How do I defeat (decent) players who start alone?

3 Player FFAs are fun. But I'm never the one to start alone- I always have to kill someone first. By the time I do, they have every planet colonized (the last game I played I actually got orbital before the other guy was dead, and started expanding) and swarming in t2 technology.

They don't have the burden of dealing with someone else, so they soar. How can I counter their immense orbital, t2, and control of the rest of the system? Every time I invaded a planet he would invade it back.

You can't

Kiwi's got it right. Unless the guy who started alone is totally incompetent or his planet is way, way less valuable, you're not gonna be able to overcome that disadvantage.

Similar situations can happen in any FFA or multi-team match with multiple spawnable planets. It comes down to system design: if you don't want this to happen, don't host an FFA on a system with more than one viable spawn planet.

Out micro them???? like seriously, watch Dom. (@dom314) His micro is ridiculous hence he will out build and the micro will make the units trades better when fighting. Basically you have to be better than the 'good player'. XD not very helpful i guess....

Pro tip: Did you try telling them not too? I know it's sounds crazy since it is but try to tell them that they shouldn't