Some additional observations

[azpops]

1) Is there an advantage to producing all the buildings of the same type. For example you have the Refining Array at +25% minerals, the Drone Excavation Center at +50% minerals, and the Mineral Warp at +100%. Does producing each give the additional minerals on top of the previous building.

2) I have found factions using the same names for cities. Can make it a little confusing. Is this correct?

3) In my current game, the Imperium managed to build a whole 2 cities and then polluted itself out of existence. Every single hex of each of the 2 cities was covered in pollution, they built no formers to clear it and the Imperium seems to have simply stopped doing anything. From my previous posts you'll see I'm not a big fan of pollution but this seems to be carrying the idea of pollution a little far.

[whaleberg]

2) I have found factions using the same names for cities. Can make it a little confusing. Is this correct

I've founded two cities consecutively that both ended up with the same name.

3) In my current game, the Imperium managed to build a whole 2 cities and then polluted itself out of existence. Every single hex of each of the 2 cities was covered in pollution, they built no formers to clear it and the Imperium seems to have simply stopped doing anything. From my previous posts you'll see I'm not a big fan of pollution but this seems to be carrying the idea of pollution a little far.

That's more of an AI problem than a pollution problem there. I'd also be happy to see pollution eliminated or changed drastically though.

[DeepOne]

3) In my current game, the Imperium managed to build a whole 2 cities and then polluted itself out of existence. Every single hex of each of the 2 cities was covered in pollution, they built no formers to clear it and the Imperium seems to have simply stopped doing anything. From my previous posts you'll see I'm not a big fan of pollution but this seems to be carrying the idea of pollution a little far.

Imperium? Well, in my game they (Medium) are (or rather were) the only AI that stopped expansion with 2 colonies - well-developed, but also polluted. Now that I think about it again, I don't recall encountering any Formers too! Don't think they've got destroyed by wildlife, as the AI had a good number of military units (at least good for only 2 colonies).

On pollution itself: well, at start I only had 1 or 2 Formers for 3 colonies, then at some point my HQ colony was completely surrounded by pollution and I've almost ran out of resources (and especially food). Then I've realized I'm doing it wrong. Built many more Formers and researched the recycling building - then it became quite OK.
I personally don't think pollution is a bad feature - it just probably has to be tuned down a bit, in the beginning it can become critical easily (Aliens are still a threat, have to build troops constantly, then lose one of few (or the only) Former, colony becomes polluted, production drops -> cannot build anything, lose population -> the end)

[whaleberg]

On pollution itself: well, at start I only had 1 or 2 Formers for 3 colonies, then at some point my HQ colony was completely surrounded by pollution and I've almost ran out of resources (and especially food). Then I've realized I'm doing it wrong. Built many more Formers and researched the recycling building - then it became quite OK.

Once you realize that you need a few formers around, pollution becomes trivial to deal with in my experience. Even without the recycling building. It's probably harder if you're playing the double pollution faction, but that just means you need an extra few formers. Also, since pollution doesn't effect your monetary income at all, it should still be possible to purchase formers even if you're completely polluted in. Jack up the tax rate tremendously if you need to. At worst it causes a net 25% loss in everything, but nearly doubles your monetary income. A few turns like that and you can easily purchase the formers you need.

[azpops]

Something new I've just noticed. After a faction is eliminated, any units not in cities remain on the map and have to be hunted down. Is this intended? Just want to know if I need to look out for these units by leaving some combat units behind to finish them off when they show up.

[whaleberg]

Actually, I noticed this too. I had an eliminated faction come back and take over an undefended city.