I don't find the game hard, just fun. I always play as the Empire never the rebel scum. I play with RebEd changes so my game is very different from an unaltered one. I tend to have more diplomats on my side than is standard, though not a lot more. I have a few favorites including my own card of me as Grand Moff Conway that I use every game. As to planetary strategy I also use Gencores but I also put 9 fighters usually TIE Interceptors (cheaper than Defenders) and six troops. I build up fleets slowly as resources allow, but generally I end up controlling much of the galaxy before the game ends.-Grand Moff Conway