I think if you want a serious challenge throughout the beginning, middle, and end parts of a game you should try playing against humans. While the AI is generally very poor overall against a human who has some idea of what they're doing, the AI is also extremely poor in the late-game, regardless of difficulty level.

Even if you could add a few more ships owned by an AI you could blow up, there wouldn't be much point.

Seriously, try ICO (Ironclad Online, the Sins multiplayer server). Playing against human opponents who are actually capable of making strategic decisions adds a whole new dimension to the game!

If you're interested, talk to me, I'll be happy to help if you're confused about multiplayer etiquitte or strategy or anything.

I figured I'd differentiate myself a bit more.

Its one of the player portraits we use in DS, albeit a little fudged.

Technically he's still faceless, he just has a hat now.

You know what i suggest that there should be campaign in sins of a solar empire because you really started losing your mind playing skirmish, am i right?

How about this, we've all dealt with the Diplomacy Pirate bug

what about make it intentional,  have a map with moderate planets (enough for a decent econmy) bith a single pirate base behind a star. But here’s the catch it’s a one way jump lane from the base to the star, meaning you can’t stop the flow.

It’s an endurance test, how long will your defences last before being completely overwhelmed?

but were ar talking about the bug pirates, they can just shoot by your bases, only the advent could really stale them

Improve the way AI researches so they aren't like Forest Gump with a lobotomy.  Pirates and Militia who upgrade 5% every 40 minutes to a max of +50% to armor, shields, damage, range, rof would make thing interesting.