What is your favorite faction?

[nelvus]

Each faction leader has their own personality, history and beliefs, all interesting in their own right (many are revealed throughout the in-game quotes/cutscenes).

I have enjoyed some factions more than others, but I always find myself picking Deirdre Skye of the Gaians most of the time. The factions bonuses are a bit lackluster, especially when compared to other factions like the University, but what stood out for me was her personality and her background.

She wasn't just a tree hugging fanatic, she was a brilliant scientist with a Ph.D. in Biology and Genetics. She makes her decisions rationally based on scientific knowledge, but also displays compassion for others, as before being selected for the mission, she was part of the Red Cross and the United Nations Disaster Relief Fund.
She developed various plant strains which played a big role in revitalizing radiation contaminated areas. Because she was so talented, she was appointed as Chief Xenobiologist on the Unity, against the wishes of the Chief Science Officer, Prokhor Zakharov.
https://alphacentauri2.info/official/Profile%20Lady%20Deirdre%20Skye.htm

Probably her best faction bonus is the fact that her planet rating is higher at the start, making it a easier to capture mind worms, potentially allowing you to get a pretty strong army in the early game.
I also like how, based on her secret project quotes (as well as her environmental roots), she has the closest connection to Planet, and it's not far fetched to think that she's most likely to be the first one to reach transcendence.

Then, there is her voiceover. There's something serene, almost hypnotic about her voice. Her voice actress did a really amazing job.

[Jean-Maurice Nya]

Zakharov is the one who cares the less about his people, hence the more drone riots as opposed to Yang who cares very much about them from the moment they're able to sacrifice themselves for the group.
As for Morgan, he's the individualistic libertarian while Santiago is more a pre-Marx socialism with survivalist ideas.

[[SAP] TheLazySamurai [SCRUB]]

I love all of the base game factions... except the Believers. But choosing a favourite is a tie between the University, and the Gaians.

Even though I've played more with the expansion than the original, I've never felt much pull towards the flavours of the expansion factions

[2 Straight Homies Doing the Gay]

UNIVERSITY

[JaggedOne]

Def love the Gaians the best. The ability to capture mindworms from the start is huge, saving money that would o/w be spent making military units. Worms are superb fighters, esp early in the game, can also escort colony pods, guard formers, and they are great explorers since they can zip thru fungus. I usually switch over to Green as soon as I can afford to, which helps hold down drone riots and does less environmental damage. Eventually I just live on fungus - late game it provides more return than forests or farms.

Second place would prob go to University for the research speed, and third place to Lal, whose "generic-ness" actually comes in handy at times.