Speed Kills, I need it in every game!

from GalCiv2 Forums

It seems I should always select the ability "Speed +2 parsecs per week" as one of my racial abilities.

I have read others talk about putting engines on all their ships. Seems that would not be practical until late in the game. I want my first bare coloney ships to go faster, same for constructors, freighters and survey ships. If my warships are faster then I can control which battles are fought and which are avoided.

What could possibly be more valuable than +2 speed for all your ships, even if it takes 8 of 10 ability points?

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5,659 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

You can win without a speed advantage.  As far as colony rushing goes, sure a +2 speed advantage out of the gate is useful, but it's slightly more important to build cheap colony ships and lots of them.  You should aim to research Interstellar Construction and get access to the Small ship sizes as soon as possible.  This will save a small amount on the construction of each colony ship.  You can also research up to Impulse Drive and net yourself a +1 free speed boost that way.

After the colony rush, you can buy up the planets which you missed, or spore them or invade them.  You don't need speed for that.

The hitpoints pick is quite handy when combined with the bonus for Xinthanium Hull Plating and the hitpoint bonus techs.  Being able to take more punishment is way more useful than being able to speed around the galaxy.

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

While you gain an advantage early on, it can hurt you later not having all the abilities you passed on for speed. Population growth, Economics and Morale are all ones that can have a huge impact as the game goes on, whilst +2speed seems less important as the turns pile up.

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I actually posted this 2 years ago, but noone addressed it seriously because I made a typo and said +8 to speed.  Then I edited it (without labeling it as edited), which set off another rampage of posts.  Lesson learned.

I like speed alot, and like economics and morale, it is helpful the entire game.  I prefer it over the others because it also allows you to explore more anomalies which can improve economics and morale.  In the long run, I believe that the additional anomalies you find will give you more +eco and +morale then the initial selection of those abilities.

 

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting Bentley241, reply 3

I like speed alot, and like economics and morale, it is helpful the entire game.  I prefer it over the others because it also allows you to explore more anomalies which can improve economics and morale.  In the long run, I believe that the additional anomalies you find will give you more +eco and +morale then the initial selection of those abilities. 

I agree with you on the anomalies. I routinely make it a priority to research sensors early so I can put some extra survey ships in play. Aside from all the + this or that, the money can turn a game around. I have used this approach in the campaigns to hit multiple "+25% research" anomalies to get to Planetary Invasion quickly. (Many of the campaign scenarios invlove taking a planet or planets to win.)