On a loosely related note, it has never made sense to me that Pragmatic is the 'opposite ideology' of both Benign and Malignant. Opposites are pairs, but the current structure has a trio of triads.

If an expansion or GC3 included some major changes for the ideology system, I'd like to see either a fourth 'true neutral' ideology, or better yet, dyad opposites with Pragmatic having no opposite(s) and some rules that put more than an ideology point cost on diverging from your starting ideology for Benign and Malignant but not for Pragmatic.

That might need to be balanced with some 'pure ideology only' benefits for Malignant and Benign but could also yield a more Cylonesque version of the Yor.

Pragmatic

Erischild, I've tried, but I can't quite figure out what your "This" is in the quoted sentence.

Do you mean that the AI Yor freely mix ideology choices? (And if so, how can you see that going on? I'd surely love a fresh run at espionage elements that would let you build thorough reports of what's going on inside rival factions.)

"This" is the conflation of Evil motivation with any of the Ideologies.  

To my understanding from very beginning discussions, which could be hazy, of course, there was a deliberate decision to avoid a binary Good/Evil alignment system.  My interpretation was that they didn't want to outright plagiarize the trinary good/neutral/evil from RPG games, so they came up with three outlooks on life that were similar but not really the same. Therefore it is possible to play a Benevolent role and have Evil intentions.  I think of Galadriel with the Ring, or of social justice warriors run amuck, similar thing.  It is my favorite role to play.    I take very good care of my people and their happiness, then brutalize everyone who dares not to be us.

You can be Evil and still take a Pragmatic Wealth mongering approach with your schemes to dominate.  So, the Yor can be evil and either have an approach that takes a militant aggressive approach to eliminating the foul flesh fiends, or takes a passive aggressive approach to enslaving said flesh filth.  Take your pick as you play them.  Or do both.

And of course, Neutral characters can do anything they want.  

Good/Evil/Neutral is a role playing decision each of us makes or interprets.  Benevolent/Pragmatic/Malevolent are three different ways of getting there.  That's my theory, and I am sticking with it because I'm too lazy to make up another.

The yor hate organics , and wa nt to be left alone.

As far as ideologies go it is a way of thinking. How Is benevolent a way of thinking. Honest, fair, generous, protecting weaker, religious are. Benevolent is still good. Malevolent is evil. Helping the weaker develop, or being kind is better than benevolent. Survival of the fittest, or imperialism would be better than malevolent.

I would like to see instead of being given all three choices. Only getting your average choice would be better adding up all the points. This would require more perks.