Aldebaran 2: Smax

[GeoModder]

Started a game in Aldebaran, and I'm literally lost in research
interesting start for the Nauticons, having long-range ships from the start. Only too bad the game labels cruiser seafomers as destroyers.

Nice base pics for the probe faction, they didn't look so appealing on the Network Node. Perhaps remove that little 'crane' on the base?

Graphics: Base graphics for the... um... peacekeeper faction (Satira?) don't look so nice on the map IMO. But that's just my feeling...

[smacksim]

I agree! I'm slowly working back through the 'original' Aldebaran graphics by Cybergod. They could all use help.

By the way, foils are even faster than cruisers.

I finished adjusting 2.0.7 which had a couple non-breaking errors. I also worked long and hard on the tech blurbs and some of the alien text. There's lots more to do if anyone wants to jump in.

If you downloaded 2.0.7 before this post, you might want to get these updated text files that correct a few problems

2.0.7.a Updates:

• Changed Colonists to get a regular former instead of megaformer
• tech blurbs have been improved
• Units updated in help text (thanks again Darsnan)
• Alien Speak about Galactics rather than Progenitors (lots of changes)
• Subsea Trunkline moved to Robotics to clear up Human Ecology a bit
• All factions re-checked for Social Engineering Compatibility

2.0.7.a is the full graphics and text version of Aldebaran:

text files for updating 2.0.7 from yesterday if you downloaded it then.

I tested things pretty hard and feel ready for a succession game!

I posted the succession game. It's turn 1 to Darsnan. Good luck beta team. At least I refrained from putting SAI in the game. It's a random map. No tweaking or peeking by me.

Aldebaran Succession Game

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by smacksim
At least I refrained from putting SAI in the game.

Thats a relief!

I've played the turn and posted here. Essentially my thoughts: research the tech for Aldebaran transports, and maybe pod a few of these. Beeline towards Illicit Controls and get Probe capabilities so we can build our own Probe Crusiers. Then beeline towards Quasi Controls.

I've founded our first base and directed our second CP to a nice looking cove. However upon arriving why the bay is choked with fungus. Its up to the next player to determine whether to plant the pod or move on.

I chose to build a Former first at our capital. The next player can either rush build it now, or wait (I'd vote for rushbuild myself!). I also podded an artifact and 25EC's during my turn. FYI.


D

[smacksim]

Anyone care to have a stab at translating the name 'Awen Llavella' from the latin? It's a name of a character I played in a MUD years ago. Pronounced 'A-ven Ya-wella'. I'm going on vacation in 10 days.

[#endgame]

I don't know if it's fixed in the more recent versions, but if you have a blank line in a faction blurb and then place any lines underneath it, SMAC thinks that they are in fact menu options and it looks real odd.

[smacksim]

I did notice and fix that bug --------SQUISH!---------

[#endgame]

ModMan 1.02 is now up in its thread, and should be pretty well completed. It swaps aand runs SMAC as well now, so if you're paranoid back up your SMAC dir.

[smacksim]

Further cleanups and improvements to helpx, conceptx, and script text files today.

Modman still works, and now it appears to be working for one-click installs. I ran it successfully off a shortcut to run.bat, which means I can recompile a full game installer. However, I need to test this a little more. Feedback going to the ModMan thread.

[smacksim]

Working on faction graphics. Found some excellent symbols for Planetlovers and Galactics...more on them soon. The Peacemaker graphic is kind of a joke. I need to find a Dierdre-like hippie-ish image that's not about Gaia. This will do for now and is kind of fun. The Universality picture adapted from Net-Node image. The base graphics for Peacemaker are from the Mars Project. The base graphics for the Universality are colorized Fungboy graphics.

Additionally, the Colonists and Galactics share a similar but differently colored base-graphic (the nifty dome one). I still need 2 sets of base graphics for the Outlaws and Planetlovers. I'm not happy with what's available...yet.

[smacksim]

I think I found some better Peacemaker images...one's more in line with the Indian Heritage of 'Sarita Kakani'

[GeoModder]

Have you thought about the leader image of the CCC faction in the NetworkNode? It's not hippie-ish, rather serene stylish.

[smacksim]

I kinda like making the leader images from things I find online. It's the base graphics that are a real chore. I've got all the Net Node factions. There's still a nice one or two that are on reserve for factions already completed.

[#endgame]

Have you given any thought as to Vel's messings win SE in the Torture Mod (small negative penalties for the default settings)?

[smacksim]

Yeah, when we were discussing the Torture mod, I thought I'd have a go at playing with the SE tables to see if I could level things out for the poor AI. Aldebaran is the result.

Some things if the default were negative, it would just shift the game. Industry, for instance. If everyone has a penalty, it's the same as if you just required more minerals in alphax.txt per row. Here's what I think about making penalties for the default settings, as far as the AI goes. It's another story for Multiplayer though:

• Police: The AI needs police much more that humans = X
• Support: The AI needs support much more than people: X
• Morale: Doesn't matter much
• Growth: Can slow down the game considerably by making everyone start with -3 growth, which means no growth at all. Or, you can change the nutrient rows in alphax.txt, with much finer tuning.
• Research: Again, easier to fine tune in Alphax.txt. Aldebaran is 60% of normal research rate, for instance.
• Economy: Making the default value negative and leaving the rest of the SE table alone is a nice quick way to compel people to make a choice. This narrows the options and complexity of the overall game though, while only hurting those factions with slow econ in the first place
• Probe: This makes sense, to avoid the rollover bug if nothing else.
• Industry: See Nuts

So yeah, it's a good idea, but hard to implement with Smac's rigid 4x4 SE table. And many of these effects are better done elsewhere, IMO.

For a scenario though, it could be good to make one or two changes to give the traditional builders something to sweat.

-Smack

[smacksim]

Aldebaran 2.0.9 is ready. If it's working well I'll go ahead and release 2.1 with ModMan for 1-click install and use.

Further small changes and improved graphics.

This is backwards compatible with other versions so you can get away with playing games between versions in a pbem, if that were to happen. So it's not a 'needed' download for the succession game, for example.

The graphics are still in transition, but I think you'll like the slightly better bases and leader graphics. I still need Gaian type bases for the Planetlovers, if anyone cares to make some Also, the bases are slightly off-center still (#endgame pointed this out to me). Not to worry. This isn't final in any way.

I improved the AI SE preferences a bit, having them choose things that'll actually help their faction. This was why you didn't see the Outlaws dominating before. They were running Paranoia, which doesn't help them that much with their police issues.

Syndicate have had their rush-buy penalty removed and instead have -1 industry. Here's their full profile:

+1 Economy: {Syndicate Economics}
-1 Industry: {Federated Companies not state controlled}
-1 Police: {Federated Companies}
+1 Commerce: {Treaties, pacts, loans more valuable}
Interest: 5% {Federal Banking and Investment}
Penalties doubled for running State Economics
Immunity to negative Economy Effects
{May not use Controlled Industrial Protocols.}

This is now definately a builder faction, comparable to Morgan, but with industry and police difficulties instead of support difficulties. Note that they start with Commercial Applications which allows the Lassaiz Faire economic choice for 40 ECs. This puts them at +2 Econ +2 Efficiency, but -3 Police and -1 Planet. Still a very strong position.

Also, you should re-examine the Universality and Planetlovers. The first is a momentum-hybrid sin qua non because of the ability to learn techs through the datalinks and focus energy on rush-building instead. The Planetlovers are also Green Warriors, with the ability to thrive in almost any fungus patch. Both are not prohibited from a builder strategy, though they won't be as strong in that capacity as either the Syndicate or the Colonists.

I'm designing an optional 9th faction as a splinter of the University. A group that is appalled by Zak's current non-research attitudes.

On a final note, keep in mind that the Galactics and Colonists, being aliens, will be in vendetta from the start if you play with both of them. You can even play with those 2 and the Progenitors for kicks.

Here's 2.0.9 .... uploading done! It's over 4 megs, so if you're on dialup, be patient.
Aldebaran 2.0.9