3 questions

1. It comes from the beta testers, who get patches to test on a frequent basis.

2. Each shipset is contained in a folder in the Empires folder. All currently existing shipsets can be installed simply by extracting them into the Empires folder.

3. SEnet Shipyards contains previews of most sets. SEnet Downloads has all sets available for download.

SpaceEmpires.net | Space Empires Wiki

The downloadable file for each set has whatever the author put in it. Some sets have some AI files, others just the basic text files, others are image/model only.

SpaceEmpires.net | Space Empires Wiki

Please don't juge us modders too harshly. Changing the config files takes a long time, AI even longer, but creating a good shipset is about 2 months of steady work.

We love to add stuff to this game because it is relatively easy (compared to some other games)and we love to see what we can make the game do for us.

Captain Kwok has been with SE since the beginning, and has created the Balance mod (a favourite stock replacement)
Unnamed has created a very tough AI, and is working on the AI for my Longship Mod (release around august 1, bigger ships and planets, for those who want a longer game)
FQM adds a number of different galaxy maps, warp points, systems and planets (included with balance mod and longship)
IRM is a total conversion, it is like a new game
Gritty Galaxy is like WWII in space

Most of us are waiting for the new 1.4x patch. It will be ready when it's ready.

"Genius is Simplicity" chris connors
"To win without fighting is best" sun tsu
those who think they know everything are annoying to those of us who do