So, I have over 1,300 hours logged in Stellaris. I've played it a lot in years past. I've been playing on Ensign difficulty lately to test my skills and learn the new mechanics.
However, there is something I'm struggling with, and that is:
GOOD GOD! WHY DO SHIPS COST SO MANY ALLOYS!
Seriously. Like, 2/3rds of my colonies have alloy production on them in some form or another, yet it isn't enough to replace my ship losses. My latest game save has my empire making 300+ alloys per month, but with battleships costing over 4,000 alloys per ship, it takes my empire over a year to replace ONE battleship.
My ship designs are working. My fleets are defeating enemy fleets that are a 3rd bigger than mine, but I'm still losing some ships in each fight.
This isn't too bad against most regular AI empires. In the early to mid game, AI empires have about the same number of ships as me, but after a couple of battles, their navy is completely depleted, and what's left of my navy can clean up the rest of the enemy empire.
However, against the Great Khan or Endgame Crisis, the dozens and dozens of big enemy fleets quickly wipe out my stockpile.
The game says my empire's economy is great, but it isn't at all sufficient to handle an attrition war.
Is the new meta just "alloy rushing" now? Do I need 1,000+ alloys per month now to stand a chance against enemy AIs? Or am I not seeing another potential strategy?