I've been trying out the various different races, and I'm playing as the Krynn right now. By their description, I figured I should shoot for a Cultural victory.

During customization, I took the extra 30% Influence bonus, and chose the Pacifists as my political party. I researched the Influence techs first.

So far, I have to say that this has turned out to be a much different game than the old build-a-bunch-of-ships-and-invade strategy. I've taken over about 2 dozen planets, and I've never even build a transport ship. I don't even have Planetary Invasion. I've never even attacked a planet.

I began the game with very limited space. I only had 3 or 4 planets, having been crowded out by the Altarians. But, after building a couple Influence starbases around Altaria, their capital soon defected to me. It was as if Washington, DC just said, "Screw it. We're French now!" I flipped three more planets and then they called it quits, surrendering to the Terrans.

The Drengin had four planets. Their entire civilization flipped to me. They just gave up. They came to me and said, "Yeah, I know Crispy Human Skin is delicious, but we just can't get enough of that Krynn stuff."

The only trouble I've had is from the Thalans, who tried to knock me down to size. They'd invade a planet, and the next turn it would flip back to me (Mind Control Center).

I feel a little like a Jedi using his mind tricks.

"You will surrender your planet to me"

"I will surrender my planet to you"

"You will bring me cookies and milk"

"I will bring you cookies and milk"

Fun.