Hmm. Tau Ceti is 11 ly away to AC's 4 and a hair - are they in more or less the same direction from here?
....
Firaxis messed up. There is no way the Progenitors knew the location of Tau Ceti but couldn't find Alpha Centauri, not when given thousands of years to do so with faster than light technology. They wouldn't even need to build a beacon. The stranded ships could just send an ordinary radio signal and wait a few decades. We can do that with our current technology.
Or, the probe teams sifting through the alien data links mislabeled an entirely different star as Tau Ceti.
And why should, for instance, the males dominate? It's is certainly not the way it always works outside the Earth mammals...Or even within Earth mammals, like the hyena, lemur or bonobo.
The Progenitors, and an introduction to the challenge of Xenopology Pt.1 (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=10)
It is difficult to believe that a Progenitor leader could be anything but a dictator so absolute as to make Joseph Stalin look like Gandhi.
Every lifeform on Earth is either asexual or male/female.
it is entirely plausible that which "role" is played by a given organism at a given time will depend on factors other than the individual's genetics,
They're just too powerful. You can stomp the AI even more easily than with a human faction. Playing them with a self imposed base limit of six makes them a bit more interesting. A multiplayer match setting two players of equal skill in command of the xenos would make life fun for the other human players.
They're just too powerful. You can stomp the AI even more easily than with a human faction. Playing them with a self imposed base limit of six makes them a bit more interesting. A multiplayer match setting two players of equal skill in command of the xenos would make life fun for the other human players.
Although with enough humans, and a rule that humans can take part in cooperative victory but the alien players can't, and that an alien win is considered a double loss for the other alien player, things could get interesting.
I could very well see a "democratic" regime for the Caretakers being intertwined with displays of imposing dominance as a statesman, as well as organizationally more likely being something of a parliamentary procedure rather than something like direct democracy or even representative republic democracy like how the United States does, and being more akin to something like how Cuba runs with a government that votes on issues- but doesn't necessarily rely on input from a voting populace.
Now I'm sure someone out there thinks we're all helpless, voting doesn't matter, courts don't matter, etc. They're wrong, they're not being objective, but some people do believe they're living under tyranny. Even when the reality is they're living in a democratic system where it's difficult but not impossible to get their way.
Adolf Hitler, for example was elected. He may have not been overwhelmingly elected by the vast majority but he was voted strongly enough to claim power.
I personally think that SMAC's representation of every single social policy in the game would likely vary according to the faction and leader implementing it. Gaian Fundamentalism is not going to look the same as Believer Fundamentalism. Worship of planet is not the same as worship of Abrahamic god and Christ.
Adolf Hitler, for example was elected. He may have not been overwhelmingly elected by the vast majority but he was voted strongly enough to claim power.
That didn't happen because of 'democracy'. That happened because of the punitive economic attitude that the victors of WW I took towards Germany, and because of The Great Depression. The Nazis did not have support until the serious economic crisis was happening. I think it's fair to take the following lesson from this: a poor Democracy isn't worth anything.QuoteI personally think that SMAC's representation of every single social policy in the game would likely vary according to the faction and leader implementing it. Gaian Fundamentalism is not going to look the same as Believer Fundamentalism. Worship of planet is not the same as worship of Abrahamic god and Christ.
True. Might be interesting to design Belief Systems, much as one designs units. If you impose a Belief System, you're stuck with it for awhile.
Actually I really like that idea. I'll have to pen and paper it up some. I think I'm trying to write a game like SMAC. I have tried before, unfortunately it led to bankruptcy. Oh well. That was then, this is now?
Somebody please go look that up about Hitler being elected - I don't think so. He was appointed Chancellor by Hindenburg, illegally IIRC.
Theapathyfear of people who didn't act,
But then again, one could argue that a poor economy in any society will lead to social collapse and demagogues to arise; regardless if its a poor democracy or a poor dictatorship.
Hopefully he doesn't last long in office and is impeached.
The first thing someone would have to do is ascribe a system of morals.
Theapathyfear of people who didn't act,
The Nazi SA Brownshirts were famous for their street violence, against the Communists and anyone else who opposed them. Ergo I Fixed That For You.QuoteBut then again, one could argue that a poor economy in any society will lead to social collapse and demagogues to arise; regardless if its a poor democracy or a poor dictatorship.
Not really. North Korea is still holding together. That said, I did see an article in the paper about Kim Jong Un losing his grip on power, according to a defector. Didn't actually read the article. Saddam Hussein did fine with UN sanctions and denial of food aid. He just withheld food from the people he didn't like, the Shiites. Sucks for post-war Iraq, but Saddam would have held on forever absent armed intervention.QuoteHopefully he doesn't last long in office and is impeached.
I think that's wishful thinking. It's definitely not a game plan for dealing with him.QuoteThe first thing someone would have to do is ascribe a system of morals.
I've actually been thinking more in terms of choice points in the game. This can include even what units you build. If you build a lot of military stuff, for instance, you are going to empower people who are militant. If you allow beatings in the streets on civil rights issues, you are going to slide into a Police State. And if you want out of that, it's going to be too late. At least for awhile. I've wondered about the player running the government "being assassinated", and then what role does the player get to take next? I don't think "game over" would be a good mechanic, but I haven't resolved what kind of continuity the player has in the game. For instance if some other country militarily defeats you, do you get to take over the victor and keep going? That would render "winning the game" somewhat meaningless.
Changing subject back to the social system you speak of- so you'd have a certain amount of allocatable points when designing a society?