Pay Yang $2500 with $180 in bank?

[Ned]

In my last game, Yang, a Pact Bro, asked me to pay $2500 to fund his social experiments. I have $180 in the bank. So naturally, I say yes, expecting Yang to gripe that I don't have the money. But instead, he is paid and I now have a deficit credit of -$2320.

Next I expect that the game will force me to sell facilities until I make up the debt. But no, the next turn I end up with a positive $140, and no facilities sold. Yang, the Pact Bro still has the $2500.

Obviously, this is a bug.

[Wiglaf]

If it's a bug, I've never heard of it. I gotta run so I can't check it out, but I'm sure some of the other guys/girls of this forum'll help you out.

[Ned]

**bump**

Well, several days and not one response.

I guess I did uncover an original bug.

Helium Pond, if you are listening, add this to the list.

Ned

[Ned]

Fitz, Yes, I knew about the reverse as well - especially "selling" all one's technology to a submissive. Most consider this a cheat. However, our thinking this may have to be "revised" if the AI itself uses it and gets away with it.

I was wondering how this works in multiplayer. Can one demand mountains of gold from a Pact brother and have him pay without the necessary funds so that he then has a negative net worth, with no adverse consequences the next turn, while you in turn have that mountain of gold?

Ned

[Earwicker]

This is reminiscent of the negative plunder bug in CivII, which on more than one occasion pushes you into poverty when playing scenarios (the only time the AI has enough money to mess up the game's moneycounters). The corection from negative money back to zero always worked the same way. Haven't seen it happen in SMAC, but I'm rarely tempted to pay Yang his exorbitant fees.

It's unfortunate that the game allows such a thing, since the AI usually has a tough enough time of it.

[Fitz]

Ned, the reverse of this is a known bug. Demanding money of submissive Pact brothers can force them into the negatives, apparently without harmful affect. I've never heard of it happening to a human player though.