New factions - looking for testers

[Claus]

Hi everyone,

I've finished four new SMAC factions. Anyone who would like to test them is very welcome. Testing should regard game balance as well as translation mistakes from German into English. Who wants to help me with any of the factions (German or English), please contact me at
Claus.Fritzenkoetter@t-online.de
All faction come with their own logos, leader images etc. The Wheat Trek also has customized city pictures (I haven't finished the cities of the other groups yet).

Here's what they are like:


1. THE PURPLE BIRD (The Artists)
-------------------
LEADER: Teacher Adelaide Pozarri
BACKGROUND: Southern Europe, Unity Chief Librarian}
AGENDA: A new cultural dawn

+1 RESEARCH: Persuit of Common Knowledge
+1 INDUSTRY: Solutions through improvisation
-2 EFFICIENCY: Despise penny-pinchers
ENTERTAINERS: Free RECREATION COMMONS on each base
GIFTED ARCHITECTS: Free HAB DOMES after discovering "Super Tensile Solids"
20% combat penalty on offensive actions: Aversion to destruction
May not use POWER as social value


2. THE CHIRON CARTEL (The Gangsters)
------------------------------------
LEADER: Innocent Al-Tahad
BACKGROUND: Egypt, Machine Operator
AGENDA: Planet-wide Mafia net
TECH: Applied Physics

+1 PROBE: Accomplices don't grass on each other
+1 GROWTH: Only trust your own family
-2 INDUSTRY: Serious nepotism
Spider web-like connections: Free COMMAND CENTER on each base
Black Accounts: 2% interest on energy reserves
Extra DRONE for every five citizens: Attracts scum of the planet
Negative impact of DEMOCRATIC politics doubled


3. HOUSE FALKENBURG (The monarchists)
-------------------------------------
LEADER: Prince Maximilian von Falkenburg
BACKGROUND: Germany, First Unity officer
AGENDA: Being crowned Emperor of the Planet
TECH: Doctrine: Loyalty

+1 MORALE: Rigidly orginized armed forces
+2 ECONOMICS: Splendid connections to the financial world
-2 GROWTH: Social imbalance
-1 PROBE: Fighting with open visor is a matter of honor
Hurrying production with 10% bonus: Population performs statute labor


4. THE WHEAT TREK (The farmers)
--------------------------------
LEADER: Father Comenius
BACKGROUND: The Netherlands, member of the Unity farmers
AGENDA: Free land for free people

+1 PLANET: Frontier experience
-2 RESEARCH: cut off from the rest of the world
Life in extended family: Free CHILD'S CHRECHE at each base
Free colony pod at the start of the game
Extreme isolationism: 40% defense bonus, 30% offensive penalty in combats
Terraforming bonus
May not use PLANNED ECONOMY

[This message has been edited by Claus (edited September 05, 2000).]

[chatgr]

You can go to scenario editor and change faction say no just watch then press enter once will say not all units moved confirm end tyrn and afterwards put a penny in enter and will play by it self.
I can already tell you that chiron cartel is very weak compared with the others and that the farmers very strong like a cheat faction.
The others are o.K


[This message has been edited by chatgr (edited August 27, 2000).]

[Simpson II]

Interesting factions! Unfortunately I don't have the X-pack, but here are my comments anyway:

The Purple Birds
That -2 efficiency is going to be murderous. They can never run planned of police state, and they need either demo or green (realistically both) to expand and thrive. They should start v-e-r-y slowly techwise as a result, in spite of +1 research.

The Chiron Gangsters
Nice.. the industry will hurt, but once they have some cash in the bank it will grow exponentially. However I'd say they need strengthening slightly. That interest payment will take time to get running, while everything else about them screams impact rovers.

House Falkenberg
Too extreme to judge. They will roll over anyone in the first 40 turns, by turn 100 should be irretrievably behind. I'd tone them down in both directions, make them more 'sensible.'

The Wheat Trek
They would be very, very wierd to play. No-one will have much luck attacking, certainly, but they can pillage your infrastructure with virtual impunity. No comment on them really, but it would be different.