Which faction did you play when you first installed SMAC

[Dis]

Peackeepers actually. I was going to say University. But now I realize I played the peackeepers first. On the map of planet.

I'm not sure why. They just seemed like the easiest faction to play for a relative newbie.

[Enigma_Nova]

University forever!

[TimeTraveler]

My first faction was definitely the University. It was actually recommended to me by a good friend of mine who had played as both them and the Morganites, and couldn't get much good out of Morgan. Ever since then, I've had research as my top priority, most of the time, so I stuck with the University like glue to this very day.

I think the second faction I ever tried was the Gaians, because they're incapable of the one economic choice that offers a +2 in one area and -3 and -5 in other areas. That was long before I realized that no fungus production and military stuck within territory was a tiny price to pay for +1 energy per square.

[Straybow]

Morgan (other than the tutorial; didn't like Spartan production penalty). Played Gaians and Uni and PK, decided I liked PK as more of a challenge. I don't recall ever playing Fundies or Commies but I probably did at least once.

I usually rename them Enforcers of Peace (N-Forcers for short, Peacemaker Straybow for title) to give them a grittier feel instead of mamsy-pamsy do-gooders. I don't play FM because it makes it too easy.

[Skanky Burns]

Uni, because I wanted to explore all the techs first. Hooray.

[binTravkin]

Gaians-- I was looking for a naked tree-hugging girl at the time

replace tree-hugging with me-hugging and you've got my case!

[Illuminatus]

University, since I thought science would be important on an alien planet.

[Enigma_Nova]

BT:
Why not play the University,
then conquer Deirdre AND Santiago (and miriam... if you're into that type of thing).
Then you can have your faction leaders, and say you're performing "An unethical experiment in relationships ".

[binTravkin]

BT:
Why not play the University,
then conquer Deirdre AND Santiago (and miriam... if you're into that type of thing).
Then you can have your faction leaders, and say you're performing "An unethical experiment in relationships ".

However, Im not used to "unethical experiments inrelationships" as "ethical" ones bring more joy and are a "two-way street" in difference from those "unethical" ones..

BTW-> I played Uni almost all the time after Gaians when I discovered the "Customize Random Map" option..

Gaia is only good on Planet & other fungus-rich areas..

[Snowflake]

Gaians. And then I found Poly and ACDG so I tried Hive. Haven't had time to try the others much yet.

[GeoModder]

Gaians as well, don't remember if that came by own choice or enabling 'quick start'.

[AndiD]

I seem to be a few of those having chosen the Morgans after reading the short descriptions in SMAC.
My first transcend victory came shortly afterwards with the Gaians on a Tiny map (only time I played them AFAIR) and after that I went back to the good old CEO...

[Santiago_Claus]

I started with Morgan after analyzing the various SE settings. "Democracy / Green / Wealth" gives Morgan all the benefits of FM without the penalties.

Once I came to 'poly and honed all my tech beelines and terraforming strategies UoP became the only way to go, as the free Network Nodes propel them to IA incredibly quickly and the research bonus keeps them in the lead for the rest of the game.

UoP are strong starters, strong finishers, and strong at all points between.

[Enigma_Nova]

Especially if you're too much of a warmonger to rake in the commerce as Morgan.

BinTravkin:
Drugs cause brain chemical changes and will make them more willing.
And they'd want to take the drugs in the first place because it's a better alternative than the punishment sphere.
See? It's all consentual.

[#endgame]

Morgan, because he has lots of money!