Lousy galaxy generation/player placement

[wilcoxon]

Anybody else feel that the way SE4 generates the galaxy and places players needs a MAJOR overhaul?

MM borrowed quite a few ideas from Starfire, but did not borrow the balanced start. IMHO, this was a major mistake as the game can be won/lost on your starting location the way it is now.

I'm in one PBEM where I started with 1 breathable planet and about 6 colonizable planets within 2-3 jumps of my start. Another player with the same planet/atmosphere choice started with 5 breathable and an unknown number of colonizable planets within 2 jumps (and I've only seen 3 of his systems). To make matters worse, the one breathable I found 2 jumps away was 1 jump from the other player's home system. There is virtually no way I can compete against him (especially since trading for another colony tech only gave me 2 medium breathable planets and another 5-6 colonizable).