Sometimes it makes strategic sense to run off.  The Diplomacy expansion offers two new AI difficulties, Cruel AI which has a 4x eco cheat and Vicious AI which has a 6x eco cheat.

Of course, if a macho guy like yourself wants opponents that aren't wimps, there's always online multiplayer against real human opponents.  Human players don't get any eco buffs, but unlike the AI, they're capable of real strategic and tactical thought, so they don't go into the game with one hand tied behind their backs.  If you do get the Diplomacy expansion, come try a 5v5 game sometime.  You might like playing with people better than AI.

awright, then. with the online thingy, how do i log in? do i use my username and password for the forums? or create a new id?

I always find it funny how a lot of people complain that the AI doesn't run away like it should and loses all its ships, and then a lot of other people complain that the AI runs away too much.

Go figure.  It's hard to please everyone.

thanks wrath, sounds easy enough.