Building basic factories when you have high tech...

Can i just build a few basic factories to start first and upgrade later? It's strange that a high tech civilization have a harder time to evolve and colonize then a lower tech one.

AFAIK this is a feature that's been added in DA but it isn't in any version of DL.

Couldn't edit.

Another thing you can do is let the Industrial Sector build on it's own for a bit before buying it, it's much cheaper this way.

I have not tried it with factories yet, as I am trying to fix holes in my game instead of using work-arounds. But, I know for a fact you can have two levels of buildings with labs. If you skip Xeno Research (leaving it un-researched) and obtain the next level (research centers) from the AI in trade, you will have the option of building either one (basic lab, or RC). I believe this works with all improvements, and at all building levels but I have not tested each one. Of course you have to wait for the AI to research the levels to be able to jump one, which can be a frustration when you need more production power NOW, and can't wait for the AI to "get around to it".

It must be possible since the AI does it... But how?

I have not seen the AI do that. Although I have conquered planets with more than one level of building present (some were just not upgraded yet). I guess if the AI had a hole in their tech path they could build either. Not sure how the code would determine when to build which one.

Can i just build a few basic factories to start first and upgrade later? It's strange that a high tech civilization have a harder time to evolve and colonize then a lower tech one.

Asked for many times for DL but DA was to far along so they implemented it there.

Of course you have to wait for the AI to research the levels to be able to jump one, which can be a frustration when you need more production power NOW, and can't wait for the AI to "get around to it".

Seems the Terrans usually get this first at the level I play at. Just make sure your economy is in good condition less the temptation to trade for that really good tech ends up hurting you instead.

Yeah!!! Glad this change was finally done.

I have not seen the AI do that. Although I have conquered planets with more than one level of building present (some were just not upgraded yet). I guess if the AI had a hole in their tech path they could build either. Not sure how the code would determine when to build which one.

I have seen the AI do it. I conquered a new planet of the AI that was just started and there were lower tech factories while his other planets all had higher tech factories. So, yes, it seems that the AI can do it.

I thought that maybe you could hold down CTRL or something and see all buildings available while you'Re holding it or something... If there is such a way to do that, i'ld like to know. Right now, the only way to start a new colony in late game is to get a lot of cash and buy the first Industrial sector. Then the next sector would "ONLY" need 50 weeks to complete instead of 250 weeks... Which is still enormous.

If your short of cash then you wouldn't want to build factories anyway! I always build stock markets on new planets and rush buy them whenever i can.

This flexibility in DA is especially valuable when you play maps that can lead to larger incomes. If you're pulling in thousands per turn, basic versions of many improvements can seem very cheap and will give a good boost to the final version.