Sophons Expert Guide - Endless Space 2 - Turns 1-30

First 30 turns of 4XAlchemist playing Sophons from Endless Space 2 on Endless Difficulty with Hard Pirates. Extensive commentary on multiple Sophon-specific and general strategies. Now with game sounds and music =)
This is the longest of our videos because the Sophons take a ton of tweaking every turn to optimize. I hope you would agree that it's worth it! (IMO it's the only way for these guys to keep up with other races)
Enjoy!
Highlights:
Turn 8 - fighting our neighbor for outposts
Turn 12 - Hero comes home at level 4 just in time
Turn 19 - finish "win 3 battles" Sophons quest
Turn 22 - Sophon attack ships with upgraded lasers unlocked. Discussion of optimal builds for early Sophon attack ships
Turn 30 - upgraded ships, upgraded systems, upgraded weapons, upgraded planet settling. Sophons off to the races.
Turn 30 Savegame file on Google Drive: drive.google.c...
My notes on the topics covered in this video:
Hero can stay out since he's an awesome fighter until the turn just before you finish MIC
Building a second booper early is better than spending the dust because you need the dust to rush your first outpost
Look to upgrade the north side early and get early ships to go make the wars
Scout ships suck as combatants, but at least have 2 weapon slots. Use missiles and go en masse
Every time your planets have something new to build and you have somewhere to expand, look to get better ship upgrade, laser, and CP techs
Early market is a huge benefit since you'll be dust starved and will want to do a fair amount of ship upgrading. No dust is too much
Do the military quests and try to fight your three battles before turn 20 so that you can get the laws quest finished in your first election. This makes things go way quicker.
Hero leveling: Move, Move, Science, Fleet dmg, Fleet dmg, Laser dmg
Soph Kilo class ships have 3 defense slots. This makes them ideal for surviving and carrying beams to wreck opposing fighters. Don't go overboard on it though.
/u/The176thPbPGuy on reddit did an analysis of all ES2 ships and in fact the sophons have the strongest carriers in the game: they are a late game military powerhouse - / talking_ship_comparing...
Still experimenting with all lasers or a beam/laser mix. If all lasers clump in the middle flotilla. If mix spread out evenly to match your opponent

[@gamefan8552]

I wish this guide was updated to what the game looks like today.

[@spitzhorneule]

Couldnt agree more. Took a huge break from the game and now I am starting all over again because so many things have changed.

[@iowacub1]

I would love updated versions of these guides, like you did with Lumeris. Much of the early game maneuvers are now impossible (the way you use laws, changes to the heroes, etc.).

[@VelcroSnake93]

Great video. My eyes twitched every time you called it 'Star Bill Boogie' instead of 'Star Boogie Bill' though. :p

[@JT_Corpse]

Thank you for these guides. I just picked up Endless Space 2 a few days ago and of course feel lost. I've learned more in the first 10 minutes of this video than anywhere else. Cheers!

[@pcdruid]

Thanks for this guide. While it isn't up to date for today, it showed me a way of thinking about the game that is more mindful of what is going on and what my immediate requirements might be that I somehow wasn't paying attention to. This was really helpful to me.

[@phillipj1135]

Sophans for life! The speed boost is great.

[@cmp6291]

Especially since they limited the fleet boosters to Hero ships only

[@jaimeit3507]

Thanks James! Your faction guides have help me understand some of the obscure mechanics, as well as with the tactical aspect of the game. Much appreciated, cheers!

[@OrionP4]

Just found you guys a few days ago and was looking forward to the Empire Vs Sophons PVP. If you two are still around would love to see that content.

[@LockeVincent]

Really enjoyed this guide, thanks again James. I am a big fan of using the races in alternative ways and appreciate the aggressive Sophons. If you guys have any other ideas on how to play the races a little differently, I would love to see some theory crafting videos. I mentioned in the other expert guides if you can give some insight on some directions to take. Of course you can't cover anything since it is all dependent on how the game is playing out, but it is interesting to see your thoughts on where you may take a game.

[@spencerconroy731]

Great guide as always. Much appreciated.

[@raglanheuser1162]

take a shot every time someone says they're going to replace their battle cards then never do

[@AnnanFay]

It seems Admit and Improve was replaced at some point with Species Stability {+5 Dust on Original Empire Population, Only your starting Population can increase}. Super Tax Act is also now -20 Happiness instead of -1 per person.

[@rosvall216]

Would love to see an updated factions guide, most of this is can't be done today.

[@tamphex]

And I thought Eve Online was spread sheets in space. This takes that crown.

[@Pat315]

It's not that hard.

[@Ben_D.]

Excellent

[@Akoroush]

What do you do now that Admit and Improve is no longer available?

[@cameronmcallister7606]

Imagine the headaches of the government of the Sophons this early, the acts being changed every year a few times, carpal tunnel must be prevalent

[@OrionP4]

You guys still making any videos? Great content, hope you have time to make more.

[@TheDyingScotsman]

glad to have you back as I really enjoy your videos as well as your bother's. Is there any chance you will be doing other 4x games such as Endless Legend or some of the Civ games?

[@4XAlchemist]

Neither of us actually play Endless Legend. We got hooked on the first Endless Space game when it came out. I played Pilgrims and David still smashed my face with Cravers just like today. One of the reasons we started this was that ES2 felt so strategically deep, with each race being so different. We haven't had so much fun playing a 4x game....ever. We each have hundreds of hours of Civ4 and Civ5, even Civ: BE but not much in the past few years. I haven't gotten into Civ6 at all. The only other game that doesn't have a ton of content that we could definitely make guides for would be Shogun 2: Total War. IMO the best of the TW genre. I've beaten that one on the hardest difficulty with nearly every faction now ^_^ Eventually there will be a new game and a new obsession and hopefully we'll make some content for that one too.

[@zeroisnine]

4X Alchemist you should definitely try out Endless Legend. Though might want to wait for a sale. There was a huge one with all the content not too long so. Dungeon of the Endless is great as well.

[@TheDyingScotsman]

Endless Legend is awesome and you can find it pretty cheap, $20 or so (or it's $29.99 on steam but I'm sure you will get it cheaper if you wait for a sale as Zero said). In some ways it's far deeper than Endless space. I am still quite new to 4x games though I had tried them in the past. I seem to be going through a phase right now where I am just eating up all the 4x games I can. But I suck at them unlike you :D whatever you choose to do I will be watching! You deserve far more subs/views !

[@zeroisnine]

On sale on Steam now! It's probably deeper, but I also started playing an expansion or two into Endless Legend, so I don't know how vanilla Endless Legend compares to Endless Space 1/2.

[@TheDyingScotsman]

Vanilla is still pretty good (you can still turn off all expansions in EL btw) but I do love the premise of space a bit more. Both games are a must play for anyone who loves 4x games

[@paeppafpaefpafepa2]

wish you made that second colonizer with 2 colony flags instead of engines, that way he couldve sat as a ship slowing their colonization to 19t then even move on later and flag another system

[@TastyDizaster]

pretty sure the +10 food @ 1 hr 26 min was the buff from discovering 10 curiosities first

[@Self-replicating_whatnot]

Hadopelagic life on a desert planet. Sandworms?

[@etofok]

thanks

[@KeysCreative]

At 4:50 you say the hero skill gives +20 science per level but the tooltip says it’s dust??

[@leninthebeaniesouhacker.2459]

Sophons are basicly kids with dangerous toys, right?

[@AlejandroMonteagudo]

Quick question, do you think it would be worth it to modify the hero ship to add extra probes?

[@n1ghtofthedead411]

You could have the same exact fun in an excel sheet and pictures of the galaxy.

[@DLusby]

Hi! I just got as far as watching you set up your game, and I was wondering if you knew how much the 'low' density galaxy setting affects the number of colonizable stars. Reduces the normal map size number of colonizable systems by 50% or 60% maybe...? I like the idea of larger maps but the level of micromanaging, I find, becomes a bit of a slog in the end game for me on larger maps. Well only two games completed so far, (both on 'Huge') but... I like the idea of imagining a large galaxy, but maybe a larger map with low density for usable systems and turning up the special nodes (nebulas, etc.) might give me something close to the galaxy look/feel I'd like with the level of micromanaging I'd still enjoy all the way to the end? Thanks!

[@gwilliamstraining]

IIRC it's 66% of normal for low density, 133% of normal for high density. Density changes the total number of systems, but you can also lower the special node frequency if you want more or less colonizable systems instead of black holes etc.

[@DLusby]

Hi! OK, so the special nodes (nebulas, black holes, etc.) are included in the total number of systems? Which are affected by map size... That's helpful, thanks! That might be a good first step to try if I want to have less colonizable systems. It might make games on larger maps easier both for me and my computer as well. I could maybe throw in low density if it still feels like it needs more thinning out. First though, I think I'll just knock the map size down from 'huge' to 'large' and just see what that's like first. I can't remember now, but since it's right in the middle of the slider, I'm guess that's the default map size?

[@gwilliamstraining]

Correct, special nodes are included in the system count, and affected by map size. The default map size is called "Standard" I think, and it's a little left of center, there are more increased map size options than decreased Glad I could help, and good luck!

[@DLusby]

Thanks!

[@TheDyingScotsman]

that's great info. The amount of options in this game are incredible and make a huge difference to how everything plays out. It's a little daunting when you're not entirely sure how these settings alter things.

[@lordseb4449]

Are you bringing out one for the hissho?

[@TheInsaneComment]

yep, tons of stuff im seeing being done in these videos that wouldn't be done today due to the nerfs a long the way. Wish they would come back. What is also weird is how people and game companies still refer to the computer as AI. A computer trying to play a game is not AI. Let Deep Mind get hold of this game, send a billion games through its AI and then see something insane happen. That AI will not be able to be beaten by any living being on this planet. End of story.

[@Spootnik]

Artificial intelligence is anything that simulates thought. Pong has an AI, though it's extremely basic. AI is a massive spectrum, hence why we started using terms like machine learning in combination with AI. It's sort of like how a baby is still a Human, it's just not as advanced as an adult.

[@loannterraz9285]

Hey, thank you for this detailed guide. I'm also curious about the following turns. By the way, I watched the vodyani and the riftborn videos so far, and I noticed that you don't use 'Toys for boys' law (happiness), and globally speaking you seem to don't care about happiness. I know that the percentage bonuses are not very strong at the beginning of the game but still, you sometimes have an empty law slot that could be converted into +5% science, +15% dust, +15% influence and +15% food. Why not using it ?

[@4XAlchemist]

So when we started recording the videos the Sci/Dust bonuses for empire wide happiness weren't actually working (regardless of what was said in the tooltip). This was patched to work correctly, so now we use TfB much more!

[@loannterraz9285]

Makes sense, thanks :)

[@jamessteale805]

Any new vids coming out soon?

[@Makari126]

^Guess its kind of outdated, since the 2 strong laws which you use in the beginning are not available anymore...or is this randomized`?

[@rickeames474]

i have been playing for 3 weeks now and ur guide were helpful especially ur pop games. i was having a problem between turn 30-75 keeping things going and those vids really helped out. i have been working on the siphons for 3 days now and they r real weak and i can to get a snowball going. i'm unable to get any influence built up so they starve to death for want of it. my science out strips my industries ability to produce. there needs to b away to increase both ur industry and ur influence production if these guys r going to b a viable race to play. open to any ideas ... hope u guys post some more vids on this game especially pop ones

[@rickeames474]

i found out that by implementing the law dirty hands on turn 2 it really helps as it gives a -20% industry cost on systems level i also realized that i was trying to play them like other races and not really play their strengths right now i push their science and industry plus real early i build i explore ship or 2 that has 2 speed mods and no probs and set them tout explore it then makes probing planing easier. i try to colonize only systems with 4-5 plans the exception being where there is a garden of eden anomaly i wrk hard to get the science that will allow me to have more systems b4 unhappiness and get to lvl 4 systems this allows me to have 14 systems when the ai only have 8 my plan calls to have ur science between 600-700 between turn 30-40 most races u want it to h at 350 by turn 35 so now ur getting more science to take advantage of ur science break when researching things i guy hero if they help science or industry i keep all zeros on planets to boost those i have gotten a science win 5 out 6 times this way the time i did not i did not get anything that rewarded me for exploring curiosities. i push to have between 125-200 which explains the need to have fast auto exploring i build fleets to keep me safe not to take out the other races. i do not try to compete with other races on their strengths. example i will not earn more gold then lumbers. i hope these insights will help u

[@alexeybeloushko7240]

endless speed gives advantage to sophons

[@skypselaklikarialoca2141]

Why not have Vodyani as a competitor at all?

[@JosephGubbels]

Do kinetic weapons actually shoot down missiles? How does that work?

[@4XAlchemist]

Hover over the kinetic weapons and it will have an "anti-missile activity" number right where the energy weapons show their critical hit chance. Not 100% how this works (might be the DPS of missiles that it nullifies while firing), but yes, having kinetics do protect you against missiles.

[@maxmustermann-zx9yq]

+40% isnt doubling anything, +100% would

[@heenie]

When you get tanks for ground troops, what percent of manpower do you set them to?

[@skippychurch2965]

It drives me crazy how you call it "star bill boogie." It's "star boogie bill."

[@balintkmetty2036]

Omni-"Science" pls

[@christiaanbruin4989]

He pronounced it correctly

[@merc9nine]

I love your guides, but hate the way you say OK like Bob Ross, and now add Boogie to that list.