06-14-2021, 04:46 PM
Yes, you must keep growing all the time or get left in the dust. Scouting is important to find out (a) who's where, and (b) what space is available for expansion. When you run out of expansion room you have to start taking it away from your neighbors, and of course they're trying to do the same to you. Sometimes, to get a military advantage on someone you may decide to pillage and burn their economics (and hope they don't do the same to you).