Here are some thing I do, It could be helpfull. 1. What i build on the core planets is one construction facil. one troop training and one shipyard. The rest will consist of refineries and mines. I usualy don't use defenses like shield generators and LNR. What i do have for defens are let say about 30/60 fighters and about 6/10 troops. But not on every planet. I also have one fleet in each system to take on enemy fleets. 2. I also have about 3/5 planets whiche have 15 shipyards, but i don't have those for the contructionyards and the troop training centers. But I do combine these. let's say 8 construction, 6 training and 1 shipyard to make fighters. That gives a total of 15. I think it not praktical to have 15 constructionyard or troop centers. Becaus the build time for them isn't that high. Oh and these planets are in the unexplored systems. This means i don't have to scrap mines or refineries. And the defens is the same as whit the core planets. 3. And then there are some planets that have a higher purpose. Like coruscant, the rebel headqaurters Yavin and one or two prison planets. each of these has one construction, troop and shipyard. And these are the only planets that haven planetairy defenses. so that are 3 spot and the rest is filled whit shield generators, LNR and ion canons. Plus these planets have their own fleet and of each fighter is representen with 30, that's 120 fighters. and about 10/20 troops. And ofcourse these planets have generals. That's how i do it. So it gives me al the resourses i need. and yes in the beginning i don't have enough raw material and stuff, but when i'm up and running the IA is history. So ok I have to admit it doesn't avoid a planet being captured. But the fighters give a great fight. I hope you can understand every thing I sad, and have fun. Greetez Ric.