Which game is best for a n00b? SEIV or SEV?

[Jeku]

Much better as in more difficult, or much better as in smarter? I was already outgunned in my first combat in the SEIV demo so I definitely don't want the AI to be more difficult for now

[Phoenix-D]

A little of both actually.

[Suicide Junkie]

Carrier Battles mod has quite effective AIs, thanks to Rollo. They give even me a decent challenge even on the "No Bonus" settings.
The best part of "No Bonus" settings is that you could have done whatever they just did, if only you had had that starting position and that racial setup.

Low bonus AIs will steamroll over all but the most crafty and lucky of humans.

[tmcc]

Jeku said:
Much better as in more difficult, or much better as in smarter? I was already outgunned in my first combat in the SEIV demo so I definitely don't want the AI to be more difficult for now

Once you get the hang of the game and learn some tricks the stock AI will quickly become little more than a spead bump on your road to Galactic domination.

[Jeku]

Yah, I'm looking forward to the moment I force an alien race to surrender. I might mark it on my calendar

[tmcc]

How easily they surrender depends on their racial traits. Some surrender more easily than others and some won't surrender at all. The prerequisite though is to destroy all of their armed ships, bases, and sats and then keep asking them to surrender while keeping their key worlds under blockade.