[Arkcon]

Like Geo said, the Mega Evil Empire algorithim in SE4 isn't meant to model real life, its a rule of the game to control an outcome.

Its come up before, someone goes Mega Evil, and thinks its dumb for all the neutral empires, and other weak empires to suddenly go hostile, 'cause they're too weak to survive.

The hard part is getting the complainer to admit that now, with everyone against him, with the neutral systems no longer being safe transit zones, with every ally resupply depot suddenly closed off -- the game has suddenly subverted his best laid plans, and has become more challenging.