by SpaceTrucker
Limitless333 wrote:
I think all the factions that want to open Academy don't have a PI that is worth rushing. Here are my thoughts on each one.
Nevlas: Better to use early power for Knowledge. PI becomes better once you have a lot of power charge. Also, you can get a ton of fast teching between level 4 science and 3 passive knowledge income. You can even get the 1c 1k tech to have 8k income starting round 2 that said your ability can often get you the 8th k.
Itars: Rather build up power and take advantage of 3 Knowledge Academy. You can double use the PI ability if you build up a lot of power anyway.
Nevlas: Better to use early power for Knowledge. PI becomes better once you have a lot of power charge. Also, you can get a ton of fast teching between level 4 science and 3 passive knowledge income. You can even get the 1c 1k tech to have 8k income starting round 2 that said your ability can often get you the 8th k.
Itars: Rather build up power and take advantage of 3 Knowledge Academy. You can double use the PI ability if you build up a lot of power anyway.
In practice I've seen both Itar and Nevlas PI work very well to open with.
If Nevlas have well placed structures and get a lot of power early, then doubled power can also be very strong early.
Taking two tiles at the beginning of round 2 can also be pretty good for Itars, especially if it's tiles or tech advances that one can already use in round 2.
The Academy is obviously also very strong though.
For example Geodens' or Lantida's PI opening can definitly work very well, too.
Generally while the Academy is very often a strong opening for many factions, an Academy opening starts losing a bit of its' appeal when a lot of effort is needed to get the 11 ore - one time income actions like advancing Terraforming 1 (with no plan to use Terraforming soon) will shrink the strong income to some degree.