<t> So doing some comparisons, it seems like a spaceport with labs is better then a spaceport and a bunch of research buildings seperatly. The only downside I can see to this is if you need room on the spaceport later for other stuff.<br/>
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The reason its better is you can get bonus modifiers ...

I am on 1.9.5.0. I noticed the steam version is 1.9.5.10. When i click the update button in game it says i am on the latest version so not sure what that is about.

<t> By shipping deals I meant where the pirates bring you resources for money.<br/>
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The only other question that has come up so far is, after finding some space scorpions, my fleet ai would send 2 guys at a time to be destroyed there and slowly sent my entire army until they had all died ...

<t> Thank you so much for all these great answers. Some followups based on your responses<br/>
This is a prewarp game FYI<br/>
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I am nowhere near the empire research. I assume this is because I have only one planet. The planet is close to max, it has 4 of 4 in each axis on the little chart ...

<t> I noticed that an asteroid with gold is the only thing identified as a critical empire resource in my fairly new game. I have a few questions regarding this.<br/>
Is gold special in some way? I have more gold then a bunch of other luxury resources so its not my most short supplied resource<br ...

<t> This is a bug/mistake one way or another. Based on google searching this is a known issue, also based on making a game playable to new people, you don't have pirates come and destroy the player on the very first tutorial within 5 minutes of starting the game.<br/>
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This would be like ...

<t> This issue shows up on google. It sounded like it was fixed already but I am still seeing it.<br/>
I just bought the game and I start the very first tutorial. Pirates show up and demand my money. I pay them and then shortly after(before my very first construction finishes) they attack anyways ...