That's my favorite kind of question, personally.

I was never an expert on that tactic (I believe Wyndstar was its most prominent promoter), but from what I understand, it relied on using focus to either build if you were going all labs, or to research if you were going all factories.  The all labs and all factories methods have been nerfed in Twilight, so they are less efficient than they used to be.  In DA I used to go all labs in small and tiny maps, all factories in larger maps.  In Twilight I've gone over to a mixed method where I build both labs and factories, often specialize planets based on bonus production squares or colonization event bonuses, and tend to optimize the sliders each turn.  I've found that approach has gotten better results for me than the methods I'd used in DA, but better players may have found different results. 

I know you are a fan of both the Altarians and the Drath, so here is a related idea you might try (works a bit better with the Altarains, but not bad with the Drath):  Take +25 creativity and +20 research in race design, research Xeno Ethics followed by Righteous creativity immediately following the initial colony rush, then adjust your sliders so that you have the lowest percentage allocation to research that still gives a time to completion.  Select the most expensive research project available, or research a target tech tree branch up to a point where the next one is very expensive (Star Federation, Total Majesty, advanced colonization techs, Industrial Centers, Stock Exchanges, etc..), then focus entirely on factories, counting on creativity to give you 1-3 expensive techs each game year.  You're not over-building your labs most likely, as you'll still want them later, but it's a similar thought I believe.  Seems to work halfway decently, though there are probably stronger approaches.

NOTICE: I have decided to add a list of guides/strategies that have been posted throughout the forums. However, the problem with this is that most strategies and guides are unfortunately tucked away inside posts that are labled with a question about strategy. I do not currently have the time required to really search for good guides or strategies within that whole mess of posts, so any help would be much appreciated. If anyone happens to browse past a strategy or guide that they find particularly helpful, feel free to let me know so I can add it to the list.

As you can see, I have added DivineWrath's TA 101 Guide to my list - this guide is truly incredible - I highly recommend it to anyone, new or veteran.

Thanks and Best Regards.

~ Cypher ~

NOTICE: I have just added links to a thread on how MV scores are calculated, and a thread on how best to use Military Starbases. Both of these threads are incredibly useful. Mumblefratz has posted some very helpful information in both of them, along with some helpful info from other players, too.

Best Regards.

~ Cypher ~

I do the same thing in ToA as well, except in the very beginning. I change it during early-mid colony rush, then I always have the social production slider at 0, with the military and research slider set at 50/50 (or w/e, usually tech dependent to make sure I get best research time). Then just set your focus to Social on planets that are building something, and turn it off if they are not building anything. This not only researches faster, but also builds improvements and military much much faster than having it set at 33/33/33.

In fact, I recently noticed the AI does the same thing, my current Suicidal game, the Drengin, Korath, Drath, Iconians and the Krynn all have no social production, only military and research. They have most planets focus set on social, except for when they are at war they tend to quit building improvements on many planets (to emphasize military production Im guessing).

Yes, the Drath are extremely strong, once they get the entire galaxy fighting each other. They can build up a huge treasury/economy from War Profiteering, and then spend that treasury on a massive Navy, social improvements, bribes to keep others from attacking them until the time is right, as well as increasing Production and Research capacity.

They really don't come with many disadvantages.

NOTICE: Added a link on how to implement Asteroid Mines in TA, as well as a link to general Military Strategy and Grand Strategy. More links will be coming soon. Best Regards.

~ Cypher ~

Responding here so this stays in "my replies."

Thanks for rounding up these links.

Cool post