[PvK]

Actually, the limit of ships per empire in the current Version is 20,000!

255-system quadrants will indeed take an epic amount of playing to conquer.

Lots of differences compared to MOO2. I much prefer SE4 (or SE3), but MOO2 did a few nice things SE4 doesn't do, or not as well (spies, AI diplomacy, some aspects of combat such as facing, "heroes", effects of transplanting different races, ability to move between systems without warp points). However, SE4 does LOTS of good things that MOO2 doesn't, such as:

* Practically unlimited modding, and great mods.

* Larger tech tree

* Generally better tech tree (IMO)

* Enormous quadrants, if you want them

* Enormous battles, if you want them

* Great play-by-web with other humans

* Great variety of possible unit designs and types, especially with mods

* Great variety of game types, with various settings, mods, maps, play styles, etc.

* Lots of room for interesting and different strategies and tactics and designs.

PvK