Hi!
Ive played a number of games ranging in difficulty from tough to crippling, normal scenario, both in previous releases and recently the 1.2 beta. I have tech trading enabled and usually spend the first time trading all the research I get to the other races for cash to fund my new planets. I have a custom race with +10 diplomacy, and in the beginning I usually focus on tech that give + to diplomacy. Generally I colonize rush and build starbases as much as I can in the beginning. Usually I play on small maps.
Here's the thing though, even though I'm ridiculously overextended in the beginning, with defenceless starbases all over the place, and sometimes without even basic military tech, let alone warships, the AI wont attack!
Ive started next to Drengin in this situation (!), and still the AI doesnt attack, instead it rapidly becomes a struggle to finance the planets. The galaxy is a disgustingly peaceful place, with (mostly) everyone liking each other, not a xenophobe in sight.
So far I ve played as far as getting terraforming tech (in 1.2 release, on painful setting on a medium map) before restarting out of boredom, hopelessly trying to get the AI to be more aggressive.
What setting am I missing, why won't the AI attack?!
Oh, and btw, the 1.2 seems to have some problems with the planetary council, when it appears I dont get to choose any alternative, and have to use esc to get out of the UI.
Great game, If only the AI would be a _bit_ more aggressive.