A small project I have in mind - Comments please? (long)

[Blackavar]

Hi, folks!

I've had a small project in mind for a while now, and was wondering if any of you would be willing to offer suggestions.
Of course you'll have gathered this from the subject line of
the thread..

My idea is to create a "set" of alternate factions for SMAC.
A full replacement, with equally well worked out ideologies,
a full spread of play styles, and most importantly flavours
distinct from the magnificent seven .

Down below are my initial ideas; mostly 'flavour' stuff but
some ideas on sociological settings and such. Please post
feedback, and I'll finish off the set as hurriedly as I can, with
whatever artwork I can whip together by cutting and pasting
other people's free samples (I'm not good at this).

[Blackavar]

The Worldbuilders

On this strange and unwelcoming world the ecosystem has
been dominated by one strain of local fauna for geological epochs.
There is no hope here, only stagnation. So then! With this blank
slate we shall work our magic, creating in reality our mythical
Eden. With our help, and with the thousands of stored cell
samples from Unity, the eagle shall fly. The tiger shall stalk
the forests, and the whale shall haunt the depths singing his
sad song once again: here.

This faction is based, obviously, on the idea of terraforming. Halved terraforming costs, a free former to start and centauri
ecology, an *awful* Planet rating because they're in the process
of actively usurping the local ecosystem. Efficiency, support (for
formers) to counter their -3 planet, low population cities and inability to go green. Their cities are low pop because they live in
domes where a Terran-normal atmosphere is maintained - and these are hard to expand. Looking for good base graphics. Free Pressure Dome in each base.

I've already worked out a complete list of city names - fun ones.
Stuff like "Red Deer Road" and "Beaver Dam", "Apiary Nest",
"Kraken Away"..

The Communal Nexus

Through the methodology of what has been crudely called brain
washing, the people can be indoctrinated into proper social
behaviour from childhood. My people are completely content:
they work, relax, breed, and think in perfect understanding
of our communal goals. It is their greatest joy to simply serve,
and what can be wrong with a society in which joy and societal
conscience is perfectly blended?

A distopian nightmare. This faction's main feaure is having
a punishment sphere in each base - mind control facilities. Research is halved, there are no talents. They have a probe
bonus, though - hard to crack these guy's mental training.

Church of God (Miriam Tamed!)

God seems to have an aesthetic sense of symmetry. Five thousand years ago he led Moses and his people on a fourty year trek through the desert on the way to their promised land, purifying them of disbelievers and sinners on the way to make of them a holy people. Now we too have made a fourty year trek to this, our promised land - it remains to be seen if we can do better with it.

Pacifist faction: Money (tithes and donations per base) Double votes (Once contact is made with another faction, converts are gained). Perhaps a "commerce" bonus, too to simulate the donations of foreigners. Weaknesses morale and support? Double penalty for Fundie!

Chiron's Guards

A militaristic "Gaian" faction. These people see humanity as a kind of plague unable to help itself from drastically impacting fragile ecosystems. Think of the worst, most virulent "Greenpeacers" - anarchists and almost anti-human in sentiment, only able to get along with people who agree with them and shakily at that.

"Chiron is as yet untouched. Can you see the sacred spirit that resides here? Here is a world as it was meant to be, but poised on the brink of disaster. Humanity has come, and now look ahead and see the inevitable: species never before seen dying out. Smoke and pollutants rising into the sky, acid rain falling out of it.
The place is fragile against our evil - left to their own, the unwashed masses will destroy planet after planet like a plague of locusts. We must stop the cycle, whatever the cost."

Planet + 3. Fungus nutrients, minerals, and energy bonuses. Bad police disadvantage (anarchists), bad industry (rabid anti-industrialists)

The Sacred Library

"Throughout time, humanity's greatest plague has been ignorance, followed closely by the deliberate destruction of knowledge. From the burning of the library of Alexandria, to the deliberate religious censor of hateful scientific ideas in the post Galileo world, our hold on our most precious resource has always
been tenuous. The safeguarding and encouragement of knowledge-seekers everywhere is our task and our joy; we are entrusted with protecting civilization itself. Had not the barbarians invaded Rome and destroyed the most literate and
scientific civilization of it's day, we might well have come to Planet a millenia ago."

Techshare 3, two comm freqs to begin, Research + 1, probe - 2, effic - 1 (bureaucratic)

The Jihad (Yes, inspired by recent events - Miriam x 2)

"The infidels who corrupted our holy Earth brought righteous distruction down on it by the very hand of God, but He in his infinite mercy has spared us as he spared Noah. We wage war for him! Mankind shall live as is commanded in the holy books, we will see to it."

High morale, high support, fanatic warriors. Low research, crippled economy (Half of workforce is shut up with no rights - very woman oppresive). Willing to use force.

Society of Equal Citizens

"The SEC has been founded to ensure that every person is supported by the whole, and that no person goes hungry. Our social welfare programs will be fair and generous, our education
shall be equal opportunity, and every citizen will have a vote. Certainly sacrifices will have to be made, but overall we aim to be the most just civilization on this new world."

Low economy (social support programs expensive)
High Industry (comfortable and happy workers)
Like: Democracy, Aversion: Police State.


There it is! Finally.

[TresXF]

well, just do it

[gwillybj]

as above

and share the results

[Cybergod]

I'll be willing to provide assistance, that is if you require any since it seems that you've got it all sorted. The factions seem very interesting! I'd personally enjoy thrashing the Jihad!

If you need any graphix help, I'll gladly assist.



Nikola Rankovic

[aaglo]

Originally posted by Cybergod
If you need any graphix help, I'll gladly assist.

...and I will assist you, Cyber"god"

[Cybergod]

Originally posted by aaglo


...and I will assist you, Cyber"god"

How dare you question my power?!?

Still wanting Blackavar's reply though...