Running A Data Angels faction option up the flag pole

[Snowflake]

That's right. Our deals and promises should only be for the real teams.

[foolish_icarus]

Datajacks

Also remember that Angels can mind control units rather more cheaply--then sell them off to factions with lesser probe ratings, thus making it profitable for both sides.

[GeoModder]

Then a capable standing army will be necessary at some time. Less minerals for probe teams then

[MrWhereItsAt]

Originally posted by HongHu
Wow. It does look like a great amount of effort. Love the sheep cartoon.

AWRGH! Busted! A whole new set of Polytoners who know now....

And yes the Gazette was excellent, and well worth the read.... If I ever see Aro again I will do whatever I can to get him here, or where there is a UnO collaboration paper.

And thinking about it a little, I think this faction would be THE perfect one for a Mercenary team. Although instead of military action, how about probe/sabotage/infiltration action? The Angels get some kind of infiltration bonus anyway (can't remember what it is right now), and it's in their interests to promote freedom of information. This could also be a nice way of testing the Mercenary idea out in a different way - the pure hackers' way.

[Trithemius]

Any thoughts for the policy of the faction? I'm not entirely keen on the "utterly neutral" idea, I think that lack of some kind of ideology is counterintuitive to the idea of a faction in the first place.
Having lots of different ideologies might be interesting though!

I favour a sort of "meddling in order to undermine tyrants" kind of ethos. Opposition to the extremes of authoritarianism and militarism, and general mocking of anyone with strong beliefs that are not identical to our own.

[Trithemius]

Originally posted by foolish_icarus
Datajacks

Hey! You didn't get my Cryptonomicon reference!

[MrWhereItsAt]

Originally posted by Trithemius
Any thoughts for the policy of the faction? I'm not entirely keen on the "utterly neutral" idea, I think that lack of some kind of ideology is counterintuitive to the idea of a faction in the first place.
Having lots of different ideologies might be interesting though!

How about tacit disapproval of anything anyone else does. A 'dissent is good' sort of ideology. You cooperate only grudginly with everyone.

[Trithemius]

Originally posted by MrWhereItsAt
How about tacit disapproval of anything anyone else does. A 'dissent is good' sort of ideology. You cooperate only grudginly with everyone.

I don't know about that, I prefer the gleelfully helping people then having to radically change things when policies alter.

[GeneralTacticus]

WIA: the Angels get any tech owned by three infiltrated factions. Kind of like the Planetary Datalinks once you've got some infiltrated factions.

[GeoModder]

So infiltrate we simply must

[Trithemius]

Some ideas I have been batting about...

I am going to put up some thought I have been having on the Data Angels, for people to think about and comment on.

DISCLAIMER: These are just my ideas, and should not be taken as any thing other than that.

Discuss please!

[Mart]

Is Hercules around? I would like to know more about organization of the Data Angels, how that possibly would look like.

[UnOrthOdOx]

And thinking about it a little, I think this faction would be THE perfect one for a Mercenary team. Although instead of military action, how about probe/sabotage/infiltration action? The Angels get some kind of infiltration bonus anyway (can't remember what it is right now), and it's in their interests to promote freedom of information. This could also be a nice way of testing the Mercenary idea out in a different way - the pure hackers' way.

Sure, evolve the mercenary role to fit SMAX better.

How 'bout it WIA? Shall we join and promote this? You KNOW you want to... HongHu's already here, we'ld have half of team Mercenary if we joined too...a good foundation.

Speaking of which, HongHu, you know, you COULD join in the private forum on MZO occasionally...

Any thoughts for the policy of the faction? I'm not entirely keen on the "utterly neutral" idea, I think that lack of some kind of ideology is counterintuitive to the idea of a faction in the first place.

What's so wrong with being neutral? Just make sure you're the high bid if you're going to be needing the services.

That's right. Our deals and promises should only be for the real teams.

that would have to be. NO WAY an AI can comprehend such notions.

I've been thinking this idea. An obvious drawback for SMAX to practise this concept is that you cannot gift bases to another faction. In other words, a faction cannot hire us to take an enemy base for it.

Do I need to lay it out? We attack a city, take it, then leave it undefended so the one hiring us can then do as they please...

[Mart]

I have read that there is not many people wishing to join Angels. I consider joining this faction, just need a little input what style of play it will be?

[Hercules]

Also read Trithemius ideas posted as an attachment. I can see that working well with the DA's.

These ideas (Trithemius's) would need to be in some way compatible or workable with UnOrthOdOx and MWIA concepts. It wouldn't be a good idea to have players join only to discover their desire for complete neutrality was at odds with a sizeable number who were more open to all ways of succeeeding.

See also Vels guide

you should play this group as a synthesis of Morgan, Lal, and Svensgaard.

Also the DA's forte at probing is going to get them into constant bouts of vendetta as under the MP rules you must declare this when probing other than initial infiltration.

That base transfer ( the mercenary idea) approach also means the 'new owner' will go into vendetta for 1/2 turns in order to take over the base.

As Kody suggests elsewhere for factions: there will be the micro managers and strategists alongside the RP politics and diplomacy players and that's how I see the DA operating. But there would also be structure as the moves become more complex.

I also imagine that in the light of experience of this ACDG team game, the level of politics and diplomacy activity between factions is going to be higher.