[laiocfar]

I disagree in one point: AI is so low that it almost doesnt matter what do you do or what dont do, you also can win by
-building only huge ships with lot of firepower and dont hesitate to declare war to some aliens just because they are ugly
-capture resourceful planets no matters how many invasions pods it takes you need new bases all the time. On minor planets wipe out the surface and capture it to deny it to enemy.
-dont build any defensive structure, use slow but heavily armed ships to block star lanes that connect to other empires and arent being used by the main fleet.
-research weapons, shields or armor. Also ship size is very important, the bigger they are, the harder they strike.

I was on my bad side of the bed but the ai of this game is a big deception