There is but the starting tech points are too small however.. like the abilites bonus all too small i think we should have tech points be 400 and abilites be 20 that way you can start with more things and get a few elite abilites its still not enough to become a Uber-god civ

Refering to "open" play maps n stuff too

I also prefer a no-weapons start. To me it makes sense that it would be easier to send out unarmed ships before developing militarily viable ones.

Well after reading everyone comments I guess I can say that it makes sense to not start with weapons, especially with people hunting down colony ships with baby fighters.

I do like the fact that options will be available at startup to allow for players to start at a higher technology so you could choose whatever route you wanted.

My only final concern is that every game will be a race to get through the three techs to get to weapons to defend your fleet, but I guess with dimplomacy you shouldn't be attacked immediatly anyways.

Fear not, the time of game balancing shall come for it is prophesised!

P.S. No weapon start.

i mean in galciv1 you could have a green thumb ablity for good PQ quality only 7% for 6 points and barely did anything... and make it harder to get anything else... you can only hold one elite ablity and then like 2 basic ablites... or rather 6 basic abilites too few.... way too few abllies to start with and Tech points... i suggest that tech points are increased to 400 and abilites be increased to 20 so its stil fair and more easy to surive in teh wake of the game from coming hordes of the damned Dregin... or the crazed Atlantarians... who always declared war on me at some point in my GC2 games... and i never could fight them of as i use custom ships lot. and they are not able to duke it out as Default ships can...