You get +50% votes in elections for Planetary Governor and Supreme Leader
The Empath Guild's first, most obvious ( and strangest
) gifts is commlink frequencies for all the other factions, all at once. Build
this project early on, and you could easily be the only leader on Planet capable
of convening the Council. If you're not an aggressive explorer ( particularly
on large or watery worlds ) this project could save you several decades of random
encounters and expensive negotiations. There is, however, a bit of a downside
- everbody also has your frequency. This could draw the attention of some
inconveniently aggressive faction that would otherwise never know you're alive
( this is particularly dangerous if your faction's a bit underpowered ). But,
being the first to have all the frequencies allows you to start a grand technology
horse-trading session that can put you out front in the tech race, and also gives
you a leg up on the Planetary Governorship.
In the long run, the thing that makes the Empath Guild
really worth having is its effect on your vote for Planetary Governor/Supreme
Leader. Everything that was said about diplomatic victory under Clinical
Immortality goes just as much for this project ( in fact, if you're serious
about a diplomatic victory, you will absolutely want both projects at all costs
). The wonderful thing about the Empath Guild is it comes early enough in the
game to also give you an edge in that all-important first election for Planetary
Governor ( if you're Lal, it puts
your vote total through the roof; if you're not Lal, it gives you some parity).
However, this project does make the governorship a bit
less desirable, because it allows infiltrators. Not that this should keep you
from running, of course - the infiltrators are small potatoes compared to the
governor's extra income and veto power
