Current best SP mod to play?

To answer that question the skill of the human player would also have to be known

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It all depends on how much an advantage you give the Ai. Give it tech level advantage, give it bonus at set up. But you have to start out with an Ai that will use the advantage well. Right now I'm playing unnamed mod, and was getting my butt kicked. but then I researched fighters and now I can sweep through systems with my fleets of carriers and fighters. but still I'm very far behind in research... I haven't played much balance mod (I think he's toned back fighters).

SEV, more than a feeling.

With handicapping, any mod that features improved AI should be able to put up a good fight.

Unnamed's mod is forcing me to reduce my voluntary handicap system, which formerly had prohibited me from using fighters and sharing current techs in treaties.

Wish I could go back and reduce the official bonus I gave them, but it's too late now.

Without some sort of handicap, I don't think the AI can be brought up to the level of experienced players. But I wouldn't be surprised if they can beat new players. It takes exposure to get a feel for intel and research strategies.

Technically the stock AI can also beat you if you give it a handicap like say... sit around and don't do anything for 100+ turns or so, and then start playing when their fleet arrives at your door step. Let me tell you, that battle was tough! He totally killed my frigate.

Realistically though, it's pretty near impossible to make an AI that can beat an experienced player on even grounds since there are just way too many things you can do with the game. To have any sort of challenge, you need to label certain parts of the game as off limits, like stellar manipulation, diplomacy, and any other tricks that just seems 'cheap'. With those out of the equation, a lot of the mods with enhanced AI can give you some fun. The AI is pretty good at ship crunching, and most of the improved AI has adopted the most useful weapons, designs and strategies, so they will put up a fight if you are willing to fight them fairly. The question, of course, is whether the game is still fun without all the extra stuff...