(I'm not including Future Society SE choices since they usually come too late in-game to matter much)
So which social engineering choice do you consider the most neglected? The bias for most SMAC experts is pretty apparent in a Demo/FM/Wealth or Demo/Green/Knowledge model, or something akin to it. Even momentum factions end up employing relatively liberal SE choices.
Personally, I think Fundamentalism has to be the least used. Most SMAC players seem to be research obsessed and the idea of deliberately curbing it is abhorrent. Also, the associations of Fundy with Miriam aren't easily overcome, given the almost universal vehemence towards the red-haired priestess.
Police State I imagine is a close second because its inefficiencies are difficult to stomach, and the majority of players consider this drawback outweighs the POLICE/SUPPORT upside. I think Police State edges out Fundamentlism in use because Yang can use his Government of choice with impunity, but Miriam cannot.
Power is another SE you don't see mentioned in player strategy threads. The hit to the industry is just too much to bear.
Although personally I try to give all of these maligned and neglected SE choices a fair shake. I regularly employ a Fundamentalism government early game if I'm at war; it really helps with probe skirmishes and storming the gates when morale upgrades are at a premium. Police State helps tame resource and drone problems until I'm ready to make the switch to Democracy more or less permanently (like preparing the switch from Monarchy to Republic in Civ after you've secured your borders and have some infrastructure). Power I'll employ when at war as long as I have a standing army already deployed and on the march.
So what are your thoughts on the most rusty SE choice in the SMAC player's arsenal?
So which social engineering choice do you consider the most neglected? The bias for most SMAC experts is pretty apparent in a Demo/FM/Wealth or Demo/Green/Knowledge model, or something akin to it. Even momentum factions end up employing relatively liberal SE choices.
Personally, I think Fundamentalism has to be the least used. Most SMAC players seem to be research obsessed and the idea of deliberately curbing it is abhorrent. Also, the associations of Fundy with Miriam aren't easily overcome, given the almost universal vehemence towards the red-haired priestess.
Police State I imagine is a close second because its inefficiencies are difficult to stomach, and the majority of players consider this drawback outweighs the POLICE/SUPPORT upside. I think Police State edges out Fundamentlism in use because Yang can use his Government of choice with impunity, but Miriam cannot.
Power is another SE you don't see mentioned in player strategy threads. The hit to the industry is just too much to bear.
Although personally I try to give all of these maligned and neglected SE choices a fair shake. I regularly employ a Fundamentalism government early game if I'm at war; it really helps with probe skirmishes and storming the gates when morale upgrades are at a premium. Police State helps tame resource and drone problems until I'm ready to make the switch to Democracy more or less permanently (like preparing the switch from Monarchy to Republic in Civ after you've secured your borders and have some infrastructure). Power I'll employ when at war as long as I have a standing army already deployed and on the march.
So what are your thoughts on the most rusty SE choice in the SMAC player's arsenal?
Comment