Is it me, or do the Peltians and sometimes Skylaxians have absurdly low population (single digit millions is typical) compared to the other races?
I think I usually see it more with the Evucks if they get an outer rim planet. But doesn't surprise me that it happens elsewhere too.
And then there are the relatively normal population races.
And then there are the ones that just run off into the wild blue yonder because their race picked "warlike" rather than "equilibrium" as their policy of what to do about hitting the equilibrium population of their planet(s)
Oops, I meant Evucks, not Peltians
Always get those two mixed up.
But yeah, it seems to really weaken them relative to the other races. Aside from the risk of invasion, it seems that outpost construction and tech stealing from other races are pop. limited; at least I think that's why my Burlusts and Thoraxians are getting techs (even without outposts) before the super-spy Evucks.
EDIT: Nope, Thoraxians were depopulated. So I guess I have no idea how tech works, then; it doesn't even seem to need the !!SCIENCE!! outpost like it says it does.