[C4:AC][All] Whats our template - SMAC or SMACX?

[Senethro]

I noticed Rubin had included Progenitor Psych in his tech tree and though we had best discuss this now before going any further. How much expansion content is going in the mod? I've included in the poll what I think are the main options. "Only SMAC" and "All SMACX" are self-explanatory, but in a previous discussion where no decision was made I suggested that SMACX with no Progenitor factions was an attractive option. My reasoning was the Progenitors are not fun to play as or to play against and their inclusion will double the work we have to do, because of all their Alien traits.

Let the discussion begin.


Edit: Clarification - "No progenitor factions" will still have the tech "progenitor psych" and all the rest. Only the factions will be gone.

[Illuminatus]

SMACX - No Progenitor factions.

[binTravkin]

Wait, why should we exclude something indefinitely?
I think we could still make progentitors in at some later stage, but right now it should be SMACX without them.

[Senethro]

Right as always, BinTravkin. We could include them in a later release.

You remind me that we need to decide what to include in a first release of our mod. In other words, do we release an alpha or a beta? Officially or unofficially? What is the minimum content required for a release?

[binTravkin]

You remind me that we need to decide what to include in a first release of our mod. In other words, do we release an alpha or a beta? Officially or unofficially? What is the minimum content required for a release?

1.Alpha
2.First release should be unofficial and only available to trustable members for no distribution.
3.Milestone. Now it seems that closest one is first level (using cIV trait system, not SMAC social values) faction implementation - see Blakes work.

Official releases should, can and may only be after clearance with Firaxis.

[Impaler[WrG]]

I once made a mod in which I did change all the Progenitor tecs, Progenitor Pych became Centauri Marine Biology. Various other Resonence techs became new holders for rely great things that were "dog piled" on other tecs like the Cloudbase Academy or Weather Paradigm.

I found the aliens added nothing to the game as they lacked the strong Ideological underpinnings that the original 7 factions had (all the SMACX factions were idologicaly weak except for the Drones and Pirates).

[Illuminatus]

bump

[lodgey]

Just de-lurking to point out that the 'Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask' thread does say you are looking for a straight conversion without changing anything.

A complete conversion, including progenitors I think is a good thing to aim for, but I wouldn't consider it a priority.

What I think should be considered is how much extra work would be required to add the progenitors at a later date, as opposed to putting them in right up front. Adding progenitors would be a lot of work whenever it is done (assuming that's what you decide), but unless it is significantly harder to put them in after a semi-stable C4:SMACX is produced I would wait until then.

I wouldn't recommend leaving out the Crossfire expansion, unless you wanted to support those people who have Civ IV & SMAC but not the expansion.

If you do decide to leave out the Progenitors, at least in the medium term, would you change the quotes for the techs? These quotes specificly mention the progenitors, and I think they would be out of place in a game that didn't plan on including any progenitors.

Of course, if the progenitors are put in, an option to randomly select any Civ (faction) on game setup except the two progenitor factions would be most appreciated.

You would think a lurker would post shorter messages wouldn't you.

[#endgame]

I think SMAX is a superior game to SMAC. I've always liked the progenitors, though I think they could have done with a nerf [in the original].

[ForesterSOF]

I was never thrilled by the Progenitors.

Just making a SMAX complete as posible mod for CivIV is what I want to try and help with.

Shame we cant just copy and past the needed parts.

[Illuminatus]

Thread bumped and closed for historical reference. The results of the poll are now binding until the issue is decided to be repolled again.