Easier with more opponents?

[Silver14]

Although I am just now going to the harder intelligent levels of AI, - that is above normal- I discovered earlier on that the game seemed easier with more opponents, or at least fairer in planet distribution.

With fewer opponents sometimes one of them would end up in a position to grab many worlds with little or no competition and become dominant very quickly. I now play with all 9 opponents, this seems to be fairer and more distributed with the starting planets and the weaker ones quickly get taken out. Usually 4-5 opponents remain for quite some time.

I know wonder on the higher difficulties if having so many opponents will make things harder, or easier.

[Trifna]

More opponents means greater division of their forces. So it should be normal I think

[Peets]

I think it will depends how your opponents develop. If some of them can get very strong at a easy way, it will be harder. But if they having more difficulties, wars etc then it will be easier for you if you have a good start. It will all depends how your start is.

[tetley]

My experience has been less opponents = easier. Usually with <4 opponents I can win an influence victory without firing a single shot. This is on crippling.

[Peets]

It probably depends on the map size too.