As a good example;
In Carrier Battles mod, I'm playing with NO BONUS AIs on team mode. Last game, my fleets were destroyed and I started losing ground to the AIs just before turn 50. I'm doing a little better in this second game because the galaxy is bigger and most of the AIs are just at the outermost fringe of their supply range when they meet my ships at the fringe of mine.
I've been playing since last millenium, and it is nice to have a game in which I really don't know if I will win or not despite my BEST efforts on all fronts.
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...&Number=531519
Everything is always better in multiplayer, because you face creativity rather than brute force.
You don't see 700 ship battles against the AI
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...an1_turn08.jpg