As the first mortal (aka - not belonging to Firaxis) I know (or MarkG knows, for that matter) that has SMAX, I’ll try to preview it based on the new info in the manual. How I haven’t played it yet, I don’t know. I just wanted to tell everyone that SMAX is here and how it looks....

SID MEIER'S ALIEN CROSSFIRE README.TXT 9/15/99 Undocumented Additions: *Sea Borders: coastal bases now extend borders into the sea for all squares adjacent to the base. Nearby water bases do not affect these borders. *Detonating a fungal missile may now trigger native life forms from dormant spores. The higher the reactor level, the greater the number of spores. *Fungal Towers receive a 50% bonus when attacked, due to their ability to co-ordinate and direct native life forms in the vicinity. *A Progenitor faction controlling the Manifold Nexus receives +1 Research in addition to +1 Planet. *The Manifold Usurpers have a -1 Planet due to their intent to subvert the Transcendence process. *The Cybernetic Consciousness may steal technology when capturing a base, regardless of the rules preference set at the beginning....

NEW FACTIONS:

• Nautilus Pirates:
  
  Agenda: Pillage and Burn
  Tech: Doctrine (Mobility), Doctrine (Flexability)
  
  • -1 effencicy
  • -1 growth
  • Free naval yard with the discovery of Doctrine (Inititive)
  • Can build sea enhancements in ocean squares with advanced ecological engineering
  • Sea colony pods and sea former prototypes free
  • Bonus minerals from ocean self squares
  • Marine detachment abilty free with the discovery of adaptive doctrine

...

Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire Goes Gold

Expansion Pack for Alpha Centauri to ship October 19, Demo to be available pre-release

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., September 28, 1999 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world's largest interactive entertainment software company, and FIRAXIS Gamesâ„¢ today announced that Sid Meier's Alien Crossfireâ„¢, the official expansion pack to the critically acclaimed, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauriâ„¢, has gone gold. The massive expansion pack, which features seven new playable factions, several new technologies and secret projects, and a new plot that continues the story of humanity's struggle to colonize a hostile alien world, will begin shipping to stores on October 19. The companies also announced that a demo of the expansion pack would be available before the title's release....

Agenda: Prevent Transcendence

Tech: Progenitor Pysch, Centauri Ecology, Field Modulation, Information Networks, Biogenetics

• 25% bonus on defense
• +1 planet
• Free recycling tanks at every base
• "Energy grid" at every base
• Extra colony pod, battle orge MK1
• All prototyped units have 2-square sight
• Posses a physical scan of planet (same as having unity survey on)
• Can direct research efforts (no blind research ever!)

...

The Cult of Planet is a mysterious group arising shortly after Planetfall that have a strong rapport with Planet.

+2 Planet (total harmony with Planet’s will)
-1 Economy (lack of interest in worldly goods)
-1 Industry (lack of interest in worldly goods)

Brood Pit free at each base with discovery of Centauri Genetics (fascination with native life forms)

Mind Worms do double police duty (awe of native life forms)

Aggression: Aggressive
Priorities: Explore, Conquer
Starting Tech: Centauri Ecology, Social Psych
Choices: Green
Aversions: Wealth
...