The one problem I have seen with a game such as this is that the turns take for ever. Even with my system, the turns sometimes exceed two minutes plus.
A lot of data being acted upon per empire.
Its easy to loose the rythum of the game this way. I like to limit the amount of AI players to between 5 and 8. This will eventually slow the turns down, but not to the point that I can leave go see a movie and make it back in time to start my new turn.
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"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats! They invade our space and we fall back -- they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back! Not again! The line must be drawn here -- this far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" -- Patric Stewart as Captain Picard
UCP/TCO Ship Yards