Finally, the "Format of the next ACDG" poll (read carefully)

[GeoModder]

I propose to let the DG('s) choose it's faction first, and limit the choices to real democratic factions.

The reason is that it is most likely that the SP('s) will be the veterans who now how to momentum. Also, looking in hindsight to the Hive this DG, their vet player had to leave because he dominated the gameplay to much, so the more reason that a vet might not feel comfortable in a DG faction.

[Mart]

Originally posted by HongHu
..... It took me about 2 hours to finish the turn and in addition to making quite a few mistakes I developped a big headache too. :P Can't imaging doing this for 6 people every four days. I'd be dead real soon.
...

I agree that performing orders written by someone else may be very tiring. But routine might help. After maybe 10 turns experience might help in performing that quickly. As a member of CyCon I can propose actions in a turn. After all finally one person is performing that turn taking into account set of recommendations from other faction members. GM would have to do it multiple times, yes, but as i wrote above doing something often helps to do it quicker and better each time.

[Trithemius]

I prefer not to play as part of a team factions against SP factions. One of the complaints that seemed to come up was that a given faction was "playing like an SP faction, not a team faction". If this annoyed people during this DG then I can't see how deliberately setting up SP factions is going to keep people happy.

If (and it seems likely) there are SP factions then they should get to choose their faction after the team faction has. Any alternative would seema bit unfair to me.

Finally, I like the SMAX rules and additions, but I am not so wild about the new factions (possibly excepting the Nautilus Pirates since they fill some sort of lack from the SMAC). I'd like to see SMAC factions only, I think.

[Trithemius]

Originally posted by GeoModder
I propose to let the DG('s) choose it's faction first, and limit the choices to real democratic factions.

Pretty much any faction could be construed as democratic. The Spartan Coalition of Centauri Dawn comes across as fairly democratic (the council of advisors overrules Santiago). You could even play the Human Hive as a "team" if you assume that the team-members each represent influence blocs that have to agree in order to ensure things are done (are "cartelistic" system, sort of like Germany 1930-1945?); alternatively you could assume that Yang is a figurehead (maybe he is dead, like the leader in Equilibrium or perhaps he never really the leader at all, like in 1984?) and the real power is in the hands of his "advisors" (the team-members).

You just need to look at it in the right way

P.S. In what may seem a total contrast to everything I mentioned here, I am personally in favour of having the UN "Peacekeepers" as the team-faction (although they need a name-tweaking ).

[GeoModder]

Trithemius: I meant the ingame democratic factions, those that aren't forced to choose police state or fundamentalist.

[Jamski]

Do we think this poll has run long enough? Shall we go to a "run-off poll" with these choices :

• 1 human team vs SP factions
• 3 human teams vs AI factions
• 4 human teams vs AI factions

And assume that SMAX core rules has won (i.e. no alpha.txt mods or custom factions) and that people are interested in giving the AI a boost.

-Jam

[Skanky Burns]

Sounds good to me.

[Jamski]

I've made the run-off poll here :

http://www.apolyton.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=112227

-Jam

[Kody]

We better not have Kody or somebody like Kody be one of the SP player then. I played one turn according to Kody's orders. It was an early turn and we only had about 30 crawlers and 30 formers I suppose. It took me about 2 hours to finish the turn and in addition to making quite a few mistakes I developped a big headache too. :P Can't imaging doing this for 6 people every four days. I'd be dead real soon.

Sooorrrrry

I think that most people won't be so intent at squeezing every single ec and mineral the way I was back then. So it wouldn't be that bad.

Also, looking in hindsight to the Hive this DG, their vet player had to leave because he dominated the gameplay to much, so the more reason that a vet might not feel comfortable in a DG faction.

Hive had a vet player?

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by Kody
Hive had a vet player?

You, I guess?!

[Kody]

Umm I'm still a bit green.

I didn't really play SMAX or SMAC until after I had joined the Hive. When I joined I had just finished struggling with my 2nd game ever at talent level.

[Trithemius]

Originally posted by GeoModder
Trithemius: I meant the ingame democratic factions, those that aren't forced to choose police state or fundamentalist.

I did mention the Hive?

[GeoModder]

No, you blatantly advertised the Pirates...

[Trithemius]

Originally posted by GeoModder
No, you blatantly advertised the Pirates...

No I didn't!
I specifically mentioned that the Hive could be played by a team! :0

Slanderer! :0

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by Trithemius
No I didn't!
I specifically mentioned that the Hive could be played by a team! :0

Slanderer! :0

Got ya!!