"Free" ships?

[x4000]

Well, it's a really different style of game in general with those.  It is winnable, and even winnable without having a huge AIP, but it definitely takes different tactics.

[Doddler]

Kind of off topic, I always kind of wondered if it would be possible to give units unique properties based on the AI controlling it.  A lot of the AI types involve special units, but in the case of special forces and a lot of the other harder AI types, you sink a lot of AI progress into fighting them, which kind of hurts the otherwise unique scenario.  Almost all the hard AIs, and some of the easier types too (Doormaster, Shield Ninny, Grav Driller) all get a huge number of structures that cause additional AI progress, it would be better perhaps that these structures under these AI types didn't cost progress (like special forces under special forces commander) or at least cost less progress.

[x4000]

That would be really hard to do, and I think potentially confusing to players, as well.  But I hear what you are saying -- what might make more sense is seeding extra data centers in response to that.  However, to be honest I think there is some merit in having the AI Progress variances be so different between the various AI types.  With some AI types you can be more casual and do kind of whatever, and with others you have to be much more purposeful and careful, or you'll wind up with AI Progress that is far too high.  But, there might also be a middle ground there, too.

[allmybase]

I noticed that when you start a game you randomly start with 5 threat. Is that to make it so there is some risk of someone running into you even if you just sat there and didn't upset any special forces? What are those 5 threat, MKI or MKII or could they possibly be anything?

[x4000]

I have no idea -- that is odd. It might be counting minor faction ships like dyson or devourer golems.

[Doddler]

That would be really hard to do, and I think potentially confusing to players, as well.  But I hear what you are saying -- what might make more sense is seeding extra data centers in response to that.  However, to be honest I think there is some merit in having the AI Progress variances be so different between the various AI types.  With some AI types you can be more casual and do kind of whatever, and with others you have to be much more purposeful and careful, or you'll wind up with AI Progress that is far too high.  But, there might also be a middle ground there, too.

Perhaps the amount of AI progress reduction available in a game (basically number of data centers) could be made adjustable at game start?  It could allow for a greater variety of gameplay, It would be nice to control that value to ease playing on very high number of systems or multiplayer games where the rate of teritory grabbing is much higher than single player.  Like just a data centers option select between None, Few, Normal, High, Very High.  It would allow for more flexable game types, as well as strange ones like 'AI progress increases 1 per minute, but most AI systems have at least 1 data center'.

Maybe I should just start posting in the suggestions board. Maybe I'll do that! 

More on topic, the game always starts with about 3-10 threat almost every time.  Not really sure where it is, but the ships usually show up after a minute or two of gameplay.

[allmybase]

I never play with dysons or devourers or any of the other minor factions. It's more like what doddler was saying just start up any game and you get some random low threat value no matter what options you have on.