There are sometimes games with mainly new players. Or games of several players against an AI. Those games are not stressful, they are pretty relaxed and they can be nice enough.

Ekko-Tek you are right about some games being stressful and I really don't need any more stress in my life.  

I've been watching Paravox's SOASE tips.  They are funny and quick.  I also try to read everything GoaFan77 writes.  Like the piece he put on steam.  He puts up videos too.  I'm looking forward to GoaFan's new mod too.  Oh GoaFan!     Well that was embarrassing (yes for GoaFan).  I want to play the Enhanced 4X Mod but I feel like I'm cheating on the SOA2 team.

I originally thought I would play multi-player more but I got to play one game in about 2 hours of waiting to get into a game.  In that game I immediately died to an advanced online player (who was nice though and gave me some pointers).  But it did not feel very productive.  Did you know for instance that you should build as many Starports as humanly possible.  Or that you should not upgrade that much.  Or that Vasari will Orkulus rush you.  Or culture rush you.  Or both.  

I have 3 kids and do most of my playing at night when I put them to bed.  Which I invariably pay for the next day.  Maybe I can't hack it as an online multi-player.  But I've been playing this game for years and it's very important to me.  Weird yes but it is.  So I will try to play multi-player again but with other noobs who upgrade and and spend way too much time looking at how cool the ship models are.  And most importantly they must never, never, never, play as Borg.

I wish you all good games and good health.

one to beam up...     energize

backs out of the room slowly...