Many things have been answered by Evil, Maven and Ronyn so the only reminder I want to put out there to address the 'punishing players' is remember the A.I. will be designed to wipe out the world at some point. Each large scale invasion repelled will engage a power curve in favor of the Tsi-hu. Each time we successfully defend, what ever the time will be set for, the next assault will be more powerful. So when that stronger wave comes our way and we have a low population on to fight back, no one is punished unfairly. It becomes a world set back.
