Capturing Structures and other questions...

[PokerChen]

It wasn't on by default - I remember making a conscious choice about turning it on and leaving it on thereafter.

[Shrugging Khan]

My Good Sir OP,

A Man in your situation may resort only to one particular proceeding: NUKE EVERYTHING.
Please enjoy your doom!

Sincerely,
Shrugger.

PS: If you have AIP per minute activated, you've already lost. If you have no AIP over time, you can still win everything.

[Catma]

Yeah, it's off by default. Shouldn't be IMO.

I started with an 80 planet. It's a bit of a slog. I wound up quitting that game and tried again at 50, which was pretty quick and easy; then a 40, then a 60, then a 10 (which was nasty!), then an 80 which I believe I'm doing now with my Fallen Spire campaign. I'll probably wind up sticking with something like 60 TBH, the pacing is better and I feel like I'm making more progress. So I recommend experimenting with map sizes in addition to everything else.

[Shrugging Khan]

I'm used to slugging it out over 120 planets (never finished), and I'm trying an 80-planet map ATM.

It feels ridiculously fast. I'm stumbling over homeworlds within a few hours of scouting work, rather than the 20+ hours I used to chew my way through before even getting to *guess* as to where an AIHW might be located. 60 would probably feel cheap and miniscule to me 

Then again, I've grown a lot faster and more aggressive in my play, lately. Might be if I try another 120 soon, it won't take my as long anymore.

Practise is everything, as always.

[Martyn van Buren]

Yeah,  I can see a good argument for putting it on by default, and perhaps 60-planet maps, which are really better for a first-timer.  That said, I can see wanting to communicate that those aren't the "standard" options, so perhaps just add a message somewhere suggesting it?

I'd suggest trying some really small maps; I've been playing 20-30 planets lately and I find them really entertaining.  As X says, it's a cage match; takes less long-term strategy but you have a lot less room for error and you have to do a lot more with less.

EDIT: Sorry, that last bit for Khan, not OP.  20-30 is pretty hard unless you're used to the game.

[PokerChen]

I remember scaling up gradually when I first started out.
- Didn't bother to finish tutorial. First game base in practically sandbox mode, 4/4 on 40 plants. Killed quickly and built random things to try them out.
- Second game 5/5 on 60 planet. Add Zenith.
- Third game 6/6, 80-planets. Add Neinzul
- Fourth game 7/7... etc...