The Different Races of the Star Trek Universe

 MAJOR POWER - FEDERATION

The FEDERATION believes in expansion via peaceful means where possible. A medium difficulty race to play, alliances and peaceful expansion is the way to go before the fast research capability kicks in. In the true time-line, the Federation is supposed to ally with the Neutrals and protect them. In ST:BAQ you can play them anyway you like.

Advantages:    

Eventually able to develop the 'Democracy' type of government.

Federation Ships have the best defense profile (other the BORG)

Federation begins knowing where Vulcan (of the Neutrals) is.

Federation has ONE super attack unit that can be discovered.

Federation has the least research before getting a starship.

Disadvantages: 

No tribe specific wonder. 

No ships with cloaking abilities.

 

 MAJOR POWER - KLINGON EMPIRE

The KLINGONs are a warrior race bent on subjugating the quadrant with brute force. This is the most straight forward race to play, just research and attack.

Advantages:    

Klingon Ships have the best attack profile (other the BORG)

Able to build the Klingon Academy Wonder = best ground forces.

Klingons have ONE super defence unit that can be discovered.

Some mid-game Klingon ships can cloak.

Disadvantages: 

Klingons are not given an advanced government which they can  naturally discover. Thus corruption will become a major problem as the Klingons expand.

 

 MAJOR POWER - ROMULAN STAR EMPIRE

The ROMULANS are a secretive people who will resort to any means of expansion. In my opinion, the hardest of the three to play. You need to make good use of their super-spying abilities and stealth craft.

Advantages:    

Many Romulan Ships have the ability to cloak, including freighter, thus it is the only race that can do supprise amphibious assaults.

The Tal'Shair (Romulan Intelligence Service) is a Romulan wonder.

Eventually able have the 'Imperialism' type of government. This allows advanced infiltration teams which are equivalent  to spies under communism.

Only Romulans can build plasma torpedoes. They are available before cobalt devices and they are cheap.

Romulans may develop the MindRules advance for a telepath unit.

Disadvantages: 

Cloaked ships can't attack ground units.

Romulans tend to be attacked by the Borg first.

Takes the longest time to get the first starship.

 

 OTHER POWERS

One minor race is the ORIONs. Their economy relies on trading with the strong and raiding the weak. Their default government is Syndication (Democracy in Civ2).

The other minor race is the NEUTRALS. They are the un-united remainder of the quadrant. Although militarily weak in the first half of the scenario, they quickly become the most scientifically advanced race. Their default government is Seperatism (Despotism in Civ2)

 

 MAIN ENEMY - BORG COLLECTIVE

The Borg are not meant for playing. You will have a very boring game in which you are sure to win if you play the Borg. Only AI limitations give the other races a fair chance to survive. The Borg can have the collectivism (Fundementalist) type government so choosing a higher difficulty level really makes them powerful. The Borg understand only two things - Tri-cobalt devices and the Genesis Torpedo so make sure you learn to speak their lingo as fast as you can.

Version 2.0 onwards will contain a positive feedback advantage for the BORG which will make the game much harder to win. The BORG do not kill ground units, they assimilate them into the collective. This means that the BORG become invincible once they get the upper hand.