posted 04-22-99 08:22 PM ET        

The cornerstone of all my maps will be pre-designated "faction starting points" or FSPs. Each FSP will have roughly the same access to resources and unoccupied real estate. Each FSP will also be close to a "goody", that is a beneficial land feature (e.g., The Ruins, Monsoon Jungle, etc.).

No more 5 factions crowded together in the corner of one continent while The Hive or Gaia are all alone on their own continent quietly building your D M. No more getting stuck on a 20 square island big enough for two bases (if that), with your "woo-hoo" Unity Foil to transport another colony pod to who-knows-where (probably right next to Sparta if you're lucky! ). No more getting screwed out of any "goodies" while Morgan gets all three of The Ruins, Garland Crater and Borehole Cluster.

Sounds good, yes? Read on!

posted 04-22-99 08:23 PM ET            

I have already created one map (see below for details), with plans for several more. This first map is suitable for 7 faction games (human + AI == 7). I plan to create other maps suitable for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 faction games. Which ones I work on first will be dictated my time, personal whim and your demand.

Each map will be available with a default FSP faction placement. Each faction will have a typical starting configuration (i.e., bases, units, energy, tech). Obviously with the 2 to 6 faction maps, only certain faction combinations can be made. And with limited time, only some of those will be available initially. As time goes on, many of the popular combinations will become known and probably established. In the mean time, I will take a crack at determining some popular faction numbers and combinations.

Along with the basic MP maps with factions at default FSPs, I will also be providing some additional services as time allows:

1) Human Faction Placement -- I will accept a list of desired human factions, along with a map name. I will then evenly distribute the human factions amongst the map FSPs attempting to place them equidistant from each other. This service would be for those who wish to play on an MP map with fewer humans than factions available, who also want the human factions spread out across the map.

Which faction starts at which FSP will still be left to chance. Some maps will only be suitable for certain numbers of human players. Playing with other than the recommended number would probably be unbalancing, but it is up to you!

2) Time Warping -- An add-on service to Human Faction Placement. All factions (Human and AI) will be manually "warped" from into the future for a requested number of years. Basically, I or someone I trust, will play a hotseat game on the map, for that many turns before handing it off. If desired, players may sketch out a desired initial strategy/building guide. I'll do my best to follow along.

But as to guides be forewarned, I will be using my own judgement as well, so Time Warped games will be presented "as is." Your mileage may vary. But you can _ALWAYS_ be sure that my play is going to be light years ahead of anything the AI can produce.

3) Bigger Initial Bases -- An alternative to Time Warping. A group of players can choose from pre-determined base "size/levels" and "types" for their starting base. That is, every player's initial base will be a certain size and each can choose what "kind" of base they want. That is, growth-oriented, mineral-oriented, energy-oriented, or whatever. The type of base and specifics of terrain improvements would be unknown to the other players in the group. AI types and configuration would be chosen by me.

What I envision is each player would get a certain number of "former points". Each point representing the amount of work one former can do in one turn. Optionally, "advanced" terraforming would be allowed, on a one-time basis for the starting base, representing cannabilization of Unity equipment.

I am still playing with this idea. So if you have suggestions, post 'em here. Or send 'em via e-mail to [email protected].

4) Custom One-Off Maps -- Maybe you have an idea on how to improve a map, or some new special terrain feature, or better FSPs, or whatever. Maybe you're planning that special tournament or challenge! Let me know, I'll see what I can do.

********

Bear in mind, I am just beginning on this adventure and these postings are open to the global SMAC community. I hope I don't get snowed under. However, I was inspired by the CMN and challenge threads. Plus playing with the Map/Scenario Editor is fun! (once you get used to the quirks)

Eventually, I hope to get a sampling of my maps and such posted on the web. For now, I am making my first one available. See the next message.

posted 04-22-99 08:24 PM ET            

My first work I am dubbing "Tropical Chiron." This is owing to Rainy settings, with a smattering of several patches of jungle distributed around the map, along with more and longer rivers than random maps produce.

Map Specs:

Name: Tropical Chiron (Standard)
Size: Standard
Water: approx. 40%
Weather: Rainy (Dense clouds)
Erosion: Average
Lifeforms: Average
FSPs: 7
Geography: 1 Lrg Continent, 2 Med-Lrg Continents, 2 Med Continents, various islands

Suitable for 2, 3, 4 or 7 human factions (others would be represented by AI).

Additional features of note:

- Nessus Canyon Included!
- New Feature "Fungushenge"
- New Feature "Great Basin of Chiron"
- New Feature "Inland Sea"
- New Feature "Monolith Point"
- New Feature "Sentinel Ridge"
- New Feature "South Polar Canal"
- New Feature "North Polar Sea"

Plus some surprises ...

Version 1.0 now available at www.sirius.com/~tschlink/maps/trop-st-nf.zip. No factions placed as of yet. Sensor Arrays indicate my suggested Faction Starting Points.

Hopefully will have default faction placement done and available late this evening (PDT).

posted 04-22-99 08:26 PM ET            

www.sirius.com/~tfs99/maps/trop-st-nf.zip

posted 04-23-99 02:59 AM ET            

Thanks ! That sounds like a good idea. We could use one of your maps for a future challenge.

posted 04-23-99 05:12 AM ET            

I've playing MP games since a week after SMAC came out and have wanted to do something like this for a while.

posted 04-23-99 12:05 PM ET            

>Plus playing with the Map/Scenario Editor is fun! (once you get used to the quirks)<

Oh you have more patience than I.

I am getting used to its quirks but it is taking awhile

(BTW, question, how do you start a MP game within the scenario that allows you to play say 4 factions while the computer plays the other 3? I looked around a little last night and then gave up to go on to more productive SMACing.)

Former points, I was thinking about the same thing last night along with base facilities points, and tech points.

Over all we could start with say a 100 game points. Each game point could buy say 5 former points, or 3 facility points, or 4 unit points, or 5 game points could buy 1 tech point, (a tech point would be spent per tech level. To buy three level one techs and two level two techs would cost 7 tech points or 35 game points.) Obviously the numbers can be played with, but prospective players can say "I want 30% of my game points to go to tech and 25% to former points, 15% to unit points, and 30% to facility points.

I definitely say that we form a central point where map/scenario/game creation ideas and save files can be compiled. Within that area differant designers can have their own sub areas, or differant types of worlds can have their own sub areas.

This is cool

posted 04-23-99 06:25 PM ET            

Your points are well taken.

I considered that those who would want to play on the map might also be tempted to download it and check it out. However, I made the map available mainly for potential CMNs or others to create their own scenarios, and also, as you rightly point out, as an example of my ideas and quality of work determination.

I suppose I posted it in haste and in my excitement at getting something decent down "on paper". But an artist/engineer likes to get feedback.

Obviously, each map would only have so much replay value. There are those who enjoy playing on the Map of Planet many times, others less so, still others only play once and are on to the random maps.

I'm the latter, thus Slartibartfast Services is born. I'm hoping to assemble a sizeable
collection of Slartibartfast maps, in various sizes and with varying parameters, along with
a bunch of pre-set scenarios. I only hope Douglas Adams doesn't try to sue me for a not-for-profit use of his intellectual property!

In the long run, I think I will always make both the map and scenario files available
because, after-all, people can just load 'em into the scenario editor and look at 'em that
way!

>>>> Rasputine

Thanx for the feedback. But no fair peeking! I was hoping to use this map for our upcoming tournament. Now I'm not so sure I can do that!

>>>> Goobmeister

Re: Game Points

Yeah, a more general idea of Game Points is a possibility. And a great idea, BTW!

I was trying to keep it simple for CMNs with only the Bigger Base service (with former
points) and the Time Warping for a more developed starting point. But, hey, CMNs and the SMACers who choose to play on their worlds are free to choose whatever techniques they want. And I am certainly open to using and elaborating on a general Game Points idea.

Two more ideas on that score: Game points could buy additional units (within limits) and energy.

Re: MP Scenario with 4 humans and 3 AIs

I believe you just create a scenario with all seven factions present. Put the human factions where you believe they ought to go (would obviously require knowing the faction
list up front). Then MP host just opens the scenario and chooses the proper human factions before starting the hotseat/PBEM or "live" game.

Re: central point for map/scenario/game creation ideas and save files

To this end, I have created a new thread called oddly enough "Map, Scenario, Game Creation Ideas."

As far as a place to store files. I can volunteer my pitiful 10Mbs of space at sirius.com. However, I could only put "low traffic" items there as I am limited in how much can be downloaded each month. That is to say, scenarios and maps and whatever .SAV files CMNs may want to share with each other.

I can put up a simple HTML page with descriptions for the files with a single URL as a portal. But don't expect anything fancy. I'd rather be SMACing than coding HTML! Send files to [email protected] along with a brief description and I'll post it as doon as I am able. And if not, I'll let you know why. Thanx.

posted 04-23-99 07:48 PM ET            

When you prepare a scenario, you don't actually assign who's human and who's AI. It's when you actually start the MP game from the scenario that you pick which faction is assigned, and all the ones that aren't are played by the computer.

posted 04-26-99 06:59 PM ET            

I have to admit, I was shooting more for "fun", than "balance" with Tropical Chiron. Without actually rigourously playtesting the maps (either solo hot-seat or with seven humans), it's tough to evaluate balance.

I just tried to make an educated stab at it.

I also was trying to eliminate my main peeves that I have already expressed above:

1) cramped quarters for some, wide open spaces for others, and

2) goodies for some, none for others.

I have recently finished another map for Rasputine's PBEM that I plan on making it available for all to download, etc.

This time though, I am going to experiment a little bit with accelerated starting for the scenarios.

And for those who are playing Rasputine's PBEM ... NO PEEKING!!

Otherwise ... NO _SMAC_ FOR YOU! (The Forum Nazi)