diff -Nur -Xno.diff freeciv/data/default/nations.ruleset freeciv-df/data/default/nations.ruleset
--- freeciv/data/default/nations.ruleset	Sat Sep 18 12:43:39 1999
+++ freeciv-df/data/default/nations.ruleset	Sun Sep 19 21:36:54 1999
@@ -46,6 +46,24 @@
 ; section [misc] currently contains cities suggested when 
 ; you run out of default cities for your nation
 ;
+;
+;
+; [default] section specifies the default values for some entries
+; note that you do not have default values for: name, plural, leader,
+; leader_sex, flag and cities because they should be unique for every nation.
+;
+
+[default]
+
+flag_alt = "-"
+attack = 2
+expand = 2
+civilized = 0
+advisors=100,100,100,100,100,100,100
+tech_goals = "The Republic", "The Wheel", "Iron Working", "Construction",
+             "Railroad"
+wonder="Pyramids"
+government="Republic"
 
 [nation0]
 
diff -Nur -Xno.diff freeciv/server/ruleset.c freeciv-df/server/ruleset.c
--- freeciv/server/ruleset.c	Mon Sep 20 14:25:45 1999
+++ freeciv-df/server/ruleset.c	Mon Sep 20 14:27:39 1999
@@ -1264,11 +1264,45 @@
   int *res, dim, i, j;
   char temp_name[MAX_LEN_NAME];
   char **cities, **techs, **leaders;
+  int def_attack, def_civ, def_exp, def_adv[ADV_LAST], def_tech_num;
+  char def_flag_alt[MAX_LEN_NAME], def_gov[MAX_LEN_NAME], def_wonder[MAX_LEN_NAME];
+  char def_tech[MAX_NUM_TECH_GOALS][MAX_LEN_NAME];
 
   filename = openload_ruleset_file(&file, ruleset_subdir, "nations");
   datafile_options = check_ruleset_capabilities(&file, "+1.8.2", filename);
   section_file_lookup(&file,"datafile.description"); /* unused */
 
+  /* read the default section */
+
+  strcpy( def_flag_alt, secfile_lookup_str(&file, "default.flag_alt") );
+  def_attack = secfile_lookup_int(&file, "default.attack");
+  def_civ = secfile_lookup_int(&file, "default.civilized");
+  def_exp = secfile_lookup_int(&file, "default.expand");
+  strcpy( def_gov, secfile_lookup_str(&file, "default.government") );
+  strcpy( def_wonder, secfile_lookup_str(&file, "default.wonder") );
+  res = secfile_lookup_int_vec(&file, &dim, "default.advisors");
+  if( dim != ADV_LAST ) {
+    freelog( LOG_FATAL, "Number of default advisors must be %d but is %d", 
+             ADV_LAST, dim);
+    exit(1); 
+  }
+  for ( j=0; j<ADV_LAST; j++) 
+    def_adv[j] = res[j];
+  free(res);
+  techs = secfile_lookup_str_vec(&file, &def_tech_num, "default.tech_goals");
+  if( def_tech_num > MAX_NUM_TECH_GOALS ) {
+    freelog( LOG_VERBOSE, "Only %d techs can used from %d default",
+             MAX_NUM_TECH_GOALS, def_tech_num);
+    def_tech_num = MAX_NUM_TECH_GOALS;
+  }
+  for ( j=0; j<def_tech_num; j++) {
+    strcpy( def_tech[j], techs[j]);
+  }
+  while( j < MAX_NUM_TECH_GOALS )
+    def_tech[j++][0] = '\0';
+  free(techs);
+
+
   i=0; /* this here check how many nations are */
   while( strlen(secfile_lookup_str_default(&file, "", "nation%d.name", i++)) );
   game.nation_count = i-1;
@@ -1337,21 +1371,29 @@
     strcpy(pl->flag_graphic_str,
 	   secfile_lookup_str(&file, "nation%d.flag", i));
     strcpy(pl->flag_graphic_alt,
-	   secfile_lookup_str(&file, "nation%d.flag_alt", i));
+	   secfile_lookup_str_default(&file, def_flag_alt, "nation%d.flag_alt", i));
 
-    pl->attack = secfile_lookup_int_default(&file, 2, "nation%d.attack", i);
-    pl->expand = secfile_lookup_int_default(&file, 2, "nation%d.expand", i);
-    pl->civilized = secfile_lookup_int_default(&file, 2, "nation%d.civilized", i);
+    pl->attack = secfile_lookup_int_default(&file, def_attack, "nation%d.attack", i);
+    pl->expand = secfile_lookup_int_default(&file, def_exp, "nation%d.expand", i);
+    pl->civilized = secfile_lookup_int_default(&file, def_civ, "nation%d.civilized", i);
 
     res = secfile_lookup_int_vec(&file, &dim, "nation%d.advisors", i);
-    if( dim != ADV_LAST ) {
-      freelog( LOG_FATAL, "Nation %d number of advisors must be %d but is %d", 
-               i, ADV_LAST, dim);
-      exit(1); 
-    }
-    for ( j=0; j<ADV_LAST; j++) 
-      pl->advisors[j] = res[j];
-    if(res) free(res);
+    if( dim == 0 ) {
+      for ( j=0; j<ADV_LAST; j++) 
+        pl->advisors[j] = def_adv[j];
+    }
+    else {
+      if( dim != ADV_LAST ) {
+        freelog( LOG_FATAL, "Nation %d number of advisors must be %d but is %d", 
+                 i, ADV_LAST, dim);
+        exit(1); 
+      }
+      else {
+        for ( j=0; j<ADV_LAST; j++) 
+          pl->advisors[j] = res[j];
+        free(res);
+      }
+    }
 
     techs = secfile_lookup_str_vec(&file, &dim, "nation%d.tech_goals", i);
     if( dim > MAX_NUM_TECH_GOALS ) {
@@ -1359,19 +1401,27 @@
                MAX_NUM_TECH_GOALS, dim, pl->name_plural);
       dim = MAX_NUM_TECH_GOALS;
     }
-    for ( j=0; j<dim; j++) {
-      pl->goals_str.tech[j] = fc_calloc((strlen(techs[j])+1), sizeof(char));
-      strcpy( pl->goals_str.tech[j], techs[j]);
+    if( dim == 0) {
+      for ( j=0; j<def_tech_num; j++) {
+        pl->goals_str.tech[j] = fc_calloc((strlen(def_tech[j])+1), sizeof(char));
+        strcpy( pl->goals_str.tech[j], def_tech[j]);
+      }
+    }
+    else {
+      for ( j=0; j<dim; j++) {
+        pl->goals_str.tech[j] = fc_calloc((strlen(techs[j])+1), sizeof(char));
+        strcpy( pl->goals_str.tech[j], techs[j]);
+      }
     }
     while( j < MAX_NUM_TECH_GOALS )
       pl->goals_str.tech[j++] = "";
     if (techs) free(techs);
 
-    strcpy( temp_name, secfile_lookup_str(&file, "nation%d.wonder", i));
+    strcpy( temp_name, secfile_lookup_str_default(&file, def_wonder, "nation%d.wonder", i));
     pl->goals_str.wonder = fc_calloc((strlen(temp_name)+1), sizeof(char));
     strcpy( pl->goals_str.wonder, temp_name);
 
-    strcpy( temp_name, secfile_lookup_str(&file, "nation%d.government", i));
+    strcpy( temp_name, secfile_lookup_str_default(&file, def_gov, "nation%d.government", i));
     pl->goals_str.government = fc_calloc((strlen(temp_name)+1), sizeof(char));
     strcpy( pl->goals_str.government, temp_name);