What difficulty settings do you use

[Devin D.Bass]

What difficulty settings does everyone use to get the most challenging game?

How many AI Players?
What bonuses do you use?
What difficulty setting do you use?
And anything else.

[LeTharg]

For a challenge, I play PBW. Those darned humans can be quite difficult.

[raynor]

I think lots of folks play the game on high difficulty with medium bonus and 15-20 players in a large galaxy. At that level of difficulty against ships from the TDM Mod, you can play a few hundred turns and have some fun playing the game. You will still win hands-down. But it is extremely fun playing against great TDM races such as the Xi'Chung, Narn, Earth Alliance and Rage.

It is also possible to win at high bonus if you don't start out right next to another race.

As always, to get the most challenging game, you can't use these technologies:
Troops, Mines, Fighters, Stellar Manipulation, Computers, Phased Weapons. And, of course, play strategic combat only.

[dogscoff]

Fast and Furious:

I like starting with the smallest map, the maximum number of AI empires, low tech and 3 homeworlds each. within 5 turns you will have encountered 8 species and there will be 12 different wars going on.

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"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"I think so Brain but, if you replace the P with an O, my name would be Oinky, wouldn't it?"

[Nitram Draw]

dogscoff's way is a great way to get into it fast. For a real slugfest do small map high tech 10 homeworlds and 5-8 players. You will most likely be at war in less than 10 turns.