Lead me to Darkness

[OlegHasky]

Have you ever made swich to "Way of Darkness" type govt. with naturally benevolent beings?
What was you drive in inflicting such major tranformation. Your gains, losses(?)
-How do you envision such actual social convertion from a standing point of developed benevolent worlds.

Imagining diverted Securan societies;) - sudden oceans of hooded heads, with enrichment athmospheric projects on the way. Chemicslly thickening the air, turning its colour spectrum to Navy Blue;P.. (in suit of reflecting new Empire philozophy:):().

Ackdarian, and Zenox could be interesting.. my favoured in terms on Imaging + inflicting such shifts[8|].

No Limits:).

[CyclopsSlayer]

I have used the "Way of Darkness" on occasion.

If you are going for a Military conquest of the galaxy, guns and threats work much better under WoD. If however you are trying to win over the galaxy with your benevolent Bread and Circuses and win without firing a shot, WoD is not so good.

(From the Wiki)

Advantages
-80% war weariness
-30% maintenance costs
+20% population growth
+30% research speed
+50% troop recruitment

Disadvantages (none)

Natural Allies: Military Dictatorship, Despotism, Corporate Nationalism

Natural Enemies: Way of the Ancients, Democracy, Republic, Utopian Paradise, Way of Darkness

Those races that have 'Start Fewest Wars', 'Have most Treaties' and such victory conditions would have to overcome those to get a classic victory.
Benevolence and the WoD have little if anything in common.
All the WoD advantages are targeted on War, Tech to have bigger Guns, reduced Maintenance to have more of them, faster Pop and Troops growth. and reduced Weariness as your people obviously enjoy War films over the Comedies...
Politically you will find WoD to be an Isolationist/Xenophobic stance. Only the 'evil' governments even remotely like you, and they almost never will join you in a treaty/defense pact.

So if you have a stance of Bullets before Bread, then the WoD is for you.
(Sadly I find WoD a couple of times each game, and Way of the Ancients I rarely even find once in a game)