When you use Ctrl-N to generate a new map, does it keep all of
the previous settings--say, for your opponents?
I started in a large galaxy playing against Korx and the Drengin.
I set the game at one higher than normal. This should mean that
everyone is producing at the same level. Both were set at "bright."
I did use CTRL-N to generate a new map.
Well into the game I have 47 colonies and each of them has 2.
Granted that I had a better starting position. But even at lower
intelligence levels, I always saw more colonies from the AIs.