Some more tidbits of knowledge:
1. LEARN to BLUFF! Don't be too revealing in your ship/base names. Sure, naming the bases what they actually are ( 'Repair Base 1'etc, with planet location) may help you remember what they are, but for people encountering them the 'first time' they can gauge the 'threat level'. Use 'defense base' for the class or 'attack base', may make people think twice about attacking a planet. Or do it the other way around, have a dreadnought fully loaded with weapons called 'supply ship one' or 'mine sweeper deluxe'. The less info the enemy has the better.
2. Keep your eye on the alliance screen, watch for patterns. And watch out for first contact. If a new race shows up and immediately goes for your planet with training facilities suspect your 'allies'. Someone could be funding them on the side instead of direct attack. BE PARANOID!
3. Spy Ships RULE! Don't know if I mentioned this before, but destroyer or frigate class ships, maxed out on engines with level 1 stealth armor and a few solar panels can really make a difference. Station one in the sun (or storm/asteroid) of a nearby system and watch the enemy (or ally below partnership) moves.
4. Midway into the game GET stellar tech fast, get to warp opener and closer and then build the ship fast (closer first IMO, then you could always retro-fit to please). Later of course get Star Destroying tech.
5. Again, Racial Traits will either let you win or kill you. If on a 3 planet start then definitly take the extra planet storage one, the research points alone are worth it. For a rock or Ice race with 'none' atmosphere with the adv. storage that means those small moons can have 6 buildings!! Large and Huge can have 30!!
6. Research points, spend them wisely, especially in a med/high cost tech game. You have DUC IV, do you really need V??, put the points somewhere else as it is a marginal damage increase but no range increase.
7. Cheap units!, ie 'Riot Police' for planets (1 cockpit, 1 armor, nothing else), keep em happy!
, and like suggested before, small mine with 1 warhead, numbers count here and you can build them faster this way!
EDIT: OOPS, forgot the most important. Fleet formation, go to your empire options, check the boxes under fleet formation for ships to break formation. They will now follow their individual orders (max,point blank, capture etc) instead of trying to keep in fleet formation and getting hammered!
Enough rambling for now.....
[This message has been edited by Deathstalker (edited 17 October 2001).]