Just two days ago, I started a game as the Krynn in gigantic, tough galaxy - and moved up a difficulty notch to 'painful', so I thought perhaps I was simply experiencing the AI bonuses when certain races began rocketing up in tech far faster then I ever could. In fact, I managed to snag economic and research treaties that vastly improved my economy from the Torians. I was slow in building up my military, but I began to realize something was wrong when they had a technology rating of 800+ when I was beginning to build medium-sized frigates. In fact, it looked from their tech list that they could cruise to a technological victory soon enough if they tried.

I was so curious about this that I used cheats to reveal the full map and began spying about their planets. Lo and behold, they're getting full benefit of their research structures - ie, structures built with a capacity of 14 reasearch points, they'll have 15 research on a planet - and more then that, good social and military production as well. From my understanding of the economy, and sliders, this ain't possible. It sure isn't possible for -me- to do this.

So, can anybody explain it - has anybody seen it, and is it a bug? Checking my manual, the last I knew, the AI bonus for 'painful' was like only 5% .

Uploading a save file to support.

Roughly .. Toria, the torian homeworld, has mines and industry structures capable of generating 46 industry, and is generating 40 military, 16 social. Structures capable of 46 research generating 66 research. No capitals, no economy structures. 14 billion population, and a net income of about 40 bc/week - that is, income minus expenses, profit.

To my mind, they're generating 100% of their capacity in soc/mil and research, each, and making a profit with nary a market on that world. All their words are similar. Help!