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Tandoori posted 06-19-99 07:24 AM ET
Hi... I bought SMAC a couple of days ago and I think its farking wonderful. I just finished it on easy and I'd like to know if you can help me out with some tactics like
Should I destroy Miriam and bible-bashing losers straight away? Should I use planet busters out of spite? and what's the best faction to be? I play as the uni at the moment.
LoD posted 06-19-99 09:30 AM ET
Miriam is the natural enemy of the UoP (because of her probe bonus and antagonistic tendencies), so, if you play it, then yes, blast away. However, refrain from using PBs, or Planet will get very upset (not to mention other factions, if you failed to Repeal UN Charter, that is). You could use Psi units instead (Miriam has -1 Planet) - IMHO you don't have to, as you should be aeons ahead of her in research (esp. on Citizen). In any way, always use the "best method of defense" (the Believers have +25% on attack).
There is no such thing as "the best faction" in SMAC. Simply play them all to find out which suits you best (for Builder style the UoP, Gaians and Morganites would suit you best).
LoD
Tandoori posted 06-19-99 09:38 AM ET
Thanks.
I like to play as UoP for their amazing technology advances early on which makes me unbeatable. I have tried other factions but I just couldnt maintain a good empire. I guess when I get used to controlling my units by hand and extorting money from everyone then I may play a more aggressive faction. Im only a newbie so I still play on Citizen and the next two up, and unfortunately, i automate most of my units, but I am learning.
LoD posted 06-19-99 10:26 AM ET
You're welcome. One more thing - you're not using governors, are you? If so, turn them off - they will ruin your development (same goes for automated formers).
LoD
xknwn1 posted 06-20-99 12:14 AM ET
Be sure to download the 3.0 patch too. Better to learn to play with at least a few of the bugs fixed! LOL

MacroCrap: "What do you want to reload today?"
Tandoori posted 06-20-99 06:38 AM ET
Erm, I am actually using governors and auto formers at the moment cause I havent quite mastered all the management stuff.. But I have just won an easy game by conquest... I thought i'd give the PB a try and I wiped out about 5 of morgans best bases... I thought 'wow! I need more of these!' and pay huge amountss to hurry the construction of some more which I used to destroy Lal and Morgan (Yang,Santiago and Deidre had all been eradicated earlier) and then Miriam bowed down to my supreme nuclear powers...
LoD posted 06-20-99 07:45 AM ET
PBs are great tie breakers - but watch out on higher levels if the UN charter is not repealed. I used them once - during my last game the FM-loving Morgan, who thrived on an island and colonized about a half of the other one, declared war on me (I played the Gaians). Two Sing. PB blasts and several combined 'Copter/Locust strikes later it was all over. Of course the remaining factions (Zak and Lal) pronounced Vendetta, but after a few turns (I lost a couple of bases, same did them) they pledged blood truce with me (and I was beggining to lose). The moral of this story - never PB when its disallowed if you didn't achieve complete dominance.
LoD
Rimmer posted 06-20-99 02:44 PM ET
LoD you are so helpful
LoD posted 06-20-99 03:05 PM ET
Do I hear sarcasm in your voice, Rimmer?
LoD
JohnIII posted 06-20-99 03:14 PM ET
LoD, just a small point:
"never PB when its disallowed if you didn't achieve complete dominance"
So, don't use a PB if you don't win from it? In tight games this could be hard to decide.
John III- The Sniper�
MichaeltheGreat posted 06-20-99 03:35 PM ET
John - I like your new handle. Might get into a squabble over the trademark rights, though.
Nell_Smith posted 06-20-99 03:39 PM ET
Tandoori:
One thought... especially when playing on the higher levels, you'll probably find that it benefits you considerably to make a few Treaties and Pacts, at least during the early game... this can really boost your economy and help you to get ahead in technology and base facilities *before* wiping out your onetime allies... you'll find that they all declare war on you anyway once you get powerful enough, so you don't even have to damage your reputation by making the first move. So, sometimes it can help to keep the Believers alive, to fill up your coffers before wiping them out!
Nell
PS: Have you tried actually playing the Believers?? I find them quite a challenge, but they can be fun, once the University becomes too easy
LoD posted 06-20-99 03:51 PM ET
John: Not exactly. Don't use the PB if you'll *lose* from it.
LoD
JohnIII posted 06-20-99 03:56 PM ET
OK.
MtG, how's this
Vasiliy Zaitsev?
The best sniper of the Eastern Front.
John III
MichaeltheGreat posted 06-20-99 04:06 PM ET
John - I remember Vasiliy - wasn't he the one who at Stalingrad countersniped that SS Obersturmbannfuhrer (forgot the name) that was the head of the SS sniper school?
Or how about Carlos Hathcock, the legendary sniper of the USMC in Vietnam?
I was just pulling your chain on the tm - John III the Sniper has a nice ring to it (the X ring I hope )
JohnIII posted 06-20-99 04:09 PM ET
Yep, an incredible duel between them. I remember Vasiliy shot a cameraman because he was giving his position away.
John III- The Sniper�
MichaeltheGreat posted 06-20-99 05:00 PM ET
If I remember correctly, the Kraut used to sneak out at night into this one small position for his hide that was the only concealment in an otherwise open area, and once Zaitsev figured that out, he confirmed by using a small piece of board to hold up a helmet - when the Kraut's round went straight through the board, instead of at an angle, then Zaitsev had confirmation and drilled the Kraut right through the head.
I wish I remembered his name, since the Kraut was definitely the better shot, but he was SS, so caught up in this master race against the Untermensch mentality. Going out to the same hide repeatedly was a violation of the cardinal rule of soldiering - habit kills. You never patrol the same places at the same times, use the same LPs or OPs or snipe from the same areas, etc. You don't do anything with a pattern at all, or the enemy picks up on it and nails you.
That was Zaitsev's great accomplishment - he understood the tactical art so well that he was unbeatable, and he probably had more overall effect than any brigade of Soviet infantry would have had.
MtG the infantry grunt. (and a fair shot myself)
Rimmer posted 06-20-99 09:18 PM ET
Truly no sarcasm. I don't have the patience to help people who can't read the rule book.
If everyone was like me the world would be awfully weird, but funny.
JohnIII posted 06-21-99 01:15 PM ET
Actually it was is friend who held up the helmet, but you're right about the reest.
John III
LoD posted 06-26-99 03:11 PM ET
Rimmer: I guess I owe you an apology.
LoD
Rimmer posted 06-27-99 01:09 AM ET
NEVER APOLOGIZE
You should have posted this.
Shut your mouth you coffee nosed piece of **** or I will PB your butt back to Earth.
Try it it livens up the conversation.
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Author	Topic: Hello all
Tandoori	posted 06-19-99 07:24 AM ET Hi... I bought SMAC a couple of days ago and I think its farking wonderful. I just finished it on easy and I'd like to know if you can help me out with some tactics like Should I destroy Miriam and bible-bashing losers straight away? Should I use planet busters out of spite? and what's the best faction to be? I play as the uni at the moment.
LoD	posted 06-19-99 09:30 AM ET Miriam is the natural enemy of the UoP (because of her probe bonus and antagonistic tendencies), so, if you play it, then yes, blast away. However, refrain from using PBs, or Planet will get very upset (not to mention other factions, if you failed to Repeal UN Charter, that is). You could use Psi units instead (Miriam has -1 Planet) - IMHO you don't have to, as you should be aeons ahead of her in research (esp. on Citizen). In any way, always use the "best method of defense" (the Believers have +25% on attack). There is no such thing as "the best faction" in SMAC. Simply play them all to find out which suits you best (for Builder style the UoP, Gaians and Morganites would suit you best). LoD
Tandoori	posted 06-19-99 09:38 AM ET Thanks. I like to play as UoP for their amazing technology advances early on which makes me unbeatable. I have tried other factions but I just couldnt maintain a good empire. I guess when I get used to controlling my units by hand and extorting money from everyone then I may play a more aggressive faction. Im only a newbie so I still play on Citizen and the next two up, and unfortunately, i automate most of my units, but I am learning.
LoD	posted 06-19-99 10:26 AM ET You're welcome. One more thing - you're not using governors, are you? If so, turn them off - they will ruin your development (same goes for automated formers). LoD
xknwn1	posted 06-20-99 12:14 AM ET Be sure to download the 3.0 patch too. Better to learn to play with at least a few of the bugs fixed! LOL MacroCrap: "What do you want to reload today?"
Tandoori	posted 06-20-99 06:38 AM ET Erm, I am actually using governors and auto formers at the moment cause I havent quite mastered all the management stuff.. But I have just won an easy game by conquest... I thought i'd give the PB a try and I wiped out about 5 of morgans best bases... I thought 'wow! I need more of these!' and pay huge amountss to hurry the construction of some more which I used to destroy Lal and Morgan (Yang,Santiago and Deidre had all been eradicated earlier) and then Miriam bowed down to my supreme nuclear powers...
LoD	posted 06-20-99 07:45 AM ET PBs are great tie breakers - but watch out on higher levels if the UN charter is not repealed. I used them once - during my last game the FM-loving Morgan, who thrived on an island and colonized about a half of the other one, declared war on me (I played the Gaians). Two Sing. PB blasts and several combined 'Copter/Locust strikes later it was all over. Of course the remaining factions (Zak and Lal) pronounced Vendetta, but after a few turns (I lost a couple of bases, same did them) they pledged blood truce with me (and I was beggining to lose). The moral of this story - never PB when its disallowed if you didn't achieve complete dominance. LoD
Rimmer	posted 06-20-99 02:44 PM ET LoD you are so helpful
LoD	posted 06-20-99 03:05 PM ET Do I hear sarcasm in your voice, Rimmer? LoD
JohnIII	posted 06-20-99 03:14 PM ET LoD, just a small point: "never PB when its disallowed if you didn't achieve complete dominance" So, don't use a PB if you don't win from it? In tight games this could be hard to decide. John III- The Sniper�
MichaeltheGreat	posted 06-20-99 03:35 PM ET John - I like your new handle. Might get into a squabble over the trademark rights, though.
Nell_Smith	posted 06-20-99 03:39 PM ET Tandoori: One thought... especially when playing on the higher levels, you'll probably find that it benefits you considerably to make a few Treaties and Pacts, at least during the early game... this can really boost your economy and help you to get ahead in technology and base facilities before wiping out your onetime allies... you'll find that they all declare war on you anyway once you get powerful enough, so you don't even have to damage your reputation by making the first move. So, sometimes it can help to keep the Believers alive, to fill up your coffers before wiping them out! Nell PS: Have you tried actually playing the Believers?? I find them quite a challenge, but they can be fun, once the University becomes too easy
LoD	posted 06-20-99 03:51 PM ET John: Not exactly. Don't use the PB if you'll lose from it. LoD
JohnIII	posted 06-20-99 03:56 PM ET OK. MtG, how's this Vasiliy Zaitsev? The best sniper of the Eastern Front. John III
MichaeltheGreat	posted 06-20-99 04:06 PM ET John - I remember Vasiliy - wasn't he the one who at Stalingrad countersniped that SS Obersturmbannfuhrer (forgot the name) that was the head of the SS sniper school? Or how about Carlos Hathcock, the legendary sniper of the USMC in Vietnam? I was just pulling your chain on the tm - John III the Sniper has a nice ring to it (the X ring I hope )
JohnIII	posted 06-20-99 04:09 PM ET Yep, an incredible duel between them. I remember Vasiliy shot a cameraman because he was giving his position away. John III- The Sniper�
MichaeltheGreat	posted 06-20-99 05:00 PM ET If I remember correctly, the Kraut used to sneak out at night into this one small position for his hide that was the only concealment in an otherwise open area, and once Zaitsev figured that out, he confirmed by using a small piece of board to hold up a helmet - when the Kraut's round went straight through the board, instead of at an angle, then Zaitsev had confirmation and drilled the Kraut right through the head. I wish I remembered his name, since the Kraut was definitely the better shot, but he was SS, so caught up in this master race against the Untermensch mentality. Going out to the same hide repeatedly was a violation of the cardinal rule of soldiering - habit kills. You never patrol the same places at the same times, use the same LPs or OPs or snipe from the same areas, etc. You don't do anything with a pattern at all, or the enemy picks up on it and nails you. That was Zaitsev's great accomplishment - he understood the tactical art so well that he was unbeatable, and he probably had more overall effect than any brigade of Soviet infantry would have had. MtG the infantry grunt. (and a fair shot myself)
Rimmer	posted 06-20-99 09:18 PM ET Truly no sarcasm. I don't have the patience to help people who can't read the rule book. If everyone was like me the world would be awfully weird, but funny.
JohnIII	posted 06-21-99 01:15 PM ET Actually it was is friend who held up the helmet, but you're right about the reest. John III
LoD	posted 06-26-99 03:11 PM ET Rimmer: I guess I owe you an apology. LoD
Rimmer	posted 06-27-99 01:09 AM ET NEVER APOLOGIZE You should have posted this. Shut your mouth you coffee nosed piece of **** or I will PB your butt back to Earth. Try it it livens up the conversation.