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Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
University of Planet Strategies
By Tim Train, Producer/Designer
Prokhor Zakharov is elected the most popular leader on Planet. |
Last week, GameSpot ran a poll asking which faction people liked the most in Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. The hands-down winner, with 35 percent of the total votes, was Dr. Zakharov and his brilliant but ethically shaky University of Planet faction. With their technology bonus and free network node, these guys can leap ahead in the tech race, outgunning their opponents with advanced weaponry and racing toward planetary conquest or the Ascent to Transcendence. However, Zakharov's weaknesses - a susceptibility to probe team infiltration and significant drone problems - can tie up resources and slow down his all-important research efforts. The following in-depth strategy guide details how to get the most out of the University's faction strengths and how to neutralize its weaknesses.
Maximize your Strengths or Work for other Priorities?
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of the University, understand that you don't have to maximize your tech to succeed as Zakharov. With each faction, the world of Alpha Centauri presents you with a choice. Will you focus your efforts to maximize your bonuses or rely on those bonuses to keep abreast with the other leaders, so you can concentrate on other priorities? As Zakharov, you could go for all-out tech supremacy, or you can rely on your net nodes for research parity, so you can build a stronger military or economic infrastructure. Which path to take is often influenced by your starting location - if you begin alone on a continent or large island, you can pursue a life of ivory-tower research much more easily than if you have some cranky, sabre-rattling neighbor next door.
Next: The University of Planet Dossier
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