As a baseline for my strategy I post the score/ resources/ research/ intelligence at five turn intervals for the past two games in 255 system quadrants. Keep in mind that half my 39 colonies are at least eight star systems away from my home system.... Last game was slower research ramp up until I *reached* the allocated worlds. On the other hand the nearer strategic worlds were good resource planets which gave me a bigger stockpile than usual. I also did more intelligence because a couple of pests were spying on me. Every game is different but the target is the same - start 39 dreadnoughts on turn 120. The route to the target varies depending on an initial plan based on the Ancient Race information about the quadrant. Notice that I start scrapping as I approach score 500k. That is ok if the facility is at least 7 turns old because it already paid back on the investment. Another major varient is how many races declare war on you as your score falls below 150% of theirs due to your stall at 500k. Each battle cruiser built costs you a scrap of five to six facilities, so just keep throwing up replacement mines until the first mine sweeper arrives. THEN build a battle cruiser. Anything smaller is a waste of resources and ineffective. Maintain trade treaties as long as possible to get a boost in your research/resources above what your score allows. Sure they get far more from you than you get from them, but that also hurts them big time when YOU declare war. For some it is immediate bankruptcy.

Turn game before Last Last game
35 97.3 70.6 16.5 0 89.5 66.6 3.9 0
40 122.6 73.6 29.2 0 128.4 79.0 14.4 0
45 153.0 79.5 35.5 0 155.9 85.9 28.4 0
50 177.0 85.8 44.0 0 164.5 81.9 39.6 0
55 205.7 86.9 56.2 0 191.8 85.0 53.4 0
60 239.9 105.6 68.5 0 234.2 101.6 70.0 0
65 261.0 125.2 81.0 0 290.5 148.2 72.5 0
70 281.9 134.0 91.0 0 339.6 200.2 84.4 0
75 335.7 157.4 125.7 0 383.5 227.2 108.6 0
80 363.0 161.3 159.3 0 445.5 244.1 158.1 5.0
85 413.8 175.2 199.2 0.6 480.0 244.1 196.6 5.0
90 474.8 211.2 232.3 3.0 498.0 235.5 228.4 8.1
95 494.9 218.8 240.2 6.3 499.3 221.7 230.4 14.4
100 490.4 218.8 239.0 9.4 497.6 215.2 230.4 19.4
105 497.0 218.8 244.6 9.4 499.0 206.1 230.4 22.8
110 499.2 219.1 242.7 9.4 498.6 185.1 230.4 30.3
115 487.6 207.2 241.7 9.4 499.5 173.2 231.2 34.8
120 499.2 208.7 221.5 9.4 gave it up, had idea about maps
125 499.3 208.7 220.5 9.4 still 36 systems 39 colonies poulation 19.0 billion
128 499.5 208.8 219.5 9.4 declare war on all, breaking treaties
129 893.9 222.3 220.3 9.4 39 dreadnoughts built, demand all surrender every turn
The jump in resources is due to blowing up a blockading moon. I could have done it sooner but it was money in the bank...
130 1.0m 303.7 238.5 10.3 3 surrenders - puny but atmospheres needed
131 1.1m 319.8 244.5 11.1 1 surrender
135 1.3m 424.4 260.3 19.7 1 surrender 60 systems 155 colonies
139 1.6m 624.8 285.3 32.8 1 surrender 89 systems 250 colonies
140 1.9m 813.0 349.4 38.4 2 surrenders 111 systems 355 colonies
143 2.5m 1.2m 394.6 50.1 1 surrender - a big one (blockades) 133 systems 461 colonies
146 3.0m 1.6m 458.6 57.2 1 surrender - a big one (blockades) 148 systems 604 colonies population 80.7 billion
147 Last three surrender - combination of old blockades and jump in score.
This game went a little quicker than usual because I was able to get dreadnoughts to the two biggest quickly to blockade their mineral worlds.