Learning on how to setup and play multi-player games

After fumbling through the setup and play of my first multi-player games, I figured I would share so that others would benefit from my mistakes. I'm more into upping the play of those around me rather than spanking newbes.

First, let's talk about setting up games lessons

1) If you're going to take the time to setup a game ADVERTISE IT! Else no one knows if the game is active.

2) When you're setting up a game, send the players the filename.gam file. This makes setting up the game alot less ahhh, interesting/painful than it needs to be. NOTE: if your using vista there are some oddball tweeks you need to be aware of for managing the files. There is another thread where I discussed my vista fumbles/learnings.

3) Get confirmation from everyone that they are still interested in playing before you launch the first turn. If you don't do step 1 well, it will take you a bit of time to collect enough players to start the game. Best to get rid of the dead wood early.

4) Personal preference #1: Start the game with more rather than less resources. Having more planets, research etc accelerates the game and allows players to recover from early mistakes.

5) Personal preference #2: Start with alot of players ... If you want to play a game fast ... play against the computer but if you want to mix it up with others ... do it right.

6) Personal preference #3: Don't play the standard game. I ended up playing a standard game because it was the only big game open and I wanted to get multi-player experience but the game plays VERY differently than the mods. The other mods are a vast improvement over the standard game. Additionally, playing one of the mods allows you to use the game editor to take a better look at the game details such as the technology map so that you can plan better.

Regarding how to play multi-player:

1) Each mod plays very differently and requires different strategies. I encourage others to cross post here regarding other threads specific to a particular mod. There is a good thread on the standard mod that I wish I had read before I got my clock cleaned by turn 15.

2) Make alliances early. I started next to an empire that joined an alliance very early and I was soon dealing with a flood of very hostile ships comming my way. I made an alliance several turns later in an attempt to fend off the onslaught but I'm at a tremendous disadvantage.

3) Don't forget about maintaining a reasonable amount of intelligence. Let me repeat ... DON'T FORGET to keep a reasonable amount of intelligence. Nothing worst than having a competing empire steal the key technology you where basing your game plan on. See the standard game thread for more sad details here.

4) There seems to be two different types of strategies players seem to take:
a) Land grab: get out of the gates fast and pick up as many planets and resources so that you can overwhelm other empires later. This means you do things like make sure you can build colony ships in one turn, have traits that allow you to see the map with the best systems etc.
b) Specialize: Pick one trait and use that trait to crush your competition. Example: Focus on superior technology.

Hope this helps other folks.