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[Strategia_In_Ultima]

No, I meant something different - well, partially different then.....

I meant that you start with 0 tech like a Low tech start, but that the other races - who ALREADY posess (large) interstellar areas with colonies and developed worlds - have higher-level tech, say, you start with Low tech but the others start with things like Destroyers, med-lev APBs, troops, fighters, mines, advanced drones, advanced sats, JPEs etc.

[Blueentity]

Couldn't one start a game and "sit on one's hands" for X turns to do that? It wouldn't be as rich as a scenario you are describing, but would give the AI a head start.