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Author Topic:   PSI Gates

quizara tafwid posted 03-25-99 10:06 AM ET
FYI: PSI Gates will handle naval units so the next time Yang is going after your city in the middle of the Great Waste, just teleport a Singularity AAA Cruiser into the city and knock down all of the copters he sends in to take out the garrison. Won't he be surprised!
absimiliard posted 03-25-99 11:06 AM ET
ROFLOL at the image of a Singularity Cruiser in the middle of desert using Singularity Lasers to blast incoming choppers out of the sky!!!!!
-absimiliard
eNo posted 03-25-99 05:15 PM ET
I'm thinking that the Bulk Matter Transmitter would make more sense to be a PSI gate in every city. The current benefit doesn't seem to be attractive enough.
Fiannaidh posted 03-25-99 06:15 PM ET
I agree with you on the psi gate in every city thing. I also think that we should be able to teleport units from cities to anywhere on the map in the very late game. And if only the game were on a much grander scale, we could have orbiting space cruisers.
VulturesRow posted 03-25-99 09:25 PM ET
I find the bulk matter transmitter to be an SP of rather dubious value actually. By the time you can get it, you have already finely tuned your empire to blanace out production against eco damage and that sp can throw your whole plan out of balance. Just my two cents worth
quizara tafwid posted 03-26-99 08:12 AM ET
I agree. There was another thread discussing this where it was pointed out that the BMT cost the same as 5 Mining satellites but you only get 2 per base rather than 5 (although it is immune to solar flares). By the time the BMT is built, I already have PSI gates in every city and more mineral production than I can handle (without eco-damage) so I only build it to keep anyone else from having it.
BTW: PSI gates handle Air units too so you can PSI gate your singularity interceptor across the world and still fly it.
I don't like the fact that PSI gates can only handle one unit per turn (like Airports in CivII). I envisioned having hoards of units pouring through the PSI gate to attack or defend (or an entire fleet of Singularity AAA Cruisers waiting for Yang in the Great Waste :-).
Plato90s posted 03-26-99 09:28 AM ET
Actually, it has been pointed out that the BMT actually gives you a 50% mineral bonus in all bases. In that case, it's far more valuable that Nessus Mining Stations.
VulturesRow posted 03-26-99 02:52 PM ET
Still, 50% boost in your mineral production could wreak havoc with your finely tuned empire, dont you agree?
micje posted 03-26-99 06:10 PM ET
Is that really true Plato? But then it does the same as the singularity inductor. I never use all those minerals late in the game anyway, because I'm winning anyway.
I also have never built a PSI gate yet. That's because of the same reason. Still I like the idea of the BMT giving you a PSI gate everywhere. Let's start a lobby guys!
Fiannaidh posted 03-26-99 06:21 PM ET
Ok, everyone who wants the Bulk Matter transmitter to give every city a Psi gate, post here and say so!
JaimeWolf posted 03-27-99 08:40 AM ET
That makes much more sense than the +2 minerals (or +50% minerals!)
James
derlich posted 03-27-99 03:59 PM ET
I absolutely agree. I read the manual and Prima's Strategy Guide throughly before starting the game (CD drive had dust crammed everywhere, had to get new one). When I first saw a reference to the Bulk Matter Transmitter, I thought exactly that: it would create a PSI gate everywhere. But what it actually does doesn't even begin to compensate for its cost (600).
On the other hand, however, if you read the quote:
"And what of the immortal soul in such transactions? Can this machine transmit and reattach it as well? Or is it lost forever, leaving a soulless body to wander the world in despair?
Sister Miriam Godwinson,
'We Must Dissent'"
That suggests that living beings cannot be transported. So, it would make sense for troopers (and such) not to be able to use it. It would not, therefore, be a PSI Gate.
Conclusion: I think Bulk Matter Transmitters shouldn't be used to "teleport" Units (read the name carefully: BULK MATTER). It shouldn't be in the game. There should be something that builds a PSI Gate in every city; this isn't it.
Fiannaidh posted 03-27-99 07:07 PM ET
Fine, I'll transport my un-manned shard 'Copters then! Come on, Mirriam's a paranoid freak, just because she *thinks* it *might* not transport a sould, doesn't mean it won't transport a human. I'm the UofP, so I really don't care if their immortal soul makes it or not, just that empty yang whoop'in shell is all I care about.
eNo posted 03-27-99 10:59 PM ET
Since that late in the game you have already discovered Self-Aware Machines, you should be able to send hordes of robotic armies throught the BMT.
Oleg Leschoff posted 03-28-99 01:18 AM ET
Well, you may think that this transmitter can't transfer living beings, but this is because of technology, right? So, can you tell what is the technology of PSI gates? In it Mariam looking more optimistic!
That 'PSI' somewhy makes me think that it may only transfer that 'souls'! About matter -- I'm not sure, but it seems that it must work in team with devices lile BMT. But, to simplify this, make treating Bulk as PSI gate in every base seems great idea.
But don't be so optimistic about implementing it somewhere. First, I don't sure that anybody from FIRAXIS reads these formums at all, maybe Support and Game forums, but very not regularry. For instance, look at The Game forum's thread 'Practical wishes for new patches'. There are many of very reasonable and not complex to implement ideas, but none of them are in patch 3.0
Oleg Leschoff posted 03-28-99 01:30 AM ET
Fiannaidh:
Interesting idea! Yes, transport unmanned troops, and so veteran team will leave, but just machinery transferred! And so when you have just BMT you'll resed transferred units's morale to your base morale when transfer using BMT!
Also then it'll be fine to reduce the cost of PSI gate wich makes normal transfer. So only if both the source city and destination has PSI gates unit will keep its morale, otherwise -- will not.
I think this is more real that you need modernize to good PSI gate, because otherwise it'll become somewhat unbalanced -- for example, you can build distant city and immediate fortify it, wich is very unbalancing. If you will get just those very green troops there, it'll be more real.
Fiannaidh posted 03-29-99 09:21 AM ET
We need people who can edit this stuff, I don't know that Firaxis won't, but you gotta know they're busy. Anyone who thinks they can modify SP effects to this degree, post here. It might involve making the game look for certain data on the hard drive instead of the CD.
Plato90s posted 03-29-99 02:44 PM ET
I really don't understand the big deal.
Using orbital drops, if you drop into your own city, your unit takes no damage and it can move the very next turn. Granted, you can't drop ships or aircraft, but big deal. In the end game, practically my entire army is comprised of drop Infantry of one type or another. I even make defensive units drop capable, so I build them back in the homeland and orbitally insert them to their new garrisons.
Klug posted 03-30-99 05:02 PM ET
I like to make drop/clean infantry with no weapon but the highest armor. I make lots of choppers (or planes, If I don't have choppers) clear out the city & then drop my drop defensive troops into the city. And you can make multiple drops, you lose 20% health per drop but the city I'm invading is empty anyway so I don't care. I can take out multiple cities that way in a turn that way. Another unit are drop rover defenders. Then even if I can't drop directly into the city because they have Aerospace complexes. The computer usually has roads leading into their city, I can still waltz into the city.
If they make AAA troops, I switch to PSI (worms, Psi attack choppers, Locusts, etc)
Double Overdrive posted 03-30-99 06:15 PM ET
Bulk Matter Transmitter should give you a base facility that no other faction would be capable of building.. maybe a facility that gives a +50% defensive value against Blink Displacers...! that would be cool.
I really don't think PSI gates go with BMT...they are both totally different concepts- Psi is brain power not BULK MATTER!!!- I agree that the BMT is the WORST SECRET PROJECT because by the time you get it +2 minerals is nothing!!
Like i said earlier BMT should be what lets your faction build A BULK MATTER DEFENSE type facility which defends against BLINK DISPACERS
(If you think about it this makes more sense than psi gates in all cites)(although it would be neat to have alot of PSI gates, it just wouldn't be correct)
PS--keep this thread alive!!
Fiannaidh posted 03-30-99 06:38 PM ET
The BMT, transports matter, According to Yang, we are simply chemical processes, but according to mirriam, we have an eternal consciousness (soul). If this Bulk Matter Tansmitter Transmits Matter sort of like the transporters in star trek, which seems as good as anything else I've heard, then the effect should be similar to a psi gate in every city. Don't let the word Psi throw you off, I don't care if you call it a psi gate, but a transporter in every city seems appropriate to this SP.
Peace posted 03-30-99 07:19 PM ET
Ahh but if you watch the bulk transmitter video you should notice that the space ship going through stops working (presumably because the crew is dead) after going through.. at least thats the impression i got.
Plato90s posted 03-30-99 08:05 PM ET
Actually, the movie for the BMT indicates the ship has lost its "soul". After all, the quote associated with the technology is from Zhakarov, and the first lab rat to go through the BMT survived.
Fiannaidh posted 03-31-99 09:06 AM ET
All my units are remote control anyway, so none of my people die in my wars, I'm a kind and benevolent dictator. I'm considering using really smart, mutated lab rats as a fuel source, and its good to know that they won't die as they pass thru my BMT gate in every city. The quote was from Mirriam by the way. And seriously, once you have self-aware machines, there is no need for humans to die in wars except when bases are conquered.
Grug posted 04-01-99 08:43 PM ET
Just one thing about the BMT. Shouldn't it also reduce the eco-damage of a city? I mean can't it also transport all that rubbish somewhere else?
Fiannaidh posted 04-01-99 11:21 PM ET
What is the realistic model for eco damage, is it the fact that planet is being tapped for resources, or is it simply the method used for tapping them? If eco-damage is what happens when you remove planet's resources faster than it can replenish them, then there wouldn't nescessarily be any "garbage" to dispose of.
Intresting point though, I've always wanted to ship all the garbage on earth to the sun, it probably won't do much damage there.
googlie posted 07-09-99 02:33 PM ET
another...
Lo_11 posted 07-11-99 08:27 PM ET
[Note: This is a repost from another Psi Gate topic.]
Psi Gates are an excellent means of moving units from a Sea Base(SB) to a Land Base(LB) that is served by a mag tube to the rest of your bases or from a SB/LB to a SB that is under attack. A SB without a Psi Gate is isolated, dependent on slow transports to send and/or receive the full benefits of a mag tube connected continent.
Lo
fsjjs1 posted 07-22-99 12:10 PM ET
I have a simpler question about the Psigate.
How do you use the damn thing?
I built one in about 15 cities, hit every key and combo I could think of and not one unit ever managed to use them.
Little Help Please.
Natguy posted 07-22-99 06:19 PM ET
I think the BMT should act as a PSI gate in every city and you should be able to teloport more than one per turn.
(I mean honestly...can you envision this:
Commander:Ready the Gate!
Attendant:Gate ready, Sir!
Commander:Prepare the troops!
Attendent:Troops ready, Sir!
Commander:Send the troops to [insert city name]
(Attendent pushes button. Troops march towards gate, but instead of going through they slam into it and fall back)
Commander:What the **** was that?!
Attendant:Sorry, sir, it appears that a small city on the other side of the planet sent a terraformer through...ours can't be used for another year!
I mean honestly! Why would a competent civilization do such a thing?
Plato90s posted 07-22-99 08:12 PM ET
Actually, you can receive an unlimited number of units in a single turn. Although if you want to send, you should do it before receiving. One city armed with a Psi Gate can become the receiving source for an entire army.
Again, another reason why Psi Gate should become available earlier. The advent of orbital insertion makes a psi gate so much less attractive.
quizara tafwid posted 07-23-99 07:48 AM ET
fsjjs1: to use the PSI Gate, make sure the unit is in a base, press Shift+I and select the destination from the dropdown (popup) menu.
Plato90s: yes, I too just discovered that a PSI Gate will accept any number of transfers. I just assummed that when the dropdown listed the gate as used that it meant it
Makes it handy for getting all of those Singularity Deathspheres to the front line in a hurry!
Natguy posted 07-24-99 12:52 AM ET
Let me be sure I have my facts straight: Each PSI gate can only send one unit per turn, but recieve an unlimited number? I thought that you could only send one unit per turn ythrough any PSI gate (Meaning do it once per turn with one unit)
This may sound stupid, but I have never built a PSI gate.
sandals posted 07-29-99 04:42 PM ET
Natguy: I've never built one either. By that time, just build Ascent & be done with it.
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Author	Topic: PSI Gates
quizara tafwid	posted 03-25-99 10:06 AM ET FYI: PSI Gates will handle naval units so the next time Yang is going after your city in the middle of the Great Waste, just teleport a Singularity AAA Cruiser into the city and knock down all of the copters he sends in to take out the garrison. Won't he be surprised!
absimiliard	posted 03-25-99 11:06 AM ET ROFLOL at the image of a Singularity Cruiser in the middle of desert using Singularity Lasers to blast incoming choppers out of the sky!!!!! -absimiliard
eNo	posted 03-25-99 05:15 PM ET I'm thinking that the Bulk Matter Transmitter would make more sense to be a PSI gate in every city. The current benefit doesn't seem to be attractive enough.
Fiannaidh	posted 03-25-99 06:15 PM ET I agree with you on the psi gate in every city thing. I also think that we should be able to teleport units from cities to anywhere on the map in the very late game. And if only the game were on a much grander scale, we could have orbiting space cruisers.
VulturesRow	posted 03-25-99 09:25 PM ET I find the bulk matter transmitter to be an SP of rather dubious value actually. By the time you can get it, you have already finely tuned your empire to blanace out production against eco damage and that sp can throw your whole plan out of balance. Just my two cents worth
quizara tafwid	posted 03-26-99 08:12 AM ET I agree. There was another thread discussing this where it was pointed out that the BMT cost the same as 5 Mining satellites but you only get 2 per base rather than 5 (although it is immune to solar flares). By the time the BMT is built, I already have PSI gates in every city and more mineral production than I can handle (without eco-damage) so I only build it to keep anyone else from having it. BTW: PSI gates handle Air units too so you can PSI gate your singularity interceptor across the world and still fly it. I don't like the fact that PSI gates can only handle one unit per turn (like Airports in CivII). I envisioned having hoards of units pouring through the PSI gate to attack or defend (or an entire fleet of Singularity AAA Cruisers waiting for Yang in the Great Waste :-).
Plato90s	posted 03-26-99 09:28 AM ET Actually, it has been pointed out that the BMT actually gives you a 50% mineral bonus in all bases. In that case, it's far more valuable that Nessus Mining Stations.
VulturesRow	posted 03-26-99 02:52 PM ET Still, 50% boost in your mineral production could wreak havoc with your finely tuned empire, dont you agree?
micje	posted 03-26-99 06:10 PM ET Is that really true Plato? But then it does the same as the singularity inductor. I never use all those minerals late in the game anyway, because I'm winning anyway. I also have never built a PSI gate yet. That's because of the same reason. Still I like the idea of the BMT giving you a PSI gate everywhere. Let's start a lobby guys!
Fiannaidh	posted 03-26-99 06:21 PM ET Ok, everyone who wants the Bulk Matter transmitter to give every city a Psi gate, post here and say so!
JaimeWolf	posted 03-27-99 08:40 AM ET That makes much more sense than the +2 minerals (or +50% minerals!) James
derlich	posted 03-27-99 03:59 PM ET I absolutely agree. I read the manual and Prima's Strategy Guide throughly before starting the game (CD drive had dust crammed everywhere, had to get new one). When I first saw a reference to the Bulk Matter Transmitter, I thought exactly that: it would create a PSI gate everywhere. But what it actually does doesn't even begin to compensate for its cost (600). On the other hand, however, if you read the quote: "And what of the immortal soul in such transactions? Can this machine transmit and reattach it as well? Or is it lost forever, leaving a soulless body to wander the world in despair? Sister Miriam Godwinson, 'We Must Dissent'" That suggests that living beings cannot be transported. So, it would make sense for troopers (and such) not to be able to use it. It would not, therefore, be a PSI Gate. Conclusion: I think Bulk Matter Transmitters shouldn't be used to "teleport" Units (read the name carefully: BULK MATTER). It shouldn't be in the game. There should be something that builds a PSI Gate in every city; this isn't it.
Fiannaidh	posted 03-27-99 07:07 PM ET Fine, I'll transport my un-manned shard 'Copters then! Come on, Mirriam's a paranoid freak, just because she thinks it might not transport a sould, doesn't mean it won't transport a human. I'm the UofP, so I really don't care if their immortal soul makes it or not, just that empty yang whoop'in shell is all I care about.
eNo	posted 03-27-99 10:59 PM ET Since that late in the game you have already discovered Self-Aware Machines, you should be able to send hordes of robotic armies throught the BMT.
Oleg Leschoff	posted 03-28-99 01:18 AM ET Well, you may think that this transmitter can't transfer living beings, but this is because of technology, right? So, can you tell what is the technology of PSI gates? In it Mariam looking more optimistic! That 'PSI' somewhy makes me think that it may only transfer that 'souls'! About matter -- I'm not sure, but it seems that it must work in team with devices lile BMT. But, to simplify this, make treating Bulk as PSI gate in every base seems great idea. But don't be so optimistic about implementing it somewhere. First, I don't sure that anybody from FIRAXIS reads these formums at all, maybe Support and Game forums, but very not regularry. For instance, look at The Game forum's thread 'Practical wishes for new patches'. There are many of very reasonable and not complex to implement ideas, but none of them are in patch 3.0
Oleg Leschoff	posted 03-28-99 01:30 AM ET Fiannaidh: Interesting idea! Yes, transport unmanned troops, and so veteran team will leave, but just machinery transferred! And so when you have just BMT you'll resed transferred units's morale to your base morale when transfer using BMT! Also then it'll be fine to reduce the cost of PSI gate wich makes normal transfer. So only if both the source city and destination has PSI gates unit will keep its morale, otherwise -- will not. I think this is more real that you need modernize to good PSI gate, because otherwise it'll become somewhat unbalanced -- for example, you can build distant city and immediate fortify it, wich is very unbalancing. If you will get just those very green troops there, it'll be more real.
Fiannaidh	posted 03-29-99 09:21 AM ET We need people who can edit this stuff, I don't know that Firaxis won't, but you gotta know they're busy. Anyone who thinks they can modify SP effects to this degree, post here. It might involve making the game look for certain data on the hard drive instead of the CD.
Plato90s	posted 03-29-99 02:44 PM ET I really don't understand the big deal. Using orbital drops, if you drop into your own city, your unit takes no damage and it can move the very next turn. Granted, you can't drop ships or aircraft, but big deal. In the end game, practically my entire army is comprised of drop Infantry of one type or another. I even make defensive units drop capable, so I build them back in the homeland and orbitally insert them to their new garrisons.
Klug	posted 03-30-99 05:02 PM ET I like to make drop/clean infantry with no weapon but the highest armor. I make lots of choppers (or planes, If I don't have choppers) clear out the city & then drop my drop defensive troops into the city. And you can make multiple drops, you lose 20% health per drop but the city I'm invading is empty anyway so I don't care. I can take out multiple cities that way in a turn that way. Another unit are drop rover defenders. Then even if I can't drop directly into the city because they have Aerospace complexes. The computer usually has roads leading into their city, I can still waltz into the city. If they make AAA troops, I switch to PSI (worms, Psi attack choppers, Locusts, etc)
Double Overdrive	posted 03-30-99 06:15 PM ET Bulk Matter Transmitter should give you a base facility that no other faction would be capable of building.. maybe a facility that gives a +50% defensive value against Blink Displacers...! that would be cool. I really don't think PSI gates go with BMT...they are both totally different concepts- Psi is brain power not BULK MATTER!!!- I agree that the BMT is the WORST SECRET PROJECT because by the time you get it +2 minerals is nothing!! Like i said earlier BMT should be what lets your faction build A BULK MATTER DEFENSE type facility which defends against BLINK DISPACERS (If you think about it this makes more sense than psi gates in all cites)(although it would be neat to have alot of PSI gates, it just wouldn't be correct) PS--keep this thread alive!!
Fiannaidh	posted 03-30-99 06:38 PM ET The BMT, transports matter, According to Yang, we are simply chemical processes, but according to mirriam, we have an eternal consciousness (soul). If this Bulk Matter Tansmitter Transmits Matter sort of like the transporters in star trek, which seems as good as anything else I've heard, then the effect should be similar to a psi gate in every city. Don't let the word Psi throw you off, I don't care if you call it a psi gate, but a transporter in every city seems appropriate to this SP.
Peace	posted 03-30-99 07:19 PM ET Ahh but if you watch the bulk transmitter video you should notice that the space ship going through stops working (presumably because the crew is dead) after going through.. at least thats the impression i got.
Plato90s	posted 03-30-99 08:05 PM ET Actually, the movie for the BMT indicates the ship has lost its "soul". After all, the quote associated with the technology is from Zhakarov, and the first lab rat to go through the BMT survived.
Fiannaidh	posted 03-31-99 09:06 AM ET All my units are remote control anyway, so none of my people die in my wars, I'm a kind and benevolent dictator. I'm considering using really smart, mutated lab rats as a fuel source, and its good to know that they won't die as they pass thru my BMT gate in every city. The quote was from Mirriam by the way. And seriously, once you have self-aware machines, there is no need for humans to die in wars except when bases are conquered.
Grug	posted 04-01-99 08:43 PM ET Just one thing about the BMT. Shouldn't it also reduce the eco-damage of a city? I mean can't it also transport all that rubbish somewhere else?
Fiannaidh	posted 04-01-99 11:21 PM ET What is the realistic model for eco damage, is it the fact that planet is being tapped for resources, or is it simply the method used for tapping them? If eco-damage is what happens when you remove planet's resources faster than it can replenish them, then there wouldn't nescessarily be any "garbage" to dispose of. Intresting point though, I've always wanted to ship all the garbage on earth to the sun, it probably won't do much damage there.
googlie	posted 07-09-99 02:33 PM ET another...
Lo_11	posted 07-11-99 08:27 PM ET [Note: This is a repost from another Psi Gate topic.] Psi Gates are an excellent means of moving units from a Sea Base(SB) to a Land Base(LB) that is served by a mag tube to the rest of your bases or from a SB/LB to a SB that is under attack. A SB without a Psi Gate is isolated, dependent on slow transports to send and/or receive the full benefits of a mag tube connected continent. Lo
fsjjs1	posted 07-22-99 12:10 PM ET I have a simpler question about the Psigate. How do you use the damn thing? I built one in about 15 cities, hit every key and combo I could think of and not one unit ever managed to use them. Little Help Please.
Natguy	posted 07-22-99 06:19 PM ET I think the BMT should act as a PSI gate in every city and you should be able to teloport more than one per turn. (I mean honestly...can you envision this: Commander:Ready the Gate! Attendant:Gate ready, Sir! Commander:Prepare the troops! Attendent:Troops ready, Sir! Commander:Send the troops to [insert city name] (Attendent pushes button. Troops march towards gate, but instead of going through they slam into it and fall back) Commander:What the **** was that?! Attendant:Sorry, sir, it appears that a small city on the other side of the planet sent a terraformer through...ours can't be used for another year! I mean honestly! Why would a competent civilization do such a thing?
Plato90s	posted 07-22-99 08:12 PM ET Actually, you can receive an unlimited number of units in a single turn. Although if you want to send, you should do it before receiving. One city armed with a Psi Gate can become the receiving source for an entire army. Again, another reason why Psi Gate should become available earlier. The advent of orbital insertion makes a psi gate so much less attractive.
quizara tafwid	posted 07-23-99 07:48 AM ET fsjjs1: to use the PSI Gate, make sure the unit is in a base, press Shift+I and select the destination from the dropdown (popup) menu. Plato90s: yes, I too just discovered that a PSI Gate will accept any number of transfers. I just assummed that when the dropdown listed the gate as used that it meant it Makes it handy for getting all of those Singularity Deathspheres to the front line in a hurry!
Natguy	posted 07-24-99 12:52 AM ET Let me be sure I have my facts straight: Each PSI gate can only send one unit per turn, but recieve an unlimited number? I thought that you could only send one unit per turn ythrough any PSI gate (Meaning do it once per turn with one unit) This may sound stupid, but I have never built a PSI gate.
sandals	posted 07-29-99 04:42 PM ET Natguy: I've never built one either. By that time, just build Ascent & be done with it.