Exploding stars...

[Baron Munchausen]

Maybe it would be a cool scenario to have everyone start in a system with a star about to go nova in three years. You'd sure have to scramble in those first three years.

Or maybe the "Starflight" scenario with a wave of supernovas moving across the quadrant (or, ok, less destructive 'flare ups' that irradiate all planets -- MM would have to make this option available) and you'd have to maneuver your race to survive as well as struggle with the others.