The Cult of Worms and Fungus

[H0bbes]

Is anyone else interested in a Cult clone PBEM game? The Cult has great potential in PBEM's but never seems to quite get there. Let's see how it does on a level playing field.

Hobbes

Cross posted on CGN.

[binTravkin]

I volunteer!

It'd be very good if some of the CGN people like the poles (which are abundant there) participated too - they're fast turnplayers (3turns/ day at CGN 22 where I'm in)

[Darsnan]

I really can't play in a PBEM but I'd be interested to see what your thinking Hobbes, as well as maybe giving some input/ feedback if your interested in my opinion.
Regardless, good idea!


D

[binTravkin]

And maybe do not make it a pure Cult clone game, but for example, have 3 Cults (to see which strategy each will use) and 4 highly different other facs (to counter as much as possible strategies)

[Barinthus]

I've been daydreaming about a game in which the entire planet is blanketed in fungus and native lifeforms is set on highest setting available

[Addled Platypus]

would not mind playing, cant promise 3 turns a day

Would this be the basic version, or do I need crossfire?

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by Platypus Rex
would not mind playing, cant promise 3 turns a day

No SMAC(X) PBEM's push 3 turns/ day!

Originally posted by Platypus Rex
Would this be the basic version, or do I need crossfire?

Since its Cha Dawn and his evil clone brothers (or sisters?) it has to be SMAX .


D

[H0bbes]

Truthfully my ideas thus far are fairly unformed.

A planet with lots of fungus.
Nativelife set on high.
Not sure on AI's or not, probably not.
4ish Cult clones Or perhaps Cult & Gaian?? clones
Perhaps mess with the tech tree to get rid of Aircraft, Rovers, Foils. You could still use infantry, but emphasis on native lifeforms.

Open to suggestions.

Hobbes

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by H0bbes
Truthfully my ideas thus far are fairly unformed.

A planet with lots of fungus.
Nativelife set on high.
Not sure on AI's or not, probably not.

AI's can be made very competitive under these circumstances. FYI in case you were concerned about them being pwnd early.

Originally posted by H0bbes
4ish Cult clones Or perhaps Cult & Gaian?? clones

Northswordsman tried this a few years ago. He was going to call it the "Green Wars". Radman, Shadowlord3, myself, and several others signed up for this, but the project ended up fizzling at the time....

Originally posted by H0bbes
Perhaps mess with the tech tree to get rid of Aircraft, Rovers, Foils. You could still use infantry, but emphasis on native lifeforms.

Open to suggestions.

Hobbes

The only way to get rid of chassis types is to use a modified alphax.txt file, which all players will have to substitute in for their regular alphax.txt file. Thats a PIA for most people.
What you can do (without substituting alphax.txt files) is move NL units down on the tech tree. Say make MW's available with Cent Ecology, Sealurks w/ Doc: Flex, IoD's w/ Doc: Init, and LoC's w/ Doc: Air Power. You can also make the NL units cheaper, which induces players (both human and AI) to choose these over regular units.

Note: Solar Flares disrupt normal communications at this time! Normal diplomatic communications are interupted, while infiltrator reports may be spotty!

Concerning Fungal Towers: you can XOXOXOXOXoXOXoXoxoxoxXX, but not the XiXoX. IoD's and Sealurks XoXoXoXOXoXoXXOX throws a wild card into the mix, as it XoXoXOXOXoX IMO!
Another option for this game would be to XoXoXoXOOXOXxX. This should then XoOXOXoXoXoxoOx!
From a CMN's perspective there are several different options, and several different opportunities available to pursue here: very different, very unique, very challenging, and very enjoyable for those up to a game of this nature!


D

[H0bbes]

OK, we have four takers here & one on CGN whom I've directed here.

I'm happy to add AI if they are competitive.

I'm not into modifying Alpha Text so having the equivilent native techs available when the non-native ones are would be great. Also making them lots cheaper.

Green wars sounds good, my only concern was that Gaia would be more powerful than the cult in human hands. Perhaps we should have 5 cult clones for the humans & 2 Gaian clones for the AI?

Are you interested in putting this together for us Darsnan? I'm very confident of your creative CMN'ing!!

Hobbes

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by H0bbes

I'm happy to add AI if they are competitive.

I can make them competitive. The question is just how "competitive" do you want me to make them?

Originally posted by H0bbes
I'm not into modifying Alpha Text so having the equivilent native techs available when the non-native ones are would be great. Also making them lots cheaper.

OK, so the following will apply:

- MW's w/ Cent Ecology
- IoD's w/ Doc: Flex
- Sealurks w/ Doc: Init (note: I can give the sealurks 6 movement points instead of 4 if you wish)
- LoC's w/ Doc: Air Power
- Do you want the AI's to build Probe Cruisers?
- The AI's (if selected) will build non-standard units.

Originally posted by H0bbes
Green wars sounds good, my only concern was that Gaia would be more powerful than the cult in human hands.

Actually I like your title of "Cult of Worms and Fungus" better! I also think it will probably be more appropriate, too!

Originally posted by H0bbes
Perhaps we should have 5 cult clones for the humans & 2 Gaian clones for the AI?

Just be aware that these won't be "clones" in the same way that Googlie has made some Pirate Clones complete with new Faction graphics/ etc... All I plan on doing is reloading the same Factions in the appropriate number of times based on who chooses what Faction. Because of this we should probably come up with some sort of base-naming convention so that it is clear which base belongs to whom (wouldn't want any "accidents" or "incidents" where the "wrong" Cha Dawn or the "wrong" Gaian Faction is attacked, eh? ). I would suggest that first off everybody agrees that no one uses the default base names. I'd also suggest that perhaps for each basename you put in parenthesis the first letter of your online name. Example would be as follows:

Hobbes names a base "Child's Play (H)".

Originally posted by Barinthus
I've been daydreaming about a game in which the entire planet is blanketed in fungus and native lifeforms is set on highest setting available

Be careful what you wish for - it just might come true!
Also, this brings up the point of Planet settings? I'm thinking 60-70% land, LOTS of fungus. Any other input/ feedback here? Finally a thought on Fungal Towers: can I beef them up a little, in order to make them more difficult to kill?
When we reach a quorum on Planet settings I'll get started on building the map and then go from there.


D

[Sebed]

Count me in. I agree with seettings proposed by Darsnan.

[H0bbes]

Seetings sounds fine. Lets have the AI, make them interesting

I'll leave it in your capable hands.

Hobbes

[Darsnan]

Heah All,

sorry for the delays on my end - RL stuff. Anyways, I am hoping to get the game out either tonight, or tomorrow at the latest. If you have a password preference please PM me so that I can set it for you, otherwise I'll PM you your password.

D

[Darsnan]

The game should be ready in a couple of hours. Turn order will be as follows:

Hobbes (Australia)
bin Travkin (Latvia)
Sebed (Poland)
Barinthus (Germany)
Platypus Rex (USA)

Since I don't have a majority of your E-Mail addresses, why please PM each other to establish where to send the turns.

D