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playing off major powers

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 1:13 pm
by Tvrelnec
Hello,

i've got a question about playing off one major power against another one. I am using UDM3.
I (Federation) startend very close to the Cardassians, thus I couldnt spread like cancer, but colonized all systems I could get. Now it's around turn 250, I have encountered also the Dominion and the Klingons, which are both approximately as strong as I am. I researched manufacturing completely and the other tech fields are at 8-9. Furthermore my fleet (~30 Destroyer 3, 25-30 strike cruiser 2, 30-40 Heavy Explorers (Galaxy), 5 heavy Cruisers + 10 light esscorts) needs now all the money I make each turn.
The Klingons and the Dominion habe a non-agression-treaty and dont want to wage war with me against each other. The Cardassians are mocked by everyone and have just 4 systems left, but are currently not really attacked by anyone.
The Cardassians and me did not encounter the Romulans, but the Dominion and the Klingons did.

Can you give me advice in what I should do next?
Shall I attack either the Klingons vor the Dominion and hope they wont make an alliance against me?
Shall i wait until I have researched everything and let my ships be upgraded, but dont be able to increase the number oft ships?

Thank you for tips,
Tvrelnec

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 4:49 pm
by Flocke
hard to say. Playing the Federation I'd usually wait with war till it get's declared on me, which normally is no problem when rejecting demands a few times or failing with intel attacks.
As long as you can, expand without getting into war with powerful majors. When noone cares on the cardassians and it's just 4 systems left, take it and get the moral boost.
Just waiting for research upgrades usually is no good strategy, but with some chance the Dominion or the Klingons get into war with the Romulans, then you can join up the war and get support from the Romulans. When you start war first, chance is low they'll declare war on each other, so chance is you'll end up in war with all the majors left.
With good intel possibly you can intrigue their relationship.

Can you provide a screen of your map?

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 5:18 am
by Tvrelnec
Hi Flocke,

thanks for the advice. I'll try to upload a Screenshot, I hope my connection is fast enough.

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 5:38 am
by Tvrelnec
now the map should be attached.

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 5:42 am
by Tvrelnec
according to the graph which appears if you "retire" the Romulans should be approximately as strong as the Dominion or the Klingons.

thank you for advice and opinions

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 7:51 am
by Flocke
an interesting setting
what are your relationships with klingons and dominion and what treaties do they have with the romulans (diplomacy / summary screen)?
anyway go for the cardassians first. once they are captured things might already come clear by itself.
otherwise I'd research next propulsion tech and build an outpost in 16.12 next to the wormhole to expand your range on the dominion and possibly make contact with the romulans
the dominion is the more invasive opponent to your territory.

good luck :)

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 9:51 am
by Tvrelnec
Hi,
I have non aggression treaties with the Klingons and the Dominion. The Dominion have a non aggression treaty vor friendship with the Romulans (at least they had a friendship). The Klingons have war with the Romulans.
Wipe out the Cardassians and than expand with a Outpost/Starbase in Dominion space, right? Because I think I'll need some ships to defend this outpost, if I wage war with the Dominion.

Thanks for your help

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:03 am
by Flocke
given the klingons are at war with the romulans, you'd probably do better to join fight the klingons
on the other hand as long the klingons are busy with romulans you've free hand to fight the dominion
the klingons currently are no threat to you but the dominion is

I think unless you meet the romulans I'd still go for the dominion and expand range with some outposts and haunt their fleet if you can match them up.
Lateron you might join either the klingons or the romulans in their fight.

keep us updated how it goes :up:

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:25 am
by Tvrelnec
Hi,

thank you. I'll tell you how it's working. But it nicht take some time until I can give you the final result, because I habe alot to do at Scholl :(

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 1:17 pm
by cleverwise
Well based on that map I would personally build up intel and hit the Dominion hard. Eventually they will declare war on you which will help with morale. Then I would start taking out the Dominion systems one-by-one. I have done that kind of thing many times.

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 7:45 am
by Tvrelnec
Thank you, cleverwise.
Now I habe taken out the Cardassians and colonized their systems. The Dominion has attacked a few oft my starbases close to them, but destroyer only one and lost around 50 ships. They don't declare war.
I encountered the Romulans, who try to make me join their war against the Klingons by using sabotage blaming the Klingons for it.
I'll enhance my Intel to stop their attacks and try to let my skilled Federation agents attack the Dominion. At least I habe the Ktarians.

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 9:57 am
by cleverwise
It sometimes can take some time for another major to declare war. You can issue some demands to them as well.

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 12:39 pm
by Tvrelnec
Hi cleverwise,

for around 10 turns I demanded each turn 10.000 Credits (the max) + disputetd territories (~8 sectors). They are as mich enraged as they can be. I'll continue to annoy Thema.
Thank you for the advice

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 12:45 pm
by cleverwise
Good deal; just keep it up and eventually they will have had enough of it. I know sometimes it can take awhile and it seems like "forever" until a major declares war but they will if you keep pushing their buttons and annoying them.

Re: playing off major powers

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 12:50 pm
by cleverwise
I'll also add if you no longer have a non aggression treaty in effect park some warships in one of their sectors.