It was an SE3 game... He could technically open a warp point much earlier, just not with many warships to send through the warp
SE3 construction worked on a per-component basis, not cost. A Sun Nuke would take just as long to build as a small warship, even though the Sun Nuke would cost much more.
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SE4 CODE: A-- Se+++* GdY $?/++ Fr! C++* Css Sf Ai Au- M+ MpN S Ss- RV Pw- Fq-- Nd Rp+ G- Mm++ Bb@ Tcp- L+