Specialized planets

[King Flevance]

I am having a hard time figuring out how to regulate my specialized planets. How soon and often do you specialize? If you could tell me what a class 10-12 planet would look like if it was specialized in research, economy, influence, or military. All 4 if you want. I am just try to see what others do to see if I can spot what I am obviously missing.

Side note: My research always falls back to barely keep up. in my current game I am only 8% of like 7 opponents. And my economy is sometimes a large black hole eating somewhere around 60-75 Bc/turn. I always level it off right before I run out of cash expanding. Is that smart? Cause I am only landing like 5-7 planets before I am broke and start playing with taxes. Meanwhile, the computer is freakin huge. My first 2 ships I build are colony ships always. Do many people scout with constructors? Also I am slow to get my Man., Res., Eco. Capitols up. Should I bee heading straight for those? I always rush 'planetary improvements tech' but I dont rush for capitol techs.

I have browsed some strategy posts in here but I don't get what I am doing wrong or if it is just the difficulty setting or what it is. What is 'noble' on here? Intelligent?

Thanks.

 

[mossmonster]

How soon and often do you specialize?

For me it depends on the map size. I usually wait until the colonization phase is ending and the best planets have all been snatched up. At that point go through your planets and see which ones would be best suited for each role, research, production, economy, etc. Look both at the bonus tiles available and at that planet's special bonuses on the 'details' screen.

One last note, it seems to help me if my manufacturing capital is closer to my most likely enemy as that way when I crank out warships they are already positioned to be nearer to where they are to be used in combat.

 

[Elite]

Here's something I find useful: SPEND! SPEND! SPEND! at least of Colony ships and colonise planets quickly! the more planets the more income! my empire eats up at least 25% of my current income but I make a lot of money! I own practically the whole galaxy(with just a few races keeping me on the defensive) my military and borders are a bit stretched out.