AI completes Secret Project..I get no warning?

  Alpha Centauri Forums
  The Game
  AI completes Secret Project..I get no warning?

profile | register | prefs | faq | search

Author Topic:   AI completes Secret Project..I get no warning?

Nomad82 posted 03-07-99 03:42 PM ET
In game after game an AI faction will start a project and then after so many turns..all I see is project completed (with no warning a turn before). Many times I don't get the warning that they are nearing a breaktrough, so I can in turn rush my same project. So they beat me to the project cause I didnt know they were nearing completion. what the hell...is this a bug? or what?
Marian posted 03-07-99 04:39 PM ET
No bug !
Why should you get warned if you have not an infiltrator?
I think it is a bug that in CIV II you could save money, wait till you get the one turn warning, then rush the production and get it first!
Ciao
Marian
Editor of the Alpha Centauri Zone
http://alphazone.cjb.net
CaptComal posted 03-07-99 10:11 PM ET
That was "working as designed" ... and a good design at that!
I read in the manual or Strat Guide that SMAC will SOMETIMES tell you when a computer controlled faction is nearing completion of a project giving you ONE TURN TO get it yourself first. It also said that this will NOT always happen and that at times it will NOT be announced to you.
This is good ... keeps the suspense in the game ... otherwise it would be more of a sure thing.
Best Regards,
CaptComal
Gixxer posted 03-08-99 12:27 PM ET
My theory on the matter (no proof, as of yet) is that when another faction is forced to change production, a one turn warning will not occur.
Again, just a theory.
Rasputin posted 03-08-99 02:23 PM ET
The Secret Project "Empath Guild" gives you an infiltrator in every faction, which significantly increases the chance of a warning message.
Dick Knisely posted 03-08-99 05:56 PM ET
Don't forget the impact of the "sunspots" loss of comm. The message warns that information from your infilitrators may be lost sometimes. Another way you might fail to get the warning in addition to the others.
MartyParty posted 03-08-99 11:11 PM ET
My theory on the matter is that the "sometimes" when you don't get the warning, is when they spend money to get past the "1 turn to go" threshold.
I think the computer isn't shy about making partial payments on their secret projects, because in my last game I started building Hunter Seeker on the turn after Morgan started. I was using a city producing +22 minerals, and he beat me to it by 3 turns! I had a good idea of his territory and know that he had no cities with anywhere near the same kind of production capability.
sandworm posted 03-09-99 09:18 AM ET
For the post about Morgan buying Hunter-Seeker...
Can the AI outright buy improvements???
It seems like something Morgan (especially Morgan) would do. If you can spend energy to complete projects, why not the AI? I just don't know the answer, but I would guess this is possible.
At higher difficulty levels (above librarian?)... I think I read somewhere here that the computer "cheats" on production.
sandworm posted 03-09-99 09:19 AM ET
One more question...
Does a planetary governor also get an infiltrator in every faction (like Emp. Guild)?
Gixxer posted 03-09-99 11:38 AM ET
Yes
Gixxer posted 03-09-99 11:39 AM ET
But I don't think the governer gets the extra votes the empath guild get's ya.
Phreak posted 03-09-99 12:49 PM ET
I think it also depends on dificulty setting. I was playing exclusively at Talent level and ALWAYS received a warning for SP's. But since I've moved up to Librarian, it doesn't warn me all the time now.
I actually think it should only give you a warning if you probe the city, IMHO.
Pragmatist posted 03-10-99 11:19 AM ET
This happens to me once in a while also. I've just assumed that they used an artifact to suddenly speed up the process...
To close this thread, click here (moderator or admin only).


Hop to:

Contact Us | Alpha Centauri Home

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Version 5.18
© Madrona Park, Inc., 1998.

Author	Topic: AI completes Secret Project..I get no warning?
Nomad82	posted 03-07-99 03:42 PM ET In game after game an AI faction will start a project and then after so many turns..all I see is project completed (with no warning a turn before). Many times I don't get the warning that they are nearing a breaktrough, so I can in turn rush my same project. So they beat me to the project cause I didnt know they were nearing completion. what the hell...is this a bug? or what?
Marian	posted 03-07-99 04:39 PM ET No bug ! Why should you get warned if you have not an infiltrator? I think it is a bug that in CIV II you could save money, wait till you get the one turn warning, then rush the production and get it first! Ciao Marian Editor of the Alpha Centauri Zone http://alphazone.cjb.net
CaptComal	posted 03-07-99 10:11 PM ET That was "working as designed" ... and a good design at that! I read in the manual or Strat Guide that SMAC will SOMETIMES tell you when a computer controlled faction is nearing completion of a project giving you ONE TURN TO get it yourself first. It also said that this will NOT always happen and that at times it will NOT be announced to you. This is good ... keeps the suspense in the game ... otherwise it would be more of a sure thing. Best Regards, CaptComal
Gixxer	posted 03-08-99 12:27 PM ET My theory on the matter (no proof, as of yet) is that when another faction is forced to change production, a one turn warning will not occur. Again, just a theory.
Rasputin	posted 03-08-99 02:23 PM ET The Secret Project "Empath Guild" gives you an infiltrator in every faction, which significantly increases the chance of a warning message.
Dick Knisely	posted 03-08-99 05:56 PM ET Don't forget the impact of the "sunspots" loss of comm. The message warns that information from your infilitrators may be lost sometimes. Another way you might fail to get the warning in addition to the others.
MartyParty	posted 03-08-99 11:11 PM ET My theory on the matter is that the "sometimes" when you don't get the warning, is when they spend money to get past the "1 turn to go" threshold. I think the computer isn't shy about making partial payments on their secret projects, because in my last game I started building Hunter Seeker on the turn after Morgan started. I was using a city producing +22 minerals, and he beat me to it by 3 turns! I had a good idea of his territory and know that he had no cities with anywhere near the same kind of production capability.
sandworm	posted 03-09-99 09:18 AM ET For the post about Morgan buying Hunter-Seeker... Can the AI outright buy improvements??? It seems like something Morgan (especially Morgan) would do. If you can spend energy to complete projects, why not the AI? I just don't know the answer, but I would guess this is possible. At higher difficulty levels (above librarian?)... I think I read somewhere here that the computer "cheats" on production.
sandworm	posted 03-09-99 09:19 AM ET One more question... Does a planetary governor also get an infiltrator in every faction (like Emp. Guild)?
Gixxer	posted 03-09-99 11:38 AM ET Yes
Gixxer	posted 03-09-99 11:39 AM ET But I don't think the governer gets the extra votes the empath guild get's ya.
Phreak	posted 03-09-99 12:49 PM ET I think it also depends on dificulty setting. I was playing exclusively at Talent level and ALWAYS received a warning for SP's. But since I've moved up to Librarian, it doesn't warn me all the time now. I actually think it should only give you a warning if you probe the city, IMHO.
Pragmatist	posted 03-10-99 11:19 AM ET This happens to me once in a while also. I've just assumed that they used an artifact to suddenly speed up the process...