I personally use the Vasari for 3 reasons: 1. Phase Stabiliser node-great for both fleet movement and trade routes and refineries 2. Neer the end of a game, they can see all interplanetary/stellar movements for all players 3. kostura cannon-true potential reached when you have about 8 fire all at one target and they wipe out everything (even your "precious" Advent defenses and fleets). On another note, perhaps people think the TEC is weak because the independant AI/pirates use their ships. After all, the developers wouldn't force you to fight the strongest ships to expand from the start, would they? I use the TEC too for that "save humanity" motive. And I'm a big Halo fan and they have much in common. I NEVER play as the Advent. Also the AI that uses them is weak even on hard. They get beaten up by weaker AI too. Of course, that's not much to base an opinion on.

most people don't seem to understand the advent refinery thing...

trade ports and refinerys cost the same, 4 slots. so where TEC/vasari build 1 trade for credits and 1 refinery for metal/crystal, Advent build 2 trades, 1 for credits 1 for metal/crystal. and in any case advent base metal/crystal rate seems to be as good as the other races refined rates.

I still like the TEC the most. Well balanced fleet, and they have the strongest Armor anf hulls. That and they can crank out tons of units fast because of their economy. If we didnt have fllet caps, I think they win through sheer numbers

it seems to me that every race has its own unique method and path to victory

also it seems that each race is as perfectly balanced as possible so the only thing that determines victory between different races is the player's tactics, strategy and sheer dumb luc in some cases

Am i alone in thinking this is a very good thing?

this is EXACTLY what it should be like. yes, TEC have the strongest economyand armour and hulls, yes the Advent have the most powerful shields and culture and allegiance, and yes the Vasaari have (i think) the most powerful ships.

what is key is that every advantage above comes at a price in another area. TEC ships are cheaper and faster to build (and seem to use less fleet points than their equivalents) but they are not as powerful. Advent ships work very well in mixed groups, but af often lacking if deployed in homogenous fleets. Vasaari ships seem to be the most powerful but are more expensive.

this is fantastic i think

as i have said in the OP i prefer the TEC but that is simply the small child in me yearning to be a hero and save the human race. the Vasaari are my second favourite, but that is just the evil megalomaniac inside me that wants to wreak havoc and destruction.

So what if we have a "preferred" race?

each one is, in the final reckoning, equally competent in battle and in economy and equally capable of victory if used properly

so there

Ps sorry if this rambled a bit

Yeah I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head regarding faction balance. Hah but imho the advent are saving humanity from the intolerant and racist TEC... who oppress localised governmental structures and impose their morality all for the sake of a capitalist elite!    WILL NO ONE THINK OF THE CRYSTAL MINERS? When all are joined together in the Unity none shall know suffering etc... I think the point is that none of the sides is entirely good or Bad, they all have their 'sins' so to speak. Just because a person 'looks' like you doesnt mean that they are good.

[quote who="D Strider" reply="10" id="2185459"]Someone noted that the Advent, when played by the AI, seems to be weaker than TEC or Vasari. I've noticed a similar thing, where they just don't seem to hold up all that well. Personally, I think that's because of the "slow starter" nature of the Advent. It takes a little while to build them up, both in terms of economy and ship/fleet strength, but the AI doesn't seem to realize this. It'll rush too early, or fail to build decent defences, things like that.
/quote]

Also, as you'll notice, autocast sucks, which I presume determines the AI use of abilities. The Advent rely on well timed abilities for their battle strength (like the shield frigate push and the motherships shield restore.) If the AI is triggering its abilities with little or no tactical consideration its fleets will be significantly weaker. The advent start isnt really that slow; early culture centres briefly give a superior economic boost compared to trade routes.

But yeah clever use of abilities is a must, and the AI is incapable of this.

^^^Good point on the Vasari. that phase ability on the Antoraks is so useful its not even funny

Huge maps.

One time while playing the AI I had 22 Novaliths firing at 1 star system. AI was set 2 unfair and that after I beat and kill 2 more AI. Of course this was in one of my epic long games, over 30 hours. Still not done.

EDIT: http://api.photoshop.com/home_7847619f59f24b2cbf4161f11ea40eae/adobe-px-assets/06328c48dc834bc394823d94b16f6c55

Link for pic of 22 Novalith shots

Vasari are undeniably the best if you use them right. One egg, one of those ships that create a phase stabilizer (cant remember the name) and one seige cap ship that fires phase missiles plus whatever else you throw in and boom you have an unstopable fleet that can be at any of your planets in the blink of an eye. Or an alternate method is use returning armada until your fleet suply is full an you have an unstopable fleet that can win through sheer force, for free!

IMO, it's a tight race between Vasari and TEC.  Here's what I like about them:

VASARI:

*  The phase lane you get with the Kosutra shot is a game changer. (You can jump past the front line without having to fight your way thru).

*  The Skiranta (Repair Cloud) gives 30 hull per sec on infinite targets for a total of 300 hull per ship [including itself].

*  The Marauder's (Phase Out Hull) interrupt's w/7000 range, and it's a mobile phase lane generator.

*  Planet killing machine: Jarrasul (Drain Planet), Vulkoras (Siege Platform w/Assault Specialization), and then Skirtana (Replicate Forces: Used on Siege Platforms)

*  Starbase: Mobile, can make a Phase Lane, has 4 weapon upgrades (+20% damage), can self heal from debris, frontal shield, trade port + colony pods.

TEC:

* Economic Superpower.

* Marza (Missle Barrage). Nuff said

* Novalith on auto-fire.  Nuff said.  2 shots and it put's a planet to sleep immediately (-100% pop, and uncolonizable for a long time).  If you build 4 or more of these things, you can put an entire star system to sleep.

* Starbase:  The big red button + Trade Ports + Frigate Factory = Nuff said.

* Eats strikecraft: Dunov (Magnetize), Kol (Flak Burst)

Advent:

* Synergy between units (Shield Restore + Guardians = Invincible Fleet and Malice + Cleansing Brilliance is still awesome)

* Strikecraft. Lots of them.

* Cultural Victory: It basically ups the Advent's already powerful shields when in their own culture, plus they get more culture upgrades (as well as seeing other systems through it) to aid in that on top of the economic advantages. Very useful.

* Advent's starbase has the most powerful fleet killing ability below the Marza (and the Big Red Button, but you only get to use that once) with its meteorite manipulation ability.

* The Halycon rips through strikecraft with its Telekinetic Push even better than Magnetise and Flak Burst. Two Halycons with level 3 TP will own entire fleets of strikecraft.

* Illuminators are the most powerful LRF if used correctly, since you can effectively target three units at once.

Not to mention it takes less resources and supply to field ships.

and not to mention the missle superpower. 4 research levels I believe?