[Mephisto]

Good question.

1.) I have tested all the races with "high technology" setting with 500t, 600t and 1000t ships. It works just fine for me (and it was a lot of work).

2.) I think I pretty much understand the design file so what I did is not just "try and error". In fact if I find some time I will post a guide to modifying the design files.

3.) As it seems you should not use my research files. I assume now that the AI will research "down the list". It will start with 1 then 2 then 3 and... My research files are not adapted to this. They are the whole tech tree from 1 to X. I.e. the AI will with my research file research all space yard tech, then all fighter tech, then all physics and finally - after every thing else has been researched - weapons.
Not quite the way it was intended. I will look for a solution to this but quite frankly, it's a lot of work to do a complete tech tree for every race.