Newbie here. About 25 hours of game play.

1) total war. Seen online videos that just show being able to take systems as you conquer them if you have a total war civilization. I can't find how to be a total war civilization! Is it based on how the war is started? Is it an ethic? Is it your race? I've searched but can't find an answer. (Was this an old version?)

2) sue for peace. Ok. I go to war with another civilization with claims being the goal. They have 20 systems. I make a claim on 14 of them. I totally destroy them. When I sue for peace I'm still far, far away from the "win" settlement option (left one) and can only do the middle one. Then I only capture like 6 of the systems I have a claim on, and it seems random which ones i capture.

How could you ever get enough points to be in the win column? Why don't I capture all the systems I have taken over and have a claim on in the middle stalemate sue for peace option?

3) go to war against a small civ with the subjugation cause. I capture all 4 systems and land an army on their only planet. I sue for peace but don't have enough points to win?!? How the heck do you win?