Just returned to the game, dumb question...

[oleg]

Even if you decide to skip Gold (I _strongly_ recommned to buy it), 1.49 is a vast improvement over 1.02. You can still find a TDM pack for 1.49 in download forum and few other non-Gold mods. TDM is a must for single player of course.

[Suicide Junkie]

Pirates & Nomads has a fairly up to date SE4 Classic Version available.
v2.x are for SE4 classic
v3.x are for Gold.

If there is a PBW tag on the mod, then it has extra features impossible for the AI to handle, and is thus Humans-only

v2.4d is the one you probably want.

You may also want to try my scenario (download v2.3c R2 to run it).
In that one, you are a neutral race (living in one starsystem), and your binary stars are about to go nova. You have three years to pack up, move out, and carve out a new home for yourself in a hostile universe full of enormous AI empires.
You eventual goal is to return home and rebuild your homeworld.