CIV4SMAC

[Hugo Rune]

One of the major SMAC projects would be to use all the new advantages SMAC gives to emulate a civ-type scenario, with the scope and width of Civ/Civ2. It would pose some interesting challenges, but overall it would be easier to do then a complete hacked mod. Think about it: Modified units (with SMAC 4.0/SMACX you can add as many units as you like), Modified factions, techs, graphics, SE settings, and so on. Since the game is already in existance, there would be little balancing to do, and It'd give us something really fun to play until CivIII arrives.

Anyone willing to help me? Here are the jobs that need to be done:

1. Alpha.txt modifications (This is the major part of the design of any complete mod. Luckily, with all the techs, units and so on already in existance, it should be just a matter of transferring them from Civ2. SE settings will be trickier, but it can be solved. Facilities and Projects will have to be given historical equavilents if they don't exist in Civ2...)

2. Factions (These didn't exist in Civ2. However, it would not be hard to chose seven existing historical Civilizationsand build factions around them)

3. Faction Graphics

4. Terrain, Some unit graphics

5. Other mods (Help file, extra-base file, concepts file, etc.)

[BusterMan]

So would you call this CIV4SMAC or Civ2.5? I like the 2.5 name better (it sounds more "official").

[BusterMan]

Oh and I might be able to do the factions, that was the only thing I completed with the earth-mod I was talking about in that other forum.

[Hugo Rune]

I like Civ 2.5! Anyone else?

[heardie]

Champion Idea
Count me in. I could have a go at the alpha.txt stuff.
Ive done a far bit of editing in alpha.txt
I have a earth terrain. its pretty dodge, i think, becuase of the pallete but you can have a lokk if you want. the only problem is i couldnt work out what to do with the xenofungus!

[JamesJKirk]

I've been thinking for a while now that the xenofungus could become guerillas, adding a type of stealthiness that wasn't available in Civ 1/2

[heardie]

I started working on the alpha.txt last night. I have done a few techs, for instance obvious things like Doctrine: Mobility to The Wheel.

I will keep working.
Does anybody want to see the Earth Terrain.pcx

[BusterMan]

Hugo: when do you want to have this project done?

heardie: I do! I do!

[JamesJKirk]

Yeah, me too, heardie!

[Hugo Rune]

BusterMan: Well, asap, really, though I assume a project of this magnitude won't get done for a good few months yet.

JamesJKirk: Yes. The Xenofungus and the mind worms transformed into barbarian hordes/guerillas would make a really nice new addition. That's one of the "Advantages of SMAC" I was talking about...

heardie: Oh, I'm sorry, I also started work on the Alpha.txt file. Maybe we can split it up? I could to the "boring" transfer bit (Moving all the techs, units and so on from the Civ2 files), while you try to find places for the Projects, facilities and SE settings.

[Krusty]

But how wou you change the units,as far as we know it is impossible to do so.

Sorry for dipping my little fly in your ointment

[Hugo Rune]

It's impossible(ish) to change the Unit Graphics. However, the units themselves are pretty easy to change...

[Krusty]

Sorry, Don`t get you AT ALL.

[BusterMan]

Hugo: I'll work on the factions this week (I have finals so I have 2 days off).

[AlexanderIII]

Sounds like a great idea, but unless someone has some artistic experience in 3-d unit rendering in Caviar, it will be near impossible. All the units, from the abilities to the chassis types all use rotatable 3-d caviar files. Would be quite a job, taking several months at least.