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Author Topic:   A guide to SMAC: Game Mechanics

Brother Greg posted 11-13-98 12:12 AM ET
This, brothers and sisters, is to be the repository for all of the knowledge we have compiled about SMAC. Whether it be through magazines, web sites, or the hallowed forums themselves, if it has been stated somewhere, I want to see it here. However, try not to duplicate TOO much of the FAQ or the story. =)
Each "topic" I will prefix with the title: "A guide to SMAC: [topic name]" for easy reference. If you feel the lack of a topic, feel free to start it. Just try and stick to the same naming conventions...
Hopefully this should be a comprehensive guide to all of the "verified" knowledge that we have. A good guide for newbies, and a good reference for the vets amongst us. Please quote all sources. Note that some information may be old, and out of date, esp from the old forums. Feel free to add any verified facts, no matter how old they may be...
Also note that I don't see this as a place to debate the merits of the knowledge. Please start a new thread if that is your wish. Otherwise, people may have to wade through hundreds of lines to discover something. =)
So, to start off the "Game Mechanics":
Winning
-------
There are two ways to win the game.
1. Military conquest. Pretty simple really - just kill everyone else.
2. Ascend to Transcendance. This involves the next step in human evolution, evolving into our next "incarnation". This will be a body made of pure energy. Few clues have been given as to how this will be accomplished. I have speculated that the sentient planet may have something to do with it. (from posts by Firaxis on the old forum)
Timescale
---------
Appears to be years, going by the screenshots in the Gallery. I see no mention of months, or seasons, in fact nothing other than the year is present. There has been a LOT of comment on this very topic, esp on the olf Firaxis Forums, though all of it from fans. Firaxis hasn't made any statements. (from shots in the gallery)
jsorense posted 11-13-98 12:49 PM ET
On Winning:
I have also read in a couple of places that there is an option to win on points. I assume this involves multiplayer games. I think I saw this in the last interview by L`Despot on the Beyond Alpha Centauri site.
DJ RRebel posted 11-13-98 01:00 PM ET
JS .. actually, the scoring is for single player mode .. it help to gauge your abilities !!!
In multi, the gauge will be how long you were able to last against me !!!
(I'm guessing not too long !!! lol)
Actually, I guess in multi you could have the same point system, but who care how many points you have if you managed to kill everyone else !!!
Play a few games of Civilization 2 and you'll understand what I mean !!!
DJ RRebel posted 11-13-98 01:02 PM ET
As for the time issue, I really don't think it matters, it relative for everyone, so it shouldn't matter !!!
It's not like Civ where there was history with which we had to base our progression with !!!
SMAC is purely Sci-Fi, so we can discover at any pace !!!
MikeH II posted 11-13-98 01:37 PM ET
I read somewhere (I wish I could remember where) a post from Mike Ely that made me think that turns were less than a year. (Anyone else remember Greg's rant on why turns should not be a year?). Sorry for this little bit of useless info.
DJ RRebel posted 11-13-98 01:44 PM ET
I don't remember exactly either, but I also recall a couple of posts on the subject !!!
All in all, I don't think it will matter too much though .. as long as we have a decent number of turns !!! (400 minimun I guess)
MikeH II posted 11-13-98 01:54 PM ET
Very true.
DJ RRebel posted 11-13-98 01:56 PM ET
MikeH !!! How many turns are there in the BETA ??? lol
MikeH II posted 11-13-98 01:59 PM ET
1, it's very short. Damn blown my cover FIRAXIS police will be round to confiscate my CD.
I didn't apply, no experience
DJ RRebel posted 11-13-98 02:26 PM ET
yeeeeeeeeah riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight !!! lol
It's ok .. FIRAXIS never check the forums anymore, you can tell us !!!
Ben Music posted 11-13-98 02:41 PM ET
I read somewhere that there was also the possibility of a combined victory. I took that to mean that you and you ally (or allies?) achieve some sort of victory. Unfortunatly I can't remember where I read it.
DJ RRebel posted 11-13-98 02:43 PM ET
Really ??? I never heard of that !!!
Is there a secret interview I haven't heard about ???
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Author	Topic: A guide to SMAC: Game Mechanics
Brother Greg	posted 11-13-98 12:12 AM ET This, brothers and sisters, is to be the repository for all of the knowledge we have compiled about SMAC. Whether it be through magazines, web sites, or the hallowed forums themselves, if it has been stated somewhere, I want to see it here. However, try not to duplicate TOO much of the FAQ or the story. =) Each "topic" I will prefix with the title: "A guide to SMAC: [topic name]" for easy reference. If you feel the lack of a topic, feel free to start it. Just try and stick to the same naming conventions... Hopefully this should be a comprehensive guide to all of the "verified" knowledge that we have. A good guide for newbies, and a good reference for the vets amongst us. Please quote all sources. Note that some information may be old, and out of date, esp from the old forums. Feel free to add any verified facts, no matter how old they may be... Also note that I don't see this as a place to debate the merits of the knowledge. Please start a new thread if that is your wish. Otherwise, people may have to wade through hundreds of lines to discover something. =) So, to start off the "Game Mechanics": Winning ------- There are two ways to win the game. 1. Military conquest. Pretty simple really - just kill everyone else. 2. Ascend to Transcendance. This involves the next step in human evolution, evolving into our next "incarnation". This will be a body made of pure energy. Few clues have been given as to how this will be accomplished. I have speculated that the sentient planet may have something to do with it. (from posts by Firaxis on the old forum) Timescale --------- Appears to be years, going by the screenshots in the Gallery. I see no mention of months, or seasons, in fact nothing other than the year is present. There has been a LOT of comment on this very topic, esp on the olf Firaxis Forums, though all of it from fans. Firaxis hasn't made any statements. (from shots in the gallery)
jsorense	posted 11-13-98 12:49 PM ET On Winning: I have also read in a couple of places that there is an option to win on points. I assume this involves multiplayer games. I think I saw this in the last interview by L`Despot on the Beyond Alpha Centauri site.
DJ RRebel	posted 11-13-98 01:00 PM ET JS .. actually, the scoring is for single player mode .. it help to gauge your abilities !!! In multi, the gauge will be how long you were able to last against me !!! (I'm guessing not too long !!! lol) Actually, I guess in multi you could have the same point system, but who care how many points you have if you managed to kill everyone else !!! Play a few games of Civilization 2 and you'll understand what I mean !!!
DJ RRebel	posted 11-13-98 01:02 PM ET As for the time issue, I really don't think it matters, it relative for everyone, so it shouldn't matter !!! It's not like Civ where there was history with which we had to base our progression with !!! SMAC is purely Sci-Fi, so we can discover at any pace !!!
MikeH II	posted 11-13-98 01:37 PM ET I read somewhere (I wish I could remember where) a post from Mike Ely that made me think that turns were less than a year. (Anyone else remember Greg's rant on why turns should not be a year?). Sorry for this little bit of useless info.
DJ RRebel	posted 11-13-98 01:44 PM ET I don't remember exactly either, but I also recall a couple of posts on the subject !!! All in all, I don't think it will matter too much though .. as long as we have a decent number of turns !!! (400 minimun I guess)
MikeH II	posted 11-13-98 01:54 PM ET Very true.
DJ RRebel	posted 11-13-98 01:56 PM ET MikeH !!! How many turns are there in the BETA ??? lol
MikeH II	posted 11-13-98 01:59 PM ET 1, it's very short. Damn blown my cover FIRAXIS police will be round to confiscate my CD. I didn't apply, no experience
DJ RRebel	posted 11-13-98 02:26 PM ET yeeeeeeeeah riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight !!! lol It's ok .. FIRAXIS never check the forums anymore, you can tell us !!!
Ben Music	posted 11-13-98 02:41 PM ET I read somewhere that there was also the possibility of a combined victory. I took that to mean that you and you ally (or allies?) achieve some sort of victory. Unfortunatly I can't remember where I read it.
DJ RRebel	posted 11-13-98 02:43 PM ET Really ??? I never heard of that !!! Is there a secret interview I haven't heard about ???