by DocCool
Limitless333 wrote:
Both the Ivits and the Xenos want to maximize the amount of tech tiles they can take early on with the QIC action as this will often outpace the net income gain of simply having the knowledge academy and focusing on generic tech steps.
Yes, Xenos start with AI level 1, but their QIC income depends on them having built their PI, which is somewhat incompatible with an early Academy. Their main source of QIC in the early rounds will be further research of the AI track, but they are really only one QIC ahead of most other factions who focus on AI. With an early AC the Xenos can reach AI level 4 which means a total of 6 QICs, which is enough for one 4 QIC action and two range extensions/Gaia colonizations - other factions can reach AI level 3 which means 4 QICs and thus also enough for the 4 QIC action.
For Der Schwarm you probably selected them because of their QIC income. But wouldn't they be rather using their QICs for rang extension/Gaia colonization instead of saving them over several rounds until they build an early AC (which means round 2 or most likely 3, both of which I doubt is a good idea)?