[mac5732]

In regards to cap planets, 2 possible ways, ground attack from transports and the other is using intel to get them to revolt and hopefully they join you, but they could go independent, if that happens, just put a fleet over the planet and demand their surrender, they more then likely will.

In regardst to gunboats, I would think modding the ftr files would probably be your best bet, as for CV's for the gunboats, do the same with the CV files in the game. Check with one of the modders, SJ, Fyron, Atrocities, Mephisto, Derek, PhoenixD and the rest. They could probably help you in this area.

For the 150+, depends on your time restraints, If you want quick knockout punch, then In my opinion only, glass all his planets in each of his systems except for the best 1 or 2, these I would capture and use for foreward support/repair/build bases, then follow up with colony ships. If you want to knock him out without spending time capturing his worlds, by all means glass each one of them and again follow up with colony shps to keep other races from colonizing them, it basically comes down to what YOU want to do, depends on how many other opponets there are, what position you are in, how large your own empire is etc. To expand you need to colonize or capture, but remember once captured you still have to subdue the population before they work for you, this calls for shps over the world, troops, and one of the pop happiness center facilities.... and it takes time, so again, depends on your time restraints,

good luck,
ps if you like Shiva Option, get the other 3 books in the series, Insurrections, Crusade and In Deaths Ground

just some ideas mac