[Fyron]

Look at the Eye Candy Mod on your Gold CD. It has a lot of new unique techs in it. I suggest starting off with it, or at least using some of it.

I suggest making the SM you get from ruins be weaker than level 1 of the appropriate tech that costs research. So, a planet builder would only make tiny planets or some such. Perhaps make them have a 100% increase in ship maintenance ability as well, representing the fact that your people do not really understand the devices they are using, so are using them poorly so they have increased maintenance. Also, I suggest not giving any of the higher level SM from ruins. Star Destroyers et all drastically change the balance of the game, and the only defense against them requires level 10 in shielding (other than guarding every single star...).