Tips that are not obvious just from playing the game.
I'll start with some:
- Resource Nodes and Visit Sites have a similar icon on the Strategy Layer map, but they are not the same; you can actually tell them apart from each other.
- Certain resource bonuses are "invisible"; they don't show icons and are not visible on the map, like rivers and lava. Ones I've found are: reefs and geothermal vents. You must click on the sector itself and they will appear in the sector summary on the right. These bonuses are automatic when you own the sector, just like Resource Nodes. So they are huge early game boosters that you should be hunting for.
- This one goes around a lot but is so important: resource icons on the strategy layer map are NOT yield bonuses. They represent the "improvement capability" of the sector, through future research. (They also are not exploitation level markers, like some are saying, but there is some overlap).
- NPC-owned sectors are already at level 5 exploitation at the beginning of the game.
- Temples(? whatever they are called -- the bronze, silver and gold buildings) cannot be colonized; they can only be annexed. However, they come with 1 free exploitation level in addition to the bonus of the temple building. Also, the temple building bonus is the largest single bonus you can get that doesn't require any research, so bronze temples are the most prized sectors in the early game. Just beware that the type of exploitation is already set to match the temple type. Finally, if you see an NPC faction sitting on one, bump your army into them -- you will not go to war automatically; rather you have the option to ask them to leave so you can annex it.
I'll start with some:
- Resource Nodes and Visit Sites have a similar icon on the Strategy Layer map, but they are not the same; you can actually tell them apart from each other.
- Certain resource bonuses are "invisible"; they don't show icons and are not visible on the map, like rivers and lava. Ones I've found are: reefs and geothermal vents. You must click on the sector itself and they will appear in the sector summary on the right. These bonuses are automatic when you own the sector, just like Resource Nodes. So they are huge early game boosters that you should be hunting for.
- This one goes around a lot but is so important: resource icons on the strategy layer map are NOT yield bonuses. They represent the "improvement capability" of the sector, through future research. (They also are not exploitation level markers, like some are saying, but there is some overlap).
- NPC-owned sectors are already at level 5 exploitation at the beginning of the game.
- Temples(? whatever they are called -- the bronze, silver and gold buildings) cannot be colonized; they can only be annexed. However, they come with 1 free exploitation level in addition to the bonus of the temple building. Also, the temple building bonus is the largest single bonus you can get that doesn't require any research, so bronze temples are the most prized sectors in the early game. Just beware that the type of exploitation is already set to match the temple type. Finally, if you see an NPC faction sitting on one, bump your army into them -- you will not go to war automatically; rather you have the option to ask them to leave so you can annex it.
) but those are my not so obvious ones that people seem to struggle with.
