Units based on superior captured enemy units

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Author Topic:   Units based on superior captured enemy units

Nell_Smith posted 04-12-99 05:49 PM ET
Not sure if this is a bug or a feature (it actually kind of makes sense, so maybe it's meant to work this way), but if you use a probe team to capture an enemy unit that's superior in technology to your own technology, you can use it as the basis to make your own units with that technology even though you haven't researched it. However, there seems to be only one way to do this: say you capture a Chaos Rover and you've still only got Impact technology. If you just go into the Design Workshop from the main menu, the Chaos Gun doesn't show up as an option you can use. But, if you go to one of your base production screens, you will find that the Chaos Rover (or whatever unit you captured) is available to be built. Click on it and then go to the Workshop button at the bottom, so that it appears in the main Workshop window. Now feel free to change the chassis and any other parameters to create a new unit type using the Chaos Gun, which you officially don't have. Click Apply and there you go!! A Chaos Squad, or whatever, available to build even though you haven't researched the Chaos Gun yet.
OK, so this may be a cheat, but it's really useful if you're way behind in tech and are being hassled by Miriam, Yang and Santiago on all sides
dbrodale posted 04-12-99 09:25 PM ET
I classify it as an "inconsistency" -- see SMAC (3.0) Mysteries thread in Troubleshooting forum.
Another opinion,
d.brodale
Roland posted 04-13-99 05:08 AM ET
It may be an inconsistency, but it's really cute... just upgraded a lot of units with the "*2" reactor type I stole by probing a UoP unit, and the tide in my war against the Gaians is turning in my favor... can be pretty unbalancing, esp. as I doubt the AI will use it...
dbrodale posted 04-13-99 05:14 AM ET
The AI does not "know" this trick. It is terribly unbalanced, and I think, overpowers probe teams a bit. Esp. given the frequent situation of mind controlling a University unit with *several* advanced techs for a low price (remember: the University take some hefty probe penalties) ...
d.brodale
Cameleon posted 04-14-99 11:57 AM ET
I know this has been asked before, but I didn't see an answer then, so:
Can this be done with the Unity units you get from drop pods as well? For example if you find a chopper early on, are you able to build some nice early game choppers (and win within a couple of years )?
Cameleon
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Author	Topic: Units based on superior captured enemy units
Nell_Smith	posted 04-12-99 05:49 PM ET Not sure if this is a bug or a feature (it actually kind of makes sense, so maybe it's meant to work this way), but if you use a probe team to capture an enemy unit that's superior in technology to your own technology, you can use it as the basis to make your own units with that technology even though you haven't researched it. However, there seems to be only one way to do this: say you capture a Chaos Rover and you've still only got Impact technology. If you just go into the Design Workshop from the main menu, the Chaos Gun doesn't show up as an option you can use. But, if you go to one of your base production screens, you will find that the Chaos Rover (or whatever unit you captured) is available to be built. Click on it and then go to the Workshop button at the bottom, so that it appears in the main Workshop window. Now feel free to change the chassis and any other parameters to create a new unit type using the Chaos Gun, which you officially don't have. Click Apply and there you go!! A Chaos Squad, or whatever, available to build even though you haven't researched the Chaos Gun yet. OK, so this may be a cheat, but it's really useful if you're way behind in tech and are being hassled by Miriam, Yang and Santiago on all sides
dbrodale	posted 04-12-99 09:25 PM ET I classify it as an "inconsistency" -- see SMAC (3.0) Mysteries thread in Troubleshooting forum. Another opinion, d.brodale
Roland	posted 04-13-99 05:08 AM ET It may be an inconsistency, but it's really cute... just upgraded a lot of units with the "*2" reactor type I stole by probing a UoP unit, and the tide in my war against the Gaians is turning in my favor... can be pretty unbalancing, esp. as I doubt the AI will use it...
dbrodale	posted 04-13-99 05:14 AM ET The AI does not "know" this trick. It is terribly unbalanced, and I think, overpowers probe teams a bit. Esp. given the frequent situation of mind controlling a University unit with several advanced techs for a low price (remember: the University take some hefty probe penalties) ... d.brodale
Cameleon	posted 04-14-99 11:57 AM ET I know this has been asked before, but I didn't see an answer then, so: Can this be done with the Unity units you get from drop pods as well? For example if you find a chopper early on, are you able to build some nice early game choppers (and win within a couple of years )? Cameleon