[PvK]

My 2 cents:

1) As has been mentioned, Ancient costs quite a few points that could be spent on other advantages.

2) It makes no sense to try to restrict the sharing of map knowledge - it's pretty basic information (where planets and warp lines are), so saying "you can know it but you can't share it" seems to me to make zero sense.

3) If a player wants to spend their racial points on this and then give it away, that's their loss/bargaining chip. Big deal.

4) In general, I don't usually use it, because I enjoy exploring. As people have said, some like it and some don't. So the choice is a good thing.

5) I don't think it's an underpriced advantage.

6) The point about cheating in MP with warp ships A) has little or nothing to do with the Ancient advantage, and B) only is possible if not using Simultaneous mode for a multi-player game, which I would hugely recommend over turn-based MP games anyway. That sort of cheating is possible in almost any turn-based MP game that has immediate resolution, and in several other ways besides with warp ships - if you have to play such a game, I suggest finding good players who understand that cheating just spoils the game. Again, use simultaneous mode!

PvK