Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?

[dmm]

I don't like giving artificial bonuses to the AI. But here are some role-playing ways to help the AI:
1) Ooops! Scenario: Start with 3 or 5 or 10 planets for everyone. Then on the first turn abandon all but your smallest planet. (In retrospect, it was NOT a good idea to automate EVERYTHING!)
2) Duh! Scenario: Pretend that your race doesn't know about wormholes until another race comes through one. (It can really cramp your style if nobody discovers you for 50 turns!)
3) Aargh! Scenario: Use some of the ministers. (If you are a despot, you have a duty to provide ministerial positions for the oligarchy. Plus, you want to enjoy your despotic wealth a little. If you are only a president or prime minister, then your power is limited by the legislature and the bureaucracy.)
4) YUK! Scenario: Play as a total xenophobe. Immediately declare war on everyone, and never use anything from anyone else. No planet or ship capture, no use of their population, no tech stealing, no demanding tribute or surrender, no treaties, etc. No cessation of hostilities. The galaxy must be cleansed of all filth (i.e., all races but yours).
5) WWJD Scenario: Or, play as a total dove. Short of surrender, do whatever you can to keep the peace. Declare that all space is open to all vessels. Never fire the first shot in a battle. Never glass a planet; only capture is allowed. In fact, don't attack planets at all unless one of your planets has first been attacked, and even then only attack planets with construction yards. Research ship capture ASAP, and make that your primary tactic in battles. Never attack colonization ships. Never use mines, of course, since they might harm innocent ships.
6) Voters Iz Stoopid Scenario: For a real challenge, roleplay a democracy, and switch between #4 and #5 every four years (40 turns). You might also want to make the populace less happy during setup. This will simulate the self-absorbed whininess of the developed world's populace.
7) King Tut Scenario: Your real goal is not to take over the galaxy, but to make a tomb worthy of you. Can anything less than a fully populated sphereworld suffice? This must be completed before you die.
8) Angry Wife/Boss Scenario: You have 2 hours IRL to live.

[TurinTurambar]

I love this place!

Turin

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Dmm: LOL

[ZeroAdunn]

2) Duh! Scenario: Pretend that your race doesn't know about wormholes until another race comes through one. (It can really cramp your style if nobody discovers you for 50 turns!)

<===I've actually played that one, I also didn't research military tech untill I encountered another race. Made for an interesting game.

[iaen]

dmm said:
7) King Tut Scenario: Your real goal is not to take over the galaxy, but to make a tomb worthy of you. Can anything less than a fully populated sphereworld suffice? This must be completed before you die.

How about a fully populated sphereworld filled with cultural centers? (proportions mod ofcourse)

I think I'll manage right after Hell thaws again.

[Alneyan]

It would be too easy Iaen. You should at the very least take the Advanced Storage trait; 20% more slots to fill will add some spice. And then, why a single Sphereworld? You ought to find a system with two or three stars, and build as many Sphereworlds as will fit.

The challenge has actually been proposed several times, but nobody succeeded to the best of my knowledge. At least Dogscoff attempted it, and was under way at one point of the game; I do not know about its outcome though.