1 and 2 are simple, That create map section is a random map creator that you can set the parameters to (such as how many stars and and planets, what types and such) to get further in depth (as in personalized) use Galaxy Forge. Its in the Download section.

3. No it does not. You can get them through Impulse for $10 each. And they are WORTH the money. GOTY is similar to the collectors series as you get a music disc and posters.

4. If you are playing Multiplayer (and I don't think so yet) then yes there is need for specifics. Sova's and Akkan's are the best. In single player (my prefered style) it is not as necessary. I sometimes will have two capital ships, Kol and Akkan for fun or 2 Kol's if going two different directions. Single player is much loser in that choice.

Thanks.

In my first game (huge "multi" map with 5 stars and 102 planets), I just explored my neighborhood. My homeworld has 3 jump lanes and they connect to an asteroid field, an ice planet, and a terran planet. There's like 10 enemy ships at those locations but don't belong to any of the 9 main enemy empires.

In regards to the map editor, is it theoretically possible to have like 20 stars and 500 planets? In other words, no limitations whatsoever? If so, it'll be truly epic!

I was wondering if in such a map, would it be possible to modify the game so that each empire can have like 100 capital ships and more to cover all those planets? I saw that the max is 18 crew and 2000 fleet capacity in my tech tree.

Each planet/gravwell has what we call militia that protects each planet and it varies between each planet and planet type (each type gets its own random set)

Yes it is possible, me and another mod team member are working on one that has 60 some stars, though the game gets a little bogged down by then

Yes, we have a mod that increase the caps to 32 with 4000 fleet capacity. You can try it at this link. Though you will need Entrenchment to get the best out of it (it only costs $10 as is worth every penny).

To further mod you need to manipulate the files.

*face palm*

you really, really should have done your research and waited one day...

anyway... answers to your questions.

1. there are custom maps, i have seen custom maps with over 500 planets (but man oh man is it laggy)... under the downloads section of this website, you can download the map maker program.

2. see number one.

3. you picked up the wrong box dude. I dont know how to put this nicely.  you got your monies worth, for sure, and its a great game by itself, but... you missed the game with the expansion packs... well, i guess if you like soase enough, you will buy the expansion packs anyway, since they are all worth playing seperatly. not sure how much the GOTY edition your brought costs, cause both expansion pacts will set you back a 20 dolla bill after it.

4. there is no best... however... with tec, people either pick the AKKAN for its coloization ablity, the SOVA for its massive DPS (assuming the enemy doesnt have flack) or the Marza, for its sheer badassary... and rediculously powerfull lv 6 ablity.  The kol, and donov tend to make fine second or third capital ships.  If a game goes long enough that for whatever reason you have 6 capital ships out, if 2 of them are donovs... your fleet tends to reach a very nice level of not-dieing ablity.

Thanks for the tips, guys.

I'll stick with the in-game 5 star map with 100 planets, or make a custom map with 5 - 10 stars and 100 - 150 planets then.

I saw the GOTY edition at Best Buy this past Friday and saw Stardock on it, so thats why I bought it because I know Stardock makes high quality games, and is a great company that does a lot of stuff like patches, player feedback, etc. that other comapnies (cough, cough, EA) doesn't. I only had to pay 20 bucks for the GOTY edition. Which expansion bundle should I buy? I've seen Diplo, Entrenchment, and Trinity being thrown around on the forums. If I buy Trinity, will I get Diplo, Entrenchment, and new Trinity stuff, or do I have to buy each expansion seperately?