Pirates and Nomads opening strategies

[Jmenschenfresser]

Arg...

Ok, I have started another P&N game, and I am having the same problems as before with the AI. Large galaxy, 18 races, no neutrals, high bonus. I patched several from the TDM, and I repatched all of the stock races.

After 59 turns, someof the Ai, like the Orks, Vikings and Aquiliaeans are expanding like their normal bad *** selves. However, no one is building warships. They design them...but they don't build them.

I don't think a single AI has over 10 ships. I've looked over some of them, and all of the existing ships are colony ships.

I just don't get it. Some of the stock races still don't do anything but build one ship, build another, and scrap the first.....

Any ideas? I really like this mod and would like to play it, but how can you be a pirate if there are no ships to steal.

Many thanks