Welcome to Apolyton's SMAC Modification sub-section. In these pages we try to collect the most useful information for modifying SMAC and creating SMAC files.

Do you have something to contribute? Then comment here.

Contents

Editing alpha.txt
A quite usefull guide explaining nearly every field in alpha.txt

Editing faction.txt
We have ACEdit, but knowing the inside of faction.txt doesn't hurt

Multiplayer Map Design
Things to follow and things to avoid when designing maps for multiplayer games

Modification Tips
Add you own creation tip here!

Files for Creators
Usefull files for creators from our Files Database

AC Creation Forum
Direct link to our SMAC Creation Forum

Ten golden rules to create multiplayer maps

1. Give every player the same chance to reach resources. If you give one player less resources you should give him more units from the start, but not to strong ones.
2. If you want a quick fight, put the players close together. If you want a harder fight, with better units and more time to build up a base, then put the enemy far away from each other.
3. Always take care for the landscape and geographic features. Don't just place them anywere on the map, but use them wise. Experienced player will use the landscape and suddenly the map may not any more played the way you thought.

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The following editing comments have been compiled by cyberspyder at hotmail dot com...

The following editing comments have been compiled and layouted by Marian Hartel.

General

• If you give your faction an individual name, you need to rename the *.txt file the same way, you name the *.pcx file.
• Additionally you need to replace all the occurrences of you overwrote in the faction file and in alpha.txt. Take care to spell them always in the same way in capital letters.
• Generally you should just change a file together with this tutorial, see if it works, play test it.
• If it isn't working (also happend to me), change it again and after that, try it again.
• If it is working, submit the file to the ACZone via email. Please include in the zip-file: a faction file, the changed alpha.txt, the changed *.pcx file and if you want a readme file.
• If you don't know how zip a file, just send me the files single.

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