Mongol1a

[quote]For some people its finals /AP tests.....[/quote] Amen to that.

My only real suggestions are: Race to the trade port tech, improve resource gather rates, and ALWAYS FOCUS ON CHOKE POINTS!!! If you focus on fortifying bottlenecks and save resources for a balanced fleet, the AI usually can't hold you back. As far as military techs go, I personally improve shielding and hull strength as they apply to nearly every unit. I only improve weapons once I'm confident I've properly improved the survivability of my investments.