Some tips for newbies at PBW (facing other players)

I just thought I'd write down a few things that I've learned in my PBW games, which may benifit some of the newer players, and those who are just getting started with PBW.
I must note that I've mainly played with balance mod so far!.

- Migration is not a flavor treaty and is VITAL
Getting migration populations will get natural breathers of other atmospheres in your empire. Scrap your origional population and keep the breather. This will allow you to use every KT available at the world. Not the 'domed quantity'.

- No such thing as too many starbases
It all comes down on how can get the most ships in the front line with the biggest guns. It is NOT a luxury to have worlds with 50 production starbases near the frontline. Long supply lines can kill you. Getting them up and running in the front is important!

- Drones
Nice to have on the side. But don't build your defense around them.

- Fighters
Nice to have; But they quickly lose power when the game advances. A cruiser can take out a lot of fighters. A few cruisers set up for the task can kill zounds.

- Mines
Get minelayers and minesweepers early on in the game. Very early. They allow YOU to set the borders of your empire and allow YOU to build your defense. YOU want to be making the rules.

- Research
Get ahead. Stay ahead.

- Startup Research
I prefer to get Engines level 5 asap. They lower the costs of your colony ships and allow you to produce more ships faster. There may be a (LARGE) advantage here in using organic or Crystaline hulls.

- Do not underestimate
Arrogance comes before the fall. That nearly equally sized neighbour can have some strong weapons and strategies.

- Sensors & Scanners
Be SURE to launch sensor satelites around your worlds... especially at the front. Near the front be sure to include SCANNERS on those satelites. Try to get us much intel as you can on enemy ship designs. This allows you to counter their designs.

- Bluff
Remember... They can't look inside your empire if they aren't in there. A bluff can get you a long way and can just give you that little bit of time you need to get your defenses in order.

- Do not underestimate Intel!
You do NOT want to be caught with your pants down versus an intel assault. If someone attacks you early in the game with intel, your empire may get ravaged by plagues. This can cause severe damage in the beginning of the game and can still be damaging if you get deeper in. Resarch intel early on and try to keep with it.

- Intel more...
Offense is better than defense. You want the other person to defend against your assaults and be curing plagues. If he is workin on it, you can just sit back and watch the carnage. Putting yourself on defense if your power is about equal with your opponent is an absolute waste. Even on defense you'll get slaughtered. So.. Better to lay waste to the other one then to try to defend yourself and get layed to waste in the process

Lets see... i think those are the most important items I got to. But the top 3 is deffinitly:
- Get all the breathers (migration).
- You can NEVER have enough starbases near the front
- Make the rules. Or be ruled.

Lastly; I'd like to include some screenshots of management screens, which at least make it easier for me to run my empires.

Construction Window

Colony Windows

Planet Window (Filter with Colonizable & Empty)

Ship movement orders