Notes: I play on Suicidal, patch 1.5 something DA, 9 other races+8 minor civs on huge or massive maps, I do use tech trading, and play with tech victory disabled(though the victory type really doesn't matter)

So... purchased gold version about a week and a half ago, still haven't figured out how to employ the large military tactics in early and mid game that most players seem to use. Till the very end game I usually have a 50-70 military rating.

Here's how I start off, Terrans+Max Dip Bonus racials(do whatever the hell you want with the other few points)+Populist government. Rush to colonize planets, but realize unless you start with great board position you're going to be "the little guy" for most of the game(and honestly, it doesn't matter much in my experiance) the CPU simply has far to many production bonuses early on to keep up.(and the Terrans aren't exactly great at the Colony rushing).

Trade techs, especially with minor races! You'll find tech trading to be much cheaper than in most games do to your high diplomatic skill. There's nothing wrong with trading 3 for 1 tech since you can trade the ones you gain with 8 other races!
1. Until the latish mid game, I find the military techs to be great for trading. The computer values them highly and most are cheap to research.
2. Economic and colonization techs are fine to trade, but try to keep them out of the hands of "Evil" races(Dregin, Yor, ect.) unless absolutely needed.
3. Anything that boosts Diplomatic skill is yours and yours alone. It's a Blue moon that I ever trade these.

Treaties:
Simply put, Economic and Research treaties are what make this strat. work! Your goal is to have every race you're not at war with sending you these.

Research Treaties:
Relatively cheap/easy to get, and the only treaty races will trade with you in the early game. Don't overlook minor races treaties early on as they're nearly as economically powerful as major races till the mid game.

Economic Treaties:
Expensive to get(and races will NOT trade them until the mid game), but once you get all of them, you've all but won. Use the money you gain from this to buy planets(made cheaper by your high diplomacy skill), keep other races at war with each other, and buying tech in the mid and late game.

Once the colony rush has ended, keep other major races at war with each other! (and of equal strength to prevent one from actually gaining something from these conflicts) Races typically won't declare war on you if they're busy fighting someone else.

While everyone is busy fighting each other, do yourself a favor and start picking off the minor civs. Even with a pitifully small military it's easy to do. Granted you get the diplomatic minus of "has a tendency to crush other nations", and eventually a major race will attack you because they fear they are "next on the chopping block"(which I don't understand since I've been killing minor civs and have a weak military).

If someone actually attacks you, sic as many other races as possible on them! This should keep them occupied until peace terms are cheap.

"Lean one way, then swing to the other!" This concept applies to ethical standing.
For example, leaning "evil" early on to get the relationship bonus with evil races until you become allies, then researching Xeno Ethics and becoming good to get a relationship bonus with other races.

It should be the late game by now and hopefully you have 3-6 allied races. Time to choose your path to victory. I've done all four, some are more time consuming then others. Research or diplomatic by eliminating non club members typically are the fastest routes.

And remember, honor you alliances, but that doesn't have to mean you actually participate in the war. CPU typically won't come after you in that war if you were just honoring an alliance. Even if they do the computer sucks at offensives.




Let me know if there are any gray areas I can fill in, I'll do my best in clarifying!