posted 08-05-99 05:03 PM ET     

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Greetings, all. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Wierd Uncle Jesse, WUJ for short. I've read a great deal of the 'Conqueror' vs 'Builder' debate, and I do not fit in either of these limited catagories. I term myself a 'Colonist', one who plays as if I were actually colonizing Planet - that's right, a Role Player. Doing otherwise devolves the game into merely pushing pieces around a map, at least to me. If that was what I wanted, I would have stuck with Empire, which I played long before it was a commercial product. Yep, I've been playing computer strategy games that long. SMAC, with all it's shortcomings, has much more to offer than that, at least in potential.
As far as what is the best strategy to 'win' the game, and get the highest 'score', that depends entirely on several factors, in roughly this order:
1. The player mix. If it's one conqueror vs 6 colonists (RP'ers), the despot will be given all the compassion of a mad dog. Once the threat is dispatched, the game can then continue. If the numbers swing the other way, the Colonist will be looking for another game real soon.
2. Pregame settings. In several posts I've seen the most ardent of conqueror adherants claim that they would never play on large or huge maps with small land masses because that would make their 'winning' strategy less effective. I personally will not play on a dinky map because like I said, I don't play just to push pieces. 'nuff said.
3. Starting position. If you start off into full conqueror mode and you are stuck on a small island, you gotta switch to builder, at least for awhile. It is much easier for a builder to switch to conqueror than visa versa because of the support costs/research priorities. A builder can handle a lower level of resources, because they focus on formers instead of combat units from the start.
Anyhow, that's my stance on this debate. I doubt seriously that any of you will be able to change it. I will be posting what changes I'd like to see in SMACX soon. There are simple changes that would make the 'rover rush' tactic much less effective against a courageous and canny Colonist, without a major overhaul. I'd preferr Firaxis to address these things before delving into what I term 'goofiness' - those additions which make suspension of disbelief more difficult.

P.S. I'm also a stockholder of Electronic Arts .

posted 08-06-99 08:55 AM ET            

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It seems that main gripes about huge maps from Conquerors are:

1. SMAC is lamentably slow already; on a Huge (or larger) map it takes ages to play.

2. Multiplay should be the best challenge; but see point 1.