Best results I have gotten for a game involve the following...
Medium or Small spiral map,
Use Similtaneous(sp?) play (sim-move, like pbw)...no tactical combat...
High AI difficulty,
Medium/or High AI bonus,
Races: Rage, Aquilaeian, Xi'Chung, Pundion, Torons, (and non tdm- the Zorians, or Orks)
Use 5000 point empires for the AI, 2000 or 3000 for yourself.
Be creative, don't just go straight for PPB's, take Grav Hellbores, or Torp's...
Medium Tech Start (less theory for the AI to get, more time for weapons), with LOW or Medium tech cost.
3 planets to start, full resources/good planets as well, if you don't want all the extra research points, just waste them...But they do the AI tonnes of good.
Anyway...just the way I like to play...
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"We are all...the sum of our scars"....(paraphrased) Matt. R. Stover-'Blade of Tyshalle'.
"Human existance is all imagination...Reality is no more than a simple agreement among its participants that this is where we shall meet, and these are the rules that we shall abide by."- Kevin McCarthy/David Silva "The Family:Special Effects"..