Master of Orion 2 is a mild obsession of mine. I’ve been playing it since 1996 when it came out. There are still some people playing multiplayer. PLaying vs other people is very hard and you learn some fast tricks to excell, or you perish quick.

Here are some thoughts:

• The hardest way to play is on impossible, with 8 players, in the smallest galaxy setting. This is the most challenging way to face the computer. Be prepared for a war with laser beams. My advice? Build a battle ship quick, maximize your home star system, and use heavy lasers.
• The best early weapon you can develop is Nuclear Missiles. By the time you develop merculite missles (race to it I advice you, go Re-enforced hull, Automatic Factories, Research Lab, Tritium Armour, Merculite Missiles). Once you have Merculite you can MIRV your nukes and thus armed, it takes about 8 frigates to down a space monster, and you can wipe out a PC fleet quick. Remember, you must have more missiles than they have missile defenses.

This is the best strategy guide I’ve found.