I restarted the large galaxy. 4 opponents, all normal except the Torian lizards are bright. Abundant habitable planets (I have a system with 4 colonies, heh).

My race is a clone of my Salari race from another context, who are very influential anarcho-social pacifists. At the moment I have a +50 social bonus, very strong in influence as well and not bad in diplomacy and economy.

I was way more balanced with the rush this time, I think I didn't buy anything on lease at all, because I just didn't get that good deals. I learned that at least 2/3 of one's colony ships should be speed 4, with a range of about 2 pc which seems to be all you need in this setting. I was building ultra-cheap colony ships with just 1 pc speed, I now have a few of those lingering towards the last planets and hoping I get very lucky. Basically the rush went fine, except... in April 2226, it still goes on - seems most of the AI started on the other edge of the map so in the far reaches there are still some free PQ 10 planets. Too bad I didn't anticipate that, I can't do much quick production...

Anyway, the United Planets legislated that there shall be Democracy for all races for 3 years (I voted for it). I can crank my approval up to 90% and still be in the money on my balance sheet. My population is over 20 bil, which is about average. I have maybe 8-9 colonies. I can do bursts of 200 bc/turn with my economy, though approval is then barely over 50%.

I think my economy is quite strong this time. I am going with an all-production strategy, currently about 40% worlds with mostly factories being built and 60% with mostly marketplaces under construction - I think this is too much though... There will be maybe 4 starports early on in the game. It's still pretty hard to get good production if I want to have a positive treasury and competitive population growth. I haven't had a possibility for research though, which makes me very nervous.

You see, technology is very important in this game. I gain allies by handing out technological gifts, not to mention tech trading. Warfare is best based on superior technology, too. I feel I'm lacking behind very dangerously, I don't even have communicators to conduct my diplomacy. I should perhaps get the tech for trade, diplomacy and better factories, in this order.

My typical planet has a factory and then an improvement or two built. I already switched many to do research focus, but it still takes over 10 turns to research my first tech, Planetary Improvements. I have almost no xeno labs. (Maybe useless as a starting tech in this scenario, to be honest.)

Everybody's colonies are pretty scattered and mixed with one another. This is a good thing, since I'm planning on an influence-heavy tactic. Already I started building my first influence starbase to guard one of my colonies and to influence 2 Altarian ones. At the moment I'm struggling to be the #1 in influence - Thalan I think has been doing well in its own corner and is getting to the top quickly here. But it won't be long before the borders are getting tight, colonizable planets are running out and people will take note of my influence. Unless I have my tech and diplomacy game up by then I'm gonna be in big trouble...

So how can I get my tech going in a hurry? And how can I play on influence besides building multiple starbases next to clusters of sweet planets?