Honestly? Not a lot. Making sure the micro isn't tedious is good, but I like building things on planets. Considering Galciv 2 had what was essentially totally micro free combat, having it somewhere else didn't bother me.

I mean I wouldn't mind if planetary management is a bit faster, but I'd rather still have it than not have it.

I'd like some more micro actually. Never complexity for complexity's sake, but the micro is a big part of what I like in a 4xgame.

Less micro != FPS, you know. Are you implying that Governors in GalCiv II make it a non thinking game? I have never used them, I love to control all the stuff going on in my little empire/republic/federation. But surely some people find them a nice addition without "dumbing down" the game.

I'm against unnecesary streamlining, unnecesary complexity and a game that plays itself (er... autobattles are ok).

I concur with most of the above posters in opposing the suggestion by the original poster -- I want micromanagement to stay.  However, I do hope there are better macromanagement tools to assist ... I like epic campaigns on  the largest maps, but tools to /help/ reduce management tedium (without eliminating micromanagement) would be nice.

I'll have to throw my hat into the keep the micromanagement pool. I personally want to see some refinements geared at the late game, when you have in excess of 25 colonies, the management gets tedious, particularly if you found new colonies or conquer a new planet and you want to get it up to modern tech levels, or more so during war time and you need to continuously purchase ships or structures.

id like to be able to control build queue and purchases from the colony list screen rather than have to cycle through each planet - ie have a buy button beside the current project. Sure most of the time you won't have the funds to buy multiple projects in a turn but I frequently find myself with sufficient cash reserves in the later game that in war time I'm buying whole fleets each turn and being able to do that from one screen would be great!

Agreed that`s why I`m rooting for this game so much  

I am pro micro, but anti tedium. (I wonder if the OP wasn't talking about the micro in general, but the times when the micro becomes tedious.) Building/upgrading planets in late game can get tedious. Each turn you have to cycle through your planets rush buying everything. Civ 5 managed to cut down on this tedoum, by letting you rush buying all your upgrades in one turn rather then having to do one a turn over half a dozen turns. It worked in that game.

For GC3, maybe we could do something with ships. Maybe new components for the colonize ships. Like prefab buildings that are instantly placed on the planet with only a 1 turn build time. You could also use them on planets you have already colonized as a way to easily upgrade a planet that is behind the curve.

Good strategy games have micro. Micro can add to challenge, immersion, strategy and even pure fun. Streamlining can go too far and ruin the soul of games.

What's tedious is micro that are there just because of poor UI/design. 

Good point. That's the strength and beauty of TBS, more depth and micro is manageble.

I am afraid my original post was not sufficiently clear. Of course a TBS game requires micro management and this is and should be fun.

However, in Galciv2 micro management could become tedious and boring in mid to late game (especially in larger galaxies). So I was hoping we could come up with some suggestions for improvements. I am not sure that AI governors would be an improvement, as it requires very high quality AI programming. One thing I found annoying in GC2 was that you had you adjust the empire/economy management sliders every turn to optimize your economy/morale etc.. Another example that was boring is that you had to constantly pet every colony to see whether they needed an upgrade. Don't get my wrong, I also like building things on planets etc. Improving UI/design could also be a good way to make micro management less tedious.

This is also a point that I hope Stardock will pick up, because I read many people complaining about this.

Good proposal Yarodin, any other suggestions?

I may enjoy microing the first ten colonies, but thirty... So yes, I'd love to see a governor or a pre-set buildings list.

I think the good balance is the way. Probably more micro in the beginning and ways to reduce it in the later stages. I'm not so sure I personally want to play housekeeping under name 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) all day long.

It annoyed me too.