SP revisions?

[Natalinasmpf]

Again, this might be an old idea, but I have thought some of some secret project revisions, in the future, should SMAC's source code be released to the public, so we can improvise...*hopefully*

We can still fantasise, still (and I also know some of these can be implemented via alphax.txt, but the problem is that some of them cannot, and they may go awry without each other):

Doublethink Perfection Project: The equivalent of immunity to the bad effects of fundamentalist political choice and knowledge value choice. Mind control vulnerability halved without thought control, immunity to mind control with thought control implemented. However, other probe choices are unaffected, unless you have other SP's which affect other aspects.

Based around the idea of George Orwell's 1984, where people could be follow Big Brother personality cults (somehwat like fundamentalist) yet excel at science...and excel at science without losing too much loyalty.

Revision: Hunter-Seeker Algorithm. +50% defense (not attack) to probe teams. No longer immune to enemy probe teams, but success of probe teams cut in half (or thirds?). All bases receive +1 probe rating. This is also only a software initiative, like Norton Antivirus (but much better since its pre-sentient), with possible loopholes, so mind control isn't that much affected, except difficulty (I mean, its hard to pass propaganda to people where information flow has been monitored, right?)

Bear this in mind that I want these to be implemented only after the probe rollover bug has been fixed. Also Miriam would receive +2 probe, and the threshold for immunity to mind control will be raised to +4 probe. (Also considering giving robust/immunity to knowledge for Angels anyway).

CBA revision: Maintenence for Aerospace Complexes cut to zero. However, You still have to build Aerospace Complexes at half price (or one third?). +1 fuel and +1 morale to air units anyway, on top.

Command Nexus revision: In addition to its original effect, all land troops now receive +50% for base defence instead of +25%. Basically, the command nexus makes bases virtual bunkers.

Someone gave the idea of moving hologram theatres and Virtual World to Optical Computers. Good idea.

Longevity Vaccine revision: free market effect, I'm thinking of raising it to +100% or +150% ECON instead of just +50%.

Nethack Terminus: Revision...thinking of moving it to Advanced Military Algorithms, and reducing its cost to 300.

Aquifier Paradigm: Prerequisite is Adv. Ecological Engineering - rivers now give you +1 mineral and +1 energy, and raise and lower costs are halved.

Hmm, I'll think of more later.

[binTravkin]

I don't thing that things you describe are possible..

[Natalinasmpf]

Well, it is fantasising.....

Actually I was interested in finding out how people thought about the Doublethink SP and the revision of the HSA.

[WotanAnubis]

Personally, I think the Bulk Matter Transmitter needs to get an overhaul. I mean, "+2 Minerals in every base"? 2 to 4 Nessus Mining Stations will take care of that _and_ they're cheaper.

Of course, I don't know how it should be revised, but in keeping with its theme, perhaps it could be "Counts as a Psi Gate in every base".
I don't know if that'll make it over- or underpowered, though.

[Natalinasmpf]

Currently, intended or not...Bulk Matter Transmitter also gives a +50% mineral output benefit to each base as well....

Yeah, but I think its a bug, so yeah, it should count as a Psi Gate in every base.

[binTravkin]

I have not read the "1984", thus I cant judge the idea of Doublethinking properly..

Maybe you can offer a source from where I can get it?
In any format (digital or analogue (on paper))

And btw - Natalinasamp (sorry for misspelling - can't remember such a long name), came in to Gaian private forums at ACDG - I see you've signed for Gaian team, so participate!
There are some official titles available right now!
For example - ambassador by Data Nagels...err, Angels
Or maybe by Spartans or Morganites?
Anyways - we've got no ambassador candidates right now..
Seems roleplaying diplomacy is quite unpopular these days.. (at least I like it! )

[livid imp]

Yes, either someone needs to begin developing SMAC 2, or Firaxis should release the code.

And actually I am starting to like the fact that some SPs are much better than others. I like the fact people will trip over themselves to get the HSA, but practically ignore the ME. It adds dimension to the game. All things need not be equal....just balanced. I say leave the HSA, but do fix the Nethack, cause it is pointless by the time it appears.

Instead what I would like to see are lesser versions of the SPs in addition to the regular SPs.
So if someone gets the HSA, a second, weaker (say a +2 to Probe rate), more expensive (say 100 mins more) version becomes availabel to be built. That way you don't get completely locked out of the probe defense SP, but you would have to pay more and get less....but at least you would have the option.

[SynthetGod8]

Doublethink is the method by which a person and hold two contradictory statements to be both true and false. When one is required to believe the first statement, one can simply pull it from memory, forget the second statement, and forget the act of remembering the first and forgetting the second. Visa versa when one is required to believe the second statement. And one can simply swap between the two statements or ideas without conscious knowledge of doing so.

In terms of the SP described, it would allow advancement of scientific knowledge even when such knowledge has been officially banned or altered (like gravity doesn't exist or some silly notion) by the government because the good doublethink scientist would hold both ideas to be true and false at the same time. He'd know the 'truth' when he's in public, denouncing the evils of science, but know the truth when applying it something practical within his own lab.

[Whoha]

Longevity is pretty good as is, +100% econ is ALOT(the space elevator gives it an the energy from my SSC jumps to the thousands).

[Whoha]

Planetary transit system(lets take a overpowered wonder and just make it 10 times better ) now lets colony pods treat all terrain as road in addition to the pop rules.

[Natalinasmpf]

Now? Are you sure...? Or was that a fantasy?

If it wasn't...wow I never knew that.

And btw - Natalinasamp (sorry for misspelling - can't remember such a long name), came in to Gaian private forums at ACDG - I see you've signed for Gaian team, so participate!

Well I have for quite a while participated, but nothing major currently, I guess.

Longevity is pretty good as is

Too much like an energy bank!

[Whoha]

No, its not an energy bank, it affects econ after facility improvers have done their work from what I've seen.

And yea, that would be my modification to the PTS, not that it does that.

[livid imp]

Originally posted by Natalinasmpf

Longevity is pretty good as is

Too much like an energy bank!

Except it is cumulative with the energy bank. Besides, the real power of the LV is the drone quelling in Planned and Green/Simple. If you are an FM addict (like me), then this is not the best SP for you. Deal with it.....what fun would a game where all things are equal all the time be? Balance....not equallity

[Natalinasmpf]

The flaws of capitalism?

[WotanAnubis]

Originally posted by Natalinasmpf
The flaws of capitalism?

Provided we're talking about the Longevity Vaccine... not really.

You see, in a Planned economy, the vaccine would probably be distributed (almost) freely by the government, which would make a lot of people happy (or less angry, if you prefer).

Simple and Green economies won't go quite as far, but would make sure that the price would be affordable for pretty much everyone.

In a Free Market, however, the vaccine probably gets sold by some corporation, who obviously try to make a profit out of it and since the vaccine is such a valuable commodity they can demand a high price and still have lots of people buy it. This does not tend to make regular people happy, but it does make money.

So... I wouldn't exactly call it a "flaw" of capitalism, but more of a... err... characteristic.