Hey team! o/
I've been noticing that one of the most frequent challenges our players are facing is mastering the art of influence growth for your empires. I thought I might drop a few basic hints to help with that.
1. Don't build too many outposts.
They're not meant to be the main method of expanding your empire's borders, but a strategic, backup means of securing territory which you can't colonize normaly. Use them to grab a chokepoint, or a very valuable system once in a while, but the core of your expansion is meant to be through planet colonization.
2. Interact with your factions.
The main source of influence income will be the factions that pop up in your empire. Look at their needs and fears and try to build your empire in ways, that make the most numerous factions happy and, the ones aligning with your ethics and playstyle, growing. You'll see that influence gain grow quite a bit.
3. Rival other empires.
The way Stellaris' galaxies work, means you'll usually have at least a few empires who absolutely hate your guts and will not be your friends no matter what you do. Don't be afraid to push the "rival" button on occasion. It can give you some extra influence.
4. Don't be in a rush.
It's important to remember that this is a Grand Strategy game, and that comes with a certain level of pacing. Just because there is empty territory out there, doesn't mean you *have* to grab it right now. If you're bleeding influence, maybe it's time to colonize another planet, let its borders grow enough to remove an outpost and then build another one elsewhere.
5. Size isn't everything.
Empire size isn't everything! (Yes, I know, I know. It hurts to hear that!) In fact, it can be counter productive, since, if you expand fast, but don't let your planets develop properly, you might start seeing your research and some other areas of your empire's industry, suffer. Grow, but make sure you can support this growth.
Hope that helps! o/
I've been noticing that one of the most frequent challenges our players are facing is mastering the art of influence growth for your empires. I thought I might drop a few basic hints to help with that.
1. Don't build too many outposts.
They're not meant to be the main method of expanding your empire's borders, but a strategic, backup means of securing territory which you can't colonize normaly. Use them to grab a chokepoint, or a very valuable system once in a while, but the core of your expansion is meant to be through planet colonization.
2. Interact with your factions.
The main source of influence income will be the factions that pop up in your empire. Look at their needs and fears and try to build your empire in ways, that make the most numerous factions happy and, the ones aligning with your ethics and playstyle, growing. You'll see that influence gain grow quite a bit.
3. Rival other empires.
The way Stellaris' galaxies work, means you'll usually have at least a few empires who absolutely hate your guts and will not be your friends no matter what you do. Don't be afraid to push the "rival" button on occasion. It can give you some extra influence.
4. Don't be in a rush.
It's important to remember that this is a Grand Strategy game, and that comes with a certain level of pacing. Just because there is empty territory out there, doesn't mean you *have* to grab it right now. If you're bleeding influence, maybe it's time to colonize another planet, let its borders grow enough to remove an outpost and then build another one elsewhere.
5. Size isn't everything.
Empire size isn't everything! (Yes, I know, I know. It hurts to hear that!) In fact, it can be counter productive, since, if you expand fast, but don't let your planets develop properly, you might start seeing your research and some other areas of your empire's industry, suffer. Grow, but make sure you can support this growth.
Hope that helps! o/