Quick question - I want to put together a game for solo players. Let's assume all planets and ships are stock for now. How many planets in a sector can a solo player moth without taking too many poddings?

If I go with the standard 5 planets, I'm thinking it may be very difficult if not impossible. If all 5 planets are H's maxed on ore production, it will be difficult for one person to wear them down. Even if a player moths twice just before midnight and moths twice more after midnight, he still may not get the ore down enough by himself. And he will have to wait another day or two before he tries again and by then the planets will have replenished its ore supply.

On the other hand, would 3 planets be too easy to moth and invade?

I want to try and find a line where it is a bit difficult but not too difficult to invade for one player. Feedback appreciated.

What you mean is: Thrice before xTern, and then Twice.

use this to help figure it out: http://www.tw2002.info/files/info/Cannon%20Settings.xls