Ditto for most of your comments, Andrew. The one problem I have encountered with the AI is that when playing Multi-System games, I can EASILY colonize all other systems before the AI even send a preliminary assault group (Not the scout, they scout the systems fine). Same thing with the credits...I think you should either a) increase the tax rate, decrease the allegience to like 5% per jump and thus increasing tax income from planets, c) increase sale value of crystal and metal. In any case, even on a small map it takes a while just to get started. While this may be fine, perhaps you could make Quick Start mode where the above three (or some of the three) are true and you start with additional money. This would be so that when your playing online, you don't have to commit to a WHOLE day every time, while I will definitely do that I wont play online nearly as much if I had to set aside a whole day for just one game, then some n00b screw up the game. Love the research labs...but perhaps instead of Andrew's halving the logistic value, you could decrease the requirements in the research tab by half...say to research a High Command Training in Military, which as of now costs 12 Military Research stations, you could turn it to require 6. If you do this, people will have more options but still have to decide if it is best to research or create assault craft. Also, I LOVE the planetary bonuses!