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  • Announcing TurboSMAC!

    It's faster, more balanced, and probably closer to what the original programmers had in mind. All the best alpha.txt changes from numerous mods over the years combined in one product.

    INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Download TurboSMAC.zip from this post to your game directory (which is probably C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri\)

    2. Rename alpha.txt to alphaoriginal.txt. (Right click on alpha.txt and select "rename").

    3. Unzip TurboSMAC.zip in the current directory.

    4. Play SMAC as usual.

    RESTORING NORMAL SMAC FOR PBEM OR SCENARIO CHALLENGES

    Starting a game under regular SMAC and then using an altered alpha.txt like the one provided by TurboSMAC will have odd unpredictable effects. You need to restore the original alpha.txt.

    1. Rename alpha.txt to alphaturbo.txt. (Right click on alpha.txt and select "rename").

    2. Rename alphaoriginal.txt to alpha.txt.
    Attached Files
    Creator of the Ultimate Builder Map, based on the Huge Map of Planet, available at The Chironian Guild:
    http://guild.ask-klan.net.pl/eng/index.html

  • #2
    alphachanges.txt, included in TurboSMAC.zip file

    Explanation of changes and their strategic impact

    Tired of the usual SMAC routine? You know the drill
    +The long slow slog to set up a small empire and do some exploring and terraforming during the first 25-40 turns.
    +Pop booms and exponentially climbing might graphs.
    +Grabbing all the secret projects with upgraded crawlers.
    +Beelining for Air Power and MMI, then racing to conquer the world with chop & drop before anyone else gets these techs, or stomping
    all over pitiful AI, which never pop booms and never uses chop & drop.
    +Buying the Ascent in a single turn.

    None of these "standard" events happen in turbo-SMAC!

    I. Acceleration
    Very little happens for the first 20 moves or so. This is fine with single player, because you can
    reach 2120 in a few minutes, but in PBEM it might take two months! We need faster development.
    1. Half-price colony pods
    This is the biggest factor. It will accelerate development, because earlier pods mean earlier
    additional bases, all of which can be making new pods.
    2. Nutrient rows shortened to 6
    This will speed up growth early on. To avoid excessive exponential growth from pop booming, all factions will have -1
    growth until Future SOciEties are researched in the endgame. Effectively, the base length of nutrient rows will be 8.
    3. Research rate increased 33%
    This will speed up research throughout the game.
    4. Faster terraforming
    The number of turns to complete terraforming has been cut in half or less for all operations except borehole contruction
    and forest seeding.
    5. Industry bonus
    All factions have +2 industry throughout the game. This works better than shortening mineral rows to 8.
    6. More resources.
    Increased beNefit of ocean squares by +1 nutrient and +1 mineral. Doubled the benefit of farms and solar collectors. Increased
    value of bonus squares from 2 to 3. Elminated nutrient penalty from mine. Added sea versions of all land improvements.
    Can build monoliths after Centauri Meditation. Increased minerals from cutting forest from 5 to 10. Doubled benefit from
    Recycling Tanks. Additional resources from fungus have been added and come earlier.
    7. Cheaper facilities
    Reduced the mineral cost and/or maintenance cost of most facilities, except for Tree Farm, Hybrid Tree Farm, Fusion Lab and
    Quantum Lab. Reduced cost of least popular facilities by the greatest factor.
    8. Starting energy
    Increased from 10 to 50, to allow SE changes from the start.

    II. Counter to over-used strategies and exploits
    In the midgame, some factions grow rapidly and their relative might increases exponentially. After carefully designing an
    empire and building it for 100 turns or more, it can vanish in a couple of turns through cheap "chop & drop" tactics.
    These changes come under the heading of slowing the "the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker" tendency of this
    game which is very strong.
    1. Pop booming.
    Pop booming is almost entirely removed by giving all factions -1 growth until Future Society SE's are reached. The only way
    to pop boom is to achieve a Golden Age with Demo/Planned/Creche, which means little booming. This prevents easy wins by the
    first faction to pop boom.
    2. Infinite colony spread (ICS)
    The ICS problem is actually made worse by the half-price colony pods. ICS is reduced by limiting pop booming and by
    eliminating the mineral income from the base square.
    3. Chop and drop
    a. Airdrop range reduced from 8 to 6
    b. Air unit range reduced from 8 to 6 (jet) or 5 ('copter).
    c. Cost of air units doubled
    d. Prototyping costs doubled for air units only
    e. Attack penalty after air drop increased from 50% to 66%
    f. Cost of drop ability now rises with increasing weapon or speed, but not with armor.
    g. Cost of nerve gas pods now rises with increasing weapon
    h. AAA bonus increased from 100% to 125%
    i. Decreased cost of AAA ability, but increased its cost on offensive units
    j. Decreased mineral cost of Aero Complex from 80 to 30
    k. SAM ability now free
    l. SAM probes can bribe air units
    m. Instrinsic base defense bonus and sensor defense bonus both increased from 25% to 50%.
    4. Increase usefulness of seldom-used chasses & units
    5. Overuse of supply crawlers
    Doubled cost of these units. Does not prevent exploits involving upgrades.

    III. Restore balance between offense & conquer versus defense & build
    1. Boost defenses
    a. Instrinsic base defense bonus and sensor defense bonus both increased from 25% to 50%.
    b. Defense bonus (+12%) against fast units for unit in rough or in base.
    c. non combat unit penalty dropped.
    d. AAA bonus increased from 100% to 125%

    IV. Enhance cool components of the game that are seldom used due to minor flaws
    1. Advanced chassis
    Hovertank: Now comes with Superconductor and has 4 move points
    Gravship: Now come with Nanometalurgy and has 16 move points
    2. Breeding native life --much cheaper, and native units given special abilities and more move points:
    Worms: Cost 2 rows of minerals, rover chassis, trance and deep radar abilities
    Isles: Cost 3 rows of minerals, cruiser chassis, AAA and deep radar abilities
    Locusts: Cost 4 rows of minerals, still have gravship chassis, blink and deep radar abilities
    3. Artillery --effect enhanced, removed excess cost for mobile artillery.
    4. Transports: Transport capacity increased for land and air units and cost decreased. heavy transport ability enabled.
    5. Future Societies: These came too late in the game to have an impact. Thought Control is moved two
    techs earlier (to Biomachinery), and the other two future soecieties are moved to their precedessor techs
    (Sentient Econmetrics for Eudomonia and Industrial Robotics for Cybernetic).
    6. Elevation effects on combat: 25% bonus for attacking downhill or defending uphill.
    7. Fungus resources: These pose interesting trade-offs, but came much too late to impact strategy. Now you get more resources form fungus earlier.

    V. Enhance social engenerring settings that are seldom used.
    1. Politics
    a) Fundamentalism is crippling and seldom used.
    Remedy: BOOSTED MORALE BENEFIT (dedicated beleivers), MAINTAINED GROWTH BENEFIT OF DEMOCRACY (command to be fruitful and multiply), REDUCED RESEARCH PENALTY TO ONE, ADDED TALENT PENALTY INSTEAD (elite repulsed)
    b) Police State is somewhat weak except for Spartans and Hive, because additional police units are required to see any effect.
    Rememdy: NOW WITH ++TALENT (elite police), A MORE ORDERLY SOCIETY IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT ADDING POLICE UNITS.
    c) Democracy is unchanged. but you might want to consider alternatives!
    2. Economics
    NO CHANGES: FREE MARKET, PLANNED AND GREEN PERFECTLY BALANCED
    3. Values
    a) Power is crippling and seldom used.
    Remedy: SWITCHED PENALTY FROM INDUSTRY TO RESEARCH (power over knowledge) AND PLANET (power over ecology).
    b) Knowledge is good, but not usually favored over wealth
    Remedy: NOW WITH +TALENT (attracts intellectual elite), +PLANET (ecological and planetary understanding).
    c) Wealth is overused
    Remedy: NOW SLIGHTLY LESS ATTRACTIVE WITH ECOLOGICAL PENALTY (-PLANET, wealth over conservation).
    4. Future Society. These are not actually changed, but "NONE" is given ++INDUSTRY and -GROWTH.
    TRICK HERE IS TO HAVE +2 INDUSTRY FOR ALL FACTIONS THROUGHOUT GAME AND PREVENT NON-GOLDEN AGE POP BOOM BEFORE FUTURE SOCIETY. ADDED +TALENT TO EACH BECAUSE ANY FUTURISTIC SOCIETY WOULD ATTRACT AN ELITE FOLLOWING.
    Creator of the Ultimate Builder Map, based on the Huge Map of Planet, available at The Chironian Guild:
    http://guild.ask-klan.net.pl/eng/index.html

    Comment


    • #3
      Line by line changes

      LINE BY LINE CHANGES

      #RULES
      2, 1 ; Numerator & Denominator for artillery fire damage (was 3,4)
      INCREASED EFFECTIVENESS OF ARTILLERY
      6, ; Max airdrop range w/o orbital insertion (was 8)
      REDUCE EASE OF "CHOP & DROP"
      6, ; Nutrient cost multiplier, was 10
      FASTER EARLY GROWTH
      133, ; Technology discovery rate as a percentage of standard (was 100)
      0, ; Nutrient effect in mine square (0 or -1), was -1 (helps AI)
      100, ; Extra percentage cost of prototype LAND unit (was 50)
      100, ; Extra percentage cost of prototype SEA unit (was 50)
      200, ; Extra percentage cost of prototype AIR unit (was 50)
      2,1, ; Psi combat offense-to-defense ratio (LAND unit defending)
      NEEDED TO BALANCE DEFENSE BONUSES
      3,2, ; Psi combat offense-to-defense ratio (SEA unit defending)
      NEEDED TO BALANCE DEFENSE BONUSES
      3,2, ; Psi combat offense-to-defense ratio (AIR unit defending)
      NEEDED TO BALANCE DEFENSE BONUSES
      50, ; Players' starting energy reserves (was 10)
      ALLOW EARLY SE SHIFT
      50, ; Combat % -> intrinsic base defense (was 25)
      25, ; Combat % -> for attacking from higher elevation (was 0)
      25, ; Combat penalty % -> attacking from lower elevation (was 0)
      12, ; Combat % -> Defend vs. mobile in rough (was 0)
      33, ; Combat % -> Infantry vs. Base (was 25)
      COUNTER FOR INCREASED DEFENSE BONUSES
      66, ; Combat penalty % -> attack after airdrop (was 50)
      33, ; Combat % -> Fanatic attack bonus (was 25)
      COUNTER FOR INCREASED DEFENSE BONUSES
      25, ; Combat penalty % -> Air superiority unit vs. ground unit (was 50)
      0, ; Combat penalty % -> Non-combat unit defending vs. combat unit (was 50; favors defenders)
      0, ; Combat % -> Bonus vs. ships caught in port (was 100; favors defender)
      125, ; Combat % -> AAA bonus vs. air units (was 100; favors defender)
      50, ; Combat % -> Defend in range of friendly Sensor (was 25)
      15, ; Combat % -> Psi attack bonus/penalty per +PLANET (was 10)
      33, ; Retool percent penalty for production change (was 50; favors defender)
      RETOOLS MOST COMMON AFTER SNEAK ATTACK, SWITCH FROM BUILD TO CONQUER
      5, ; Minimum # of turns between councils (was 20)
      10, ; Minerals for harvesting forest (was 5)
      5, ; Turns to corner Global Energy Market (was 20)
      MAKES THIS VIABLE PATH TO VICTORY!
      0, ; If non-zero, humans can always contact each other in hotseat/email games (was 1)
      THIS NEVER MADE SENSE!
      90, ; Maximum % damage inflicted by arty versus units in base/bunker (was 50)
      INCREASED EFFECT OF ARTILLERY
      4, 3 ; Numerator/Denominator for frequency of global warming (1,2 would be "half" normal warming).
      INCREASED RISK OF GLOBAL WARMING

      #TERRAIN
      Farm, None, Kelp Farm, None, 2, Cultivate $STR0, f, F
      Soil Enricher, EcoEng2, Soil Enricher, Disable, 3, Construct $STR0, f, F
      Mine, None, Mining Platform, None, 4, Construct $STR0, M, M
      Solar Collector, None, Tidal Harness, None, 2, Construct $STR0, S, S
      DRASTICALLY REDUCED TURNS TO COMPLETION OF ALL THE ABOVE TO SPEED UP GAME AND ADD INTEREST
      Forest, None, Mangrove, None, 3, Plant $STR0, F, Shift+F
      ONLY SLIGHTLY SPEEDED. ADDED COASTAL SEA FOREST.
      Mag Tube, Magnets, Mag Tube, Disable, 3, Build $STR0, R, R
      Bunker, Poly, Bunker, Poly, 2, Construct $STR0, K, K
      DRASTICALLY REDUCED TURNS TO COMPLETION, NOW VIABLE. AVAILABLE MUCH EARLIER (POLYMORPHIC SOFTWARE)
      Airbase, DocAir, Naval Airbase, DocAir, 4, Construct $STR0, ., .
      Sensor Array, None, Buoy, None, 2, Construct $STR0, O, O
      FAST COMPLETION, ADDED SEA VERSION. WITH DOUBLED EFFECT, NO EXCUSE NOT TO BUILD EVERYWHERE!
      Fungus, None, Sea Fungus, None, 3, Remove $STR0, F, F
      Fungus, EcoEng, Sea Fungus, EcoEng, 4, Plant $STR0, F, Ctrl+F
      Condenser, EcoEng, Kelp Factory, EcoEng, 6, Construct $STR0, N, N
      FAST COMPLETION, ADDED SEA VERSION
      Echelon Mirror, EcoEng, Echelon Mirror, EcoEng, 8, Construct $STR0, E, Shift+E
      FAST COMPLETION, ADDED SEA VERSION
      Thermal Borehole, EcoEng, Sea Borehole, EcoEng, 24, Construct $STR0, B, Shift+B
      ONLY OPTION NOT SPED UP, ADDED SEA VERSION
      Aquifer, EcoEng, Aquifer, Disable, 6, Drill to $STR0, Q, Q
      Raise Land, EnvEcon, Raise Sea Floor, EnvEcon, 8, Terraform UP, ], ]]
      Lower Land, EnvEcon, Lower Sea Floor, EnvEcon, 8, Terraform DOWN, [, [[
      Level Terrain, None, Level Terrain, Disable, 3, Terraform LEVEL, _, _
      Monolith, CentMed, Monolith, CentMed, 8, Place Monolith, ?, ?, (this is here for map editor)
      OPTION TO CREATE MONOLIGHTS AFTER CENTAURI MEDIATION

      #RESOURCEINFO
      Ocean Square, 2, 1, 0, 0,
      ADDED NUTRIENT AND MINERAL FROM OCEAN
      Base Square, 2, 0, 1, 0,
      SUBTRACTED MINERAL TO REDUCE ICS FACTOR
      Bonus Square, 3, 3, 3, 0, * Mineral +1 if mine present
      INCREASED VALUE OF ALL BONUSES
      Forest Square, 1, 2, 0, 0,
      REMOVED ENERGY FROM FOREST. BUILD MORE SOLAR COLLECTORS IF YOU WANT ENERGY.
      Recycling Tanks, 2, 2, 2, 0,
      DOUBLED BONUS
      Improved Land, 2, *, *, 0, "*" columns are ignored entirely
      DOUBLED BENEFIT
      Improved Sea, 3, 2, 4, 0, * Mineral +1 with Advanced Ecological Engineering
      INCREASED
      Monolith, 3, 3, 3, 0,
      INCREASED TO MATcH BONUS
      Borehole Square, 0, 6, 6, 0,
      NOTE: NOT CHANGED

      #WORLDBUILDER
      NO CHANGES

      #WORLDSIZE
      NO CHANGES

      #TIMECONTROLS
      NO CHANGES

      #TECHNOLOGY
      Biogenetics, Biogen, 0, 3, 2, 2, None, None, 100100000
      NOW INCREASES FUNGUS NUTRIENT
      Industrial Base, Indust, 2, 1, 3, 0, None, None, 000000100
      NOW INCREASES COMMERCE INCOME
      Ethical Calculus, EthCalc, 0, 1, 3, 3, Psych, None, 000000100
      NOW INCREASES COMMERCE INCOME
      Gene Splicing, Gene, 0, 2, 4, 3, Biogen, EthCalc, 100100000
      NOW INCREASES FUNGUS NUTRIENT
      Environmental Economics, EnvEcon, 0, 0, 4, 3, IndEcon, EcoEng, 001000100
      NOW INCREASES FUNGUS ENERGY
      Ecological Engineering, EcoEng, 0, 0, 3, 4, Ecology, Gene, 010000000
      NOW INCREASES FUNGUS MINERAL
      Planetary Economics, PlaEcon, 0, 0, 4, 3, EnvEcon, Integ, 001000100
      NOW INCREASES FUNGUS ENERGY
      Threshold of Transcendence, Thresh, 0, 1, 3, 4, User0, User1, 010000000
      CHANGED PREREQUISITES TO TWO NEW TECHS TO DELAY SLIGHTLY.
      Advanced Creation Secrets, User0, 0, 2, 0, 0, Create, None, 001000100
      NEW TECH. INCREASES FUNGUS ENERGY AND COMMERCE.
      Advanced Temporal Mech, User1, 0, 2, 0, 0, TempMec, None, 110000000
      NEW TECH. INCREASES FUNGUS NUTRIENT & MINERAL.


      #CHASSIS
      Infantry,M1, Squad,M1, Sentinels,M2, Garrison,M1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, None, Shock Troops,M2, Elite Guard,M1,
      NO CHNAGE
      Speeder,M1, Rover,M1, Defensive,M1, Skirmisher,M1,2, 0, 0, 0, 3, 2, Mobile, Dragon,M1, Enforcer,M1,
      INCREASED ROVER TRANSPORT CAPACITY TO 3*REACTOR
      Hovertank,M1, Tank,M1, Skimmer,M1, Evasive,M1, 4, 0, 0, 0, 3, 3, Super, Behemoth,M1, Guardian,M1,
      INCREASED SPEED FROM 3 TO 4 WITHOUT INCREASING COST. NOW COMES MUCH EARLIER, WITH SUPERCONDUCTOR. NOW A MILITARY MAINSTAY.
      Foil,M1, Skimship,M1, Hoverboat,M1, Coastal,M1, 6, 1, 0, 0, 3, 3, DocFlex, Megafoil,M1, Superfoil,M1,
      INCREASED SPEED AND CARRYING CAPACITY
      Cruiser,M1, Destroyer,M1, Cutter,M1, Gunboat,M1, 8, 1, 0, 0, 4, 4, DocInit, Battleship,M1, Monitor,M1,
      INCREASED SPEED AND CARRYING CAPACITY, REDUCED COST
      Needlejet,M1, Penetrator,M1, Interceptor,M1, Tactical,M1, 5, 2, 2, 0, 3, 16,DocAir, Thunderbolt,M1, Sovereign,M1,
      REDUCED RANGE FROM 8 TO 5 AND DOUBLED COST FACTOR. INCREASED JET TRANSPORT CAPACITY. TRANSPORT JETS NOW MAJOR FACTOR.
      'Copter,M1, Chopper,M1, Rotor,M1, Lifter,M1, 4, 2, 1, 0, 4, 16,MindMac, Gunship,M1, Warbird,M1,
      REDUCED RANGE FROM 8 TO 4 AND DOUBLED COST FACTOR. INCREASED 'COPTER TRANSPORT CAPACITY.
      Gravship,M1, Skybase,M1, Antigrav,M1, Skyfort,M1, 16, 2, 0, 0, 6, 6, NanoMin, Deathsphere,M1, Doomwall,M1,
      INCREASED RANGE FROM 8 TO 16, ADDED MEGATRANSPORT CAPACITY 6*REACTOR, REDUCED COST. COMES MUCH EARLIER: NANOMINITURIZATION
      Missile,M1, Missile,M1, Missile,M1, Missile,M1, 14, 2, 1, 1, 0, 10, Orbital, Missile,M1, Missile,M1,
      INCREASED RANGE FROM 12 TO 14. REDUCED COST CONSISTENT WITH DISPOSIBLE NATURE.



      #REACTORS
      NO CHANGES

      #WEAPONS
      Psi Attack, Psi, -1, 2, 6, -1, CentPsi,
      SELDOM USED. COST REDUCED 40% TO ENCOURAGE USE.
      Planet Buster, Planet Buster, 99, 0,40, -1, Orbital,
      INCREASED COST (32 TO 40) TO BALANCE REDUCED COST OF MISSILE CHASSIS.
      Colony Module, Colony Pod, 0, 8, 5, -1, None, ; Noncombat packages
      COST CUT IN HALF. THIS WILL HAVE HUGE EFFECT ON GAMEPLAY!
      Troop Transport, Transport, 0, 7, 2, -1, DocFlex,
      COST CUT IN HALF
      Supply Transport, Supply, 0,10,12, -1, IndAuto,
      COST DOUBLED TO REDUCE OVERUSE.
      Conventional Payload, Conventional, 20, 0, 4, -1, Orbital,
      INCREASED ATTACK FROM 18 TO 20 AND REDUCED COST FACTOR BY HALF. NOW TRULY USEFUL.

      #DEFENSES
      NO CHANGES

      #ABILITIES
      Amphibious Pods, 1, DocInit, Amphibious,00000101001, Attacks from ship
      ADDED AMPHIBIOUS PROBE TEAMS
      Drop Pods, -6, MindMac, Drop, 00000111001, Makes air drops
      INCREASED COST FACTOR FOR DROP UNITS WITH HIGH ATTACK OR SPEED
      Carrier Deck, 0, Metal, Carrier, 00101101010, Mobile Airbase
      REDUCED COST
      AAA Tracking, -1, MilAlg, AAA, 00010001011, x2 vs. air attacks
      REDUCED COST FOR DEFENSIVE UNITS, INCREASED FOR OFFENSIVE
      Air Superiority, 0, DocAir, SAM, 00000101111, Attacks air units
      NOW FREE. SAM PROBES NOW ALLOWED.
      Empath Song, 1, CentEmp, Empath, 00000001111, +50% attack vs. Psi
      REDCUED COST; NOW ALLOWED FOR PSI UNITS
      Polymorphic Encryption, 0, Algor, Secure, 00000111111, x2 cost to subvert
      NOW FREE
      High Morale, 0, Integ, Trained, 00000001111, Gains morale upgrade
      NOW FREE
      Heavy Artillery, -3, Poly, Artillery, 00000001001, Bombards
      REMOVED ADDED COST FOR FAST ARTILLERY. PSI BOMBARDMENT NOW ALLOWED.
      Blink Displacer, -6, Matter, Blink, 00000001111, Bypass base defenses
      INCREASED COST FACTOR FOR BLINK UNITS WITH HIGH ATTACK OR SPEED
      Hypnotic Trance, -1, Brain, Trance, 00000111111, +50% defense vs. PSI
      NOW ALLOWED FOR PSI UNITS
      Heavy Transport, 1, DocInit, Heavy, 00100100111, +50% transport capacity
      ENABLED
      Nerve Gas Pods, -2, Chemist, X, 00001001101, Can +50% offense (Atrocity)
      COST NOW RISES WITH WEAPON STRENGTH; NOW ALLOWED FOR PSI UNITS
      Non-Lethal Methods, 0, Integ, Police, 00000001001, x2 Police powers
      NOW FREE

      #MORALE
      NO CHANGES

      #DEFENSEMODES
      NO CHANGES

      #OFFENSEMODES
      NO CHANGES

      #UNITS
      Alien Artifact, Infantry, Artifact, Scout, 12,20, 0, Disable, 2, 000001000000000000000010
      DOUBLED "COST" (=MINERAL VALUE) AND ADDED TRANCE AND DEEP RADAR ABILITIES.
      Mind Worms, Speeder, Psi, Psi, 1, 2, 0, CentEmp, 3, 000001000000000000000010
      MIND WORMS HAVE 2 MOVE POINTS, ARE MUCH CHEAPER,ADDED TRANCE AND DEEP RADAR ABILITIES.
      Isle of the Deep, Cruiser, Psi, Psi, 7, 3, 4, CentMed, -1, 000000000000000100000010
      ISLES HAVE MORE MOVE POINTS, ARE MUCH CHEAPER, ADDED AAA AND DEEP RADAR ABILITIES.
      Locusts of Chiron, Gravship, Psi, Psi, 4, 4, 0, CentGen, -1, 000001100000000000000000
      LOCUSTS HAVE MORE MOVE POINTS, ARE MUCH CHEAPER, ADDED TRANCE AND BLINK ABILITIES.
      NO CHANGE IN OTHER EXISTING UNITS. ADDED:
      Cruiser Probe Ship, Cruiser, Probe Team, Scout, 11, 0, 0, DocInit, -1, 000000000000000000000010
      Probe Foil, Foil, Probe Team, Scout, 11, 0, 0, DocFlex, -1, 000000000000000000000010
      Air Transport, Needlejet,Transport, Plasma, 7, 3, 4, MindMac, -1, 000001000000000000000010
      Drop Colony Pod, Infantry, Colony Pod, Scout, 8, 4, 0, MindMac, -1, 000001000000000000010000
      Troop Transport, Speeder, Transport, Plasma, 7, 3, 3, Chemist, -1, 000001000000000000000010
      Hover Transport, Hovertank,Transport, Silksteel, 7, 3, 4, Alloys, -1, 000000000000001000000010

      #FACILITIES
      Headquarters, 2, 0, None, Disable, Efficiency
      MUCH CHEAPER TO FACILITATE RECOVERY FROM CAPTURE OF HQ
      Children's Creche, 3, 1, EthCalc, Disable, Growth/Effic/Morale
      PRICE FROM 5 TO 3
      Recycling Tanks, 3, 0, Biogen, EcoEng2, Bonus Resources
      PRICE FROM 4 TO 3
      Perimeter Defense, 2, 0, DocLoy, Disable, Defense +100%
      PRICE FROM 5 TO 2
      Tachyon Field, 3, 2, ProbMec, Disable, All Defense +100%
      PRICE FROM 12 TO 3. USUALLY RUSH-BUILT DURING ATTACK.
      Recreation Commons, 3, 1, Psych, SentEco, Fewer Drones
      PRICE FROM 4 TO 3
      Energy Bank, 3, 0, IndEcon, QuanMac, Economy Bonus
      PRICE FROM 8 TO 3, REMOVED MAINTENANCE TO INCREASE USFULNESS
      Network Node, 4, 1, InfNet, HAL9000, Labs Bonus
      PRICE FROM 8 TO 4
      Biology Lab, 3, 0, CentEmp, Disable, Research and PSI
      PRICE FROM 6 TO 3, REMOVED MAINTENANCE TO INCREASE USFULNESS
      Skunkworks, 4, 1, Subat, Disable, Prototypes Free
      PRICE FROM 6 TO 4
      Hologram Theatre, 4, 1, PlaNets, Disable, Psych and Fewer Drones
      PRICE FROM 6 TO 4, REDUCED MAINTENANCE TO REDUCE VALUE OF VIRTUAL WORLD PROJECT
      Paradise Garden, 3, 0, SentEco, Disable, +2 Talents
      PRICE FROM 12 TO 3, REMOVED MAINTENANCE TO INCREASE USFULNESS
      Research Hospital, 6, 3, Gene, Disable, Labs and Psych Bonus
      PRICE FROM 12 TO 6
      Nanohospital, 12, 4, HomoSup, Disable, Labs and Psych Bonus
      PRICE FROM 24 TO 12
      Pressure Dome, 3, 0, DocFlex, Disable, Submersion/Resources
      PRICE FROM 8 TO 3. USUALLY BUILT UNDER DURESS.
      Command Center, 3, 1, Mobile, Disable, +2 Morale:Land
      PRICE FROM 4 TO 3
      Naval Yard, 3, 1, DocInit, Disable, +2 Morale:Sea, Sea Def +100%
      PRICE FROM 8 TO 3, REDUCED MAINTENANCE TO INCREASE USFULNESS
      Aerospace Complex, 4, 2, DocAir, Disable, +2 Morale:Air, Air Def +100%
      PRICE FROM 8 TO 4
      Bioenhancement Center, 5, 1, Neural, Disable, +2 Morale:ALL
      PRICE FROM 10 TO 5, REDUCED MAINTENANCE TO INCREASE USFULNESS
      Centauri Preserve, 4, 0, CentMed, Disable, Ecology Bonus
      PRICE FROM 20 TO 4, REMOVED MAINTENANCE TO INCREASE USFULNESS
      Temple of Planet, 4, 0, AlphCen, Disable, Ecology Bonus
      PRICE FROM 20 TO 4, REMOVED MAINTENANCE TO INCREASE USFULNESS
      Psi Gate, 5, 0, Matter, Disable, Teleport
      PRICE FROM 10 TO 5, REMOVED MAINTENANCE TO INCREASE USFULNESS
      Stockpile Energy, 0, 0, None, Disable, Minerals to Energy
      The Human Genome Project, 30, 4, Biogen, Disable, +1 Talent Each Base, -1, 0, 0, 1, 1,
      PRICE INCREASED 20 TO 30, MAINTENANCE COST OF 4
      The Command Nexus, 40, 4, DocLoy, Disable, Command Center Each Base, 1, 2, 0,-1, 0,
      PRICE INCREASED 20 TO 40, MAINTENANCE COST OF 4
      The Weather Paradigm, 40, 4, Ecology, Disable, Terraform Rate +50%, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1,
      PRICE INCREASED 20 TO 40, MAINTENANCE COST OF 4
      The Virtual World, 40, 8, PlaNets, Disable, Network Nodes Help Drones, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0,
      PRICE INCREASED 30 TO 40, MAINTENANCE COST OF 8
      The Ascetic Virtues, 40, 8, PlaEcon, Disable, Pop. Limit Relaxed; +1 POLICE, 0, 0, 0, 1, 2,
      PRICE INCREASED 30 TO 40, MAINTENANCE COST OF 8
      The Longevity Vaccine, 40, 8, BioEng, Disable, Fewer Drones or More Profits, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1,
      PRICE INCREASED 30 TO 40, MAINTENANCE COST OF 8
      The Hunter-Seeker Algorithm, 60,20, Algor, Disable, Immunity to Probe Teams, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0,
      PRICE INCREASED 30 TO 60, MAINTENANCE COST OF 20
      The Cyborg Factory, 60, 8, MindMac, Disable, Bioenh. Center Every Base, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0,
      PRICE INCREASED 40 TO 60, MAINTENANCE COST OF 8
      The Network Backbone, 60, 8, DigSent, Disable, +1 Lab Per Commerce/Net Node, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0,
      PRICE INCREASED 40 TO 60, MAINTENANCE COST OF 8
      The Cloning Vats, 80,20, BioMac, Disable, Population Boom At All Bases, 0, 0, 0, 1, 2,
      PRICE INCREASED 50 TO 90, MAINTENANCE COST OF 20
      The Space Elevator, 60,20, Solids, Disable, Energy +100%/Orbital Cost Halved,0, 0, 2, 2, 0,
      PRICE INCREASED 50 TO 60, MAINTENANCE COST OF 20
      The Singularity Inductor, 120,20, ConSing, Disable, Quantum Converter Every Base, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0,
      PRICE INCREASED 60 TO 120, MAINTENANCE COST OF 20
      The Telepathic Matrix, 120,20, Eudaim, Disable, No More Drone Riots; +2 PROBE, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1,
      PRICE INCREASED 60 TO 120, MAINTENANCE COST OF 20
      The Voice of Planet, 180, 8, Thresh, Disable, Begins Ascent To Transcendence, 0,-2, 2, 2, 1,
      PRICE INCREASED 60 TO 180, MAINTENANCE COST OF 20
      The Ascent to Transcendence, 600,20, Thresh, Disable, End of Human Era, 0, 0, 2, 2, 2,
      PRICE INCREASED 200 TO 600, MAINTENANCE COST OF 20

      #ORDERS, #COMPASS, #PLANS, #TRIAD, #RESOURCES, #ENERGY
      NO CHANGES

      #CITIZENS
      Transcend, Transcendi, AlphCen, Disable, 2, 2, 3, 0000000
      CUT RESEARCH BONUS FROM 4 TO 3 TO SLOW FRANTIC ENDGAME.

      #SOCIO
      Police State, DocLoy, ++POLICE, ++SUPPORT, --EFFIC, ++TALENT
      NEEDED SMALL BOOST. NOW WITH ++TALENT, A MORE ORDERLY SOCIETY IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT ADDING POLICE UNITS.
      Fundamentalist, Brain, ++MORALE, ++PROBE, -RESEARCH, ++GROWTH, -TALENT
      SELDOM USED. BOOSTED MORALE BENEFIT, MAINTAINED GROWTH BENEFIT OF DEMO, REDUCED RESEARCH PENALTY, REPLACED WITH TALENT PENALTY.
      Power, MilAlg, ++MORALE, ++SUPPORT, --RESEARCH, -PLANET
      SELDOM USED. SWITCHED PENALTY FROM INDUSTRY TO RESEARCH AND PLANET.
      Knowledge, Cyber, ++RESEARCH, +EFFIC, --PROBE, +TALENT, +PLANET
      NEEDED SMALL BOOST. NOW WITH +TALENT, +PLANET.
      Wealth, IndAuto, +INDUSTRY, +ECONOMY, --MORALE, -PLANET
      TOO HEAVILY FAVORED. NOW SLIGHTLY LESS ATTRACTIVE WITH ECOLOGICAL PENALTY.
      None, None, ++INDUSTRY, -GROWTH
      Cybernetic, DigSent, ++EFFIC, ++PLANET, ++RESEARCH, ---POLICE, ++INDUSTRY, +TALENT
      Eudaimonic, SentEco, ++GROWTH, ++ECONOMY, ++++INDUSTRY, --MORALE, +TALENT
      Thought Control, BioMac, ++POLICE, ++MORALE, ++PROBE, -SUPPORT, ++INDUSTRY, +TALENT
      TRICK HERE IS TO HAVE +2 INDUSTRY FOR ALL FACTIONS THROUGHOUT GAME AND PREVENT NON-GA POP BOOM BEFORE FUTURE SOCIETY
      ALL FUTURE SOCIEITIES PLACED ONE OR TWO TECHS EARLIER
      Creator of the Ultimate Builder Map, based on the Huge Map of Planet, available at The Chironian Guild:
      http://guild.ask-klan.net.pl/eng/index.html

      Comment


      • #4
        Seeking feedback

        The documentation leaves a lot to be desired. I welkcome comments, especially along the lines of "Gee I wish I had known that mind worms have a rover chassis and trace ability. I might have built some Empath Rovers before going Free Market!"

        I will also add a mini-strategy guide to help players adjust, including faction-by-faction strategies. Any suggestions for the mini-strategy guide appreciated.
        Creator of the Ultimate Builder Map, based on the Huge Map of Planet, available at The Chironian Guild:
        http://guild.ask-klan.net.pl/eng/index.html

        Comment


        • #5
          Index of related threads

          PREHISTORY OF TURBOSMAC

          Modding to Favor Breeding Native Life:



          Double fast worm mod!:



          Modding to weaken "chop & drop" tactics:



          TurboSMAC for PBEM! Alpha.txt mod HELP!:



          Simple Alpha.txt changes to make SMAC more fun:



          Gwillybj's alpha.txt changes:

          Creator of the Ultimate Builder Map, based on the Huge Map of Planet, available at The Chironian Guild:
          http://guild.ask-klan.net.pl/eng/index.html

          Comment


          • #6
            Any plans for TurboSMAX?
            "Cutlery confused Stalin"
            -BBC news

            Comment


            • #7
              I am curious about the playtesting history for the mod - have any multiplayer games been run to completion?
              Paradigm Omnimedia - You'll Pay Us to Tell You What You Think

              Comment


              • #8
                There are actually a few glitches/inaccuracies/curiosities in the mod:

                Native life, despite having trance and perhaps other abilities, is no harder to kill with a unity rover. However, they can now withdraw from scout patrols, which is quite annoying
                Condensor-farm-nutrient tiles are insane, at 10 nutrients!
                Curiously, monoliths break nutrient and mineral restrictions, but not energy restrictions.
                Yang with Police State/Planned is very, very nice.
                Contrary to what you stated, forests still yield 1-2-1
                "Cutlery confused Stalin"
                -BBC news

                Comment


                • #9
                  TurboSMAX is definitely the next step! I am studying up on the alpha.txt differences.

                  No multiplayer testing yet. My plan is to have a massive TurboSMAC tournament here at Apoloyton. I can CMN a huge number of games with very little effort --just start on a standard map (like my Ultimate Builder's Map) and send at MY 2101. No map editing, no acceleration, no creation of extra units --no scenario editor work at all! All the acceleration comes from alpha.txt and the map.

                  I'm just waiting for some feedback on single-player games before starting the tournament. Oh, and boosted AI factions will be included!

                  I love that worms disengage! They'll heal and come right back at you, often with a life cycle upgrade!

                  The reason why you can still kill worms, despite their Trance ability, is that I increased the advantage of the attacker in psi combat to 2:1 on land, and 3:2 on sea and air. I tested a lot of combinations, and this is the one that gave the best play.
                  Creator of the Ultimate Builder Map, based on the Huge Map of Planet, available at The Chironian Guild:
                  http://guild.ask-klan.net.pl/eng/index.html

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Chaos Theory
                    There are actually a few glitches/inaccuracies/curiosities in the mod:

                    Native life, despite having trance and perhaps other abilities, is no harder to kill with a unity rover. However, they can now withdraw from scout patrols, which is quite annoying
                    This is exactly as intended!

                    Condensor-farm-nutrient tiles are insane, at 10 nutrients!
                    Yup! And quick to build, too! But you might want to keep some fungus around, because later on it gets very good. This happens sooner than in original SMAC.

                    Curiously, monoliths break nutrient and mineral restrictions, but not energy restrictions.
                    Odd, isn't it?

                    Yang with Police State/Planned is very, very nice.
                    Indeed! Maybe too nice. For the big TurboSMAC tournament, I am planning on reserving Hive, University and Believers for the AI (using boosted faction files) and having human players choose between the remaining 4. I tried playing a solo TurboSMAC game against the 3 boosted AI factions, and my first SP was the Longevity Vaccine! If it weren't for beating up on the non-boosted AI, I would have lost!

                    Gaians and (surprisingly) PK's are quite nice. Morgan benefits from the greater number of commerce techs (and greater commerce income) and the delay in pop booming. Spartans make tons of money killing worms, and save big on free prototypes. Plus, morale is more pivitol in TurboSMAC than in the original, which also favors Spartans.

                    Contrary to what you stated, forests still yield 1-2-1
                    I didn't change anything about either forests or boreholes, nor did I intend to. There are enough changes to dela with as it is!
                    Creator of the Ultimate Builder Map, based on the Huge Map of Planet, available at The Chironian Guild:
                    http://guild.ask-klan.net.pl/eng/index.html

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Dilithium Dad:
                      Forest Square, 1, 2, 0, 0,
                      REMOVED ENERGY FROM FOREST. BUILD MORE SOLAR COLLECTORS IF YOU WANT ENERGY.
                      I did not see mind worms benefiting from Trance when I attacked them, even with basic odds of 2:1.
                      Attached Files
                      "Cutlery confused Stalin"
                      -BBC news

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Looks like the Gaians harvesting fungus with the Manifold Harmonics would receive 6/6/9 from each tile of fungus. Pretty nice, even if extremely late game!
                        "Cutlery confused Stalin"
                        -BBC news

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Thanks Chaos. I did change that line, but it had no effect. I will delete it from the documentation. It seems that forest resources are hard-coded.

                          Trance ability does not appear right away. New worms arising from fungal pops definitely have trance. Possibly the worms that are present when the world is spawned lack the special ability. Kill them while you are able!!
                          Creator of the Ultimate Builder Map, based on the Huge Map of Planet, available at The Chironian Guild:
                          http://guild.ask-klan.net.pl/eng/index.html

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Fungus resources go very high in TurboSMAC, without the Manifold project. Think boreholes with 6 nutrients. I added two NEW techs before Threshold to Transcendence that add nutrient and energy from fungus. Just so the techs would do SOMETHING.
                            Creator of the Ultimate Builder Map, based on the Huge Map of Planet, available at The Chironian Guild:
                            http://guild.ask-klan.net.pl/eng/index.html

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              This is just screaming out for ModMan!

                              Here's ModMan 1.06 with TurboSMAC installed and configured.

                              Howto:
                              1. Unpack the attached zip file into your SMAC directory (such that turbosmac.bat winds up in the same directory as terranx.exe).

                              2. Run turbosmac.bat (possibly make a shortcut to it somewhere if you really feel like it, just make sure that the shortcut is set to start in your SMAC dir.

                              3. Go play.

                              If you already have ModMan and just want the .SM file, well :P. It's 54,207 bytes (i.e. 52kb).

                              DilithiumDad, any plans for a SMAX version?
                              Attached Files
                              #play s.-cd#g+c-ga#+dgfg#+cf----q.c
                              #endgame

                              Quantum P. is a champion: http://geocities.com/zztexpert/docs/upoprgv4.html

                              Comment

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