Aldebaran 2: Smax

[smacksim]

cheers Endgame. Thanks for the ideas r/e simplifying the installer. That gives me something to work with. I hope you do download the current 2.0.5 files and play. It's shaping up nicely, HugeGnome Project and all

[smacksim]

I looked at your suggestion again Endgame. This would be fine if the files were the same in both Smax and Aldebaran. It would be a straight swap. But Aldebaran has some files that have the same names (alphax.txt, for example), and has some files that are unique (peacenik.txt, for example). Both types of files have to be swapped out. Thus comes the need for a list of files and processing via the list. One really doesn't want to leave extra factions in the Smax directory when switching back to plain old Smax. They can cause problems if the .ini tries to load them but the techs are mismatched with alphax.txt.

Then there is the issue of checking to see which is installed currently, and of preserving the original files and a list of the mod files, for full uninstall without possibility of screw-up

I do agree that simplification is in order. I still don't see why the file names have to be 8.3 unless someone is running pre-windows 95 DOS? But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try renaming. I'll attempt to condense and simplify and repost an installer in this next week.

For now, I'm just glad that most people have no issue with installing it 'by hand'.

[#endgame]

to build a batch file that will remove all of the swapped in files:

@echo off
cd mod_data
echo @echo off>..\cleanup.bat
echo cd ..>>cleanup.bat
for %i in (*.*) do echo del %i>>cleanup.bat

and call cleanup.bat just before swapping back.

EDIT: 8.3 == safe, that's all. also if using long filenames put stuff in quote marks to be safe.

[smacksim]

Now that looks promising. Thanks #endgame.

[Darsnan]

I just downloaded the latest "patch" and am starting a new game. Since there are several players that have downloaded the Aldebaran mod now, why I think we ought to create a thread called "Our adventures on Aldebaran", where we can post our experiences playing the mod, and discuss from there: whad'ya think?
Also, I had previously discussed with Smacksim that he should include Googlie's Probe Cruiser in this mod so that the AI's build aquatic probes. I think we oughta add the Probe Cruiser to the mod Smacksim!
Anyways, back to playtesting: I am playing with blind research, which I think is appropriate given that there isn't a published tech tree yet - sorta makes research apprapeau, IMO. I've played enough of Aldebaran now to think I have a feel for what Smacksim is up to, but then again I also think I am just scratching the surface here. This could take a while......
More updates probably tomorrow night!

D

[smacksim]

Go for making a new thread to relate play experiences. I'll post this in the thread when you start it:

I'm playing an SP game right now with mostly builder types: Planetlovers (me, and they are hybrid like Gaians), Morgan, Zak, Aki, Outlaws (hybrid), Lal, and the Nauticon (hybrid). I fell behind in tech and pop and military and these are the lightweights...not even super AI. As I was behind in power, the AI was peaceful until Aki framed the Peacekeepers and got the Outlaws mad . Very fun. I've since turned the tide on most of the AI, but Lal and Awen (outlaw) are giving me a run for my money.

As to probe-cruisers in alpha.txt. I think I've addressed this before (nudges Darsnan to read the thread and PMs). How about this: We can add probe-cruisers to alphax.txt after you've played a few SP games. Perhaps you'll see that they aren't really needed as much on the new Chiron. It is certainly a good addition for regular Smac or Smax though.

-Smack

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by smacksim
Go for making a new thread to relate play experiences. I'll post this in the thread when you start it:

I'll probably create the thread tomorrow night, once I have enough material to post....

Originally posted by smacksim

As to probe-cruisers in alpha.txt. I think I've addressed this before (nudges Darsnan to read the thread and PMs).

You, a fellow Gaian, should know by now that I don't always read every post in a thread...

Anyways, I will continue to enjoy playtesting, and time will tell I am sure whether Aldebaran needs Probe Cruisers or not...

D

[smacksim]

Some more playtesting revealed that giving the Nauticon a Maritime Factory was too powerful in the early game. They've been changed a bit

Updated all the Super-AI faction blurbs to let you know what special perks they get from the main menu.

Experimented with changing the territorial border from 6 up to 9, and then back to 6 (is 8 in Smax). I think the smaller frontier boundaries are encouraging ICS, especially at Sea This is an unlooked-for benefit of my early Aldebaran-1 'I will tweak every darn variable' approach. I may reduce it further to see if I can induce land-based ICS. Now wouldn't that be something?

Here's an updated zip of the text files that are more disclosing of the Super AI's abilities.

-Smack

[smacksim]

Here's the changed Nauticon as told in their blurb:

#DATALINKS2
^+1 Morale {Spartan Heritage}
^+1 Industry {Shipwright Skills}
^-1 Efficiency {Independence highly valued}
^-2 Research {Non-Colaborative Efforts}
^Robust Industry {Military above all}
^Impunity from negative effects of Military Production
^Free Marine Detachment Ability with discovery of Adaptive Doctrine
^Free Nautical Training for Land units with discovery of Nautical Traditions

So they get free marines and free ship-capture, but no free Ship Factories. Hey, they can build the SP for that!

Some of the Super-AI have free Clean Reactors upon discovery, which beefs up their endgame nicely Here's an example of the Super Syndicate:

#DATALINKS2
^+3 Industry {Super AI}
^+2 Support {Super AI}
^Extra Talent for every 3 citizens {Super AI}
^+2 Economy {Super AI}
^Tech costs 60% of normal {Super AI}
^+2 PROBE: {Infotainment works both ways + Super AI}
^COMMERCE: {Bonus increases value of treaties, pacts, loans}
^Free Clean Reactors for all units upon discovery of Self Assembling Structures
^{May not use State Economics.}

-S

[Chaunk]

Smacksim, check your PM's. Thanks!

[smacksim]

Got your note Chaunk. Great feedback. Thanks! Now who wants to muck about in the blurbsx.txt? (Smack wanders off to a text editor and fires it up)

[smacksim]

Thought I'd upload a screenshot of the United Noncomplicity Front home island. This is a normal AI who just got to Rail weapons and is tech brokering. I infiltrated them, but got their map from Aki in my all-builder test game. Note the forests. I think this is almost hard to tell from a human faction. I've seen worse terraforming in some MP games

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by smacksim
Now who wants to muck about in the blurbsx.txt? (Smack wanders off to a text editor and fires it up)

I can help, if you want. One of the things I've noticed is that the script.txt and helpx.txt files haven't been updated, especially for the new Aldebaran units. If you have some prepared text, I can update the files, or I can ad-lib if you want. Let me know.


D

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by smacksim
Thought I'd upload a screenshot of the United Noncomplicity Front home island. Note the forests. I think this is almost hard to tell from a human faction.

I agree! Nice one!

D

[smacksim]

Originally posted by Darsnan
I can help, if you want. One of the things I've noticed is that the script.txt and helpx.txt files haven't been updated, especially for the new Aldebaran units. If you have some prepared text, I can update the files, or I can ad-lib if you want. Let me know.
D

I suppose it would be easiest if I swap the tech-texts that I muddled up since I think I can remember which techs got moved around.

Could you try to work out the Units and Special Abilities texts that got bungled up? That'd be an ad-lib job, for sure. Don't worry about the Xeti units that appear later on in the story. I'll fix them when I get around to re-releasing the Scenarios.

For anyone that wants to work on the big blurbs or other story items, let me know. I sent out a 'Writer's Package' to the original team, and think I can basically recreate it (Kassiopeia and I both have lost it after all this time).
Since the Aldebaran storyline has only the first book finished, which ends with planetfall, I'll write down the rest of the plot line so that the Aliens make some sense. Let me know by PM if you'd like the plot outline sent to you. Otherwise, expect to find hints in the game and full disclosure in the scenarios

Without being a spoiler, I can say that the Galactics appear to be human, but are some advanced form of human subspecies. It's impossible for the Chironians to communicate with them without close study of their language (which was Progenitor Psyche).