What to do, If you Start Next to a Spartan...

[Concept]

Spartans = "Bully" Faction.
Planet Size = Standard.
Next to = Closest Faction.

First, Choose your Faction:
Gaians = Military Wimps... Gambles on Mind Worm Conquest!
Hive = You are safe inside those Walls, at a Price.
University = Long Term Answer (Knowledge).
Morgan = Consequences for Building > 1 unit, Short Term.
Believers = Consequences for Research, in Time...
Peacekeepers = Really, Beat the "Bully" with Happiness?

Second, Tell me your Strategy!!!

 

[chuft]

Restart

 

[vyeh]

Restart

I hope that is a joke in response to the OP. Spartans are erratic, not aggressive. Try diplomacy. Spartans have industry penalty. Try outproducing them.

When you meet the Spartans, immediately try for a tech trade. You can often get Doctrine: Mobility that way and her mood improves.

 

[Petek]

Also, if you run into an aggressive faction early in the game, just give in to all of their demands. Eventually, you'll surpass them them in tech and military strength. Then it's payback time!

Petek

 

[vyeh]

Of the original 7 factions, the only aggressive factions are the Believers and the Hive.

The Believers have a -2 research penalty so it is pretty easy to surpass them in tech.

The Hive has -2 Economy (-1 energy at each base), which also translate into less research, although this is mitigated by a natural ICS tendency of the Hive (+1 growth, which allows rapid vertical population growth, and +1 industry, which allows the production of more colony pods).

Of the two, I'd be more worried about the Hive.

 

[Concept]

Let's say that:
1. Giving in to demands (or Trading Tech) is Not an Option!

Then, The Real threat of the Spartans are:

1. No Skunkworks. (Free Prototypes)
2. No Command Center is Needed, at first... (Because they Start with +2 Morale)
3. After Non-Linear Mathematics (They Already Start w/ Mobility), they Conquer! (Fast)

How do you defend against THAT?

Personally, My Favorite Faction to Use is the University! (In the Long-Run, I can WIN, I believe) However, first, we must Be a Survivalist and Survive!!!

How would you Survive? (Let's say: On The Map of the Planet, they are on the Opposite End of the Fresh Water Lake) [Bottom Left of the Map]

 

[Petek]

A possible strategy is to research Planetary Networks (available to the University right away), build probe teams and subvert the (hypothetical) Spartan Impact Rovers (or whatever else they throw at you). You will then have a military, with the ability to build more.

Also, the University should be able to out-tech and out-build the Spartans. Of course, going for military techs will delay getting Industrial Automation. I'm also assuming that you're using directed research.

Petek

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

Build a "Killzone Defense"
Make one strong defense position using terain, bunker or base with defense perimeter, sensor, and a few defense units, and funnel all future spartan attacks into it with a road system which on the side to the Spartans branches out to encourage the AI path finding to get onto and folow it, and then converges onto your hard point.
Obviously, this requires your to get it in place before hostilities actually break out, so it is not an option if they attack on first sight.
The advantage of the system is that most of the production for it has gone into formers which are afterwards used productively.

 

[vyeh]

Another strategy is diplomacy with other factions (if you keep assuming away solutions, eventually all you're asking is how to beat the Spartans strength).

If you are playing the Gaians and have captured mindworms, you can use the mindworms increased mobility in fungus and defensive bonus to stop the Spartans onslaught.

Obviously, the Hive has built in perimeter defenses.

 

[Lockesdonkey]

First strategy: Play nice. Don't adopt Knowledge or Wealth. Keep your bases well-defended.

Second strategy: See if you can't set Santiago against one of your enemies.

Third strategy: Run Planned (if you're Morgan, tough luck). Spam units.

 

[Kilkakon]

I tend to just outgrow any aggressors. I also like to build fast attack units like Recon Rovers and leave them in bases on alert, ready to nip out and zap any pesty Impact Squads or the like. I'll admit that it has been a long time since I have played with original factions though.