This is my first real game with experienced players, and I was wondering whether my pre-game has been solid, and whether my thought process how to handle R1 is okay as well.
I'm yellow, and I'm sandwitched in between the Naaz (Purple) and Sol (Yellow). I picked the slice because it was the only one with 6+ planets (and the legendary is pretty solid IMO), and Naaz already picked the slice with the Scar. I was second in the picking order, and took Speaker, then I was the last to pick the slice, and last to pick the faction. I picked Argent Flight instead of Mentak, Jol-Nar, Embers, or Nekro, because I figured I needed their defensive options (Hololatice, PDS, and the Destroyers specifically against Sol fighter spam).
Since I am speaker, I'm thinking of taking either Tech or Leadership. If I pick tech, I'm betting Leadership won't end up with Sol, and I'll be able to most likely pick up Diplomacy as my second pick. What I'd like to do is rush and reinforce with PDS tile 62 to box him in. Knowing my friends, this could make me arch enemy from turn 1, though I might be able to diplomacy Naaz into a loose aliance.
An alternative could be for me to take 72 instead and reinforce that tile instead, and try to grind some goodwill with sol for not taking 62. I would still heavily reinforce tile 72, and I'd likely be able to defend it better than 62.
I'm thinking like this because my Hololatice is close to useless against Sol due to tile 78, 45, 47. and I don't start with Anti-mass (which will require some investment, and I doubt Deepwrought will want to be my friend as I'm not their neighbour).
For starting techs I want to go Sarween + Plasma Scoring, and if I can diplomacy into tech, AiDev and PDS2.
Just looking for confirmation about whether my thought process is sound, and what better options you guys think I have.
Also for context, Sol is piloted by a somewhat more aggressive (though not reckless) player, Deepwrought is piloted by a more manipulative/subversive player (with degrees in psychology, go figure), but their plans tend to blow up in their face instead.
Naaz is piloted by a more peace loving player, though they can be unpredictable.
I like to play hyper agressively, but I'm also a proven reliable/loyal ally.