[Coal]

It's late, so I only have one peice of advise for newbies:

Do not piss off the big empires living next door to you. If a neighboring empire is stronger than you, then you must learn the secret and delicate diplomatic art of 'sucking up'. Give them gifts, treaties, ships, whatever it takes. AIs are not very likely to be your friends again once they get angry at you. If they are weaker than you. then strike fast and hard, even if they're friendly. Don't let up, for once you've attacked, they'll never want peace again. Make sure every war you fight is one where you know what you want and know how to get it. Never hold back, or you will lose.

Well, that was more than one, but, like I said, it's late, and I'm tired.

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This is it. That moment they told us about in high school, where one day, algebra would save our lives.

'Evacuate? In our moment of triumph?'
Grand Moff Tarkin, just before the Death Star blew.

Brain fart, you win again!