I was always a role-player, and I needed the days back in Warcraft 3. Though the DEV mode did provide something, it did not make a "set-up" for a bound conflict near a solar system, where one race is highly advanced and the other just doesn't do much research, and has a enormous amounts of ships.
There isn't a "Request" subforum, but this one is pretty crazy because I have done this cool trick before in WC3.
Basically, you control as many races as you like (With the AI's disabled). I know some menu's could be screwed up, but I think there are ways around it.
So basically what this does is the races you control are still enemy's to each other, but you can put it at your own pace and do the same sort of things as you could in the real game (Like send envoys and money to the other faction to increase relations, and make peace treaties, etc.).
Why? Well at my first paragraph this basically guarantees that situation, and much more. (Like to test different stragedies, see if a ship is effective on this one, etc.)
And now, a thing that could make things better if to activate specific research and player-specific research, minerals, money, and whatever, which it to a upgrade to the DEV mode commands.
I really don't have anything else to do in my time currently.
And I also don't have any other players that would follow my rules.