howdy,

so i just won a small galaxy game of TA last night in probably the most irritating way possible... i had a LOT of money and i just kept buying constructors on every planet and re-occupying ascension points as the ai lazily blew they away (sometimes leaving them alone for 3 turns at a time)... eventually, they simply couldn't blow them away without a new constructor taking its place during the same turn.

hah!

but i got into that mess cuz i was thinking (like with civ or alpha centauri) that as i tech progressed, that relevant units would be made for me... but the last unit that was made for me was the defender i think!

so must i build from scratch every unit that uses the new techs that i research?  i'll never get a premade, preoptimized frigate, corvette or capital unless i specifically design one?

another thing that's throwing me is all the research nodes that don't DO ANYTHING except be a stepping stone for another node further down that actually DOES do something.  so researching space warfare doesn't get you anything until you actually research the lasers and whatnot... is that correct?  also, i have no idea from looking how advanced the other guys' military is doing... is there a way to check on their progress to see just how outgunned i'm getting?  (again, coming in from civ, i'm completely bewildered by what it is i'm fighting!).

also, if anyone has any good recommendations for the best mods, i'm all ears!

thanks much!

jin