Real life impacts on your playstyle

[Flubber]

I have noticed a marked difference in how I play, even PBEMs, depending on whats going on in real life. For instance I recall one night where I started wars in 3 PBEMS after my wife and I had a major disagreement. I was in a contankerous mood and it became

. .. . that guy border pushed me again-- ATTACK
.. . .another probe team trying to sneak by me-- ATTACK
..... this guy has moved offensive military into positions where he can strike me--- ATTACK

Now I don't go beserk attacking everyone but I have noticed that my wars tend to come in bunches. Things that I normally negotiate or live with, become cause to fight. At any given time you have any number of factions that you are suspicious of and you can decide to go either way. Its funny since a few turns later I am often saying "why did I go to war?"


I noticed good moods carry over as well. Someone probed me and I let it go as I had a great day at work and at home . A day or two later I got another turn and I was like "huh"-- I let that go without even some reparations ??


Some people seem to play with machine like precision and never deviate from a plan . .. heck I wish I had plans-- LOL

How about you?? Ever start a war or probe someone or take some other action completely at odds with what you plans would have been, had you been asked a turn before??

[Jamski]

People always start wars on me Then I get pissed at them in RL. I have it backwards, Flubber. As a natural builder, I get so mad if I have to build a military - some bugger messed up my plan, so now he can't expect even a "smilie" at the end of the e-mail with the turn

-Jam

[Zeiter]

I have noticed that I've gone through several phases in my years playing AC. The first stage was when I was still playing on citizen. I would build a bunch of military units, and not know what to do with them. So, I'd invade a neighbor, just to make those units useful, and kill off a few. The second stage was the anal-retentive clean reactor everything stage, where I was almost obsessed with building only clean units so that I wouldn't be wasting any minerals to support. Then I realized that building all of those clean units was slowing down my production too much, so I stopped that. Then I went into my democracy phase, where I only wanted to run democracy, and I actually felt bad about running PS, and committing atrocities. I also tried really hard to Pact with as many people as possible, and I never declared war. I would even do things like give pactmates research and energy as tokens of friendship. Well, I had a few nasty AI backstabs, so I'm past that phase now ("Yes, wipe Morgan Industries from the face of planet!." ).

So maybe my personality has changed or something, but I do play much differently now than I used to, and not just because I'm a better player. I play with a fundamentally different style (no pun intended. I don't think I'll ever be a big fan of running fundy.) Now I play more of a real-politik style where I declare war not out of principle or idealogy, but because of what I can gain from it. Same thing with signing pacts. I don't care about having a friend to chat with. What am I going to get out of this? Although if I am waaaaaay ahead, I'll forget the real-politik and just go on a fun little atrocity spree. Also, now during military campaigns, I'm much more focused on tempo. Often, I'll order my choppers on a bombing run at 50% damage if I think they can do the job. Same thing with other units. I'll often expend several cheap infantry units with 40% damage and 2/3 of a movement point left in trying to kill one vital defender in an enemy city. I know that if I were playing pbem or something, this style would leave me vulnerable to counter-attacks and probe attacks. When I play humans, I know I'll have to play differently. But when I'm playing the AI, this style absolutely slays 'em. The AI rarely counter-attacks or probes effectively, so I can just steamroll through a faction in no time playing this high tempo style.

Anyways, yeah, my style of play does change from time to time, and it probably has something to do with my personality changing and stuff going on in my life, but specifically what that is, I don't know.

[Mr. President]

I used to believe in living in peace and harmony with my neighboring factions. Isn't that a hoot!

[Enigma_Nova]

When you play with both your subconscious and your conscious,
and your emotions weave into your logic,
it is impossible to divorce one's feelings from the game.

That's why I'll preemptively war with anyone who isn't interested in understanding or learning things, and plays solely for 'fun'.
I'm very frustrated when I voice a great idea and people either don't listen or don't understand.
If a pactmate doesn't understand a strategy I send to them,
I war with the pactmate, take over their bases and implement the strategy myself.

Yes, I have a bad temper when it comes to idiocy or incompetence, and it shows in all my games.
It does give me an endless supply of smack talk, though.

[Santiago_Claus]

Alas, Jamski, I'm afraid I'm afflicted by the same disease.

I was driving to my girlfriend's house a few years ago, an hour late because of a game that was really heating up, muttering to myself, "The Psilons will pay! PAY for their treachery!"

I should've been thinking about, well, other stuff, but I was more concerned with how close I was to researching the Repulsor Beam.

You've probably figured out that game was Master of Orion. It was the second time I had ever played it.

[Barinthus]

I don't really let RL issues affect my gameplay and the other way around too.

[Frankychan]

I usually play with "what's best for me" in mind. Luckily, I've learned to be more objective in my decisions...

Originally posted by Mr. President

I used to believe in living in peace and harmony with my neighboring factions. Isn't that a hoot!

Shoot, I still believe this to a certain extent! But I've come to learn that sometimes we can't always get what we want.

I agree with Enigma_Nova. I play to 1)Win. and 2) Have fun. I'm willing to learn and I'll ask questions about why so-and-so. But I want to win (even if it's only co-op win....but I also want to have fun).

But I won't let emotions get in my way.

I always ask myself, "What would Chairman Yang do?"

[binTravkin]

Yeah, mood is a very important thing - especially affects my fac choice:
if Im angry I often take some military-fat fac
if Im feeling good, I make my citizens to feel good too by taking Morgan or Lal and going totally for golden ages!

And if I want sex (my woman is often away) I tend to get popbooms 99% cases..
..as a result of abundant sex in my faction's society!

[si2themax]

Hi!

Every time i try to create a new map the whole planet is overrun by ocean after my first turn! Can anyone tell me how stop this from happening?

[GeoModder]

Try creating a new thread with your problem, please.
And give more info (SMAC-SMAX, in the editor or new game startup, the like...).

[Enigma_Nova]

You make a new thread, and avoid polluting this one.

On this subject, I use all of my Left Brain, Right Brain, Subconscious and Conscious.
I try to merge my consciousness with my faction, and let the conflicting needs of my faction equate to the conflicting needs of myself.
Then I resolve my needs, and so too solve the problems in my faction.

I use The Force. It is even more fun in diplomacy, but I normally don't use The Force that far.

[binTravkin]

I use The Force. It is even more fun in diplomacy, but I normally don't use The Force that far.

Have you been cracking alpha(x).txt again?


How did you instate the concept of Force?

Or maybe youve been watching too much StarWars?

[GeoModder]

Enigma, you just admitted that you're a two-headed monster!

Left brain, right brain? shame:

Unless off course there is a minor typo such as the lack of hemisphere in your sentence.

[Enigma_Nova]

Originally posted by GeoModder
shame:

Yes, indeed Mr. Minor Typo.

[H0bbes]

Originally posted by Flubber
I have noticed a marked difference in how I play, even PBEMs, depending on whats going on in real life. For instance I recall one night where I started wars in 3 PBEMS after my wife and I had a major disagreement. I was in a contankerous mood and it became

. .. . that guy border pushed me again-- ATTACK
.. . .another probe team trying to sneak by me-- ATTACK
..... this guy has moved offensive military into positions where he can strike me--- ATTACK

Hmmmm. this sounds familiar- I'm sure I was at least one of these victims- possibly all three!

Originally posted by Flubber Now I don't go beserk attacking everyone.

You don't? I think you've attacked me first in at least 3 out of our last 4 games- including your latest in Vets6.

Before we play again I want daily bulletins on your personal life so I know if you should get the turn that day or wait!!

Hobbes

[Enigma_Nova]

H0bbes: Just send him some porno before his turn and watch his willingness to pact increase.

[H0bbes]

Originally posted by Enigma_Nova
H0bbes: Just send him some porno before his turn and watch his willingness to pact increase.

Now there's an idea- of course I'm not sure my wife would be too happy about that- nor Flubber's wife for that matter!!

Hobbes

[Flubber]

Originally posted by H0bbes


Hmmmm. this sounds familiar- I'm sure I was at least one of these victims- possibly all three!

Actually as I think of it, I think it was you all three times I mentioned . .. Sorry but in each case we were neighbors with no express deals

Originally posted by H0bbes
You don't? I think you've attacked me first in at least 3 out of our last 4 games- including your latest in Vets6.

True, but we have also pacted to a co-op win--

Originally posted by H0bbes
Before we play again I want daily bulletins on your personal life so I know if you should get the turn that day or wait!!

Wouldn't hurt--- a sleepless night with a cranky baby can lead to a cranky player---

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Enigma_Nova
H0bbes: Just send him some porno before his turn and watch his willingness to pact increase.

[Skanky Burns]

Play the meta-game.

[Mr. President]

Sometimes I can force my Magic opponents (basically that's my friend Dave) into mistakes by asking him questions about things he's not good at, like homework and talking to women.

[Enigma_Nova]

Homework: Bull**** and lie to convince your dimwitted teacher that you deserve good results.
Women: As above, but replace 'teacher' with 'target'.

[Mr. Harley]

Flubber - two questions. How old is the little one, and has he/she discovered that when daddy is playing that he is absorbed and that is the time to get away with murder. Our little 14+ month old has already figured this, I just intercepted her using a pencil on the rug. UP - UP. OK, you can sit on daddy's lap and pound on your keyboard while daddy sits far enough away you can't hit his delete key .

[Flubber]

Originally posted by shawnmmcc
Flubber - two questions. How old is the little one, and has he/she discovered that when daddy is playing that he is absorbed and that is the time to get away with murder.

Our little guy turned one on Mothers day--- he knows I am busy when I'm at the computer but he also knows that he wants my attention and he gets it. The reality is that I now only play when he is asleep or when his mom has taken him somewhere.

[Enigma_Nova]

Flubber must be pretty old.
How does one raise a family and play SMAX?
Those are both full time jobs.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Enigma_Nova
Flubber must be pretty old.
.

Positively ancient

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by Flubber


Positively ancient

Ah, Flubber, please call our generation "mature". Googlie's generation is the one that deserves the moniker "ancient"...
BTW hows the little one doing? Are you to the stage of wanting more yet?


D

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Darsnan

BTW hows the little one doing? Are you to the stage of wanting more yet?


D

Short answers
1. Just great
2. No

The longer answer is that our guy just turned one last week. he is a walking, babbling good natured bundle of curiousity that demands attention ALL of the time. Mrs flubber has JUST gone back to work ( Canadians get 1 year of paid benefits for maternity) so that transition is still pretty new. I always thought 2 childern would be great but just not quite yet.

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by Flubber

I always thought 2 childern would be great but just not quite yet.

Probably a smart move on your part, especially considering Mrs. Flubber's 1 year maternity leave option.
Our first two offspring were 15 months apart. In reflection, why I don't recommend this option to any but the mentally hardiest of souls..... Our third child wasn't born till 3 years later, if that gives you an idea of how traumatized Mrs. Darsnan and I were after our first two...
But I digress from the thread's subject!
I have to say that after having children, why my empathic response to others has increased significantly. Before children why I would have simply rolled over others, and not given a second thought. Now if I launch an attack, and if I feel it is not completely clear as to why I am attacking, why I will at least make an attempt via a PM or an E-Mail to state why I have chosen this particular path. It then puts the ball in the other players hands as far as how they then interpret my message, and how they then proceed from there.


D