[mac5732]

In regards to not researching facilities, for my 2 cents, I think this would be mistake. They would need a means of resources
at least in beginning in order to build their
remote miners, ships etc. in order to plunder and pillage. How about if they are limited to only reaching level 1 resource facilities. Everything else they have to plunder or steal. This way they would have capability of obtaining some resources to get started but never enough to exist without miners or plundering or capturing. If possible you could put this as an option that way you could try both and see which one works better or to your personal preferences. However, I don't know if the computer could handle this without changing the other players traits. just an idea mac