While I will continue to accept new players through tomorrow (Tuesday night) I would like to get the following information from the people who have currently signed up.
Firstly I would like a list of the top three places you would like to claim as your homeworld, the choices will be in a list in the following post.
Secondly I would like a top three list of nations you wish your new nation is from, choices will again be the following post. This is to give both a flavor to names and to give me an idea of how to set up the history which will deviate from canon in the late 2100s or early 2200s.
Thirdly I would like you to look at Chapters 30, 31 and 33 of the rule book, they are the chapters on Campaigns, Race Generation, and Research. In chapter 31 I would like you to look over page 70, I will do the rest of the race generation. Page 70 deals with creating government and tells you how many Research Points you start off with. If you do not claim Earth I would like you to set up a government and pick your starting 5,000 Research points.
For the new players I recommend putting 3,150 of your points into the following techs; Physics I, Construction I, Construction II, Electronics I, Fission I, FTL I, Engine Tech I, Metallurgy, Troop Tech I, and Sensor I. With those you will be set up decently although you will not have combat capable ships.