Tower of Babel (on topic only PLEASE)

[Googlie]

Right

They wouldn't (couldn't) have any units to control (even Darsnan's tweak that lets the IoD's capture and operate a foil or cruiser wouldn't work as you can't "control" native life)

But they'd have a physical location on the map in the game (maybe each faction has to send a unit there as a "delegation to the ToB" before they can enter the ToB forum and participate in discussions)

Each faction maybe has to "donate" something of value for the ToBbers to offer as a competition prize - an Alien Artifact, chopper, empath gunboat, etc - and while they'll control it while the competition is underway, they must transfer control once the ToBbers have declared a winner (along the lines of the abortive "Cuspidore's Cup race" in the current game)

That sort of thing

At least that was my impression on reading the thread

G.

[conmcb25]

Hey this does sound kind of cool, and MWIA would be great for that.

If UnO does not find his "Mercenary Team" he would be excelent to help in this idea as well.

I like it

[conmcb25]

Hey this does sound kind of cool, and MWIA would be great for that.

If UnO does not find his "Mercenary Team" he would be excelent to help in this idea as well.

I like it

[MrWhereItsAt]

Maybe, con, but my interest dropped when it became clear that there would be no base allowed in-game for this ''faction".

The virtual city is just too much pretending for me.

[conmcb25]

Originally posted by MrWhereItsAt
Maybe, con, but my interest dropped when it became clear that there would be no base allowed in-game for this ''faction".

The virtual city is just too much pretending for me.

Why cant you guys have your own city

[GeoModder]

There's quite a discussion that this would take an AI faction slot.

[Snowflake]

Yes you should really read the thread before you comment on it con.

[conmcb25]

Originally posted by HongHu
Yes you should really read the thread before you comment on it con.

I WOULD BUT some people SPAM SO MUCH AROUND HERE, That I dont usually have the time to sift thru a 1000 posts to find a couple of good ones



Bump out one of the AI's or make the map a tad bit bigger and give MWIA his "Tower of Babylon".

[Snowflake]

Actually I think more than 80% of posts in this thread are actually real discussions about this idea. At least that would be the number before you arrived here.

[Googlie]

for conmcb25's benefit:

Originally posted by Googlie
I haven't heard or read anyone objecting to the principle of a "meeting place" (eschewing the use of the word 'forum' 'cos of its double connotations) as suggested by the "Tower of Babel" proponents as a fertile ground for active game roleplaying.

But why does it have to be an in-game physical site and faction? Can't the same objectives be met essentially with the general forums rec commons - just renamed (or given its own forum with many threads for those wanting to role play in greater depth?)

Objections to it's taking a faction's place are:

If it's not a real faction - and trust me, a Darsnan tweaked faction won't just be decoration - then it's just clutter.

Useless pactmate or treaty partner for Morgan, with just one base.

Not worth Sparta's time to conquer - or Gaian's (unlike, say, a tweaked AI faction that might deliver ten or twenty bases into the hands of a victorious momentum player)

Just an pushover faction for the Angels to infiltrate and get their techshare up and running.

And as a single base faction, will have crappy labpoints, so will skew the tech research rate for the other factions (it would actually be preferable to have just six factions than 6 plus a 1-base faction)

Unless it was compelled to always abstain, it would just be a spoiler in Council decisions, as it would have no in-game imperitives at work, just roleplay preferences and biases

Nothing I've seen about this "ToB" faction can't be done just in the forums - in other words, it doesn't need a faction to be created for all the suggestions to bear fruit.

And I do think it's worthwhile finding a home for the handful of players (and others who'll pop in from time to time) so that they can participate and roleplay. So call it the 8th faction - a Virtual Faction - inhabiting the fungal net, without bricks and mortars, and aren't the same objectives met that way?

[conmcb25]

Thanks Googlie

I have now gone back and read again most of the posts after asking some questions.

It seems to make more sense now.

I just wish some people around here would realize some of us haven't played SMAC much in years and have not yet participated in a SMACX Demo game. So when odd ball stuff like this comes up it may not register the first time.

[MrWhereItsAt]

...So do you support my cause, con?

[Googlie]

I've put forth my reasoned objections to using a faction to house the "dissidents"

MWIA - maybe you could elaborate on what this one-base faction would do - and why it couldn't be accomplished virtually?

G.

[conmcb25]

Originally posted by MrWhereItsAt
...So do you support my cause, con?

Yes I do even though there are some very good reasons not to do it.

I dont roleplay worth a hoot, but I enjoy it when others do so.

And this meeting place on the map intrigues me.

And this is rather unlike me because Im usually a rationalist, but this time, I think we ought to do it even though there are good reasons not to just because.

And just because I want to see how it works.

And im hoping UnO helps you

[Googlie]

Here's a thought

Why don't the Adullamites take over a complete faction, such as the anodyne PK's?

If they don't want to play to win, that's fine.

If they want to limit themselves to just 1 base, that's their prerogative

If they want to be non-militaristic, and give their energy away as prizes for debating contests, round-the-world races, etc etc, that's OK

If they want protection against the AI - who will home in on them like a guided missile - then let them buy protection from other factions if they don't want to build a garrison

After all, no-one is telling the Angels, Spartans, Morganites or Gaians how to organize and run their factions

They'll have to play a turn in sequence in any event if they are "awarded" a real base to use, so why not play as a faction (as they'd have to do anyway) and participate in Council meetings and vote on motions

They have somewhat of a critical mass anyway, with:

MrWhereItsAt
T_Ras
Voltaire
UnOrthOdOx

(and Tass has said previously that if this got off the ground he'd be interested)

MWIA et al- how about it?

G.