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Author Topic:   Mindworms - How to catch them?

Jeje posted 03-12-99 03:09 AM ET
Hello,
Just finished my second game as Peacekeepers.
Now I have read about mindworms, but how do I catch them? (I can bread them)
About my game, it was FUN .
Altough I had to end the game finally, when the see was rising and planet was my enemy.
(Over 1000m had gone and still rising. At worst the speed was 833m/20years.)
I was litterally ROTFL, when Miriam called the council to Melt the polar Caps. I just had to support her => Another 333m was lost
The planet is a horrible enemy. It was kicking my as baadly, lost two cities due to Mindworm attacks etc.
I think planet is ones worst enemy in endgame. The problems I had... Well, let's say I don't hope it to hapen to my worst "friends". I was in trouble, big trouble.
But it was FUN.
mic posted 03-12-99 03:45 AM ET
Just move on a square with a worm (like attacking). Depending on you 'greeniness' you will attack or capture. There are some Projects, Facilities and Social Engineering settings which make you 'greener' (i.e. up your capture rate).
BTW, always try attacking worms, locusts and isles, because on land you'll have a 3 to 2 attack bonus and you'll get energy credits if you win.
I always try to build an army with worms and isles. They're free and fast (setting Native Lifeforms to Abundant helps).
Happy catching!
yin26 posted 03-12-99 03:48 AM ET
I've been meaning to ask this question:
Why do I only get credits on the attack? Did I not read something somewhere?
The Panther posted 03-12-99 04:35 AM ET
You'll hav to be positively green to convert mind worm, the more positive, the more likely you are to catch the blasted spaghetti
quizara tafwid posted 03-12-99 08:16 AM ET
yin26:
Justification # 1: When you attack (and win) you occupy the space the native lifeform was in and thus find the pearls (represented by energy credits). When the native lifeform attacks you (and gets destroyed) the pearls are not found because you don't occupy the spot where the native lifeform was.
Justification # 2: The pearls have such a short half-life that they must be plucked from the still warm bodies of the native lifeforms. This is much more difficult to do when you are on the defensive than when you are on the attack.
While it's a neat way to give the players an additional means of income, I have a problem with an algorithm that rewards destroying native lifeforms (so sue me, I'm green). Next thing you know, players will be breeding mindworms by the thousands, setting them loose in the wild (completely surrounded by the players drop singularily hovercraft) and hunting them down for the credits
Oleg Leschoff posted 03-12-99 08:48 AM ET
Jeje:
Keep Ecodamage always at zero and Planet will become your friend. Well, except some occasional mind-worms, wich are actually a good source of energy if met with military units.
Freddz posted 03-12-99 09:48 AM ET
quiz:
When you think of how up close a mind worm attack, your explanation falls short. But on the other hand, who cares if this is not logical?
Prerogative posted 03-12-99 10:09 AM ET
This was explained in the manual.
Basically, it said that the high-mineral content of mindworm bodies can turn into usable material when they die AKA "Planetpearls."
However, planetpearls will deteriorate quickly with the corpses of a mindworm if they are not killed quickly and efficently (as to destroy their bodies and leave the planetpearl "husks.")
Since being on the offensive is almost nessecary to get a decisive win in psi combat, this explanation makes enough sense as is.
MoSe posted 03-12-99 12:31 PM ET
To Quizara:
on the contrary, I think that what disturbs you is realistic and appropriate.
The interesting part in rewarding MW hunting is exactly putting to test ppl and see how do they behave when they are confronted to such choices.
Maybe you too will be teased in killing native lifeforms against your principles cause you are in urgent need of even some small amount of energy. Then, it can also be a matter of survival, if you do not expressly seek the prey: would you feel bad in killing say a puma that was trying to eat you?
As for 1.produce 2.release 3.hunt MW, did you examine the balance between the resources value you spend for 1. and the credits you'll earn from 3.? (real question, I didn't figure out yet).
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Author	Topic: Mindworms - How to catch them?
Jeje	posted 03-12-99 03:09 AM ET Hello, Just finished my second game as Peacekeepers. Now I have read about mindworms, but how do I catch them? (I can bread them) About my game, it was FUN . Altough I had to end the game finally, when the see was rising and planet was my enemy. (Over 1000m had gone and still rising. At worst the speed was 833m/20years.) I was litterally ROTFL, when Miriam called the council to Melt the polar Caps. I just had to support her => Another 333m was lost The planet is a horrible enemy. It was kicking my as baadly, lost two cities due to Mindworm attacks etc. I think planet is ones worst enemy in endgame. The problems I had... Well, let's say I don't hope it to hapen to my worst "friends". I was in trouble, big trouble. But it was FUN.
mic	posted 03-12-99 03:45 AM ET Just move on a square with a worm (like attacking). Depending on you 'greeniness' you will attack or capture. There are some Projects, Facilities and Social Engineering settings which make you 'greener' (i.e. up your capture rate). BTW, always try attacking worms, locusts and isles, because on land you'll have a 3 to 2 attack bonus and you'll get energy credits if you win. I always try to build an army with worms and isles. They're free and fast (setting Native Lifeforms to Abundant helps). Happy catching!
yin26	posted 03-12-99 03:48 AM ET I've been meaning to ask this question: Why do I only get credits on the attack? Did I not read something somewhere?
The Panther	posted 03-12-99 04:35 AM ET You'll hav to be positively green to convert mind worm, the more positive, the more likely you are to catch the blasted spaghetti
quizara tafwid	posted 03-12-99 08:16 AM ET yin26: Justification # 1: When you attack (and win) you occupy the space the native lifeform was in and thus find the pearls (represented by energy credits). When the native lifeform attacks you (and gets destroyed) the pearls are not found because you don't occupy the spot where the native lifeform was. Justification # 2: The pearls have such a short half-life that they must be plucked from the still warm bodies of the native lifeforms. This is much more difficult to do when you are on the defensive than when you are on the attack. While it's a neat way to give the players an additional means of income, I have a problem with an algorithm that rewards destroying native lifeforms (so sue me, I'm green). Next thing you know, players will be breeding mindworms by the thousands, setting them loose in the wild (completely surrounded by the players drop singularily hovercraft) and hunting them down for the credits
Oleg Leschoff	posted 03-12-99 08:48 AM ET Jeje: Keep Ecodamage always at zero and Planet will become your friend. Well, except some occasional mind-worms, wich are actually a good source of energy if met with military units.
Freddz	posted 03-12-99 09:48 AM ET quiz: When you think of how up close a mind worm attack, your explanation falls short. But on the other hand, who cares if this is not logical?
Prerogative	posted 03-12-99 10:09 AM ET This was explained in the manual. Basically, it said that the high-mineral content of mindworm bodies can turn into usable material when they die AKA "Planetpearls." However, planetpearls will deteriorate quickly with the corpses of a mindworm if they are not killed quickly and efficently (as to destroy their bodies and leave the planetpearl "husks.") Since being on the offensive is almost nessecary to get a decisive win in psi combat, this explanation makes enough sense as is.
MoSe	posted 03-12-99 12:31 PM ET To Quizara: on the contrary, I think that what disturbs you is realistic and appropriate. The interesting part in rewarding MW hunting is exactly putting to test ppl and see how do they behave when they are confronted to such choices. Maybe you too will be teased in killing native lifeforms against your principles cause you are in urgent need of even some small amount of energy. Then, it can also be a matter of survival, if you do not expressly seek the prey: would you feel bad in killing say a puma that was trying to eat you? As for 1.produce 2.release 3.hunt MW, did you examine the balance between the resources value you spend for 1. and the credits you'll earn from 3.? (real question, I didn't figure out yet).