That extra 2 percent of the NLC, combined with its lower cost and earlier implimentation really adds up. 10 of them net a 20% increase over 10 Discovery Spheres, and its a heck of a lot cheaper. Add that to the 20% of a tech society, 20% of the Super Computers, and a planet dedicated mostly to NLC research with the Tech Center (which doubles that planets research output), and the techs just fly in. If you choose the planet with the highest research bonus tiles you can really get things going. My reaearch output at 15%, when I am concentrating on military or social building, is still higher than most of the others highest outputs. At 90% theirs is laughable.
The best evil weapons don't hold a candle to the black hole missles and mass drivers, or the doom ray.
And with all that extra research power it is also easy to get zero point armor and the other high tech defenses, not to mention the best in miniturization, advanced hulls, and logistics.
I usually win because I can out research all the others, and that is mainly due to the NLC's. If I don't simply blast them to bits with a 10th the number of ships, they are too afraid of me to make a move on me.
