really like hopping into a random public MP game and trying to survive the inevitable corvette-spamming, system-conquering, ragequit-inducing blobs that plague the galaxy. I don't seem to be very good at it though.

I remember some updates ago i was actually good enough to rush other people if i so desired. Nowadays i inevitably fall behind in planets and fleetsize. That is really annoying, because that means i am mismanaging my economy. Which is why i hope the people here can offer me some help so my empires become more resilient to the perils of the dark, public multiplayer galaxy.

Yes, i know that diplomacy is a thing. The current chat interface makes it really hard though, with most people not even reading the chat (or so i think, when i invite someone to a new channel and recieve the silent treatment). More importantly, if your neighbour is a fanatic militarist who keeps sending you offers for a research agreement, but refuses to sign a non-aggression pact, you can be sure that sooner rather than later, you will have to take him down a notch, lest you spend the rest of your existance toiling in his mineral mines.

What i see these people do is usually taking fanatic militarist + either collectivist or xenophobe for the slavery. They build many corvettes which are often only equipped with gauss weapons and that is it. They colonize or conquer many planets so they havbe a high fleet cap and mineral output and snowball around the galaxy.

Here's my current approach:

A race with:

- Fanatic Militarists + Collectivists
- Bonuses to mineral production
- Reduced Ship costs
- Natural Sociologists so i can open up more planets for colonization

Right now, i can't seem to beat them at their game. Is there another way to defend yourself against such a strategy? Or can you only try to outproduce them? Either way - what could i do better?

Thanks!

 

[LordMagus]

They build many corvettes which are often only equipped with gauss weapons and that is it.

That means you can destroy them with cruisers using good amounts of armour, and just all medium slot weapons (particularly plasma). Perhaps someone else can comment on why they think corvette spam is a good idea, and what sort of evasion boosts they think they can get to contend with either destroyers with autocannons, or cruisers.

In terms of government, I've seen two recommendations: "fanatic spiritualist and Collectivist. Industrious, thrifty, Repugnant and Sedentary. Plutocratic Oligarchy for government."

or using "Extremely adaptive and rapid breeder" traits

 

[Slarkon]

Im not quite clear on the multi player aspect. On the large maps do people win games? if its 1000 starts im assuming even if someone is snowballing after a day or so they will have to go asleep. so does their empire then become AI controlled and any new log ins start off as a new commer to the space age?

So could we not have a game that lasts forever as in its the year 4000 or even much much later as people log in conquer as much as possible - have to log off for sleep or life. Then thair empire gets picked apart by the humons with medium empires and the cycle of loife repeats as empires rise and fall ? A never ending game sounds so much more fun to me that a rush on a small map. Do many people play on the largest map online?

 

[jdrou]

That means you can destroy them with cruisers using good amounts of armour, and just all medium slot weapons (particularly plasma). Perhaps someone else can comment on why they think corvette spam is a good idea, and what sort of evasion boosts they think they can get to contend with either destroyers with autocannons, or cruisers.

I assume he's talking about rushing to expand before destroyers are available.

Im not quite clear on the multi player aspect. On the large maps do people win games? if its 1000 starts im assuming even if someone is snowballing after a day or so they will have to go asleep. so does their empire then become AI controlled and any new log ins start off as a new commer to the space age?

So could we not have a game that lasts forever as in its the year 4000 or even much much later as people log in conquer as much as possible - have to log off for sleep or life. Then thair empire gets picked apart by the humons with medium empires and the cycle of loife repeats as empires rise and fall ? A never ending game sounds so much more fun to me that a rush on a small map. Do many people play on the largest map online?

Not sure how it works in pub games. AFAIK most MP is with pre-arranged groups that play many sessions 2-3 hours at a time over some weeks. I have a hard time imagining a pub game being much fun.

 

[LordMagus]

Natural Sociologists so i can open up more planets for colonization

Also, what does this have to do with colonising? The +5% habitability techs? Just use the extremely adaptive trait.

 

[Gurkbert]

On the large maps do people win games?

Usually it's quite clear who would win the game in the long run after a few hours.

I assume he's talking about rushing to expand before destroyers are available.

Yes, exactly, i want to be able to defend against a corvette rush. Of course, rushing corvettes helps with that, but i want to know how to
be as quick about it as the people i see online.

Just use the extremely adaptive trait.

Well, that one is more expensive for one. And i also like the techs that reduce ethics divergence because i just hate that, so eh.
Do you think it would be better to take fanatic Collectivist?

 

[Dalinski]

This is a very interesting thread. A couple of months ago I tried to get into games but there was this big thing about joining games made them go out of sync? So no one would let you in. Is that not a thing now?

Do you do the old get out Colonization ships early thing by turning on the two research policies and optimising science research on Colony ships? Its surprising how much faster you can research that tech. Won't have to worry about it soon after the expansion hits.

Out of interest what is your recommended way of finding pub games, just the game interface?

 

[Eggbert]

Usually it's quite clear who would win the game in the long run after a few hours.



Yes, exactly, i want to be able to defend against a corvette rush. Of course, rushing corvettes helps with that, but i want to know how to
be as quick about it as the people i see online.



Well, that one is more expensive for one. And i also like the techs that reduce ethics divergence because i just hate that, so eh.
Do you think it would be better to take fanatic Collectivist?

Does starting out with missiles help? I know they are worse than the alternatives later in the game but their 100% accuracy might make a difference in all corvette fights. Obviously, you'd need to research another weapon type before your opponents get destroyers. The overkill and lack of persistence/retargeting might be too punishing still though - I haven't tested this.

 

[LordMagus]

Okay, you've told me your starting ethos. What traits are you picking? Are you starting in the Sol system?

 

[Gurkbert]

this big thing about joining games made them go out of sync? So no one would let you in. Is that not a thing now?

Paradox games tend to be really, really vulnerable to desynchs for a bunch of reasons. I've not validated this being a reason for desynchs, but it would not surprise me if it was.
Regardless of that, hotjoining games in progress tends to annoy many hosts because they just get bombarded with hotjoin requests for the whole game. That's why a lot of them
just ignore them. I never join a game in progress already, out of personal preference and because i don't want to slow everyone down just to find out the available race i picked was just about to get wiped out.

That said, Paradox should overwork the "running" and "starting" statuses of games to actually mean "currently in the lobby" and "currently in the game". It would prevent a lot of confusion and it might actually be relatively simple to accomplish. But that has been suggested months ago, so i assume it's really far down on their list (or not at all). So, hello dear Paradox employee, if you read this, this getting reworked would make me feel warm and fuzzy inside! Have a nice day.

Do you do the old get out Colonization ships early thing by turning on the two research policies and optimising science research on Colony ships? Its surprising how much faster you can research that tech. Won't have to worry about it soon after the expansion hits.

Yup, i do that one, but i'm sure many others might find it useful too. What do you mean with "two research policies"? I only knew of "Promote Free Thought".

Out of interest what is your recommended way of finding pub games, just the game interface?

Yeah, for the most part. There was a web-page where you could announce games now that you mention it, but i forgot it's adress. I'll see if i can
find it again. It was pretty good.

Okay, you've told me your starting ethos. What traits are you picking? Are you starting in the Sol system?

I pick stuff that gives me mineral bonuses and natural sociologists (I'm pretty sure i wrote that).
For drawbacks i take nobrainers like sedentary, repgunant and decadent.

At the moment i like taking the plutocratic oligarchy government for more mining stations. That or the military government which reduces ship costs.

What would you suggest?

 

[Eggbert]

Paradox games tend to be really, really vulnerable to desynchs for a bunch of reasons. I've not validated this being a reason for desynchs, but it would not surprise me if it was.
Regardless of that, hotjoining games in progress tends to annoy many hosts because they just get bombarded with hotjoin requests for the whole game. That's why a lot of them
just ignore them. I never join a game in progress already, out of personal preference and because i don't want to slow everyone down just to find out the available race i picked was just about to get wiped out.

That said, Paradox should overwork the "running" and "starting" statuses of games to actually mean "currently in the lobby" and "currently in the game". It would prevent a lot of confusion and it might actually be relatively simple to accomplish. But that has been suggested months ago, so i assume it's really far down on their list (or not at all). So, hello dear Paradox employee, if you read this, this getting reworked would make me feel warm and fuzzy inside! Have a nice day.



Yup, i do that one, but i'm sure many others might find it useful too. What do you mean with "two research policies"? I only knew of "Promote Free Thought".



Yeah, for the most part. There was a web-page where you could announce games now that you mention it, but i forgot it's adress. I'll see if i can
find it again. It was pretty good.



I pick stuff that gives me mineral bonuses and natural sociologists (I'm pretty sure i wrote that).
For drawbacks i take nobrainers like sedentary, repgunant and decadent.

At the moment i like taking the plutocratic oligarchy government for more mining stations. That or the military government which reduces ship costs.

What would you suggest?

In addition to promoting free thought you can set a focus for any 1 of the 3 research categories at the expense of the other 2.

Out of curiosity what weapons / ftl method are you starting with?

 

[Gurkbert]

In addition to promoting free thought you can set a focus for any 1 of the 3 research categories at the expense of the other 2.

Out of curiosity what weapons / ftl method are you starting with?

I thought he meant that with optimising research towards colony ships? Or would that be trying to get a "New Worlds" scientist. That part is luck based though, so nothing you can really rely on. I also use the society research grants thingy.

I use Wormholes because i feel they are simply better. No warp winddown, no getting stuck because some dumbass colonises a system i need to pass through and closes his borders.
I think hyperlanes are the most fun option, but not as good. Warp Drive was an interesting change because it's a bit like wormholes because you can disregard connections between stars. But i still like wormholes more.

Is FTL drive really that important for expansion? I felt that it's more of a tactics thing.

At the moment i use Gauss weapons because that's what everyone else uses. That, and many people build lots of shields and no armour.

 

[Metaluser]

Paradox games tend to be really, really vulnerable to desynchs for a bunch of reasons. I've not validated this being a reason for desynchs, but it would not surprise me if it was.
Regardless of that, hotjoining games in progress tends to annoy many hosts because they just get bombarded with hotjoin requests for the whole game. That's why a lot of them
just ignore them. I never join a game in progress already, out of personal preference and because i don't want to slow everyone down just to find out the available race i picked was just about to get wiped out.

That said, Paradox should overwork the "running" and "starting" statuses of games to actually mean "currently in the lobby" and "currently in the game". It would prevent a lot of confusion and it might actually be relatively simple to accomplish. But that has been suggested months ago, so i assume it's really far down on their list (or not at all). So, hello dear Paradox employee, if you read this, this getting reworked would make me feel warm and fuzzy inside! Have a nice day.



Yup, i do that one, but i'm sure many others might find it useful too. What do you mean with "two research policies"? I only knew of "Promote Free Thought".



Yeah, for the most part. There was a web-page where you could announce games now that you mention it, but i forgot it's adress. I'll see if i can
find it again. It was pretty good.



I pick stuff that gives me mineral bonuses and natural sociologists (I'm pretty sure i wrote that).
For drawbacks i take nobrainers like sedentary, repgunant and decadent.

At the moment i like taking the plutocratic oligarchy government for more mining stations. That or the military government which reduces ship costs.

What would you suggest?

This page ? http://stellaris.online/

For pub games I recommend expanding fast building as much colonies as possible to get acces to a decent fleet cap. If u cant colonize any more planets and your neighbour is getting more and more planets u should attack him before he can stabilize otherwise there is no real way to deal with a much bigger fleet unfortunately.

Since those aggressive players often rival every AI possible its useful to give the AI a guarentee and declare war together with AI.

 

[Eggbert]

I did a quick test of 20 missile corvettes vs 20 mass driver corvettes with everything else at base levels and the mass driver fleet wins overwhelmingly. Same against tier 1 laser fleet. Adding some armor into the mix and bumping up combat computer and thrusters to tier 2 for more evasion still isn't enough to make a significant difference. So definitely stick with mass drivers in the early game.