[dmm]

I think that most of these Trade Federation ideas could be done in a no-AI game if it were set up correctly beforehand. One player plays the TF, whose role is to capture disabled ships, analyze their tech if valuable, buy tech, and sell ships and tech to anyone who can pay the price. TF ships and planets may not be attacked. (Exception: Intel can be used to recover your own ships.) TF never allies with anyone. TF cannot colonize or build any ships except boarding ships. TF starts with a tiny breathable planet in each system. TF starts with some advanced tech (e.g., LngRngSens, BrdngPrty, Rpr) but only sells tech that it has seized.

I don't know if TF should be allowed to use intel to get tech or ships. And I don't know what victory conditions TF could satisfy, if any. What do you all think?