[nweaver]

My current pattern

Scientists (+5 research)
120% research
80% trade
80% repair (I rely more on fighters, might shift this to 80% ground combat strength)

Organic Technology
Advanced Storage (Gotta love having +3 or +5 facilities on the starting homeworld).

Out of the box, I try to research Organic Engineering, Organic Weapons, Organic Tech, Construction, and fighters.

The initial strategy (along with expanding like a MoFo) is to build blockaders (Escorts/frigates with missiles/parasites set to a REAL max range strategy), which I immediately send to enemy worlds, blockading them and demanding their surrender.

Once I get fighters, I uprade to Lvl 3 in weapons, and start building small carrier forces to bomb those who refused to surrender.

Then, of course, real tech tree climbing while massively expanding etc etc etc.