[dogscoff]

Hmm. I just started a game with 16 AIs. (no neutrals) Set it to max number of systems though (255) so I thought that might just be big enough to accomodate them all. I also switched "evenly distributed" off. Hopefully some of them will start off with enough empty space around them to become really powerful.

I don't expect to Last long though - Rage, Pyrochette, vikings, aquilean, Vorlons, Shadows, Drakol, Orks and the rest chosen by the Computer. All on high difficulty / low bonus.

I started off with 2 warp points from my system: Both were asteroids. Beyond them an organic infestation in one direction and a Xi-Chung homeworld in the other. Haven't been able to explore beyond that yet.

I've had a few scuffles with the Xi-Chung (including a disastrous assault on their homeworld) and their tech levels scare me - they are so far ahead of me at this early stage it's ridiculous.

Anyway, do you think that playing a giant map like this is what flipped LCC? Do you think the same might happen to me? I hope not. I never wanted to play this map. I never wanted to play this game at all. I always wanted to be... A lumberjack! Leaping from tree to tree as they float down the rivers of British Colombia! Ohhhh... I'm a Lumberjack and I'm OK, I sleep all night and I works all day, I cut down trees, I eat my lunch, lunch, brunch, munch, crunch, much munchety crunchety swimmety swim, catchety fishy-O, because the fish are going to take over the world, they're melting the ice-caps and my face is getting wet, let, vet, met, mat, spat, prat, Richard Whitely, Carol Vorderman Vorlon? Nice encounter suit coz fruit is a moot hoot etc etc etc etc...