New PBEM: Custom Faction Battle

[Senethro]

One of my games is coming towards an end so time to add another

This one is for the Theory-Centauri players amongst us. Enter a custom player faction of approximately same strength as Peacekeepers or Morgan. They can be anything you want. Something completely new, a combination of two other factions, a re-balanced Planet Cult. I ask that you keep the factions fair (as in not overpowered. No super-Uni) and balanced (No one-trick ponies. Early rush/pop-boom specialists will be viewed with suspicion).

If anyone has more than one custom faction, post about them anyway. Perhaps someone else will want to play them. And if people have suggestions for overpowered factions for the AI, those are welcome too.

I hold the veto on if a faction is permitted to play, but I'm willing to listen to lots of opinions as there are many people I respect here. I'll be accepting nearly anything that isn't obvious power-gaming.

The map:
SMAX - Human factions only.
Transcend
52 by 104. (between large and huge)
50/50 Land/Ocean. Continents with substantial landbridges.
Heavy rainfall, average fungus/rockiness
3CP start.
Player number dependant on interest.
All victories
No stockpile bug
Otherwise standard 'poly rules.

I haven't decided on my faction. Still thinking about a reinterpreted Believers or an aquatic Gaia/Morgan.

[H.Humpel]

Sounds perfect for me ! I LOVE custom factions !

But I don't have any clue which one I'd like to play. CCF is pretty much one of my favourites, but I guess they are a bit (or even more) over-powered.

Anyway, sign me in!
I'll take a look around in my (custom) faction pool/database (last time I counted there were 235 factions ) and I will come back to you these days! Even though I found out that the terms "fair" and "balanced" are not easy to define when comparing (especially very different) custum factions...

[GeoModder]

How about this one?

• #DATALINKS2
  ^+1 POLICE and +1 PROBE: {Loyal citizens of a distinct culture}
  ^-2 GROWTH: {Accidents for the unattentive in a hostile environment and stricter birth control}
  ^{May not use Free Market economic choice.}
  ^Free Deep Pressure Hull ability with discovery of necessary technology.
  ^Terraform Bonus: {Drowning your opponents is an option}
  ^Bases need Hab Complex to exceed size 5: {Small bases difficult to discover}
  ^Enhancements may be built in ocean and trench squares with the discovery of Advanced Ecological Engineering: {Trained for life at sea}
  ^Bonus mineral from ocean shelf squares: {Culture and technology adapted for the ocean}

It's my custom Atlantean seafaction. In a prior version it had +2 Police and needed a HC to exceed size 4.
And I'm toying with changing the free deep pressure hull with free marine ability.

[Senethro]

Originally posted by GeoModder
How about this one?

• #DATALINKS2
  ^+1 POLICE and +1 PROBE: {Loyal citizens of a distinct culture}
  ^-2 GROWTH: {Accidents for the unattentive in a hostile environment and stricter birth control}
  ^{May not use Free Market economic choice.}
  ^Free Deep Pressure Hull ability with discovery of necessary technology.
  ^Terraform Bonus: {Drowning your opponents is an option}
  ^Bases need Hab Complex to exceed size 5: {Small bases difficult to discover}
  ^Enhancements may be built in ocean and trench squares with the discovery of Advanced Ecological Engineering: {Trained for life at sea}
  ^Bonus mineral from ocean shelf squares: {Culture and technology adapted for the ocean}

It's my custom Atlantean seafaction. In a prior version it had +2 Police and needed a HC to exceed size 4.

I like it! Depending on what other people bring to the table I might ask you to give yourself +1 to police or Probe.

[Senethro]

I have to say I was hoping for more enthusiasm that has so far been shown

I've an aquatic faction that was the Atlanteans, but now is the Pacificans :P

Aquatic trait
+2 Planet
+1 Support
-2 Industry
Starting techs: C. Ecology and D. Flex.
85% Hurry costs.
Free Isle of the Deep
Aversion - Planned.

[binTravkin]

Dis is crazy.
I would like

-----RESEARCH (-5)
SHARETECH, 1, please

[Senethro]

Originally posted by binTravkin
Dis is crazy.
I would like

-----RESEARCH (-5)
SHARETECH, 1, please

I'd like to see how you can possibly make a balanced faction with Sharetech, 1 :P
I think you've missed the point somewhat.

[binTravkin]

You're too serious Senethro.

But I think this one should do:

-----INDUSTRY
-----ECONOMY
-----RESEARCH
SHARETECH, 1

[Senethro]

Oh, I see what you're trying to do. You'll just hang around pretending you're not a threat until someone researches Advanced Militiary algo. Then you'll switch to Value: Power, get -7 industry and rolls over to 0 industry and then act surprised. I'm not going to fall for it.

[H.Humpel]

OK.... here's CCF (from networknode.org):

Chiron Conservation Force

The nature of this planet cries out to be researched
and preserved. We must make sure we learn the secrets
of nature and not destroy it like on Earth.

-- Project Leader Lexia Quintris,
"Centauri Preservation"

#DATALINKS1
LEADER: {Lexia Quintris}
BACKGROUND: {Greenpeace Volunteer}
AGENDA: {To Research and Preserve Chiron}
TECH: {Centauri Ecology}

#DATALINKS2
+1 RESEARCH: {Desire to learn from nature}
+2 PLANET: {Want to preserve nature}
-2: INDUSTRY {Industry hurts planet}
Free Tree Farm at every base
{Cannot use FREE MARKET choice}

I personally find them very nice to play but I guess they might be a bit over-powered (free tree farm), too ?!

And I wouldn't mind giving this one (found at networknode.org, too) another try, too:

The Rangers of Chiron

Chiron is a world of majestic proportions and grand beauty. We
will strive to protect her treasures in the face of any adversity,
and brook no interference in the task at hand.

-- Strider Ajela Tam,
"Chronicles of the Preservation"

#DATALINKS1
LEADER: {Strider Ajela Tam}
BACKGROUND: {Green Peace, National Parks Warden}
AGENDA: {Protection of Chirons Natural Wonders}
TECH: {Centauri Ecology}

#DATALINKS2
CENTAURI PRESERVE: {Free facility at each base}
+3 PLANET: {Spiritual symbiosis with Chiron}
-3 INDUSTRY: {Industry poisons Chiron}
-3 RESEARCH: {Technology destroys Chiron}
+2 MORALE: {The Rangers are fiercely passionate for their cause}
-15% ENERGY INTEREST: {Abhorrence of Energy creating facilities}
-3 COMMERCE: {Self sufficient populace}
150% HURRY: {Poor Industrial facilities}
{May NOT use FREE MARKET}
{2 Free SCOUTS}

The last time I played the rangers I found them pretty strange, unbalanced and hard to play... but as it's been a few years, I really wouldn't mind giving them another shot. Although I guess I'll be "an easy victim" for the other players .

Anyway... what do you think .. ?! .

[Darsnan]

Re: New PBEM: Custom Faction Battle

Originally posted by Senethro
Enter a custom player faction of approximately same strength as Peacekeepers or Morgan. They can be anything you want.

Heah Senethro,

nice idea here! However the only thing I've been looking into here is something along the lines of a Stalinistic-leaning Hive in that they'd have a negative research (due to purges) but a +10% attack capability due to "Blocking Units". This would be a very tough to play Faction, especially considering if all the other Factions are going to be PK/ Morgan Hybrids. Any thoughts on this?


D

[Senethro]

Darsnan: I was more meaning that the custom factions were not to be in a much higher "tier" than the PKs and Morgan. Tiering was a ranking that took into consideration a factions absolute ability to win and the effort/skill required to play them.

Top tier
-Uni, Hive, Drones.

Second tier
-Morgan, PKs,

Third tier
-Cyborgs, Gaia, Sparta, Angels, Believers,

Bottom Tier
-Pirates, Cult.


All very subjective but I hope you get the point. The first tier factions are strong, reliable and given favourable conditions will run away with the game.
Just to clarify, though Morgan is second tier, if he survives the early game he competes with the top tier and the PKs aren't exciting but are generally reliable.

Where the second tier ends and the third begins is largely down to what definitions you're using. Third tier factions can definitely compete but may require a little skill (or luck) to get them to the mid game where faction differences lessen. Notice that a lot of the third tier has an unpredictable element to its playstyle. (War, pod-popping, infiltration related ability) If they play well then they're in the game. If not, they're watching the Uni shoot up the powergraph.

Bottom tier factions are those that I've interpreted as being very rarely able to compete on a level playing field.

If you cut out the Proggies and the bottom tier, Alpha Centauri has a lot more balance and equality than most games. Some other games have top tiers that completely negate the ability to use third tiers.


Enough babble. What I'm saying is that I'm not looking for a faction similar to PKs/Morgan, they can have any playstyle you want. Just as long as they don't run away with the game (vertical powergraph) or are so limited in their options that they're bottom tier. (Worm rushing cult, Believers too sometimes.)
I'd describe the factions myself and Geomodder suggested as Third tier factions as their success will depend upon their ability to grab some land to win. My faction is so mineral-short and Geomodders best use of terraforming bonus would be boreholes. If either of us get kicked off terra firma by strong land factions you'll be able to watch us sulk in the shallows for the rest of the game.

In comparison both H.Humpels suggested factions suffer from NetworkNode.org syndrome. The CCF cannot be allowed to have a free mineral-expensive, maintenance expensive, facility that is partially responsible for beginning the midgame. On the other hand the Rangers are so inflexible that they cannot do anything successfully except worm-rush (and I'd question their ability to do even that well with -3 industry). If the CCF's Tree Farms were changed to Biology labs I'd probably allow them

[GeoModder]

Just a peek-a-boo to see how things stand atm.

Edit: AFAIK, terraform bonus only applies to raising/lowering terrain?

[binTravkin]

Oh, I see what you're trying to do. You'll just hang around pretending you're not a threat until someone researches Advanced Militiary algo. Then you'll switch to Value: Power, get -7 industry and rolls over to 0 industry and then act surprised. I'm not going to fall for it.

[Lazerus]

Ouch at The Rangers of Chiron !! that makes the cult look overpowered