So I started a new game last night. TOA. Medium galaxie with 9 opponents and max minors Changed difficulty from challenging to tough. (I love those crowded maps)

So as usual it's a race to get a third planet. The rush is finished within 20 turns or so.

I am in the south east corner. I have the Korath on top of me and in the west I have the Iconian and in the iconian space is the dark yor.

I usually don't attack anybody right away I stay in my space and build up... usually. But now after having space weapons and seeing that the korath as placed 3 influence bases right on ton of earth I decide to attack them to clean them up. I only have small 1 weapon ships but I clean my space and able to then declare peace.

Then I look over to the iconians they are weak and I need breathing room so I get invasion  tech and within 10 turns the iconians are dead. So 8 opponents left. Everything is ok and the galaxie is at peice for about 20 more turns. Then I have those dark yor minors on my doorstep with a nice pq16. So lets invade. I do that easily and three turns later I get the event... the Federation is a menace thing and then all hell breaks loose.

Now I have everybody on my back now. I saved there last night a bit worried.

Funny that everybody let me destroy the Iconians but as soon as I kicked a minors butt I become a menace. I guess I will have to pull back under my military starbases until I have big ships ready. That's about 9 turns away before I start building big ships with only lasers though LOL

If you have any suggestions please do...