[Omnirizon]

also remember that with going ahead and taking +3, the scale can't fluctuate above 3, but it can go below it. so you will never get a bigger penalty than your getting points for, but you often get a lesser one. therefore there is a small boost on return for taking a 3 scale in temperature; that's a good reason to push it there for design points; i do so quite often. consider that you can take 3 temp and 3 order and get a boost in income for free, and you will often get a little extra income than you paid for because the temp scale will tip, but it can never go higher than 3, so you never lose more income than you paid for. you can't say that for taking anything less than a 3 in temp scales.

the encumbrance penalty effects both you and them, but you can design around it. also, you rarely ever actually will encounter that penalty because your typically fighting at the edge of your dominion. also by taking 3 cold, you also ensure cold-blooded nations have a very hard time with you.