A lot of people do not like to play beyond "tough" difficulty because they feel that the computer should not get artificial bonuses. A lot of people also feel the AI is lacking and that games are too easy. In previous games I've played, someone always develops "Ironman" rules to make the game more difficult without giving the AI more advantages than it deserves. So I thought I'd get the ball rolling and maybe increase the enjoyment for a few of you. Feel free to use any or all of these rules to make the game more difficult.

1) Cannot play as Yor or Drath due to racial bonuses.
2) Cannot spend any points in +Diplomacy racial bonuses.
3) Cannot research any +Diplomacy techs except government techs.
4) Once a civilization declares war on you, you cannot declare peace with them ever.
5) You must always choose the "good" path in any random event.
6) Use only the core ship designs.
7) Do not build any Galactic Achievements.
8) Cannot build Influence Starbases.
9) Cannot research any +Influence techs.

If even those are too easy then try these:

1) Declare war on everyone in the galaxy as soon as you meet them. Refuse to declare peace with any civilzation.
2) Set your research slider to 0. Only advance tech through trading, espionage, or conquering planets.