Thanks Yivali, fortunately for me, this is a good time to get into this, because I have a lot of free computer time.
As far as subbing for someone, I've seen the posts..... I don't really feel comfortable trashing someone else's empire, when I haven't even learned how not to trash my own yet.
I mostly wanted to know what game settings to train myself on for MP, that sort of thing, so I can make the adjustment from SP to MP.