Hpw does one level the playing field with the AIs?

[jim]

I always play high difficulty and low or medium bonus, but what "must" I do to level the field?

- I can get unfair advantages in intel, so I disallow that,

- Mines are just a simple way to a win, so I have disallowed that,

- Polaron beams are a simple win, so I don't do that - I allow it anyway, because some AIs use them,

- Tech trades could let me jump start to a win, so I don't do those,

- The AI can't use Training facilities, so I disallow Advanced Mil Science, and

- I disable Tactical Combat and use Simultaneous move.

What else should I be dis-allowing?

[Suicide Junkie]

Firstly, play against TDM modpack races.

For additional challenge, I reccommend playing as a Pirate or Nomad under P&N

For the masochistic, try being a P&N Pirate while playing against TDM races .

As a P or N, there are no holds barred: lie, cheat (no codes, obviously), steal, do whatever you can to survive.

You can also try playing as a neutral race:
- no colonizing outside your home system, but feel free to wage war outside your home.
Military alliances and Refuelling Starbases will help a lot.

[jim]

I only play TDM races.

The other more exotic, game-altering Mods concern me. If I must, I will - but later.

[Mephisto]

Real challenge only comes with real players. there are some ways to give the AI a better start. Start the game with a good planet, this will prevent the Ai from running out of resources early on (this often cripples the AI for the whole game). Don't play in maps with many black holes.
Many AIs relay on mines for defense. Not necessarily against a player but at least against other players. You can cripple some of the races by disallowing mines.
Same for PPBs: Many races relay on them. If you disallow them, they will stuck be stuck to DUC for quite a while.
The AI can use training facilities but only if the fleets aren't used elsewhere. However, disallowing the whole advanced tech tree will cripple the anti-cloak strategy of many races. just don't use training facilities but don't disallow this tech area.
Be very careful with what you disallow. Not using it is fine, disallowing it prevents many AI races from working as designed by their modders!

[pathfinder]

another way to level the field a bit is stay in home system for along time, kinda like a "neutral" race....