Just beaten Rising tide on Apollo(Hardest Dif no MODS)) - Final thoughts

[Sauron 3]

BTW
ARC + Pioneers + Electromagnetic Sensor + Cryotome is probably my favorite Apollo setup.
Getting Soul Discerning from Artifacts + ARC's primary trait and that leaves political traits open to whatever you want, as you've already reached the cap for spy mission speed.

BTW

I get the exactly the same bonuses on the start of the game. And I immediately take virtue for gathering extra science while doing artifactial operations.

 

[Acken]

Well... look how the game is balanced.

Can't exactly expect the developers to make a useful AI when 1/2 the strategy options available are utter crap.

Yep this is basically what I've been saying since day 1 of CivBE. The easiness of it is atleast 50% due to poor balance. It's kind of the same thing with Civ5.