JFJohnny5

What tech speed do you prefer to play at? I've been playing normal, but I think I might slow it down. I just don't like the fact that you can fully perfect your laser design in one year's time. I rather prefer thinking that the galaxy is BIG and complicated and even advanced technologies take time to research. Granted the tech tree is huge, but there are times where I still feel like I'm always racing through it. Any thoughts?

I've been in alliances with races, but what is the purpose, other than they're very friendly? Can I ask them to go to war with common enemies with me? I know I can always ask a civ to attack someone, but it all seems to depend on their own relations. In other words, if I'm allied with civ A and I want to eradicate civ B, but civ A and B are neutral or higher toward each other (but not allied with each other), I can't get my alliance partner to help. It's not even an option to attack them in nego