Hive Mind Balance questions

[Nin6]

So Hive minds start with 10 more additional pops than a regular empire. Why is this?

Hive minds also start with a building called spawning pools. Which increases their growth by 25%. Why is this immediately available? Compared to say a gene clinic.

I'm assuming this is to make up for the lack of migration treaties or diplomacy. But then saying that- it still out scales many of the isolationist / supremacist factions that wont want diplomacy. Granted these types of factions have other benefits like increased fire rates ( supremacist ) or increased unity and growth ( isolationist ).

Hive mind still out scales these. Devouring swarm even more so because you get the regular hive mind growth and the added extra 10 pops, as well as combat ships that apparently take steroids.

Am i missing something or are Hive Minds incredibly over tweaked

 

[EntropyAvatar]

Well, they don't have access to trade value, which can be a very big deal. So the design goal for them is that they are supposed to be the best at growing quickly and having a large population. I'd say they achieved that.

On the other hand, the machine empires niche is supposed to be "grow slowly but be way more efficient". They got the "grow slowly" part down, but I am not seeing "be way more efficient" anywhere.

 

[Nin6]

Trade is ok yes, mostly for marketplace of ideas. But I wouldn't say normal factions, that is someone that is not a mega corp relies so heavily on it.
Consumer benefits can be good in a tight spot if the trade value of consumer goods is above 2 energy to 1 consumer good. Otherwise its more efficient to buy it.

 

[EntropyAvatar]

Hive Minds also lack bonuses from ethics and bonuses from high happiness and factions. Granted these things can be negative (and come with their own limitations), but played well a regular empire is drawing significant benefits from those features.