Realistic Balanced Custom Factions.....

[livid imp]

Originally posted by Quezacotl06
+2 Research {Research abilities enhanced by group sentience}
+1 Probe {Experience with neuro-kinetics and mind-control}
-1 Morale {Prefer non-violent methods of control}
-1 Police {Citizenry paranoid about government repression}
Immune to Penalties of Thought Control Society: {Expertise in mind-control tactics}
May not use POLICE STATE politics

Seems well balanced, even a unique concept. Though I see Research and Probe as kind of a redundant, incestuous, relationship....kind of like industry/support. They both can accomplish the same thing in different ways. But all 'n' all not bad

[Natalinasmpf]

And what is the Spartans idealolgy anyway? Anarchy?

Not so much anarchy as a frugal warrior culture.

[livid imp]

Noting your sarcasm Natalinasmpf.

The Spartans represent the American Survivalist Movement. More commonly known as "those gun nuts". Survivalists by nature are anarchists. They just don't realize it because most folks think anarchists are deranged post-apocalyptic punk rockers you see in Sci-Fi B-movies. Look at the "Anarchists" at Networknode.org. the image used the represent them is a guy dressed like a gutter-punk.

Anarchy is a legitimate, yet troubled governmental style. Survivalists are anarchists, Libertarians are anarchists, hackers are anarchists, there are even environmental anarchists if you can believe that. If you believe that the individual man can manage himself and the world around him better than some large bureaucracy, then you are more anarchist than you realize too.
/soapbox off

The Spartans at best could be considered a Confederacy or at worst a Dictatorship, but those distinctions are made in the SE box.

[girlfight_club]

Originally posted by livid imp

But come on, just how realistic is a government based off of Academia or Conservationism? In 10,000 years of modern man roaming the earth, we have never had a government based on either of these ideals. To that extent we have never had a true Communistic government.

Ah, but SMAC isn't about roaming the Earth, is it? On Earth, it's been either militaries or religions that drive population movement. On Earth, you don't have to carry your own air and water around, and almost wherever you might go-- people are already there.

But in space colonization, you must, by definition, have the brightest scientific minds along, and if they decide to lead, civilization can take bold approaches that were impossible on Earth.

Planet is a vast unwritten canvas. You can shape it to your philosophy, or die trying.

Sheesh, isn't that why we play it??

GFC


PS- All the factions in Alpha Centauri are de facto dictatorships, since the same immortal person remains in charge of each, throughout. Only their bureaucracies might show some semblance of "democracy" from time to time...

PPS- Actually, that would be a good upgrade for a SMAC II: changable leaders...

[livid imp]

Originally posted by girlfight_club

Ah, but SMAC isn't about roaming the Earth, is it? On Earth, it's been either militaries or religions that drive population movement. On Earth, you don't have to carry your own air and water around, and almost wherever you might go-- people are already there.

Of course not, my point was that you can not discount a splinter ideaology just because there is no precedent for it. Especially when some of the "main" ideaologies have no precedent. In other words, Angel ideaology is the same as Spartan ideaology with different methods to accomplish it.

Originally posted by girlfight_club
But in space colonization, you must, by definition, have the brightest scientific minds along, and if they decide to lead, civilization can take bold approaches that were impossible on Earth.

Planet is a vast unwritten canvas. You can shape it to your philosophy, or die trying.

Sheesh, isn't that why we play it??

Don't get me wrong. I fully support a government that values both Academia and Conservationism. I feel if the governement put emphasis on these ideals the world would be a much better place. Especially when the US is teetering toward a Fundy/FM/Power style SE. The US only gets involved in wars which will soildify our economic strangle hold on the world. You get to the top in this country by being the biggest cut-throat pr!ck, that rips the most people off. I want a US where being intelligent and efficient is the most valuable personal traits.

Originally posted by girlfight_club
PS- All the factions in Alpha Centauri are de facto dictatorships, since the same immortal person remains in charge of each, throughout. Only their bureaucracies might show some semblance of "democracy" from time to time...

PPS- Actually, that would be a good upgrade for a SMAC II: changable leaders...

Couldn't agree more. What I would like to see in the next incarnation is a internal political system in each faction. Where a presidental type election is held every say 20 years. Each candidate would have slightly different SE effects (depending on the policies). Then anyone could then attempt to effect the election through political gimmicks and/or outright bribes. You could then try to get elected the canidate you want and your opponets can try to covertly stick you with a sh!tty President.

[Kataphraktoi]

anyone played tropico?you could have a custom leader creation form like that picking good traits,bad traits,pecularities etc.....

[dmm1285]

Originally posted by livid imp
pick?

Instead....Add Free Tech: Frictionless Surfaces. This should give them cloaking from day one. AFAIK there are no other changes the tech would have, so it shouldn't break the game. Just keep in mind that the tech could be stolen which could cause problems.

Otherwise the changes you made look appropriate to me.

you can't do that because firctionless surfaces + industrial automation (I think) leads to quantam power. Quantam reactor before 2150 might be just little unbalancing

[ShadowKat]

Originally posted by dmm1285


you can't do that because firctionless surfaces + industrial automation (I think) leads to quantam power. Quantam reactor before 2150 might be just little unbalancing

True, but keep in mind that IndAuto (assuming you're got your facts straight; I've no way to check them atm) is a little ways up the chart. I'm not sure you could get it by 2150 unless you were fast-tracking anyway.

[ShadowKat]

Originally posted by livid imp

What I would like to see in the next incarnation is a internal political system in each faction. Where a presidental type election is held every say 20 years. Each candidate would have slightly different SE effects (depending on the policies). Then anyone could then attempt to effect the election through political gimmicks and/or outright bribes. You could then try to get elected the canidate you want and your opponets can try to covertly stick you with a sh!tty President.

O...in other words, what you want is a Galactic Civilizations model with extra intrigue! Actually, that was one of the few things I did like about GalCiv; I personally thought it was rather a mediocre game.

If you were to do that, you'd also need random (or systemic, a-la Europa Universalis) leader generation for the non-elective SEs - appointed successors for Frontier governments, chain-of-command successions for Fundies, etc. Maybe even the occasional change of leadership due to a power-grab/coup/etc!

[Ghidorah]

Originally posted by ShadowKat


True, but keep in mind that IndAuto (assuming you're got your facts straight; I've no way to check them atm) is a little ways up the chart. I'm not sure you could get it by 2150 unless you were fast-tracking anyway.

According to my SMAX chart, it's Planetary Economics and Frictionless Surfaces. As for IndAuto, just about 90% of people beeline straight for it to get it well before 2150.
And for pure builders, Planetary Eco (energy restrictions and treefarms!) is the next Holy Grail, and it's not a hugely long trek to get there either. If a faction's suddenly getting treefarms AND quantum reactors within two techs, that's gonna be one scary faction. Especially when they've just had mineral restrictions lifted too.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by ShadowKat


True, but keep in mind that IndAuto (assuming you're got your facts straight; I've no way to check them atm) is a little ways up the chart. I'm not sure you could get it by 2150 unless you were fast-tracking anyway.

Many players will have ind auto betweeb 20-30years faster than that but I don't believe ind auto is the immediate prereq for quantuum power