Hi!

> What didn't you like with Thalans in the CU? 

In older patches they were my production monster. In early game they could out-colonize (or at least grab best-quality planets faster than most AIs, even on suicidal. This patch tho... I had problems on CRIPPLING (25% AI bonus). 

After looking at their buildings and the tech tree I soon realized what their problem is: they need lots of research to start being productive  (get buildings that would increase their production and research output).  Unfortunately, they're stuck with single Hyperion Matrix and Colony centers to get that research and at the same time build expansion ships, in the most important part of the game - the expansion phase.

Now I understand "The Pink Blob of Doom" phrase players were referring to when I was still active here. Thalans simply don't have much to build until mid-game.

I modded that by giving them early a "Remedy Matrix" - 8 production+8 research one-per-planet improvement and AI used it quite well. Did some more extensive modding, but mid may the SSD in my portable "bricked" (still waiting for warranty replacement), and I didn't bother reinstalling the game after recent purchase of a new portable.

In my modding I tried to overcome the "research XOR production" forced dilemma, that started to bother me at the end of my active DA gaming. IMO I achieved some success, but that's a topic for a modding section. 

BR,  Iztok