So for each population I want to create I need one action point?
No, for each population unit you need two action points.
So if I were to create 3 pops at once, I would need six actionpoints?
Yep, and that's why creating 3 units of Tier 0 creatures is a bit of a waste of time.
So if making a higher tier creature strikes your fancy, go for it, no reason not to.
You got plenty of Essence after all. Though Tier 4 creatures are on the opposite end, where they're so expensive it's just an Essence sink.
...Why? Currently all tiers produce the same amount of essence. Low tiers are meant to be essence farms (in that having 3 would produce about 1E/tick). High-tiers are meant to function as creatures, with Tier 4 having the potential to be powerful in their own right. Each has their own uses.
Because the cost of making creatures is negligible in the early game. You'll mostly make creatures and agents at that point.
You could spend 1 E to get 2 points, 1.7 E for 3 points, or 3 E for 5 points.
Each point could buy an edge without having to place hindrances.
You could make them smarter, immune to disease, immune to poison, teach them Kung Fu, etc.
If you want to make Orcs, you could make them have edges in Vitality and Strength at the cost of Smarts, but also make them resistant to heat, just by making them Tier 1 instead of Tier 0.
Sure, you could give them weakness to cold to get another point, but in Tier 1 you could also make them resistant to drought with said extra point.
Actually that might be an idea for me to use, desert raider Orcs.