Regarding Darth Paul, there's a fix in the works. And no, this is not the last patch ever.

I'm having problems creating custom factions in multiplayer too (without mods). 

Tychonoir wrote:

I'm getting a number of bugs that I've never had to deal with before. From my personl experience, I've never experienced the game so unstable.

For example:

1. Darth Paul
2. Permanent turn hangs
3. Extreme lag approaching turn 100
4. Inability to load save games.

That's not even touching glaring issues like mining probes and graphics appearing behind planets (I don't expect these things to ever be fixed, but at least they don't prevent playing the game.)

Does anyone have any information on what the heck happened, or any news on timelines for fixing all these new game breakers since they released the "last patch?" Or is this it?

I'm a little worried about the game's future, as it's pretty unplayable for me right now.

1. I experience, too. As a community member wrote, Darth Paul gets active past building system upgrade lvl 2.

2. Perhaps you can fix it by closing your battle report pop-up box(es) to the right side, as other users reported.

3. I luckily don't experience this one.

4. Same here, I don't experience trouble loading save files (just talking about games started past latest patch). Wouldn't wonder me, if you loaded old save files, what won't work no more with latest patch. This case (or in general) I'd recommend to roll back your game version in Steam.

Groo wrote:

1. I experience, too. As a community member wrote, Darth Paul gets active past building system upgrade lvl 2.

2. Perhaps you can fix it by closing your battle report pop-up box(es) to the right side, as other users reported.

3. I luckily don't experience this one.

4. Same here, I don't experience trouble loading save files (just talking about games started past latest patch). Wouldn't wonder me, if you loaded old save files, what won't work no more with latest patch. This case (or in general) I'd recommend to roll back your game version in Steam.