a couple newbie questions (particularly cultural conquest)

I'm not too experienced with the game, but I was wondering about the cultural conquest. I really like the idea of a sort of pacifist way to play but I'm not sure how to do it. I've been playing on "Challenging" and it seems to amount to a planet-by-planet conquest strategy with a lot of spamming starbases around the target planet. Am I missing something? Then I was playing a militaristic game and was about the conquer the very last planet and it gave me a cultural victory, saying I'd conquered with ideas, not guns, when actually I had three huge fleets just waiting for my transport to get there.

Also, at least on challenging it took the AI, in a medium galaxy until I had taken all but 1 and a half civilizations to realize that I was using projectiles and missile defense and they were using missiles and missile defense, so they couldn't really touch my ships, and by that point it was too late. What AI level has the enemies start to effectively counter weapon-types? Thanks!

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Mistralok1

Join Date 05/2006

+22

The next step up from the one you are playing on is 'tough'. This is the first level that the AI uses it's full abilities, and is not penalized in any way. Also, when you set up a game, make sure that you check the 'allow AI to use advanced algorithms' tab. This will make a huge difference. You don't say what version that you are playing. In DA beta, the AI has been improved quite a bit over the already excellent AI in DL, and in the final release, it will be even better. So you, as they say, ain't seen nothin' yet.

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DivineWrath

Join Date 05/2006

+135

I'll help answer this one. Cultural conquest is my favorite method for victory. Heres what you need to know to get started.

1. Cultural victory can't occur if the race in question is at war with someone else. I think only major races apply to this restriction, but I could be wrong. I don't often play with minor races since they can't be culture flipped.

2. I'm sure you are already aware of the fact you need to increase your influence to over 4x the influence of the planet that you wish to flip. If you weren't, you are now.

3. Make sure that no one will be temped to try destroy you when you start spamming influence. This is best solved by having a supperior mility so it would be foolish to attack you. Failing that, a decent mility with good diplomacy and trade routes should suffice.

4. Don't get too focused on one planet. Sometimes they can get to be quite stubborn and not flip for the longest time. Its ussually best to move on and try to flip other planets instead of waiting on just the one. It'll most likely flip when you busy trying to get the others to flip.

5. Don't forget to research different techs. There are a few modules that be installed on influence starbases (such as +100%) that change them from a minor annoyance to a serious threat.

P.S. I could say more, but I don't want to reveal all of my secrets.

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Then I was playing a militaristic game and was about the conquer the very last planet and it gave me a cultural victory

If you maintain 75% or more influence over the galaxy for ten turns it gives you the Cultural win. If your going for military victory, it's best to disable cultural so you don't accidentally get it.

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Thanks for the responses! Where does it tell me how much influence I have over a particular alien planet?

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