Vega62a

An idea I had for balance with pirates: Pirates are a nice way to keep you from just turtling up against AI opponents, but later in the game they're just irritating; it's not as though you *can't* wipe out a pirate excursion, but your forces are committed elsewhere and you don't probably have time to babysit the bounty-bidding war. And since you simply do not have enough tactical slots to kill an entire excursion, there's not much that can be done but disengage one of your fleets. This,

I think a good solution to the campaign problem (Because let's face it, we'll all get bored skirmishing against computers eventually) is to add some story-based scenario maps. More than just interesting map setups, use maps with, if not objectives, then specific setups and AI directives. (i.e. a map in which the TEC is forced to call back their veterans to defend their final solar system against the Advent).