Aki-Zeta, my new love!

[Guardian_PL]

I used to like Deirdre. She was cool, a bit hippie, and caring. With her, I could just plant forests all day long, while eating fungus tofu and listening to `70 music. She was efficient and knew all these places on the planet where we could take care of our growth .

But I've got blown away completely when Aki Zeta entered the stage. She's my perfect ten! She's sooooooo like Seven of Nine from ST:Voyager I can't believe it! She's a bit cold at first (my type xP), but with a bit of work she can be interested in growth as well, and when that happens trust me - with her talent for researching all these new things and ideas, and being very efficient at it - Deirdre can't hold a candle.

Seriously, I've found that Consciousness simply rocks. Bonus research lets me get to social choices early, and with +2 to efficiency I can easily take Democracy and Planned, later connected to Wealth and I'm a peaceful monster! +3 growth, +2 Efficiency, +2 Research, +2 Industry and +1 Economy pretty much right off the bat. Downside is acceptable - low support/morale, but not too low, and I can't wait to get to Cybernetic choice - no Police penalty!

So far, most fun when I play with her, and I can finally get to Secrets of Human Brain before Zarkhov

 

[civplayah]

I used to like Deirdre. She was cool, a bit hippie, and caring. With her, I could just plant forests all day long, while eating fungus tofu and listening to `70 music. She was efficient and knew all these places on the planet where we could take care of our growth .

But I've got blown away completely when Aki Zeta entered the stage. She's my perfect ten! She's sooooooo like Seven of Nine from ST:Voyager I can't believe it! She's a bit cold at first (my type xP), but with a bit of work she can be interested in growth as well, and when that happens trust me - with her talent for researching all these new things and ideas, and being very efficient at it - Deirdre can't hold a candle.

Seriously, I've found that Consciousness simply rocks. Bonus research lets me get to social choices early, and with +2 to efficiency I can easily take Democracy and Planned, later connected to Wealth and I'm a peaceful monster! +3 growth, +2 Efficiency, +2 Research, +2 Industry and +1 Economy pretty much right off the bat. Downside is acceptable - low support/morale, but not too low, and I can't wait to get to Cybernetic choice - no Police penalty!

So far, most fun when I play with her, and I can finally get to Secrets of Human Brain before Zarkhov

Wow. I never thought about that before. Although, you can't have no "-s". What are the downsides to playing as her?

 

[Guardian_PL]

Wow. I never thought about that before. Although, you can't have no "-s". What are the downsides to playing as her?

I'll let you know when I'll play several full games with her and with some other leaders for comparizon

 

[Avelon]

Aki is also my favourite of the stock leaders (though I do have a custom faction). That efficiency means you can safely use Planned or Police State at any time - or you can slap on Democratic/Green/Knowledge and kiss everyone else's research good bye. =)

The disadvantage to the Consciousness is that with only a small penalty (-1 Growth = -10%), you're going to pull ahead of the other factions early and stay ahead, and of course we all know how everyone absolutely despises the number one player.

 

[Herfelt]

Cyborgs are a late game faction. They are kinda weak compared to spartan and believers in the beginning. An early conflict might be critical. On the other hand are cyborgs very strong later, especially when they get cybernetic society.

 

[Russia4Life]

They have actually become one of my favorite factions recently as well.

Wow. I never thought about that before. Although, you can't have no "-s". What are the downsides to playing as her?

It is super hard to pop boom. Slightly easier IMO than it is with the hive but still it is very hard to do. You need children's creches in all bases and then golden age while running democracy and planned to pop boom in the early game which really sucks. The way I like to overcome this is making sure I get the cloning vats. Which isn't hard to do if you put all that research and efficiency to good use. All you need is democracy to have paradigm and you can set your tax sliders to any % you want with no penalties.

Cyborgs are a late game faction. They are kinda weak compared to spartan and believers in the beginning. An early conflict might be critical. On the other hand are cyborgs very strong later, especially when they get cybernetic society.

Not for me I can easily turn the consciousness into a momentum faction. within 20 turns or so you can completely outclass Miriam on all fronts military wise. Santiago and the Hive might be a little tougher to go head to head against early going, due to the Spartans' Morale bonus, and the Hive's free perimeter defenses. As long as you remain vigilant, your research will get you more advanced weapons/armor for you to wear them down. Plus on top of that the Consciousness can techsteal when capturing a base even when that ability is disable in the rules.

Overall I have come to regard them as one of the most (if not the most) versatile factions in the game. I have had no trouble going pure builder with them, or going the complete opposite extreme and going for an early conquest.

 

[vyeh]

For some reason, I've never been interested in growth. I'll try to maximize the mineral production of my bases in the early game. After I get crawlers, I keep harvesting minerals until I reach the eco-damage limit.

So this might be a good faction for me to play.