I've found that 1-2 Motherships(sheild recharge + malice) along with guardians makes for a really hardy force. I use illuminators for primary damage. Not for the beginning, but for early mid-game, it works, especially against AI. I've also really liked the Halcyon carrier's ability to passively increase energy weapon damage of ships near it. That adds up quickly.
I haven't figured it out from text files, but if you want a somewhat similar thing, you can edit the text file and set ships around a planet, set Use Default Template to FALSE and the ships owner to "RandomMilitia"
I did it with TEC while doing the No civilian research, only military. In retrospect, it would've been better to do no military, and to use Advent, because scouting with Cap ships is a royal PITA, so using clairvoyanve would be much easier. And having trade is really nice when you need to build capital ships.
Astax and Yarlen are very right: since this is real-time it has to be manageable. If you put in too much content, you get an unmanageable mess that is no fun. Right now this game has very good balance and flow. Adding some more here and there might not be too bad, but please don't turn this into Master of Orion 3.
I thought that there was something in options. Maybe go through the advanced interface tutorial again? And tell me if you succeed, I've been thinking about that too, I just don't have time to try it now.
Phalnax811 : More races doesn't equal more fun! Its all about the game design. Also you don't have a to wait till college to begin. If you really want to, get a book or two and start learning. I've heard that Python and their library PyGame is a good place to start. Also, understand that it takes a VERY large amount of work to make a current 3D A+ game. So you might want to start with Tetris or Breakout or something similar to help you learn. Its also very hard
Have any of you read "A Deepness in the Sky" by Vernor Vinge? Its seems that the TEC and Advent are in some ways similar to the Qeng Ho and Emergents from that book. It even has the Advent "focus" techs. That also means that the Vasari are probably running from the thing in "A Fire Upon the Deep". "Deepness in the Sky" was a prequel to "Fire Upon the Deep". I think the communication sapping thing was called the "Blight". Both by Vernor Vinge, and both excellent. I think both
