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Author Topic:   Victory, of all forms

Veracitas posted 06-24-99 03:18 PM ET
It is quite evident after playing SMAC for the while that I have that Diplomatic victory is the easiest and most dull victory to achieve. By the time transcendence can be achieved, the human player has had the opportunity to win a hundred times over. I almost tried economic victory with the Spartans, but, by that time, I could have long ago made myself Supreme ruler. The only reason, therefore, of transcendence is for the bloody of it. But it is rather tiresome to sit there and mindlessly pump units out while you are waiting for ascent to transcendence.
It does not even take much skill to achieve diplomatic victory. There is no long travail and terrible hardships that must be endured to achieve it. In one turn--one push of a button--you are made supreme ruler and that is all. No long wars, no tiresome secret projects, no work, really at all. Does anyone else think that diplomatic victory is rather dull and too easy?
Smeagol posted 06-24-99 03:34 PM ET
I do! Though I don't play SMAC anymore, when I last played I turned off diplomatic victory. As you said, it just isn't any fun winning that way. Economic victory isn't so easy though-- though it isn't actually hard to get, it usually takes some time to achieve.
Ascent to Transcendence comes so late that it isn't even worth achieving-- by that time the game is already decided, anyway. The only form of victory that will always satisfy me is conquest.
The one redeeming factor for this game is that though the computer is easily blown away, if you go for conquest victory it's always fun conquering the AI. Make it harder on yourself by fighting several wars at once, and the game can actually be a challenge.
Earwicker posted 06-24-99 05:17 PM ET
Yes, in most games there comes a point where it's obvious you'll win and the only question is the flavor. I don't restrict myself from Diplomatic Victory if only to leave myself the option of saying "My god will this ever end?!" and calling it a day. I suppose I could just leave the games unfinished but there's something dissatisfying to that.
Even so, it's soooo tempting to take out those last couple of Spartan bases . . .
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Author	Topic: Victory, of all forms
Veracitas	posted 06-24-99 03:18 PM ET It is quite evident after playing SMAC for the while that I have that Diplomatic victory is the easiest and most dull victory to achieve. By the time transcendence can be achieved, the human player has had the opportunity to win a hundred times over. I almost tried economic victory with the Spartans, but, by that time, I could have long ago made myself Supreme ruler. The only reason, therefore, of transcendence is for the bloody of it. But it is rather tiresome to sit there and mindlessly pump units out while you are waiting for ascent to transcendence. It does not even take much skill to achieve diplomatic victory. There is no long travail and terrible hardships that must be endured to achieve it. In one turn--one push of a button--you are made supreme ruler and that is all. No long wars, no tiresome secret projects, no work, really at all. Does anyone else think that diplomatic victory is rather dull and too easy?
Smeagol	posted 06-24-99 03:34 PM ET I do! Though I don't play SMAC anymore, when I last played I turned off diplomatic victory. As you said, it just isn't any fun winning that way. Economic victory isn't so easy though-- though it isn't actually hard to get, it usually takes some time to achieve. Ascent to Transcendence comes so late that it isn't even worth achieving-- by that time the game is already decided, anyway. The only form of victory that will always satisfy me is conquest. The one redeeming factor for this game is that though the computer is easily blown away, if you go for conquest victory it's always fun conquering the AI. Make it harder on yourself by fighting several wars at once, and the game can actually be a challenge.
Earwicker	posted 06-24-99 05:17 PM ET Yes, in most games there comes a point where it's obvious you'll win and the only question is the flavor. I don't restrict myself from Diplomatic Victory if only to leave myself the option of saying "My god will this ever end?!" and calling it a day. I suppose I could just leave the games unfinished but there's something dissatisfying to that. Even so, it's soooo tempting to take out those last couple of Spartan bases . . .