'Friendy' Multiplayer

Hey Guys I am starting in 4 hours am MP wit 2 homies.we are all kinda experienced TW players or similar. The friend who's host the sessions has prob the most insight in stellaris, I just played 4 or 5 MP sessions, the third one is prob between us. But I have like 3k in eu4 multiple WCs and a few of them one faith one culture. Out last sessions is prob over a year ago and we don't own all the dlcs, by the way.none of us played after the ominous rework. Last time I tried robots and the ses before some slaver cats. It didn't feel like I had rly something big running. Sure it worked and we were all similar power levels but I had no plan or idea what and why I would dou stuff.

I tried to read myself into the game again but I am just overwhelmed. I don't understand why some origins are better with this or that. I think there is some information missing, sure what the origion shall do but, if my politic guys are now templar does that mean they just produce more unity?

I admit because I have no dlcs, (if I had I would have tried a bit) I gave up was just overwhelmed and couldn't think of any decent and not to complicated civ. I mean if this or that does not happen it's dead or over.

Maybe some of you have a few ideas or setups for me which are just casually good so I beat my friends up. Love them to death but you know how it goes. They def need and deserve a beating. Some ideas?

We play normal map with around 16 empires everything (first time it was always normal or slow before) on fastest.

I like to play talk but because we said we rly wanna fight, no crisis by the way I am down to play standard (wide empire)

Anyone some fast suggestions? Plus teach me senpais.

I update how It went later to night.

:)