[Fyron]

1) Look for Quick Start in Settings.txt.

2) The AI General file is only read when an empire is created. Loading a saved empire file will not cause any data from it to be reread.

3) Saving an empire file does not create a new race folder; it merely contains a reference to which folder the ship images and AI text files should be read from. If you want to create a whole new race folder, you have to do so in your file manager.

4) You use 100% "manual modification" to create a new race. Copy an existing race folder, name it as you like, then rename all of the files inside of it to match the folder name (just like all of the existing races). Then, you modify the files in the race folder to suit your needs. To have it show up in the quick start game, you have to edit settings.txt and replace one of the other races with the new race folder name. Best to do this in a new mod folder, naturally.

The only thing that would be done in-game would be creating a .emp file, if you really need it. The best method is to start a game with a high number of AI players and set the race to human control in the main menu > Players screen. You can then save the empire to file. This handily tests your AI_General file for any errors in the trait selection (eg: you accidentally set up too many traits for a point setting, you have some sort of typo in the trait names).

5) The stock .emp files do not cover anything more than the default 2k point setup. Selecting a higher amount and loading those .emp files causes the AI to have spent 1000 or 3000 fewer points than possible.