I think you're not sufficiently experienced to understand the balance.

Besides, every time Soren tweaks something like Offworlds, shipping, BM, Engineering, the balance swings around. Science has gone from supremacy to rubbish to supremacy two times already. None of the HQ types is excessively powerful at the moment.

Just my opinion

Also scientists is basically imune to nuke which is a very powerful bm

On top of what Cubit said, I think the adjacent iron and water areas are by far the easiest to spot visually so they draw immediate attention. Personally, I prefer expansive and scavenger over scientific or robotic, and as of now scientific is my least favorite faction. I don't think they are overpowered at all. I think a good balance has been finally reached a few patches ago and all HQ types are equally competitive as long as they are found in the correct location. What makes a certain company overpowered is god-mode spots on specific map, something that hasn't really changed since the initial release.

Here's how I think it works:

1. Iron and water? Science.

2. Poor water overall? Robo.

3. Good selfish BM (claims)? Scav, if not founding too late.

4. No iron? Robo.

5. Otherwise expansive.

I think the game is only interesting when at least one or more resources is very poor.

Scientific has always been fuel efficienct when played and placed properly. Even if the buildings are dispersed, you are shipping larger volumes of 2nd tier resources. instead of shipping 20 iron per shipment, you are shipping 40 steel (80 iron) per shipment. Far less fuel consumed even if shipped from a distance. Scientific shipping runs into problems on electronics/glass which utilizing shipping both directions, but that can be worked around via teleportation It's usually the 1st tier resources that consume the most fuel since they ship in smaller amounts.

This is how I scan the map when the debt timer ticks

First you look at how many rescources there are total on the Market >

View the Map in 4 dragclicks >

Godtiles(Iron and alu in one tile) go Robot (Found at 45k Debt) >

If with alot of people look for Alu and Sil closeby so you can do Robo Power Play (also look if there are no Double Geos,Which can ruin your strat)(Found at 0k Debt) >

 Are Iron and Water/(Sil) Closeby eachother? (both connected if you have your Hq placed down) Science Play (Found at 33k debt) >

Not Alot of (High)Water on the Map? ( Water(?)/Player(?)= If below 4 = Robot (Found at <33k debt) >

Not alot of rescources in general?(but in high volumes)also Geos??) Expansive (Found at <33k debt) >

Is Carbon Good? (Good as High/Medium Carbon with atleast 2 low carbon connected)(preferable with claims on the market) Scavenger ( Found at <25k debt) >

(Some1 else founded the location you wanted)(Leaving you with non of above^)>

If high Iron(preferable with low connected) still exist go Expansive // if cluster Iron still exist go Scientific (and water/sil nearby) // Not enough water closeby? but High iron/alu nearby?(and preferable sil) go Robot // 3 low carbon(or 2 high separate) your only choice? go Scavenger 

Everyone has their own preference. mine is Robo>Science>Expansive>Scavenger

Note That < debt relies on How many other good spots there are on the map.

Founded Last, Still Dies from Debt*

So I fixed it for you

Quoting indczn1,

reply 11

Scientific has always been fuel efficienct when played and placed properly. Even if the buildings are dispersed, you are shipping larger volumes of 2nd tier resources. instead of shipping 20 iron per shipment, you are shipping 40 steel (80 iron) per shipment. Far less fuel consumed even if shipped from a distance. Scientific shipping runs into problems on electronics/glass which utilizing shipping both directions, but that can be worked around via teleportation It's usually the 1st tier resources that consume the most fuel since they ship in smaller amounts. 

1st tier resources are shipped by everyone. Expansives/Rototics usually will only ship iron or aluminum, not both. Scavengers ship either carbon or more often aluminum, seldom both. Scientists usually ship aluminum. The only resource they have advantage at is water which is kinda mitigated by the fact they have to ship twice for all other second tier stuff. On top of that robots don't really need water, expansives have shipping discounts and scavangers don't take too much power debt so they can afford a bit of extra fuel debt. I think... And obviously if you have Teleportation, you have an edge when it comes to shipping costs.  

Conclusion? I need to start playing again and maybe then I'll understand what you all are talking about.