Maybe it would reduce flexibility, but at this point, we're trying to increase player numbers (or at least not lose ground). I wouldn't play games online if it were frustrating to get a game going (I actually experienced this on heat.net trying to play Total Annihilation there). Why not come up with some server mods that server administrators can implement if they so choose (including non at all), but make it a run-time environment thing. I would propose a rotating-galaxy thing, where you start with Fed v Rom, then Rom v Kli, then Kli v Ori, then Ori v Fed. At least it would keep things mixed up a little, even though in a non-chaotic way. Every fifth t-mode repeats the sequence, even set it up so that the sequence is configurable. In effect, even before t-mode happens, you'd have a case where you'd know what races would be playing so you block the 3rd space races. Bob Campbell Unix System Administrator Scientific Computing Division National Center for Atmospheric Research rsc at ucar.edu (303) 497-1815