LapTop Collection 2: the Crossroads of Life

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by Rubin
2169 to Domai.

Still nothing conclusive regarding the unexpected event during M.Y. 2167. I may have to hold next turn (M.Y. 2169) until I hear from Darsnan again.

Sorry for the delays getting back to you Rubin - RL stuff.
Anyways, the issue Rubin is having is that he as the Consciousness is not getting a free tech when he conquers a base from a Faction which has a tech that he does not.
The Datalinks state that the Consciousness has the ability to steal a tech when capturing an enemy base, and the SMAX Manual also echoes this statement. I have taken several turns from LPT2 and verified that the Consciousness doesn't steal a tech when capturing a base, either from the AI Uni's or the human led PK's. I also set up a Consciousness SP game and verified that they do not steal a tech when conquering an enemies base.
I thought perhaps I could rectify the situation by using Kody's Codicil tool to gift Rubin the appropriate number of free techs via the Scenario Editor, however the Codicil Tool doesn't allow me to access the Scenario Editor.
I guess my questions now are (1) can anyone verify the issues Rubin and I are experiencing as far as the Consciousness is concerned, and (2) what can be done in this game about Rubin's inability to steal techs from conquered bases?


D

[Rubin]

I just did a test and can conclude that the Cybernetic Consciousness tech-steal ability works perfectly in both single player and multiplayer.

In this particular PBEM, however, the tech-steal ability is somehow corrupt. I see two possible solutions:

1) If the Consciousness conquers a base and there is a technology available to steal. The former base owner transfers a random technology to the Consciousness via the in-game diplomacy screen.

There are 3 issues to consider here: a) Map data can be stolen during cybernetic base captures, though map data seems to be chosen only when no other technologies are available; b) the Cybernetic Consciousness experiences a one year delay in acquiring 'stolen' technologies and finally c) if the former base owner is one of the AI controlled factions then this seems impossible to do.

2) We simply continue.

[Darsnan]

All right, I found the problem. Essentially I had a corrupted Cycon text file. I have corrected the issue, however it doesn't resolve how to proceed with this game. Any ideas?


D

[Chip_Buckner]

Turn to Googlie.

[Net Warrior]

One possible partial solution is that any of us who has (or gets) a tech that Cycon could have gotten from the AI would simply transfer it to Cycon. This still leaves the problem of Cycon being without a tech that it could have been capitalizing on when there is a few years lag in it's becomming available to Cycon due the AI being tho only current possessor. Also, if that tech has a SP attached then Cycon should have some rights to it.

[Googlie]

2170 to Rubin

[Rubin]

2171 to Domai.

[Net Warrior]

turn to Cult

[Chip_Buckner]

Turn to Googlie.

[Googlie]

2171 to Rubin

[Net Warrior]

....err, Rubin, before we proceed further, are you really going to play the game out with this handicap?

If so, do we all agree on passing along any techs to Rubin that he would have gotten with tech steal?

[Googlie]

That's what I'm doing for the few turns I've left

[Rubin]

2172 to Domai.

The lack of the Cybernetic Consciousness' tech-steal ability is permanent throughout this game and I find it far too late to restart Laptop II. I shall continue with this handicap and try to make the best of what I've got.

Depending on how you view fair play sending technologies that were supposed to be stolen via base captures seems a viable compensation; I am uncertain if capturing AI bases should be considered.

The tech-steal ability allows the offender to freely choose between any of the defender's available technologies. Hence, by capturing a base the Cybernetic Consciousness automatically get an instant report on the defender's technologies not yet accessible to the Cybernetic Consciousness.

So, what are we to do?

[Net Warrior]

Assuming that you have not infiltrated the faction in question, as the possessor of the Empathic Guild, I'm able to inform you as to what techs should have been available. I suggerst you do a mid-turn save and email me that you have conquered a base and I will get back to you with the info.
The question is, should I wait till you select a tech before letting you know whether or not it's available for transfer to you by one of us?

[Rubin]

Net Warrior, if I understand you correctly I should NOT be entitled to information on whether or not a given 'stolen' technology from an AI player is available for transfer by a 'human' player. And unless I have infiltration or other means of knowing about available human technologies I should NOT have access to this information.

Also, assuming I lack information on available 'human' technologies I should NOT have the option of having a specific technology transferred from a 'human' player. This would reveal information that I was NOT supposed to know about. Additionally, I should not be able to know if a 'human' player does not have access to these technologies.

The best we can do, I think, is to ignore AI technologies unless the situation specifically allows for transferring technologies without revealing any additional information.