I just got the game. Will I have time to miss my family?

[uberloz]

All those wasted years!

Going to school, working my way up the company ladder, marrying, having kids!

What was I thinking?

I could have been playing Alpha Centauri all this time but instead I just wasted it on all that other stuff.

I should be ashamed of myself!

Is there a 12 step program I can join to help get over that 'real life' monkey that was on my back?

Or will healthy doses of Alpha Centauri be enough to cure me?

If you can't tell, hehe, I'm hooked!

I just started playing and for the first time in years I'm not looking forward to the release of any new games!

Their existance is irrelevant now!

If I can't have a sequel to this game then this is all I will play! (at least for a little while, hehe)

It's just that simple.

[Darsnan]

Re: I just got the game. Will I have time to miss my family?

Originally posted by uberloz
All those wasted years!

Going to school, working my way up the company ladder, marrying, having kids!

What was I thinking?

Yup, I've asked myself the same question on many occasions. How could I have been so blind......
Of course, then again, why all of my kids were born (or at least conceived) before SMAC, so I've got an excuse.

Originally posted by uberloz
Is there a 12 step program I can join to help get over that 'real life' monkey that was on my back? Or will healthy doses of Alpha Centauri be enough to cure me?

Depends on the reason why you play. For the first 3 years I played exclusively on the weekends - I was just to busy with RL otherwise. I was what they call in the gaming world a Decompressor - I played the game to unwind from the vigors of RL. Then I lost my job, and for the last 4 years why I was in Immersion mode where all my free time was spent playing SMAC(X).
So, I guess to answer your question, why you should be able to get enough AC to satisfy your needs, whatever they may be.

Originally posted by uberloz
If you can't tell, hehe, I'm hooked!

I was hooked the minute I picked up and read the back cover of the game back in '98: "This is it" I remember thinking at the time, and I was dead on!
So what Faction are you leaning towards being your favourite? Everyone gravitates towards one or another of the Factions.


D

[uberloz]

Well, I'm still in my first game, and I chose to be a Morganite to start.

I really like how the ai is playing the other factions against me. It's like they really have personalities.

I plan on trying all of the factions several times and then buying smacx.

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by uberloz
Well, I'm still in my first game, and I chose to be a Morganite to start.

Morganite, eh? Darsnan scribbles down a note to himself "Automatic vendetta when encountering the Morganite uberloz".

Originally posted by uberloz
I really like how the ai is playing the other factions against me. It's like they really have personalities.

And when you change environments, they'll change tactics as well! Real intensive stuff!

Originally posted by uberloz
I plan on trying all of the factions several times and then buying smacx.

I think I said it before, but if you like SMAC, you'll love SMAX. Its more of the same, but with more bells and whistles.



D

[Lazerus]

We should all form a suicide cult in our love for SMAC/X



ok just kiddin

[molly bloom]

Divorce your family now.

It will save time, tears and heartbreak...

[Kirov]

Re: I just got the game. Will I have time to miss my family?

Originally posted by uberloz
All those wasted years!

[cut]

Is there a 12 step program I can join to help get over that 'real life' monkey that was on my back?

Ha! Yet another one!

Welcome aboard, uberloz.

As soon as you manage well on the Transcend level, get yourself in an MP game - it's the best single thing you can do with your machine.

One tip - Morgan is one of the most difficult factions to play - tho potentially one of the best. IMHO it's best to start with Hive, Gaians and Zakharov.

Good I'm not married with children and can have constant affairs with Deirdre and Sinder Roze (from SMAX)..

[waab]

Welcome, I didn't know that you even could buy the game even more.

About 12 step program, sorry I have tested it all, but after a hard day in school I just want to go home a nerve staple.

[Alex]

Hehe, another case of Real Life 0 x 1 SMAC.

[Commy]

Make sure to read all the quotes the first few times you play...trust me on that...

[uberloz]

Thanks for the welcome all.

Should I start out all my future threads by saying, "Hello my name is uberloz and I'm an 'Alpha-holic'! ?

Or are we more relaxed here at apolyton?

Hehehe.

Thanks again, and I will read all the quotes and pour over the manual, and drain every drop of advice available in the archives here and whatever you all wish to share.

Edit> Oh and thanks for the vendetta Darsnan, it's nice to know I'm wanted. :>

[Flubber]

The morgans are probably a tougher faction for the first go but definitely one of the best once youmaster them.

I recommend the gaians as a good first choice. Their Planet boost means that the worms are less of a factor, they can pop boom and their efficiency rating is good.

[waab]

I recomend Hive, just go police planed knowledge and kill the oppenents. No one will be abell to lose that amount of troops that you can lose...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by waab
I recomend Hive, just go police planed knowledge and kill the oppenents. No one will be abell to lose that amount of troops that you can lose...

Not a bad choice since PS/Planned are automatic choices that a beginner can stay in throughout the game. The higher support also makes a beginner's task easier as well. I just favor the gaians for that role since the Hive's Econ hit can bite and the Gaians have better research. (Also running positive efficiency ratings allows for some worthwhile use of the Labs/Energy allocation sliders)

[uberloz]

Thanks for the tips guys.

Is there a good strategy guide for the original SMAC that I can buy or download?

I looked in the FAQ here, and all the links to velocyrix's stuff is inactive.

Any help would certainly be appreciated.