Gone through the video tutorials as well as the first twelve Tactical Puzzles. My first online game starts in under four hours. Despite me doing these tutorials, I still feel slightly overwhelmed and nervous about how this first game will go. I think I'm going to try and play it 'safe' to begin with. Well, we'll see how things go...

I got eliminated in my first game, so my queen was taken before anyone got to 200 Neptunium.

That's OK, online play brings in so many new elements and there's only one way to get to know them. Try. Oh, and ask! Here on the forum, or in-game in chat if you feel someone is trustworthy.

Good luck on the first game!

Thank you very much! Hopefully my fate is a kind one.

Good luck.

Just open some dialogue with your neighbors to help plan out the initial rush to the first outposts. See what their intents are.

Then, if anybody is trying to chase you to an outpost, make it known to your friends in case they can help you!

A little fear is reasonable. For a game that takes a week, things can move awfully fast and be quite intense. "Play it safe" is a lot more difficult than you think. This is definitely a game where if it feels like everything is under control, it means you're not moving fast enough. Play hard, have fun, and know that everyone gets completely creamed sometimes (occasionally on video!).

Haha, I agree with Unloginable here. Sometimes the best strategy is to throw caution to the wind and just go for it! Be sure you make friends, though. This game is more about the people than the board, and it is *extremely* difficult to win a war alone.
But it's important that you just try to enjoy the game, win or lose. I've been playing this game for months now, but I've only ever won one game. It's still my favorite game, though, and that's part of the reason! You could have the most sound game plan and still lose, or you could have a crazy shot-in-the-dark-all-or-nothing move that completely pays off! (Sorry Unlog)
The point is that this game is exciting regardless of your position if you make it. If you find yourself losing, do something crazy! (One of the devs, Ron, recorded a video of himself doing something like that on the blog. You should check it out.)

I'm also on my first game right now (only about 6 hours in). Already now I see that my subs are heading to 4 factories that are also targeted by other players. As I think you can't redirect subs once they are on its way I'm also pretty scared to already started a war with 2 players and also a bit paranoid thinking they might have an alliance together .

Even if it all goes wrong I'm really enjoying the game so far. It reminds me a bit of the game "defcon" where you also had an office mode that was real time but took a long time.

You can't retreat subs with only drillers (the Admiral specialist is the exception), but you can gift your sub.

If one of the players is attacking two of the four outposts you mention, you might be able to make a deal.

If you arrive first at outpost A, maybe the other player is willing to turn their sub heading that way into a gift? That way there won't be a fight and you'll receive the drillers that belonged to the opponent.
The favor in return, could be that you turn your sub heading to B into a gift for the other player.

You could also quickly look at the outpost that you'll reach first, and after conquering it, immediately send your drillers to another outpost you want. This way the first outpost is freed for your opponent, and you'll have a stronger force heading to that other outpost you wanted.

Later on, diplomacy might lead to trading outposts. You can disable the shields of an outpost and send away all drillers, making it 'free' to take over by someone else. Be convinced that they'll do something for you in return though!

And if no deal can be reached, you can either trashtalk and have an instant enemy, or take your losses and hope they sympathize with you and want to partner up...

Thanks for the help and explanations

Negotiating to turn subs to gifts is a great idea. Will see how I can use this in my current situation. Can a sub that is turned into a gift be reverted to a sub again or can I be sure that a gift will stay a gift till it arrives at my base?

Like an order to send a sub, you have ten minutes to cancel that order, during which the 'present' icon will blink. But once those ten minutes are over and blinking stops, it's for real.

But yeah, while negotiating there's always this small amount of time, during which you're not sure if the other party keeps up their end of the deal.

Also - be aware that they're in the same situation as you are. They've also sent out subs hoping to gain an easy outpost. They might want to limit their losses as well.