It's an expandalone. Specifically to avoid that ever being an issue. Also, some feedback from the community might help avoid making unpopular mistakes like the wheel fiasco.

There's a much, much better reason not to tell us anything: it'll have more impact when they tell the gaming press about it if it's not been revealed in a post on a forum somewhere beforehand, and that will translate directly into sales. There'll be a marketing campaign, and drip-feeding info about features (Dev Diaries)or doing a big reveal on Gaming Website X are great for that. 

The expandalone is the second one, the first is a normal expansion.

I do not see the point in speculation, I'd rather wait for official info. Plus I read all the devs' posts so I already have a good idea what's coming.

The simple thing would be converting starbases to use the same system as ships, with a mass cap and the same kinds of components, just with an additional list of starbase-specific modules. Starbases stop being unassailable early and tissue with a bit of tech, you can put actual maint costs to keep down the spamming, and if they don't exclude modules from eachother even less spam. Your econ base can be your military strongpoint too.

But I doubt that. I hope it gives us modders more options though.

Yes, I am joking. I know we would never have that kind of ai in the next 20 years. 

I do know we are getting an expansion, I was just hoping we could get some hints at what was in it. 

Ah the Shakturi event, man o man is that a pain....

All of your points on the current ai are pretty much spot on.

I play to have fun and so far I have no complaints. I know some here feel the game is too easy on Godlike but those are far fewer than the rest (according to metrics) I suppose. 

On Insane maps it would be interesting to have a spawn of a 'Shakturi'/Dreadlords type of Civ that starts with full tech and several fleets already enabled. This could be a victory of its own of a sorts so just surviving would make you the 'Hero of the Galaxy' and leader by default. 

I shudder to think of such a foe on higher difficulties. ....

I have no idea what they plan on things like starbases and other such mechanics.  I haven't seen or heard anything with hints I could interpret.  I blame Paul for being inscrutable.

I do expect continuing work on the AI.  I think it will be incremental rather than dramatic, but every bit will help.  As has been discussed, the higher level difficulties and extreme maps are not the primary demographic of the game, but Brad being Brad and Stardock being Stardock, the overall quality of the AI is a point of pride that will be pushed continuously and steadily for a long time.

I expect continued polish on the overall economy mechanics.  I am pretty sure that is a high priority topic with Paul, along with a few million others, of course.  I worry that it will mostly be little nerfs that annoy people, but Paul has shown some creativity with his balance skills so that may not be so bad.  I feel that the tech pace and values need some more adjustment as well, but expect only minor things there if any.

I hope for AI fleet skills.  This will be very important for those whose demographics are into challenges as much as any roleplay.  I also think it will help the battle viewer be more interesting as ship roles and fleet composition are fine tuned, the mechanics should start affecting the on-screen behaviors.  (I am a big fan of the battle viewer, by the way.  I like eye candy like that as well as all the challenges.  More eye candy, please!)

Because of forum feedback, I am also expecting a lot of UI work.  Or at least hoping. 

Beyond that, I leave the guessing to the psychics. 

I'd love to see the Ai build fleets like players. I have found the 'tank+Stand off) combo pretty darn good. Load up a medium hull with a laser, fill out rest in defenses (Shields, ECM, Armor) and set its role as escort, then get a capital and load it up on missiles little armor and pair two of the tanks for every one stand off. 

It makes getting to the Capital a pain and allows your Capital to stand off and pound stuff.