quote:
I think I will next try a no research / no intelligence game and see if I can get by on researching ship capture only after a few years and analying ships to stay in the game. And taking planets with ground troops.
Alternatively, try playing as a "Neutral". Not the happiness type, but the AI type: have no fixed assets outside your home system (ships can wander a few systems out)
This way, you can get some research and intel, but not much, and both at the expense of your economy
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