Agreed, on Pop Transfer and early game Reproduction levels being slow and sometimes arduous in current AIC v3.02.
AIC v4.0 will have an answer to increased Population transfer and Reproduction Rates as a starting Human Player Advantage Option.
AIC v4.0 will also reduce the need for Starliners also as an Option and this all will not have need to change any Base Setting for AIC that most enjoy.
However:
AIC is based on MASS =1000
any change will have global effects.
Reducing the Maintenance numbers down is also the equivalent to not needing many Mineral Planets and sure, this works for you and it will make your game EASY.
However, I have already made avail options for you to increase your Productions with even other advantages as well.
In addition to any Trait Options, Characteristics and Culture Options you have choosen at pre game set-up.
Please lets look at the Numbers: an average 10 CL Squadron is the equivalent of
Average Level III CL = 1750 to 2000 per for a Total 17500 to 20000 Minerals.
Average (good) Medium Breathable Mineral Planet at 105% and all else even. With 16 Mining Settlement= 6750. With 16 Mining Colonies=9600 and with 16 Mining Complex=12800
Now introduce Industrial Centers and Industrial Complex above can increase as high as 30% upon 30% of that total. At level II, III and Level II respectfully may yield 14000 plus output of Minerals; from just one Medium Mining Colony in a well Colonized System. A Large Mining Colony would yield a Larger amount etc.
With this said, you only need One Medium and One Small Breathable Mining Colony (not even to count your Home World) to produce the required Minerals for just that Squadron.
Also to Consider your Trade Dividends with other Empires this is easily obtainable and to also consider there are many more Planets out there for you to still invest in, also to mention astroide minning, surplus resourse trading at your Trade Center or with a direct offer to another Race and/or pure intimadation to gain extra needed Resourses.
The
Key is to Plan your Research to improve your Economy to be able to afford Ships and to maintain the building of Facilities, Cities and infurstructure to afford more Ships to gain control of more Systems to repeat this process
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The AI Players Fleets have a Make-up, that is not inclusive to any one Class of ship, so it is rare you will find the AI with 10 Light Cruisers.
With a drastic cut in the settings and with the current always upgradable AIC Engineering Section Component and the AIC Maintenance Facility for the Human Player; sure it will be easier and quicker for you to achieve 20 Cruisers with a few Carriers and you should ROCK. In addition, if you wish to capture planets; this is further an investment that you have made expeditious, this also pertains to the increased resources to have for many BSY's, SSY, Defence Bases, Repair/Support Ships and etc - not to mention Stellar Manipulations and or Tectonics Vessels… With the less demand for Resources, you can now build many Intel Facilities with an off balanced attack on the AI, research for you should now be at an unbalanced ease, etc.
A reduction or change in base AIC settings will change the Balance, and the game may be come redundent from game to game when margins are widened.
Please utilize the supplied Starting AIC Human Player advantage Trait options and any or all MP Point bonus to add to your Character, you will achieve an advantage in the game and you may have that "Dream Team" with out the worry about semi permanent DATA changes.
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The goal for AI Campaign is for any one AI Player to beat any Human Player 4 out of 10 times.
As it is now, with AIC v3.02
At AI Bonus NONE: most of us beat the AI 90% of the Time.
At AI Bonus LOW: most experienced Players beat the AI 60% of the Time.
At AI Bonus Moderate: very experienced Players win about 30% to 40% of the time and it is near impossible to beat the AI with a poor start.
AIC Version 4.0 is expected to inadvertently increase Human Player results for victory in all but High AI Bonus games; also to reduce some of the current Human Player Micro Management with AIC.
High bonus is reserved for some to most multiplayer Games that may include only one or possibly two AI major Players, certainly just Neutrals.
[ October 08, 2003, 23:16: Message edited by: JLS ]
Re: AI Campaign => For a Challenging AI opponent
Hopefully it was a fluke and MM is not delusional with the "fix." 
))
Linear Mode
