Little help please.

Have you understand the game economic system?

Proper management of the tax rate/industrial capacity sliders, and the military/social/research rate sliders play a big role in whether you sink or swim on the higher levels.

I didnt even know about the industrial cap slider until after I played 4 or 5 games (no, i didnt read the tutes lol )

I just beat a game on crippling last night. I intend to climb a little higher today.

Starbases are key at higher levels. learn to maximize the cost gain ratio for the early start (bigger isn't always better).

Also, while you don't neccearily need a build order, it's helpful to have a good idea coming into the game what to do to maximize the opening rush.

Learn your opponents. If Torians are near by, know what you need to work with them, etc.

Finaly, and most importantly, practise. That's the only real good way to get better.

I am a long time 4x player from the origional master of orion games. Of everything I am impressed with in GalCiv2, the AI has to be the most impressive. I play on sub-normal and can have fun but when I switch to just normal I get my butt kicked. Normal for me is a challenge and im a experienced 4x player, so that says something about the difficulty.

Here a couple key points to keep up in GalCiv 2
- redesign the colonyship first thing putting the maximum number of engines you can. It's a good idea to make sure you start with the first two propulsion techs or at least the first one and research the second right away (it can be done in one turn if you set the sliders right)
- buy the first factory and your first couple colony ships and get as many planets as you can. Make sure to leave yourself with some money as your income will be negative in the early part of the game. If you think that there is the possibility of some planets being unclaimed after all these ships have found a home it's probably a good idea to make your home planet focus on military production so that you can pump out a few more ships fairly quickly.
- set spending to 100% and turn off military production until you've bought you're colony ships. Also try to keep your approval rating over 70%. This will help your population growth, which will give you more people to tax.
- Concentrate on getting your economy going first. You can't do anything without money. Smart tech trading will help you get some money early while you are still running a deficit, but you probably don't want to be selling off your techs forever.
- morale and economic resources are a huge help in getting a healthy economy. Picking moral and economy bonuses as racial characteristics is also very useful.

This strategy works pretty well for me, playing at crippling difficulty I can ususally win starting this way.

If you decide to use the 1.1 beta 4 patch, or the 1.1 final when it is released, you will notice that the normal level of gameplay is a lot easier. I noticed previous to the 1.1 patch that there was a huge jump from the beginner levels to normal, now this isn't the cae. So either I have got a little better, which might be possible, or the transition between levels isn't as great, which is most likely.

I have a couple of simple suggestions.

Research an early weapon technology, then immediately try to research Star Republic. This will let you defend your planets during the long research period. Getting Star Republic will add a 25% bonus to all major categories, so you will have an advantage over the other races.

Research Xeno Ethics as early as you think you can as well. This will give you a bunch of bonuses as well.

DO NOT trade either of these technologies to any other race. Doing so will remove the advantages that you spent a long time working for.

There are many other strategies that help different situations, but these can be used in most situations. (Although if you are going for a quick game, you may just want to rush to Planetary Invasion, and attack the other races before they can properly set up their defenses.)