So since i can only play on the weekends sometimes i think of strats to use during the week.  How dose this sound. 

In a 3v3 locked game desinate one player early on to be the Doomfleet and the other 2 dont upgrade past the first supply expansion to perserve thier econ's.

All players follow normal fast expansion tactics in the begining but after everyone has 4-5 planets or so the fleet guy goes 100% Fleet up grades, wepons labs and fleet points. 

The other 2 go 100% econ, trade posts, mining posts, etc and try to give at least 50% of thier income to the fleet player.  As a secondary duty they would heavily defend key systems to give the fleet guy time to respond.

As doom fleeter expands he dosent take the planets he clears, the econ guys do. 

Pro's:  Avoid the straight % upkeep.  Focus your micro management on fewer things.  Spend less on reserch.

Con's: If your fleet guy can't handle flying 3 or 4 fleets attacking and defending pretty much half the system he can leave his allies wide open.