Alpha Centaury or Call To Power II

[BustaMike]

SMAC is the greatest TBS game ever made. Get that one.

[Mr. President]

Alpha Centauri, if only for the interludes.

[Sikander]

SMAC is very good, and SMACX is even better if you can find a copy.

[Dis]

what are some good mods for call to power 2?

I have that game, but I only played it once. Maybe I should give it another whirl?

The problem I had was I kept forgetting to build roads and other public improvements

[Dis]

Is SMACX that good?

I only have classic SMAC. I grew bored of it by the time the exp came out.

But lately I have been playing pbems of SMAC on the ACOL forums. Still a cool game.

Classic is a good game even without the exp.

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by Solver
FP, played CtP2 or modded CtP2?

Just standard CtP2.
I know that everybody considers the mods to be 10 times better than the vanilla version, but I was comparing the out-of-the-box versions of SMAC and CtP2, since I've neither tried any CtP2 mods nor the SMAC expansion.

[TheBirdMan]

None of them - try CTP and play PBEM/MP against other human beings.

[Harovan]

Depends on your preferences.

If you want to kick ass of a barely existing AI without the fear of being kicked back, play plain CtP2. It also should suit for multiplayer.

If you want to play against an AI, that got enough bonus advantages to halfway compete, play modded CtP2.

If you want a real deep and complex game, try SMAC, but be aware that you'll need some time to learn the rules of this game and to actually like it. This investment in time will pay off later, but can be annoying if you want only some cheap entertainment.

If you don't like futuristic stuff, play neither of them and stick with Civ2 or 3.

[Dis]

the rules are simple.

Although the terrorforming is a bit different with the elevations and xenofungus.

The thing about SMAC is the futuristic techs, and unit workshops, and of course the different terraforming. The goverment types are different, but once you graps what the effects are, it's not too difficult.

SMAC is my best TBS game. I do better at that one than I do at civ2 or civ3. I figure the reason for this is an ai that cannot grasp all the concepts.

[Hydey]

use both of them as drink coasters and play civ2 MP

[Skanky Burns]

Two drinks at the computer?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Dissident
SMAC is my best TBS game. I do better at that one than I do at civ2 or civ3. I figure the reason for this is an ai that cannot grasp all the concepts.

Probably it. SMAC requires a good understanding of how various aspects interact with each other. The Unit Workshop and Social Engineering are great for us but are too difficult for the AI. Various terraforming too can get complicated.

Other than Sid's first mega-game Railroad Tycoon, this is one I do best.

[Barley]

For me it is CTP2, I prefer the realistic technologies and buildings you can relate to.

Ive played CTP2 for a few years now and still play Multiplayer most nights. I only play MP games as there is so much greater diversity and a stronger challenge from human opponents.

If you try CTP2 and want to experience MP check out the CTP2 forums or email me for a list of up to date online oponents.

Barley (always room to improve my game)

[spartak]

SMAX any day.

[Velociryx]

If you like Sci Fi at all, SMAC/X is your game. It's *hugely* immersive, and even if you wind up turning the wonder movies off after you've seen them a few times (I always watch 'em), you can't help but appreciate the time and attention to detail that went into the game (quotes from important people in the story when you get a tech advance, or build the first of a given building type...it's the little stuff that makes SMAC really stand out from the crowd).

Having said that though, I find modded CTP2 extremely compelling. It's got some fantastic design ideas, not the least of which are public works, and non-standard "combat" units (you can build standard military fare, yes, but you can also "attack" your opponents with priests, lawyers, corporate franchises, slavers, and the like). CTP2 also has a wonderfully powerful scripting engine which really opens doors, and which the modding community has made some innovative use of.

CTP2 also introduces the concept of "Feats of Wonder" - if you are the first person to circumnavigate the globe, the first time you recapture a city you built from enemy control....these kinds of things trigger bonuses for your growing empire, acting as kinda temporary wonders (which, of course, the game has in quantity!).

Good stuff.

-=Vel=-