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1.) play with research and not all tech available from start-up. The AI will use the tech but will also build lot of (wasted) research facilities.
I think that this issue should have been fixed with 1.19 patch. Haven't tried it yet though (I always play with the low starting research).
Btw. AI is not harder. It is a MANIAC. More aggressive, huge fleets that really strike, he explores your weak points in defense and uses them. I am currently in war with empire that is 1st on the score list (I am 4th). I have about 4-5 warp points that border his empire. So far he has tried to just storm in, then he tried to get through the black hole, establish a resupply base and then moved 4 carriers in orbit there filling them with fighters (thanks Mephisto
). When that didn't work he now tries to storm my weakest system (and maybe most important one, I have 1 huge colony and lots of research facilities there). So far I have reached about 100 turns and I am constantly on defense. This is a:
-250 system mid-life galaxy
-20 AI players on difficult setting, NO bonus
-Low research at start and high research cost
Also a note, I have very stable partnership and brotherly relation with Ukra-tal. That guy is in war with his 2 neighboring nations, so I have no treaties with them. So far I have noticed that Ai now is much more consistent in politics and making treaties, and won't rush into partnership in 5 turns like before.
Now this is the most interesting game so far for me.
