What does your SMAC world look like and why - Planet Options...

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Author Topic:   What does your SMAC world look like and why - Planet Options...

Series II posted 05-25-99 01:25 PM ET
Lots and Lots of talk about factions, but very little about planet specs.
What planet do you like playing on and why?
I have recently found that huge planet, huge oceans, rare life, dense clouds is a lot of fun. I usually play UOP of Hive.
On the opposite end Huge planet, huge oceans, sparce clouse, strong erosion can be a real challange.
Your thoughts........................
JAMstillAM posted 05-25-99 01:58 PM ET
SeriesII,
My preferences usually are huge random map, weak erosion, 50-70% water, dense clouds, and average native lifeforms. Also, I usually don't play with stealing tech when conquering bases. This usually yields a fair amount of variable sized islands and gives a decent faction start position seeding. It allows a good amount of time before first contact with other factions is made (usually about 30-50 years) and fits in with my preference for playing a builder strategy.
If you really want to kick @ss playing the Gaians then do the above but change the cloud cover to sparse and the native lifeforms to abundant. This will really handicap all of the other players, human or AI.
Darkstar, if you ever read this and want to take me up on my builder vs rush challenge, I'll be Gaians and you can be any two other factions, other than UoP if we play with my choice of preferences.
JAMiAM
Eris posted 05-25-99 02:08 PM ET
Standard (usually), lowest ocean coverage (usually, or the middle pick), dense cloud cover, other things average.
If I had more RAM (and I may, after this week *crosses fingers*) I might go with larger maps. Actually, now that I've found all the options to turn off so that turns are quicker (mostly warning options) I may go with large anyhow. I'm more a builder type than not; I usually only get in fights when someone else starts them and often will take Blood Truce unless they've /truly/ ticked me off.
Which doesn't explain why I enjoy playing the Believers. Oh, right. "Usually."
Sometimes I get into fights cuz there's no other way to expand. I especially enjoy this when it's either the Hive or the Morganites next to me, for some reason (2 factions I've yet to play).
Series II posted 05-25-99 02:09 PM ET
Another nice (cheat?) is that on a huge planet with a huge ocean is that most of the special areas (ruins, mount, crater...) are on an island by themself. Factions are usually not put on these islands.
Sort of equals out the starting location a bit and leaves the geological specials to be colonized later in the game. They play less a role in the early game.
Games can be to easy (or really to hard) if I or another faction are near to a few of these special areas.
Stealing tech is no biggie. I am usually #1 in tech so I see it usually as more of a handicap for me.
I would like a game option to limit or pick which land specials are on the map. How about a game with 14 Garland Craters or a game with just a normal map - no special areas?
Noisy posted 05-25-99 02:54 PM ET
I remember seeing in an old thread that there is a map of Earth available somewhere. I've been thinking that it seems illogical that you can't cross the poles (even though the manual says there are only small polar ice caps .... and it takes a long time to trek round them, when the distance should be a lot less than the equator).
From that, the next step is to select a strip around the Earth - say 50 degrees N to 80 degrees N. Suit all the Canadians and Russians down to the ground!
What say you - anyone done this yet?
Noisy
Micromanager to the Stars
StargazerBC posted 05-25-99 07:03 PM ET
I think the Huge map setting is not huge enough! I like big large, galactic scale battles . Until that time my favorite specs:
Huge with pods
Large land masses
lots of cloud cover
High Priest posted 05-25-99 09:13 PM ET
In war games, I prefer
Large map
medium land cover
average native life
sparse cloud cover
average erosion
In building games I prefer
Huge map
mostly ocean cover
average native life
dense cloud cover
average erosion
High Priest
HolyWarrior posted 05-25-99 09:41 PM ET
Standard size, random map, everything else standard.
Do or Die, Spoils, Blind Off (a must when playing the Believers)
RunningJester posted 05-26-99 02:53 AM ET
I like the Huge planet, weak erosion, average life, and usually average rain with 30-50% oceans. This seems to give you enough time to get started without having to fight from turn 10 or so.
Igor posted 05-26-99 11:00 AM ET
Huge or Tiny random, blind on (even as Believers), Ironman, spoils off.
Koshko posted 05-26-99 10:25 PM ET
Normally,
A modified Hugh Map of Planet. (I tweaked it with more Pods, Rivers, Resources, and the Borehole)
Wargame,
Tiny Map with Abundant Life, Dense Cloud Cover, Average Erosion, and ? Ocean coverage.
jimmytrick posted 05-26-99 10:35 PM ET
only wimps play with alot of ocean! wanna be all alone onna island where the big bad AI can't get ya!!!!!
Wimpnicks! Better not show up in any o my PBEM games or I'll SMAC ya! Blah!
Jam, i can't believe Darkstar hasn't called you out!
jimmytrick
Lord of SMAC
SMACGOD PRIME, and
AAGG
(druunk on rum and Diet Coke)
JAMstillAM posted 05-27-99 12:04 AM ET
jimmytrick,
What can I say? I've been trying to get Darkstar to play me for weeks.
The only place more dangerous than being between a mother bear and her cub is being on MY island in SP or MP. Just get off my land and let me transcend and we'll get along, famously. Mess with me and...
JAMiAM
Rackam posted 05-30-99 08:29 AM ET
Huge world, medium or large land, dense cloud, average erosion, abundant life and standard rules (directed research) and I usually play Gaians.
~Rackam
1212 posted 05-30-99 07:17 PM ET
256X256
Huge land mass
light erosion
dense clouds
little native life.
Choose your reasearch
Can we say builders heaven???
Series II posted 06-01-99 08:44 AM ET
1212 - I play the same world.
ANyone play with random personalities (for the AI) and adgendas?
High Priest posted 06-01-99 10:16 PM ET
Koshko:
Wargames are much easier with sparse cloud cover, as you should only be planting forests or drilling boreholes. Being as to the type of game a quick conquest strategy makes, this should hurt your more builder oriented opponents more than yourself.
Of course, it also lets the other two killer factions a bit of an advantage, as well.
High Priest
googlie posted 06-02-99 12:21 AM ET
If you've got the computing power, and want a waterworld game, try 384 x 256 (ignore the warning) with 70% to 90% ocean. Awesome game. (You need to play at transcend, 'cos the AI is somewhat weak on ocean tactics). Turn native life to abundant for a really hairy ride!
The game does slow down as more bases get built, but still playable. As 70% land, though, that large a map does eventually drag it down.
DilithiumDad posted 06-02-99 02:47 PM ET
Am I the only one who prefers THE MAP OF PLANET? I have the poster from the strategy guide and I really like having a well-balanced standard map with usually each faction getting a landmark. The Gaians usually get the fungus-infested Ruins area and the U of P lands near the equator somewhere for high energy.
The HUGE map is the best. The only problem is --no borehold cluster!! It should be added the the standard map, probably in the Upland Wastes.
A key option is showing the base radius in red outline --this should rellay be the default.
Series II posted 06-02-99 03:36 PM ET
I like the Map of Planet when I try a new faction the first time ot two. It is layed out well and has a lot of interesting strategic geography.
MichaeltheGreat posted 06-03-99 04:44 AM ET
I play TI (transcend/ironman for you wimps)
The planet type doesn't matter - I stomp the A-nonI, whether by transcendance, conquest or diplomatic victory. The only real effect of changing planet options is that you have to adapt your tactics and development choices, but that happens every game.
It's hard to be humble when you're the best. :P
absimiliard posted 06-03-99 01:41 PM ET
Hey MichaeltheGreat,
Maybe you should try to resurrect the old TI threads. The discussion was lively and the game-play advice cogent.
Just as an aside, many of us have not lost a single TI game. Don't think you are alone. There are many 'the best' players out there. <removes tongue from cheek>
-absimiliard
Boylard posted 06-06-99 04:20 PM ET
I have never lost a TI game either (normally coz I get out when things go badly wrong but still....)
I'd be interested to know what your best scores are on TI... I got over 500% with gaians, that's with the rare lifeform -25% modifier (I won by transcendence after my diplomatic victory attempt was stopped by the Hive going renegade...)
MajiK6pt5 posted 06-11-99 02:01 AM ET
the map of planet is not as fun, cuz you always know what you're gonna get, and have the strategic advantage over the AI, because you are smarter (I hope), and can use your "cheated" knowledge of their terrain to attack before exploring...
Series II posted 06-11-99 08:39 AM ET
I started a 250 * 250 game with 79-90% oceans last night. It is amazing. There is almost no land. It will be a big change from my more 'normal' games.
korn469 posted 06-15-99 01:51 AM ET
i made a mapr of a totally inhospitable planet i have it if anyone wants to download it
Series II posted 06-18-99 11:40 AM ET
I really like weak ersion forces. Gives a nice diverse terrain.
Rackam posted 06-18-99 12:03 PM ET
Lately I've been playing on 128x256, max land, abundant life, dense clouds, weak erosion. It's builder heaven.
~Rackam
Sector7G posted 06-23-99 03:05 AM ET
I like to play with a large map (only 32 megs ram )Abuntant life forms, dense cloud cover and...ok here's the thing..I like to play builder most of the time (providing I dont start next to an aggresive faction)So, do you really get that much resorces with weak erosive forces to help your mineral production. I've yet to see the difference?
Zoetrope posted 06-23-99 05:35 AM ET
Made a huge, highly eroded map. World looked like a series of mud flats. My UoP landed with the Spartans and the Hive a few squares either side, and I've nowhere to expand. Hmm, not so great.
Restarted with a huge, low erosion map. Looks much more attractively green and hilly. Only trouble is I'm jammed between Sparta and Hive again! (Is this a conspiracy, or what?)
googlie posted 06-25-99 09:13 PM ET
Zoe:
For my Sven story continuation I needed to restart Miriam on an island ('twas important for the story line).
Six successive starts on huge map of Planet I was given the identical spot before I finally got another choice to try (same river, same fungus pattern, same unity pod locations for each of the six. Only thing different was the pod contents - twice a rover, once a monolith, etc)
So maybe your Sparta/Hive neighbours is just high-odds randomly repeated?
Series II posted 07-06-99 12:49 PM ET
Rackam,
I started a 128x256, max land, abundant life, dense clouds, weak erosion. It's builder heaven, but also it really allows the computer factions to get a good start and expand. Rarely have I had to fight factions with shard weapons. This game there is all sorts of advanced tech on the computer's side.
Makes for a very interesting late game.
~Rackam
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Author	Topic: What does your SMAC world look like and why - Planet Options...
Series II	posted 05-25-99 01:25 PM ET Lots and Lots of talk about factions, but very little about planet specs. What planet do you like playing on and why? I have recently found that huge planet, huge oceans, rare life, dense clouds is a lot of fun. I usually play UOP of Hive. On the opposite end Huge planet, huge oceans, sparce clouse, strong erosion can be a real challange. Your thoughts........................
JAMstillAM	posted 05-25-99 01:58 PM ET SeriesII, My preferences usually are huge random map, weak erosion, 50-70% water, dense clouds, and average native lifeforms. Also, I usually don't play with stealing tech when conquering bases. This usually yields a fair amount of variable sized islands and gives a decent faction start position seeding. It allows a good amount of time before first contact with other factions is made (usually about 30-50 years) and fits in with my preference for playing a builder strategy. If you really want to kick @ss playing the Gaians then do the above but change the cloud cover to sparse and the native lifeforms to abundant. This will really handicap all of the other players, human or AI. Darkstar, if you ever read this and want to take me up on my builder vs rush challenge, I'll be Gaians and you can be any two other factions, other than UoP if we play with my choice of preferences. JAMiAM
Eris	posted 05-25-99 02:08 PM ET Standard (usually), lowest ocean coverage (usually, or the middle pick), dense cloud cover, other things average. If I had more RAM (and I may, after this week crosses fingers) I might go with larger maps. Actually, now that I've found all the options to turn off so that turns are quicker (mostly warning options) I may go with large anyhow. I'm more a builder type than not; I usually only get in fights when someone else starts them and often will take Blood Truce unless they've /truly/ ticked me off. Which doesn't explain why I enjoy playing the Believers. Oh, right. "Usually." Sometimes I get into fights cuz there's no other way to expand. I especially enjoy this when it's either the Hive or the Morganites next to me, for some reason (2 factions I've yet to play).
Series II	posted 05-25-99 02:09 PM ET Another nice (cheat?) is that on a huge planet with a huge ocean is that most of the special areas (ruins, mount, crater...) are on an island by themself. Factions are usually not put on these islands. Sort of equals out the starting location a bit and leaves the geological specials to be colonized later in the game. They play less a role in the early game. Games can be to easy (or really to hard) if I or another faction are near to a few of these special areas. Stealing tech is no biggie. I am usually #1 in tech so I see it usually as more of a handicap for me. I would like a game option to limit or pick which land specials are on the map. How about a game with 14 Garland Craters or a game with just a normal map - no special areas?
Noisy	posted 05-25-99 02:54 PM ET I remember seeing in an old thread that there is a map of Earth available somewhere. I've been thinking that it seems illogical that you can't cross the poles (even though the manual says there are only small polar ice caps .... and it takes a long time to trek round them, when the distance should be a lot less than the equator). From that, the next step is to select a strip around the Earth - say 50 degrees N to 80 degrees N. Suit all the Canadians and Russians down to the ground! What say you - anyone done this yet? Noisy Micromanager to the Stars
StargazerBC	posted 05-25-99 07:03 PM ET I think the Huge map setting is not huge enough! I like big large, galactic scale battles . Until that time my favorite specs: Huge with pods Large land masses lots of cloud cover
High Priest	posted 05-25-99 09:13 PM ET In war games, I prefer Large map medium land cover average native life sparse cloud cover average erosion In building games I prefer Huge map mostly ocean cover average native life dense cloud cover average erosion High Priest
HolyWarrior	posted 05-25-99 09:41 PM ET Standard size, random map, everything else standard. Do or Die, Spoils, Blind Off (a must when playing the Believers)
RunningJester	posted 05-26-99 02:53 AM ET I like the Huge planet, weak erosion, average life, and usually average rain with 30-50% oceans. This seems to give you enough time to get started without having to fight from turn 10 or so.
Igor	posted 05-26-99 11:00 AM ET Huge or Tiny random, blind on (even as Believers), Ironman, spoils off.
Koshko	posted 05-26-99 10:25 PM ET Normally, A modified Hugh Map of Planet. (I tweaked it with more Pods, Rivers, Resources, and the Borehole) Wargame, Tiny Map with Abundant Life, Dense Cloud Cover, Average Erosion, and ? Ocean coverage.
jimmytrick	posted 05-26-99 10:35 PM ET only wimps play with alot of ocean! wanna be all alone onna island where the big bad AI can't get ya!!!!! Wimpnicks! Better not show up in any o my PBEM games or I'll SMAC ya! Blah! Jam, i can't believe Darkstar hasn't called you out! jimmytrick Lord of SMAC SMACGOD PRIME, and AAGG (druunk on rum and Diet Coke)
JAMstillAM	posted 05-27-99 12:04 AM ET jimmytrick, What can I say? I've been trying to get Darkstar to play me for weeks. The only place more dangerous than being between a mother bear and her cub is being on MY island in SP or MP. Just get off my land and let me transcend and we'll get along, famously. Mess with me and... JAMiAM
Rackam	posted 05-30-99 08:29 AM ET Huge world, medium or large land, dense cloud, average erosion, abundant life and standard rules (directed research) and I usually play Gaians. ~Rackam
1212	posted 05-30-99 07:17 PM ET 256X256 Huge land mass light erosion dense clouds little native life. Choose your reasearch Can we say builders heaven???
Series II	posted 06-01-99 08:44 AM ET 1212 - I play the same world. ANyone play with random personalities (for the AI) and adgendas?
High Priest	posted 06-01-99 10:16 PM ET Koshko: Wargames are much easier with sparse cloud cover, as you should only be planting forests or drilling boreholes. Being as to the type of game a quick conquest strategy makes, this should hurt your more builder oriented opponents more than yourself. Of course, it also lets the other two killer factions a bit of an advantage, as well. High Priest
googlie	posted 06-02-99 12:21 AM ET If you've got the computing power, and want a waterworld game, try 384 x 256 (ignore the warning) with 70% to 90% ocean. Awesome game. (You need to play at transcend, 'cos the AI is somewhat weak on ocean tactics). Turn native life to abundant for a really hairy ride! The game does slow down as more bases get built, but still playable. As 70% land, though, that large a map does eventually drag it down.
DilithiumDad	posted 06-02-99 02:47 PM ET Am I the only one who prefers THE MAP OF PLANET? I have the poster from the strategy guide and I really like having a well-balanced standard map with usually each faction getting a landmark. The Gaians usually get the fungus-infested Ruins area and the U of P lands near the equator somewhere for high energy. The HUGE map is the best. The only problem is --no borehold cluster!! It should be added the the standard map, probably in the Upland Wastes. A key option is showing the base radius in red outline --this should rellay be the default.
Series II	posted 06-02-99 03:36 PM ET I like the Map of Planet when I try a new faction the first time ot two. It is layed out well and has a lot of interesting strategic geography.
MichaeltheGreat	posted 06-03-99 04:44 AM ET I play TI (transcend/ironman for you wimps) The planet type doesn't matter - I stomp the A-nonI, whether by transcendance, conquest or diplomatic victory. The only real effect of changing planet options is that you have to adapt your tactics and development choices, but that happens every game. It's hard to be humble when you're the best. :P
absimiliard	posted 06-03-99 01:41 PM ET Hey MichaeltheGreat, Maybe you should try to resurrect the old TI threads. The discussion was lively and the game-play advice cogent. Just as an aside, many of us have not lost a single TI game. Don't think you are alone. There are many 'the best' players out there. <removes tongue from cheek> -absimiliard
Boylard	posted 06-06-99 04:20 PM ET I have never lost a TI game either (normally coz I get out when things go badly wrong but still....) I'd be interested to know what your best scores are on TI... I got over 500% with gaians, that's with the rare lifeform -25% modifier (I won by transcendence after my diplomatic victory attempt was stopped by the Hive going renegade...)
MajiK6pt5	posted 06-11-99 02:01 AM ET the map of planet is not as fun, cuz you always know what you're gonna get, and have the strategic advantage over the AI, because you are smarter (I hope), and can use your "cheated" knowledge of their terrain to attack before exploring...
Series II	posted 06-11-99 08:39 AM ET I started a 250 * 250 game with 79-90% oceans last night. It is amazing. There is almost no land. It will be a big change from my more 'normal' games.
korn469	posted 06-15-99 01:51 AM ET i made a mapr of a totally inhospitable planet i have it if anyone wants to download it
Series II	posted 06-18-99 11:40 AM ET I really like weak ersion forces. Gives a nice diverse terrain.
Rackam	posted 06-18-99 12:03 PM ET Lately I've been playing on 128x256, max land, abundant life, dense clouds, weak erosion. It's builder heaven. ~Rackam
Sector7G	posted 06-23-99 03:05 AM ET I like to play with a large map (only 32 megs ram )Abuntant life forms, dense cloud cover and...ok here's the thing..I like to play builder most of the time (providing I dont start next to an aggresive faction)So, do you really get that much resorces with weak erosive forces to help your mineral production. I've yet to see the difference?
Zoetrope	posted 06-23-99 05:35 AM ET Made a huge, highly eroded map. World looked like a series of mud flats. My UoP landed with the Spartans and the Hive a few squares either side, and I've nowhere to expand. Hmm, not so great. Restarted with a huge, low erosion map. Looks much more attractively green and hilly. Only trouble is I'm jammed between Sparta and Hive again! (Is this a conspiracy, or what?)
googlie	posted 06-25-99 09:13 PM ET Zoe: For my Sven story continuation I needed to restart Miriam on an island ('twas important for the story line). Six successive starts on huge map of Planet I was given the identical spot before I finally got another choice to try (same river, same fungus pattern, same unity pod locations for each of the six. Only thing different was the pod contents - twice a rover, once a monolith, etc) So maybe your Sparta/Hive neighbours is just high-odds randomly repeated?
Series II	posted 07-06-99 12:49 PM ET Rackam, I started a 128x256, max land, abundant life, dense clouds, weak erosion. It's builder heaven, but also it really allows the computer factions to get a good start and expand. Rarely have I had to fight factions with shard weapons. This game there is all sorts of advanced tech on the computer's side. Makes for a very interesting late game. ~Rackam