[PvK]

Setting number of starting planets applies to all non-neutral players. In Proportions, this will have a massive effect on empire strength, and multiply the research rate more or less throughout the game. If you take more than one homeworld, I suggest at medium or slow research speed. More than three homeworlds should probably go with slow research speed, unless you want to get to high/max tech levels quickly.

Being number one in score is easy against the AI because the score system can't be modded, so it's still weighted the way it is in unmodded, and so, is not a valid measure of empire strength. You will probably colonize faster than the AI, and each colony, even if it is currently costing you more than it's worth, is increasing your score a lot.

I would suggest High AI difficulty and Low or No AI bonus, if you are playing Proportions 1.5 or higher. Consider playing with no AI bonus, but after you have chosen your racial abilities, take "limited planetary exploitation trait" and don't use the points to buy other abilities. This, and/or low or medium bonus will put you at a distinct disadvantage. High AI bonus will be quite hard - unless you can conquer a couple AI's homeworlds earlyish in the game, you'll fall behind the AI in true strength (though maybe not in score, at first) quite quickly. I wouldn't really recommend AI bonus higher than "Low" unless you want to try to play agressively to overcome the huge AI advantage.

The AI's I modded for Proportions aren't particularly aggressive, though, if you're peaceful towards them. Also they currently only make defensive ship designs, which means they don't make long-range strategic attacks, only ones in supply range of their short ranged designs. When I get time, I'll improve the AI, though...

Edit: Note, these short-ranged designs are still capable of waging war, capturing your planets, and wiping out neighboring empires. They just tend to deploy more cautiously, because of the supply issue.

The Foundations mod has been taking a back seat to Proportions tweaking and other tasks. I figure it makes sense now to get more play experience and tweaking done on Proportions until it seems about right, and only after that, try to finish Foundations. So, it might turn out to be vaporware or an SE 5 mod.

PvK

[ 06 April 2002: Message edited by: PvK ]