Double post, but editing just won't cut it.
Things that will get you killed instantly:
Spire civilian leaders - They double AI progress in the first minute, making the first ai wave nigh impossible; you get hit with four waves of mark II ships. You won't stand a chance. (Unless playing against turtle or no waves)
Mad bombers: Same thing; the intial wave will kill you. 500+ markII ships 6 minutes in can't really be easily stopped.
Core Shield Gens: Obvious on any snake map.
Any AI modifier that doesn't make the game easier. Though I'm not going to use any because that would just be cheap.
Any AI progress increase rate: Just don't do it.
Any neinzul minor faction; They're out to get you.
Zenith miners force you to direct your forces, so that's a no-no.
Human colony rebels are bad because they can force you to push; that's not a good thing.
Any spirecraft/golem that is harder than medium; Easy is recommended.
Any AI plots.
I may consider playing against two turtle AI's seeing as they don't send waves, making it so much easier in the early game as I won't get hammered instantly.
I might also turtle up very hard and hide behind a mark IV planet to do the spire mission (abusing the shard location system)
I'm also playing on epic speed so AI ships will rush through my systems slower.
Also completely disabling the neinzul expansion because all it does is shove hundreds of powerful ships down your gullet.
So, current settings:
2 Doom Turtles
No handicaps
40 planets (may consider reducing to 25 or so)
Snake Map
Zenith Remant on
Children of Neinzul Off
Light of the Spire On
All ships available except core shield gens and swallowers
Epic combat style
Normal unit cap
Fog of war: Complete visibility (Need every advantage I can get. Besides, scouting in a snake map is just boring and stupid)
Minor factions:
Marauders
Resistance Fighters
Easy Broken Golems
Devourer
Dyson Sphere
Fallen Spire
Civilian Leaders
Easy Spirecraft
No AI Modifiers
No AI progress increases
No AI plots.
Anyone think I have a chance?