Granted, it's a pretty simple .xml mod, but it adds a new depth to the game for me. I've edited all abilities to have the max of four choices (it's claimed we can have six, but only four will show). Each ability has two improvements and two downgrades (yes, I've removed some of the old choices). Also, I've added in three of the four abilities not originally included: Miniaturization, Logistics, and Interest Rates. Home Planet Quality was the fourth and had no affect on Home Planet Quality, so I left it out.

If you don't know, Miniaturization increases your miniaturization skill. Logistics allows you to fit more ships in a fleet. Interest Rates doesn't decrease the price, but rather the number of weeks (still very useful).

Installation is a simple download of the archive and replacement of your xml file (covered more in-depth in the readme). Make sure to back up the original file.

I've only tested this on version 1.11 (not a beta tester myself). As far as I know, there's no new abilities added to 1.2, but if the scores are changed I'll have to write up a new xml (not too hard). I also don't know whether or not the AI uses the mod to its full extent... let that be a surprise for your gameplay.

Known Bug: When using the lowest Logistics ability (Hitler's Invasion of Russia), you'll start out with fewer logistic points than even your colony ship. Researching logistics will, of course, get you out of this ditch, and the game has no problem creating ships that are harder to maintain in logistics than your fleet can support--in other words, aside from preventing larger fleets later on (as the penalty is expected to do), there is no adverse affect to this bug.

I'm not a player myself, but I'm willing to bet this wouldn't be allowed on the Metaverse. It does work with Kryo's Hull Mod (no reason it shouldn't, but that's something that concerned me, so I made sure it did). If you've got any questions or comments, feel free to ask, and inform me of any obvious balancing issues--I'd like my mod to be fun for all players and will be more than willing to change it.