Next ACDG: Boost weaker factions? - The Poll!

[Maniac]

Here is a poll elaborating on the discussion started here. I've put a few options to the vote:

1> Don't boost any faction! If you consider a faction too weak, then don't join it, silly!
2> Give some *slight* advantages to certain weak factions.
3> Give the weakest factions a better starting position (eg an extra rocky mineral bonus), the exact bonus to be determined by a CMN through playtesting.
4> Give the weakest factions some changes to their faction characteristics (eg a SE bonus or smaller SE penalty...).
5> Some combination of a better starting position and edited characteristics! Let's give every faction a fair chance!
6> Throw bananas at the weaker factions!

[Jamski]

Don't boost any faction The god that made SMAC/X balanced everyone very nicely (possibly except the aliens)

If I had two votes, then I'd vote "Only boost with extra nice starting terrain"

-Jam

[GeoModder]

Voted for a slight boost. But nothing more then an extra ability or so.

eg. military ability for Spartans, fanatic defense for Believers.

[Minute Mirage]

I also voted for not boosting any factions. Even a small boost in the early game can turn into a real advantage later on, as the early game is so crucial. In order to avoid overcompensations, all boosts should be carefully playtested. All in all, I just think it would be better not to boost any factions at all. In my ideal world, every human faction would have a very similar starting position.

[Snowflake]

I voted no boost also. I agree that if we are talking about human teams, slight boost could become a huge advantage easily. If we are talking about AIs then it may be a different story.

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Minute Mirage
I also voted for not boosting any factions. Even a small boost in the early game can turn into a real advantage later on, as the early game is so crucial.

Originally posted by HongHu
I voted no boost also. I agree that if we are talking about human teams, slight boost could become a huge advantage easily.

Actually the reasons why you vote against boosting can be turned around to justify boosting. If you already agree that a small boost in the early game can turn into a real advantage later, then you must surely agree that the large advantage of about all factions of having +2 Industry & +1 Economy bonus compared to the Spartans and Cult will certainly lead to a *huge* advantage later on. Correct?

[Illuminatus]

Boost starting position.

[Jamski]

Actually Maniac, if you argue that all factions MUST take Wealth, then that +2 Ind and +1 Econ is up against +4 Morale for the Spartans. That's a bonus of +50% to attack and defense.

-Jam

[Frankychan]

Give better starting positions, but other than that...don't mess with the SE and factional bonuses. Those are what make the faction unique and tinkering with them (IMHO) degrades the faction.

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Jamski
Actually Maniac, if you argue that all factions MUST take Wealth, then that +2 Ind and +1 Econ is up against +4 Morale for the Spartans. That's a bonus of +50% to attack and defense.

+37.5%. But opposed to that, all your units costs +20%. But besides your units, all facilities also cost +20%, which has a cumulative negative effect on economic development. So to give a stereotypical example of to what this leads: 5 Spartan commando missile rovers fighting against 10 UoP disciplined Shard fusion-reactor rovers. Extra morale won't help much there.

[Jamski]

Yes, except the Uni got flattened in turn 2120

-Jam

[Maniac]

Will we be playing on a tiny map, with all factions on the same continent?

[GeoModder]

Talking about a challenge...

[Jamski]

Ok Maniac, point taken, you think the Spartans are crap.

I think they're actually quite good and I'm prepared to play anyone with the Spartans to prove so.

-Jam

[Maniac]

You mean you'll play as the Spartans in a next ACDG, or do you mean in some PBEM?