Been waiting for this to go on sale for a while, it finally did. So glad I picked this up, but there is SO much to learn. After a series of very unsuccessful games, I think I'm finally onto it, a little. My first and second game, my economy tanked in a most impressive manner after a couple hours playing each time. The third game, I finally started doing well, then some asshat called khan, or great khan, or something, just appears out of no where as my new neighbor. He eats my most immediate neighbor straight off, then comes after me. I died so fast...

Now, my most recent game, the one I'm playing currently. I chose a machine intelligence, with a ringworld start, with a gestalt consciousness, and man, it is so much easier now. My economy is booming, my fleet is growing, and I'm expanding quickly. It's a much better feeling than the first couple games.

I've watched several videos of how-to's, read several guides, and have been devouring the wiki. But, are there any tips that you all, as a beginner, wish you'd have known that you know now? Anything you can offer? Also, is there a discord where people meet up to play? I'd really like to meet some like-minded folk who'd like to show a newbie the ropes.

Thanks!