posted 12-14-98 04:26 PM ET        

There are ways to use your strengths to counter your weaknesses. For example, the Hive has a weak economy, but a rapid production rate. You can use the production bonus to build and sell structures. Thus, you will have a significant cash flow, at the expense of production (since you sell the stuff you build).

Another example, the Gaians have a low population growth rate. I assume this means that it requires more nutrients for you to reach the next population number in a city. But if you recall, in Civ, it requires less nutrients to go from 1 to 2, than it does to go from 2 to 3. Thus, the way to circumvent the Gaian population growth penalty is by creating lots of cities of low population. Keep the population low by making settlers, thus making each city grow faster by taking advantage of the 1 to 2, 2 to 3 rate difference. And the settlers will make more cities.