I am the King of this forum now.

[Senethro]

It has now been one week since the last activity in this forum.

So, I do now hereby claim this desolate wasteland as the holdings of the family Senethro, to be a heritable domain so long as my line shall last. None shall be suffered to trespass.

If my claim goes unchallenged for one week then it shall be as I describe. I will rename this palce as the Socialist Monarchy of Creationia and rule over it as Senethro the First.





(merge with G/H/S now)

[binTravkin]

[Senethro]

DAMN YOU BINTRAVKIN! MUST YOU STALK MY EVERY FOOTSTEP?

I can wait another week. The Creation forum will be mine.

There'll be another time.

[binTravkin]

DAMN YOU BINTRAVKIN! MUST YOU STALK MY EVERY FOOTSTEP?

[Darsnan]

Re: I am the King of this forum now.

Originally posted by Senethro
It has now been one week since the last activity in this forum.

So, I do now hereby claim this desolate wasteland as the holdings of the family Senethro, to be a heritable domain so long as my line shall last. None shall be suffered to trespass.

(merge with G/H/S now)

Otherwise known as "Squatter's Rights"?

Darsnan addresses those present in the AC Mod Forum, "Anyways, I'm assuming that if there is going to be a SMAC(X) mod of Civ4, that this will be the logical place for it. Everyone present agree?" Darsnan waits for the echoes bouncing off the walls of the empty chamber to cease before continueing, "Motion passes unanimously. Henceforth all serious discussions regarding a SMAC(X) Mod of Civ4 will be undertaken in this Forum. Meeting adjourned".


D

[binTravkin]

This is turning in some kind of fun forum!

until Civ 4

[Senethro]

On a more serious note, I think the SMAC mod is a very good idea for Civ 4. (I should, I thought of it :P. And I've been inserting the idea here and there around the internet to let it grow.) If its possible, I would like to work on it.

I think there are plenty of design and functionality issues we can work out now.

For example, while we want to create an exact replica of SMAC (stockpile bug and all) I think there should be a master file similar to alpha.txt that can be further moddable.

However, there is plenty about SMAC that is broken apart from the bugs. The power of supply crawlers, the cloudbase academy, choppers. These are things people would really like seen altered in MP games to greater or lesser degrees.

Whatever the master file is, it needs to be imposable on multiplayer games so that people don't have to swap files about.

While we can't work on anything specific we could at least come up with ideas for what the mod needs to do. And if all possible balance changes can be thought of they'll be easier to program during the creation of the mod and can be turned on or off in a similar way to Blind Research/Directed Research.

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by Senethro
On a more serious note, I think the SMAC mod is a very good idea for Civ 4.

If Civ4 is as flexible as their advertizing, then no doubt there will be a SMAC Mod somewhere along the line.

Originally posted by Senethro
I think there are plenty of design and functionality issues we can work out now.

Personally I think the first order of business is that we state that we are indeed out to make an exact replica of SMAC(X) (note which is different than a "SMAC2"): that way, as people contemplate coming on board, they know exactly what it is we are out to do, and can then choose whether they want to enlist or not. Next would be to start compiling into various categories what we feel can be modded, what we're not sure of, and what we know we can't mod ("terrorist activies" from probe teams comes to mind here). We can then attack the items that are in the first list now. As time progresses and more is learned about the game we can update the lists with the new info and work on any new items that become accessible to us.

Originally posted by Senethro
For example, while we want to create an exact replica of SMAC (stockpile bug and all) I think there should be a master file similar to alpha.txt that can be further moddable. Whatever the master file is, it needs to be imposable on multiplayer games so that people don't have to swap files about.

I'd go farther and say that all of the text files (i.e. alpha(x).txt, interludes.txt, script.txt, etc.) should be inprintable onto any game that is created, whether it is SP, PBEM, or Scenario based.

Originally posted by Senethro
However, there is plenty about SMAC that is broken apart from the bugs. The power of supply crawlers, the cloudbase academy, choppers. These are things people would really like seen altered in MP games to greater or lesser degrees.

And I think this is directly related to my comments above: 1) we are out to recreate SMAC(X), not upgrade SMAC(X). However, 2) if we can coax the game into imprinting the complete alpha(x).txt file onto a PBEM then this simply becomes another set of parameters for discussion during game setup. For example:

World Map Size: Large
Cloudcover: Average
Cloudbase: On
Tech enabling CBA to be built: Doc: Flex
etc.

These "changes" to the base alpha(x).txt file would then be amended by the CMN, and then inprinted onto the game permanently.

Originally posted by Senethro
While we can't work on anything specific we could at least come up with ideas for what the mod needs to do. And if all possible balance changes can be thought of they'll be easier to program during the creation of the mod and can be turned on or off in a similar way to Blind Research/Directed Research.

Ideally IMO the Mod needs to mirror SMAC(X) as closely as possible in its native form. Changes to this base form, as requested by PBEM players/ those desiring a "SMAC2" , can be incorporated via a CMN/ Creator via amending the inprintable alpha(x).txt file.

btw Senethro I'm assuming you got my final save for your SP Challenge? I'll probably finish my synopsis of observations from a CMN/Creator's perspective this even ing and PM to you. FYI.


D

[Senethro]

Originally posted by Darsnan


If Civ4 is as flexible as their advertizing, then no doubt there will be a SMAC Mod somewhere along the line.



Personally I think the first order of business is that we state that we are indeed out to make an exact replica of SMAC(X) (note which is different than a "SMAC2"): that way, as people contemplate coming on board, they know exactly what it is we are out to do, and can then choose whether they want to enlist or not. Next would be to start compiling into various categories what we feel can be modded, what we're not sure of, and what we know we can't mod ("terrorist activies" from probe teams comes to mind here). We can then attack the items that are in the first list now. As time progresses and more is learned about the game we can update the lists with the new info and work on any new items that become accessible to us.

I agree with your methods. While I agree with you, I do have a slight agenda of wanting to promote a sanctioned ruleset of SMAC designed for multiplayer, improving the weaker factions, naval combat and weakening chop'n'drop for example.

While no Probe Team or Spy unit exists, Religious units such as Priests do. I'm thinking it won't be impossible to mod a Priest into a Probe team.

btw Senethro I'm assuming you got my final save for your SP Challenge? I'll probably finish my synopsis of observations from a CMN/Creator's perspective this even ing and PM to you. FYI.

Yes I did, I tried to reply but your PM box was full

[#endgame]

Actually, I own this forum, since I own it's official quote:

Break it!

Go dig up the modman thread if you don't believe me :P.

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by Senethro

Yes I did, I tried to reply but your PM box was full

I got a note from 'poly the same day stating my inbox was full. I then cleared my inbox, received your PM, then sent the save to the E-Mail address you included in the PM. I'm assuming you didn't receive the E-Mail?


D

[Senethro]

Crossposted from G/H/S.

My prototype culture model for SMAC. It would be optional naturally whether it is active. Does anyone actually think it is a good idea, the beginnings of a good idea or am I completely out of my tree? I think one interesting aspect of it is that if you have enough of your culture elsewhere mind control is cheaper. The Economic victory is based on the ability to mind control all the other bases on Planet, and can be totally scuppered by everyone suddenly going fundy or thought control. The addition of culture would add another dimension to this victory.


Originally said in GHS.

"I've actually wondered about a culture model for SMAC. which would generate similar effects.
Neighboring bases would exchange culture points according to the strength of the bases.
Trade would cause culture exchange. Pacting would increase exchange.
Extra Drones/Talents/Commerce would be generated based on the ratio of culture points acquired by that base and your diplomatic relations with the factions the culture comes from.

The extent to which you are affected by enemy culture points might be affected by your Probe rating, although both Police and Morale may have a part to play.

The Morganites would be given resistance to enemy culture acquired through trade so as not to cripple themselves by being traders. They might also transfer more of their culture through trade.

As a slight tweak I also thought that perhaps the Believers would have stronger cultural exchange with neighboring bases representing evangelism. While the Hive and Spartans might wish to avoid commerce so as to avoid unrest and decadance in their ranks it would be nice to have a culturally strong momentum faction.

Oh, and as a final part of my model bases would NEVER culture flip Civ3 style but might become more prone to Drone riots and cheaper to mind control."


Darsnan: Yep, I got your email with the file. Nice globally reaching influence you had going on.
And wheres my PM with your final thoughts Your opinion is valuable to me.
I'm still not quite happy with the scenario. Though the CPU is building as well as it ever will it cant' war properly because it can't get its armies across water in a cooridinated manner. I've plans that I'm going to be testing involving a free tectonic missile for all factions but I'm not very hopeful that that will solve the problem, even though earthquakes typically connect some of the continents anyway.

[Senethro]

Another wasted week in the Creation forum ^^

[Maniac]

Why don't you reply to my thread?