Possible New User

You can create your own custom race to play as, even add your own logo and portrait for them. You also pick abilities and such for them. Note: In Dread Lords you can creat a custom race only to play as. In Dark Avatar Exp. you can create custom opponents as well.

Alot of the game files are kept in XML format, they are easy to read and modify without much knowledge needed. There is some things that are hard coded and cannot be changed, but there is a lot that can be. Check out the sticky on Cari's modding guide to get a better idea of the type of things that can be done. Also have a look at the mods in the library, there are ones for governments, races, ui and a lot of full conversion mods based on things like Star Trek, Bab5 and such.

Gigantic galaxies can yeild up to 500 planets depending on settings you choose. You can play against up to 9 opponents(this can't be changed AFAIK). There is also minor races that show up randomly either from the start or through an event later, but they are just that minor and don't effect the overall outcome of the game. Some people play faster than others but it can take a while to play a gigantic game, depending on how much you like to micrmanage every aspect of your empire.

Hope this helps some. I have found this game quite addicting for a number of months now, replayability is one of the things that keep me playing.  

If you do get this game i highly suggest getting kyros hull mod. The mod makes it so that you can use every single hull in the game regardless of race. It also adds on tons of other enhancements that make it nearly necessary if you really want to get into the ship designing.

There have been many graphical mods, most with some sort of theme (star wars for example) for the most part not a lot of higher density graphical improvements. Most people haven't griped about interface... not enough to feel the need to go and mod it at least.

I would recommend playing an unmodified version first. That way you will have somthing to look forward too later, also you will have a much better idea of the things you wan't to change.

For me, i would like modify a few key things if i knew how!... i would definately modify weapons and defences to reduce the 'luck' factor. I would reduce weapons technology to keep it in line with defences/hitpoints and starbase defences technology.
I would look for ways of making the AI more powerful in later stages of the game...
Once you find yourself in a strong position, it tends to get a little booring.

also it is best if you design your own ships rather than using the core ships

Here is a link to Cari's mod guide. Full of info. WWW Link

kyros

Kryo... Kryo, Kryo, Kryo, KRYO. Please, I realize that it could have been just a typo but come on, the man is SO POPULAR that there should be no reason to misspell his name. Let us now bow down and commence the sacrificial burning of the floppy disks in Kryo's honor...

modding such as renaming races

Renaming the built-in races sort of works in the game UI--you can change your empire name & ruler name during setup for a new game. But the UI has some places where default race names seem hard coded.

I call my version of the Thalans "the Swarm" and I see that name in places like the Most Powerful Empires list that pops up regularly. But other places, like the Treaties tab of the Foreign Policy page, still call me "Thalan."

floppy disks in Kryo's honor...

Floppy disks!! Actually wouldn't thumb drives be more appropriate, don't you think Evil Stormbringer?   

So saying he gave the girl over to her father, who received her gladly, and they ranged the holy hecatomb all orderly round the altar of the god. They washed their hands and took up the barley-meal to sprinkle over the victims, while Chryses lifted up his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the silver keyboard, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla, and rulest Tenedos with thy might. Even as thou didst hear me aforetime when I prayed, and didst press hardly upon the Achaeans, so hear me yet again, and stay this fearful pestilence from the Danaans."

Thus did he pray, and Kryo heard his prayer. When they had done praying and sprinkling the barley-meal, they drew back the heads of the victims and killed and flayed them. They cut out the thigh-bones, wrapped them round in two layers of fat, set some pieces of raw meat on the top of them, and then Chryses laid them on the wood fire and poured wine over them, while the young men stood near him with five-pronged spits in their hands. When the thigh-bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put the pieces upon the spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew them off: then, when they had finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, pages filled the mixing-bowl with wine and water and handed it round, after giving every man his drink-offering.

Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song, hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean, and the god took pleasure in their voices; but when the sun went down, and it came on dark, they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables of the ship, and when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared they again set sail for the host of the Achaeans. Kryo sent them a fair wind, so they raised their mast and hoisted their white sails aloft. As the sail bellied with the wind the ship flew through the deep blue water, and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward. When they reached the wide-stretching host of the Achaeans, they drew the vessel ashore, high and dry upon the sands, set her strong props beneath her, and went their ways to their own tents and ships.

ooooooooookay.....

Brownie points for the person that recognizes this passage. I have a side bet in the real world.

Floppy disks!! Actually wouldn't thumb drives be more appropriate, don't you think Evil Stormbringer?

Nah, I recently watched Sixteen Candles with the wifey poo and the scene where they bet some 'old school floppies' vs. the geek getting the girl's underpants has just been tumbling through my brain ever since. I remember the going comment was that floppy disks were very expensive therefore he really, really, really had to have her underwear.
Never thought of that one back in the day though...