What do people think is the optimal number of facilities (shipyard/construction /troop) of the same type on a single system?

 

With the diminishing returns, I'm thinking maybe only 3-4.

 

I guess you need to factor in having to bolster your defense on more planets in the sector though,which kind of complicates matters.

I tend to say: the more the better.

 

If starting a game you mostly have only one facility on a planet. So the first thing to do is to build a second one asap. That´s what I immedialy do concerning construction facilities. If there´s still space to build something on that planet, than build more asap and as much as possible. If you haven´t got enough space there, start building on another planet. I you´ve got about 4-5 facilities on a planet, the production rate will be highly efficiantly.

Yah, at the start of the game having the ability to build facilities nd defenses is really important, so the more construction the better. After that I usually hold back as much as possible until I've researched advanced facilities. At that point I usually end up with one or two Construction planets per sector with 3-4 adv. construction yards each, one troop planet with the same, and one or two shipyard planets with as many shipyards as possible while still maintaining defenses. A lot depends on the strategic situation and how at risk the sector is.

If I'm against the PC I don't even bother to garrison my primo contruction/shipyard/training facility planets with troops or a fleet- the AI is too stupid to take 'em. I just fill 'em up full of buildings.

 

Were I to play online it might be quite different; I'd likely still put almost all shipyards and the like on the planet, but I'd include one or two KDY II batteries and a number of Sullustan and Mon Cal troops (Or Dark Troopers if I'm the Empire) to prevent them from being sabotaged. I'd keep a decent-strength fleet (Two Star Destroyer-strength ships, several fighter and bomber squadrons, three or four lancer-style ships) for protection from a random invasion by a space force, but I'd likely flee if confronted with too huge of a fleet.

 

The planet can still get smashed, don't get me wrong, but my garrison means that if it's smashed it'll be with losses to troops/ships as they assault/bombard- the KDY batteries will take out ground troops in the event of an assault and ships in the event of a bombardment respectively, and I'd likely aim for the ships that carry the most troops with my fleet during the invasion if I thought it prudent. If nothing else I can cost the guy in taking my nice planet.

 

I'll usually also have some other powerful planets in the same system if it's a rimward one, so that I can send sabotage units to help me out from another planet if I lose one. Fleets rarely show up with enough troops to subdue more than two or three planets (One of the reasons mine tend to be so massive- I usually plan to conquer every planet in a sector and not worry about diplomacy. Lots of bulk cruisers.)