Silly Units (SMAC's Idea)

[Sprayber]

I saw SMAC mention this in another thread and thought that it deserved it's own thread. SMAC, this was just too cool of an idea to let die in another thread.

So what silly unit would you like to see in SMAC? Here are his thougths on the topic.

[qoute] I wish there were actual Units for the supreme leaders. Can you imagine the feeling of satisfaction at assassinating Yang, himself, with a probe-assassin team? Further, I'd like to see some silly units, like 'the media', which could be stuck in the middle of the battlefield so that you could watch far-away wars on Chiron-News. Hrm, other silly units? [/quote]

I think the idea of units that you get for being the planetary gov. would be kind of cool. Something along the line of special probe teams or maybe you can build special facilities in the hq of another faction. of course everything is lost if someone else is elected governor.

[Ari Rahikkala]

Hmm... these are not really about silly units, but interesting ones nonetheless . Sprung to my mind when I was reading that post.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8189

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8238

[Avenoct]

Well, I jumped to the threads, which I remember reading long ago! While it is true you can force the game to use custom units, I was just daydreaming about them actually belonging to the game proper. Just as you can turn on and off the 'play movies' or cutscenes or whatever, it would be amusing if every turn there was a TV show. I think I've seen this done in some game somewhere.
For example:

Up would pop a tiny box view of the battlescene and there would be a caption (this seems like an easy thing to do, programming wise, but don't ask me!), or perhaps it could actually be spoken out. 'Good Evening fellow Gaians! (or whoever you were), Chiron East was rather warm today, and though the locusts have escaped yet again, (custom to the faction) things are looking up on the domestic front. Gaia's Landing built a new research hospital today (this year, whatever), and Dreams of Green has announced new plans for a children's creche! And now, from the battlefield, (insert cheesy name here) 'Wow, looks like the Spartans got the upper hand again, forcing a Hive Rover to retreat from the scene near Fort Superiority' (flash back to cheesy Gaian news anchor). And there you have it, For more detailed news, be sure to check with the production manager (for the newbies).

Ok, silly idea. but the actual unit would be fun. Often I wish I could keep tabs on inter-factional wars, and I do sometimes send a probe team (or later an inviso-unit) to the scene, but they tend to get chopped up for worm-food. I'm just talking about a unit that couldn't easily be attacked (except by another reporter?) and could sit on the battlefield so that during the off-turn you could witness a bit of the battle.

-Smack

[Wiglaf]

So what silly unit would you like to see in SMAC?

A snack vendor, or something along those lines. Ya know, someone to give food to the troops. I dunno, maybe they'd get a +10% attack bonus per serving.

Another little idea borrowed from starcraft would be the medic. Not sure how that would be implemented... maybe if you stack it with your troops they'll get a defensive bonus? The possibilites are endless..