Ghost ministers.
Seriously the only empire that I saved was from the best solo game of SE4 that I played in. Over 100 ships, score in the millions, ringworlds, sphereworlds, the works all from a low tech start. To top it off I wasn't even in first place.
The oddest thing happened when I tried to play the empire in a new game. Whenever a planet was colonized it never gave me the prompt for colony type. No the minister was not turned on (I don't use that minister). Even more strangely It accurately was choosing the colony type I would have. (Something the normal minister almost never does) It was very strange.
Alas I only played 20-30 turns since I hated having my ship list cluttered up with designs I couldn't use.
[This message has been edited by Rich04 (edited 24 August 2001).]