So I primarily play Lumeris, and in my last to galaxies I've started off right next to Cravers. I generally play Endless * (eg Legend, Space 1) games peaceful till midgame, and I understand starting next to Cravers completely negates that. Except, as far as I can tell, I have no means of protecting myself against them?

* If I try to build ships, they'll always have better / more ships

* I haven't tried rushing bunkers, but it just seems like they would delay them for 2 - 3 turns of sieging instead of being invaded instantly

I feel like there's something I'm missing? I spend basically all of early game wondering when exactly the Cravers will decide to roll over my home planet (which, they never do? unsure why).

I feel like with Endless Legend and Roving Clans I had options to deal with genocidal neighbors. I'm not really seeing these options for Lumeris though? Unless they're alpha features that have yet to be implemented.

Well there is the lack of mercenaries And the market place in general. Both of these things are planned just not implimented. Also from my understanding. AI spawning close to you is a bug. I also believe that 8 players on medium is rediculous. it feels like 3-4 is better

In the current version you have no options to deal with that I am afraid. That should change though in the future.