[seldon99]

Ok, I'd say that giving all of the empires 10 planets and high bonus would make the game more than challenging maybe impossible :-)

I found a couple of the suggestions useful, thanks First, picking the races was critical I found the Sergenti (sp) to be good opponent. I ended giving the computer 3000 points, using only 2000 myself, and giving the computer a low bonus.

Every once in a while the AI in MOO2, Alien Crossfire, or Imperialism would surprise me by doing something smart. Unfortunately, the AI in SEIV constantly surprises by doing dumb things.

I have 5 Destroyers guarding my forward base, the enemy has 6 Frigates on a warp point. I can only reach the warp with 3 ships. I wait. I expect maybe the computer to attack me. But NO, it divides itself into 3 fleets and positions them near my base. I quickly wipe them out with no losses.

Same game, different opponent. 4 Destroyer plus satellites guard a base. Opponent has two fleets of 4 cruisers seperated by a few squares. Does it wait a turn an attack combined, of course not it launch 2 attacks on different turns and is wiped out.

Concentration of forces is pretty elementary strategy and AI for other games have been able to figure it out...