How Do I remove The Alien Factions From The Game?

[The_Reckoning]

I want to play my games on random but I don't want the alien factions cluttering up my games with their extra power.

I tried removing their files and the lines CARETAKE, CARETAKE [etc.] from alphax.txt but that made the game pop up a message saying a line is missing.

[Marid Audran]

One must go into alphax.txt and replace the #NEWFACTIONS entries for the progentiors (Usurpers, Caretakers) with two different factions. www.networknode.org has some custom factions to download that you could insert. I believe Apolyton's SMAC section of this site does as well at: http://apolyton.net/smac You'll find instructions on installing the factions and altering the alphax.txt (essentially just putting the name down twice).

I myself play with two custom factions of my own which I consider very fair and balanced, interesting additions to the other 12 human factions, and included a little background information on them in relation to the Unity. If you're interested I could even email you them for your perusal.

Anyway, that's what you must do if you wish to play a truly random, alien-free SMAX game.

[Senethro]

Originally posted by Marid Audran

I myself play with two custom factions of my own which I consider very fair and balanced, interesting additions to the other 12 human factions, and included a little background information on them in relation to the Unity. If you're interested I could even email you them for your perusal.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146228

Some people there might be.

[wgabrie]

You could also play with the Brian and Sid factions. A tribute to the creators. They are identical factions but they also come with the game.

[The_Reckoning]

Yeah but I really just prefer the original 14, just without the aliens. Is there any way to just remove them?

[Petek]

Originally posted by The_Reckoning
Yeah but I really just prefer the original 14, just without the aliens. Is there any way to just remove them?

In Alphax.txt, you can replace the aliens with two of the original factions (e.g., replace CARETAKE with GAIANS and USURPER with HIVE). The game then runs, but in a random start you might get two instances of the same faction (the ones you added to the NEWFACTIONS section).

[Marid Audran]

Originally posted by Marid Audran
One must go into alphax.txt and replace the #NEWFACTIONS entries for the progentiors (Usurpers, Caretakers) with two different factions. www.networknode.org has some custom factions to download that you could insert. I believe Apolyton's SMAC section of this site does as well at: http://apolyton.net/smac You'll find instructions on installing the factions and altering the alphax.txt (essentially just putting the name down twice).

I myself play with two custom factions of my own which I consider very fair and balanced, interesting additions to the other 12 human factions, and included a little background information on them in relation to the Unity. If you're interested I could even email you them for your perusal.

Anyway, that's what you must do if you wish to play a truly random, alien-free SMAX game.

There is no way to skirt this, Reckoning, the alien entries must be replaced. Clones, new factions, whatever; but they must be something if you intend on having a random SMAX setup.