Influence is a cornerstone resource in your empire. Without an ample supply your early game expansion will be crippled. Here are a few ways to reduce Influence cost and stretch it a little farther.
Technology
Technology is one method to reduce the cost of using Influence. There are 3 areas of research, Engineering, Society and Physics but Society is the area to focus on if you’re interested in making your use of Influence more effective.
The Interstellar Campaigns Technology reduces the influence costs for Claims by 10%.
The Galactic Campaigns Technology reduces Influence claims costs by 10% and reduces the effect of War Exhaustion by 10%.
Ethics
Ethics can reduce Influence costs. It’s best to decide on these during game setup since switching Ethics during the game is costly.
- Fanatic Militarist reduces the Influence cost for Claims by 20%. It also gives your ships an increased firing rate of 20% (for those who prefer a less diplomatic style of play).
- Militarist reduces the Influence cost for Claims by 10%. It also gives your ships an increased firing rate of 10%
- Fanatic Xenophobe reduces the Influence cost for Starbases by 40%, plus it provides a pop growth speed bonus of 20%
- Xenophobe reduces the Influence cost for Starbases by 20%, plus it provides a pop growth speed bonus of 10%
Traditions
The Expansion Tradition, Reach for the Stars, reduces Starbase Influence costs by 10%. In the same Tradition tree Galactic Ambition reduces Starbase upkeep by 20%.
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By simply adopting the Diplomacy Tradition you get a reduction of 50% for Diplomatic Influence costs.
