[Alneyan]

Default settings are pretty much as basic as they come: they were first set by Geo a few years ago, back in the days when there were no Balance mods (PvK Balance mod is also quite good in my opinion for Empires).

I know I am not too fond of the Balanced systems myself because they are so deterministic, and tend to make expansion a lot more straightforward, since you know what is inside each and every system. Expansion is perhaps even more important under the mod, as more systems always equal more resources, whereas you might have wealthier systems with random systems. On the other hand, I dislike very much random starting points, particulary the "start next to a neighbour" situation. So, tastes vary I guess.

I would say it is possible to win despite a bad starting spot, with a faster expansion, or cunning tactics (or plain old luck with the strategic battles). I know Primitive trashed me good in our battles in *that* game, while our economies were pretty much balanced, and I had an edge in Stellar Manipulation. On the other hand, in my first game with Belisarius, my undefended homeworld somehow kept at bay his four raiders, so quirks in the game can be beneficial.